Hazards in Hazard

Beautiful road, but I don't think it is one he needed.

For some reason Kentucky has been VERY hard on Ben. One day rained so hard the whole day that he had a hard time seeing the road signs for the little byways he was supposed to follow. He got lost and went about 30 miles out of his way. Then his crank fell apart. But as he was on the side of the road in the rain, a nice guy stopped in a truck and offered to take him to his friends' house where Ben could spend the night. (I hope his friends were cool with him offering!) I think this was in Bardstown.

Swollen ankle

Ben thought he fixed it, but his tool wasn't strong enough to really tighten the crank on completely. So it kept coming loose. It was still raining, his gear was wet, he has a twisted ankle that is swelling up big time, and he calls me and asks if I can find a place to stay in Springfield, KY. No luck, but I help him find a more direct route to the next town (Danville) and a place to stay there. He stays the night in what he first thought was a very over-priced Super 8. But the night desk clerk washed his laundry for him. (He really does meet wonderful people. Or maybe he just really smelled.). Danville also had a bike shop that let him use their tools.

Broken crank

Yesterday he calls me just outside of Hazard, Kentucky (Of Dukes of Hazard fame?) His crank is totally dead now, and he has jury rigged it with one of his back up spokes (he took several with him in case any broke. Not sure if he has actually used them as spokes, but they have come in handy to fix other breaks). His ankle hurts still, he can't ride the bike any further, and there is no camping in the area. So another hotel night. Probably a good thing because as he was coming into town, a truck going 70 mph had a tire blow out next to him on the road. Said it was the scariest and most dangerous thing to happen to him on the trip so far.

He also has to figure out how to get the 125 miles to Damascus, VA and the closest bike shop. No bus, rental cars cost too much (and don't have a spot in Damascus for drop off), and he sure can't pedal it without the crank fixed. I suggested he go to a truck stop and hitch a ride.

I suspect he would switch rides with either this or. . .

. . .with this right about now.

Yes, I actually told my son to hitch hike. In spandex! In Hazard, Kentucky! Yikes!

As Ben said, movies make it look easy and fun to hitch a ride. No such luck. But he was lucky enough to find a machinist who let him borrow his welder to fix his crank. So, until he has to remove the crank, it is fixed. And he is on the road somewhere between Hazard and Damascus.

I would Hazard a guess that he misses Laura, Noah, and Mick right about now.