Jeremiah Watt

I goes with out saying that even if it isnt raining the wet roads will make you wet anyways. When your bike has no fenders etc, and the tires spray up water you will get soaked. BY morning the rain had iether fully stopped or was a light drizzle. I doned my rain gear and some plastic bags on me feet and made for Saltville, the next town, and a larger town that I could buy some groceries for the following day.

I no longer carry any more than just enough water, and just that days food on the bike or trailer. I have shipped home any and all items that I absolutley did not have to have and am traveling with bare essentials only.

I am coming doen hill inot what will be Saltville around the next bend, the road is wet, and I see a Rail Road track ahead............I look in the mirror and move over to the center of the lane for room while I cross and to hit the higher center section instead of the tire rut sections. I notice that the tracks cross at a long diagonal and am just pondering that when I roll over the tracks........................and WHUMP................my fat butt and my bike are both sprawled out across the road before I could say anything or even think it.

Yes it hurt a bit at 10-15 miles an hour, but more than anything I was just sayingh thanks to the Lord that Coal truck was not right behind and my head and helmet could have been stuck between his dual rear tires.............................Can you imagine how dizzy you would be going rounn and round like that before you could get you noggin preied loose and the eyes refocused. I could have been sick and thrown up my Brumley Gap Apples that I ate for breakfast.

I am safe, a little skinned, and the bike has a few scratehs but we are fine. SO, I coast easliy into Saltville, first stoip is for some food and then call home. While I am there I stop by the Library, but it is useless, the Computers are so full of bugs.viruses that using them is a waste of time. I am told that I need to take in the Upper Appalachian Museum next door, since the Curator really knows his stuff.

I take in the Museum, and it is very cool, and yes the Curato Harry does indeed know his stuff. We walk thru time from the first Spanish discovery of this area back in 1521 as they came up from Florida. Then the play of the Salt brine wells during the Civil War. The beggining of an era of experimantation with making of Flouride and Chlorine etc in the area.and then on to the importance of salt once agin in the modern agriculture sector of Americas economy.

I think that I spent some 2 hours walking and talking to this fellow, and another 45 minutes trying to work in the Library, so now I really needed to get riding.

The road out of Saltville is mostly a rising road to the top of the Eastern Continental Divide for the Appalachian region, so I but a badly made treat as I leave a Cheesburger..these folks could take some lessons from In+Out Burgers back in California..............but anyways, I usually do not buy a meal.

Then I am off under grey thinly clouded skies with no sun. The road even in these conditions is just beautiful and Broadford is my next town to make a road change in. I stop at the Broadford store and have visit with Charlie Frye, about such things as Iraq. Being ex military means that Charlie is all for what wee are trying to do in Iraq, but does not think that we can give up control of the military extensions into Iraq and still win this conflict. I cannot stay too long so make my way out, with half a GAtorade in tow. Next stop is the Sprat Creek Store, and a quick visit with MArion Weyhause, a fellow of some 80 years of age.

We talk about the education and the jobs and what not left for kids today. Marion is a grade 6 grad, and made it thru life just fine without anymore..............but these days a man without a University Education just can't make it. But we don't leave any jobs here in America for young folks to do so I don't know what to think about it all says Marion. I agree so that I can get left and on up the road.

There are a ton of hills on this route, and as I said it runs mostly up hill as we head to the crest of a row of Appalachian MOuntains. The houses are scattered, and few and far between on this remote portion of road in Virgina. Every house has its obligatory 5 dogs of every breed and mongrel description from a pedigree look to the metal muncher type with canines.............some just barkers and some with a seroius intent in there eyes. It was on the crest of the VERY TALLEST CLIMB of the day, only fitting isn't it..........that as I am climbing in my lowest chainn ring that I met BUCK.

I am struggling to get to the crest of this hill which comes at the end of an up-hill left hand curve.............I can see some daylight in the trees ahead and figure it is the crest..................htere is just one house left that is a log home high on my right hand side. Iam practising my "STEALTH MODE super COVERT SHIFTING TECHNIQUE", its a little practise that I have gotten into when riding over here in dog heaven. The chain clicks silently into the next lowest gear and I am slipping like a ghost along the road and amongst the trees on this last pitch of the hill.

ANd I hear a large volume "WHOOF WHOOF WHOOF" to my right...........I look up to see a dog, large and chocolate brown coming out from under the sanctuary of a truck on wood blocks "WHOOF WHOOF" again as he comes bounding doen the hill while I am stuck with grunting up the hill. WHOOF WHOOF he sounds, as he jumps from the ditch's edge to the road below and me struggling on my bike. I am really uncertain as to what to do, since if I unclipp at this speed I cannot pedal, and I am only going 4.5 miles per hour and am more likely to just fall over as any thing. BUCK, as I find out his name later..........makes his first pass by me from front wheel to reaer of trailer.........he's growling and barking as he goes......................then he's back with a little more zeal for his job of offereing protection to the entire HOLLEr as well as the distant King of England.....................he gets in close to my front wheel which I have not peed on for several weeks. He's sniffing and checking it close...which shows you how slow I am going up this hill.

BUck looks like maybe a Mastiff and Rotweiler cross.............but he is all chocolate brown.............big slobbery jowls and heavy square muzzle and thick neck..............not at all like my neck. Buck works his way right to my leg on the right side...........and as I am pedalling he places his entire mouth around my ankle above my cycling shoes. He has all of my ankle in his mouth, but he is not biting down, I can feel his teeth but no pain............simple I think...........I am looking at this from the after life and when I look down I will find I have one carved wooden leg and a Parrot on my shoulder. NOt the case, but I have stopped pedalling since BUCK has my right foot in his mouth. Its at this point that I made an anatomical observation, that the human leg and the sphincter are inter-connected ................man I had the tightest hold on that leather seat. BUCK, COMM"ERE BUCK, BUCK YA"ALL COMM'ERE. I learned Buck's name. and I spoke in tongues to him...........english tongues................I Praised God for learning his name, and then spoke to him..........."easy buck easy buck easy buck". Then I pulled out my Smith 357 and shot him....................just kidding, but I would have if I had one. BUck was gone, I was rolling down hill, and a whole man once again. Praise the Lord I said to myself, then decided to just shout it out in case BUck was not yet saved.

Folks, I am riding on Hwy 42 at this point, and it is just so beaurtiful with all the leaves and creeks etc. JUst a picture at every tuen in the road at least for me, and its over cast..............just imagine how pretty it would be if the sun were out. I am headed towards a small town , but the heavy sky that has pending rain makes me consider a small covered picnic area at about 5:15. I am just not too sure if I will make another good camp sight in time before it gets too dark for me to ride. I am camping at the "Ol,Lystery" Pentacoastal Picnic grounds. NO church to be seen, but a roof and it will work for me.
She's a soup and noodles sort of night adn a few Fig Newtons with Tea to finish the day out.
Good Night and God Bless