12 Marlinton, WV to Belington City Park, WV 105 miles

11 Greenbrier River Trail 5 mile marker to Marlinton, WV 50 miles

I woke up to a light drizzle but thankfully was prepared.

I can't get over the beauty of these old steel bridges. 

I found sanctuary from the rain at the Dirt Bean cafe and bike shop (perfect!) in Marlinton after an unfortunate run in with an aggressive hillbilly (his words, not mine). All turned out okay! 

10 Somewhere on Highway 100 to 5 mile marker on the Greenbrier River Trail 80 miles

"Babe, let's be adventurers together."

...and this is why I love going uphill.

An interesting juxtaposition of what can be found in the Appalachians - pristine national forests of priceless beauty and coal plants that provide jobs.

I ended up exploring the forest instead of the plant (ha!). Here's what I found at Hanging Rock...

I took a wrong turn. An 8 mile downhill wrong turn and ended up in Zenith, WV. Ronnie was going home from work so he offered to put my bike in his truck. He ran out of gass on the way but had some extra in his bed and showed me how to use a "West Virginia credit card."

Yum. 

9 New River 221 Access to somewhere on Highway 100 via New River State Park Rail Trail 90 miles

It is too bad I got here a little too early but I got to taste a few ripe ones. I'm telling you - there ain't anything like finding blackberries. Bike paths are good for that - these bushes thrive in the sunlight so look out next time you are traveling slowly along a path. 

The mighty New River from many angles! 

Here's camp. I got a flat tire at the bottom of the hill on HWY 100 and found myself next to the river. I very quickly forgot about the stress of having a flat after filling up on country ham and horseradish cheddar sandwiches...

8 Boone, NC to the New River Campground 221 Access 35 miles

I'm at the library in Belington, WV and the browser doesn't support what I'm trying to do here - ha - so again I'll leave you with a week's worth of pictures and will try and fill in the blanks as I head NORTH and WEST to Athens, OH!