Wild, wonderful, West Virginia.

West Virginia seemed to begin as another hot and humid state, but as we turned uphill and into the lush mountainsides, the east coast heat wave dissipated into fresh mountain air.

One thing is for sure, West Virginians love their state. Most cars have WV stickers, either showing support for their college, or more likely pride in their homeland. As we rode across the state, honks, smiles, and thumbs up from motorists indicated the general excitement for our adventure and its passage through their great land. As usual, our routine stops were accompanied by the routine questions regarding our tour. However, the people of West Virginia had a unique excitement and awe for our accomplishment/ambition, which has yet to be seen. Perhaps this is because Oregon finally seems so far away, or perhaps because West Virginians embody a paralleled passion for outdoor adventure. Either way, tooth count should never be an indicator of the quality and richness of life. The Deliverance references which commonly represent West Virginians are misleading to say the least. It would be unfortunate for anyone to miss out on this beautiful state because they fear dueling banjos. As it was mentioned, "Oregon is the West Virginia of the West."

In the middle of our trek across, we took some much needed rest days in the hometown of our dear friend Emily in Snowshoe. Her and her parents were the most gracious of hosts, sharing their beautiful place, providing meals, and letting us lounge around lazily on their furniture like a bunch of freeloaders. Emily showed us her favorite swimming hole, took us to wing night in town, and hung out while we reloaded our batteries. Thanks guys.