This morning I left the comforts of a quiet little campground in Buckhorn, KY to tackle some steep and long climbs on my 70 mile trek to Berea, KY.
![](https://russloomis.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/FD685A85-DD07-4E40-94E7-DD5D110A95A3-768x1024.jpeg)
These climbs started almost as soon as I left the campsite. It would turn out to be a hot day with temps near 90°. I traveled on small side roads, with very little traffic but the penalty was loose dogs to navigate around without getting bitten. It was on such a road, about midpoint into the ride that I came across another cyclist who was also touring. He, Bill Poindexter, was headed east on the same route. We stopped and exchanged contact information along with insight of what to expect along our routes and where to spend the nights along the route on the days to follow. This chance meeting filled the void of telling my story to someone who really understands this journey. Brothers in Arms, and the first cycling tourist I’ve seen since my beginning in Yorktown, VA.
![](https://russloomis.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/405B7E97-B5D4-4805-911E-E33E0547A0A3-scaled.jpeg)
![](https://russloomis.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/4AB8008D-2C7C-424E-906F-4A4EDAA3449F-scaled.jpeg)
![](https://russloomis.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/1238F23C-5437-487F-A8E2-D3F99479E175-768x1024.jpeg)
From this point the rest of today’s trip was uneventful, just a slog to finish the long hard miles to Berea where I would meet up with Nancy for a catch-up day after a well deserved night sleep. I landed in camp around 7:00 PM, hung out my put-away-wet tent, and cleaned and lubed my chain while Nancy was out picking up dinner.
![](https://russloomis.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/E34B4A80-560E-46DE-94EE-801E03CD1986.jpeg)
![](https://russloomis.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/B83CD62F-6C93-4CF2-96DB-888B7A1D569F.jpeg)