Coal Country

Day 43

My legs were pretty tired from yesterday, so today was going to be a slow one. Left the Buckhorn  Campground and immediately had 3 big climbs.  After that the route was fairly flat except for two more climbs not as long or steep. 

To give you an idea, the small country roads on the route have, usually manufactured homes, mixed with some very nice looking places and an occasional mansion.  The manufactured homes are usually surrounded by metallic junk and old junk cars, trucks, tractors, etc.  A fair number of abandoned buildings as well in various states of disrepair. 

The roads that are more arterial carry more traffic, and the overall look of the land is better, with brick homes and nice lawns.  The climbs on the small roads are sudden and steep.

The route brought me into Hazard, KY, which is one of the epicenters of the coal mining industry.  The large corporations came in and bough the mineral rights from the locals. A lot of the mining is strip mining, and the landscape is left pretty barren. 

Here is a picture of a coal conveyer at a train loading station just outside of Hazard.

Look at the center post, the large pile of coal beneath it.

This picture gives you an idea of what all the roads are like.  Usually surrounded by steep hillsides occasionally running along a stream or river.

Tomorrow is a rest day.

orning Ride

• Distance

  60.97 mi
• Elev Gain

  3,714 ft
• Time

  4h 52m