The ride started a little early or we were on SC time instead of TN time.
So we rode hard trying to catch somebody we couldn't drop or that didn't want to be dropped.
I try to take photos of tandems.
This ride is hard for tandems.
This ride is hard for everybody.
We started out on quiet rural roads.
These folks weren't too keen about getting dropped.
They were pretty tough.
They pulled over at a rest stop and we kept going.
Water, water everywhere...
After some very pleasant grades and flats we get close to the Tail of the Dragon.
There were plenty of rest-stops that we ignored.
We rode the Tail pretty well.
I actually started having a little trouble from pulling too much on the way to the Tail.
Fontana Dam
Joyce Kilmer Forest
The Cherohala Skyway was tough climbing.
It was here that Jane said she was hurting. I thought it was redundant to say I was too.
I had a sharp pain in my left lower back and hip area as well as the usual pain on my right lower back and hip.
I had a pain in my right chest that I usually don't have.
We didn't ignore this rest-stop.
At the "stop" I had less than half a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Because of food not processing on the Assault on Mitchell I listened to my stomach.
I had water and one bottle of a carbo drink.
Here's a young kid having some fun.
Toward the end of the ride my chain came off. I toshoved my bike onto the shoulder letting it fall without me.
I gave away my food and water thinking I could cruise in okay. I had cotton mouth pretty bad.
I then had a pain inside near my scrotum, or prostate.
I've woken in the middle of the night with this and it has been terrible.
All I can do is walk around pass a little gas or have a BM to relieve it.
I've asked doctors what it could be and never gotten an answer.
Five of the last eight miles on the bike were excruciatingly horrible.
Back Yard Burgers veggie burger was appreciated.
