Today was a long and hilly day. There were four separate climbs of about 8-12%. Each was a couple of miles to the top. The first one reminded me of those ski jumps they use for the freestyle skiiers. Starts out gradual and ramps up near vertical toward the top. The top of that hill was about 20’ wide before it plunged back towards the hollow at the bottom, In each Hollow there is a settlement with a lot of barking dogs. Fortunately none of them were that threatening, although it is unsettling each time one chases you down the road. It is hard to try and out run them with 80 lbs of gear. Then there are the Coal Trucks. The drivers must be in the same fraternity as the logging truck drivers. The complexion
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