Kentucky Trail Angels Abound!

About 2 miles from Hindman, Kentucky my rear derailleur cable snapped AGAIN! Same thing happened about 4 miles out of West Yellowstone. (The impact of this mechanical issue is major, especially as I tackle the Appalachian mountains. Without a functioning rear derailer I am left with only three gears instead of my normal 27 gears.)

Hindman is a small town of about 800 people and there is no bike shop or known bike mechanic. I had arranged to stay at the first Baptist church bike hostel and the secretary, Cory, met me there when I arrived. While I was on the phone talking with a bike shop 80 miles away in West Virginia, Cory came back with the best two words I heard that day “good news”! He found a bike shop in Prestonsburg that was about 30 miles away and said he would take me and Ernie there for the repair! We met Don Fields at his shop, Pro Fitness Multisports, and before long he had me back up and running. Not only that, but the gearing on Ernie is working better than it has in the last 1500 miles! I am so thankful for Cory and Don, and the church pastor for allowing Cory to take the time and the church van to get this accomplished. I feel that Cory and I have become friends, and I met his family, and he took me on a bit of a tour of the area, which was very beautiful.

I attached some photos of Cory, Prestonsburg, and some of the sites in Hindman , including the mountain dulcimer museum and a luthier shop that I went in to and played some handmade instruments.