Andrew Jackson SP to Kings Mountain SP
Total miles: 729
Miles: 48.05
Aver MPH: 9.9
Biking time: 4:48:34
Total Time: 7:30
Top speed: 33.0
We were going down a hill and we could hear a big truck topping the crest behind us. As he got closer I could hear his speed picking up and then he just laid on the horn. Fortunately we were able to do a high speed exit off the road. At this area it was just a slight bump and we rolled into the grass as he sped by without moving over an inch. Not a good feeling and we didn�t have any other options but to continue on.
After climbing another long hill with traffic streaming by us we came to parking area at a local church. I pulled over and got off the bike. I told Susan I was through. That we were going to unload the bike and try and hitch a ride. We disconnected the trailer and took off the panniers. We even made a sign that said York. With all the pickup trucks going by I was sure we would get a ride. After about thirty minutes we gave up. From where we were you could see a slight downhill and then another long climb with a sweeping right turn. I figured that turn went out of sight about a mile down the road. I told Susan that was our goal and we would then see what was ahead of us. We loaded up and took off again. As we rode on pass the turn we continued on to York. The crazy traffic had abated and the road had become more like the quiet country road it was. We don�t know why but we were thankful for it.
Like every town we rode into York sits atop a hill. This one was a steepie and we ground up it in our lowest gear. At the top we pulled into a grocery store to do some shopping. A lady came up to us while we were shopping. She said she had seen us climbing the hill into town. She said, �Your legs were just a spinning but you weren�t going anywhere.� It certainly felt that way.
After eating we headed for Kings Mountain. I don�t know why I thought a road to a place called Kings Mountain would not be hilly. Anyway, we climbed our way there. A few miles from the park we stopped at a country store to take a break. A group of regulars immediately swarmed us. They gave us a lot of good natured kidding about saving gas and about one thing and another. One of them even had the quote of the trip. He was talking to Susan about the virtues of biking on one�s health, but then paused and talked about the risk of ridding in traffic. He then said, �It won�t make you fit if kills you�. Truer words were never spoken.
We quickly covered the last few miles to the state park. As we turned through the gates we stopped. The ride to the camp site at Kings Mountain is down an insanely steep hill. It seemed we would never reach the bottom. All we could think of was how we would ride back up it tomorrow.
After picking our site and setting up we sat back and watched the campground. It was Friday night and folks were rolling in. There was every kind of camper and tent you could imagine. But the topper was a group of motorcyclist. They each pulled a little trailer. Once unhooked the little trailers turned into campers. They folded out and a tent popped up. Pretty neat. They got more stares than we did.
As we watched the day fade away I admitted I had been wrong about the tough days. Today had been rougher than expected, but tomorrow would be much easier I assured her. It is 12 miles to Blacksburg and it is all downhill. You�ll love it.
Kings Mountain to home
Total miles: 795
Miles: 66.5
Aver MPH: 9.3
Biking time: 7:06:02
Total Time: 10.0
Top speed: 37.5
From Blacksburg we rode onto Gaffney. In Gaffney we ate lunch and called Amanda. She told us the weather was looking bad for the afternoon. It was suppose to start raining soon after lunch. The weather channel was calling for heavy rain and thunderstorms. We had been so lucky with weather I couldn�t believe it was about to end. As we pedaled out of Gaffney we couldn�t help but notice the darkening sky.
10 hilly miles later we pulled into Cowpens and stopped at a pantry for some Gatorade. Three or four folks walked over where we were taking our break to look at the bike and talk to us. They all said the weather looked bad and wished us luck. Out of Cowpens what little bit of country road we had been riding on disappeared. We were now in the suburbs and outskirts of Spartanburg. The traffic picked up considerably.
The traffic was a typical Saturday afternoon, but the road was wide and had a shoulder. It wasn�t much fun to ride in but we had plenty of room. The annoying thing about riding in city traffic is the noise, the smell from the exhaust, and just the stress of having to be constantly focused and aware. You can�t relax. All this makes for a tense ride and a frazzled stoker does not make a fun riding partner. Again I was glad we did not have our tandem talk.
From Reidville we only had one more climb. From the Spartanburg line to Anderson Ridge road. From there we were almost home. As our friend Emmi said, �We were headed towards the barn and nothing would stop us now�.
Pulling into the driveway was an emotional moment. We were both happy to have made it home safely, and to have experienced such a great adventure together. As we unloaded the trailer and put the bike away we were also a little sad. We knew tomorrow we would not be getting up and ridding off into another adventure.
It never did rain!
During our weekly ride this past weekend Susan and I talked about our trip. We talked about the part we liked the most. The part we found the most surprising. The day we enjoyed the most and the day we enjoyed the least.
The part we both enjoyed the most was the camping. We found it genuinely relaxing to let the fatigue drain away as we talked about the ride and the day to come. We also enjoyed those last few minutes of the day sitting around a fire and drinking our last cup of coffee.
The most surprising for me was the traffic. I don�t remember it ever being this bad. Because of the traffic I could never recommended this route without some heavy modifications to it in some areas, and completely staying away from Conway.
For Susan, it was how much she enjoyed it. She had suggested the trip but wasn�t a hundred percent sure about it as the time to leave approached. She did say it was harder than she expected but she had a good time.
The worst day for both of us was hands down the day from Litchfield to the Little Pee Dee SP. Aiken was a close second, but this day was dreadful. First the ride from Litchfield to Conyway was way too dangerous. There is no way I would ever do that again. Then from Conyway to the Pee Dee we rode into a 25 mph head wind the whole way. 50 something miles of heavy-duty head winds. Not a day I would want to repeat.
The best day for Susan was from Buck Hall to Litchfield. She loved the tailwind. We zoomed along from Buck Hall to Georgetown at 16-18 mph and sometimes in the twenties. That is unheard of for us. From Georgetown to Litchfield was more of the same. Of course the fact that we stopped at the Pawley�s Island Hammock Shop for a few hours didn�t hurt either. She then topped the day off with a pedicure and a night in hotel.
For me it was the day from Summerville to Buck Hall. We left early that Sunday morning and the traffic was non-existence. In Moncks Corner we cut across the Francis Marion National Forest. At times it was like we were the only ones on earth. We rode through Hell Hole Swamp and over Copperhead Road. We rode pass black water swamps with cypress trees, and pass thick pine forest. It was a great ride. It was one of those days that was all about getting there and not being there.
This was great adventure. It�s an excellent way to see your state, and you will see it like you never will in a car. It was hard at times and scary too, but I was always reminded of a great quote I heard years ago, �The difference between an ordeal and an adventure is attitude�.
