After leaving Blacksburg late morning, with a stop at McDonalds to fill the empty place in my stomach, I passed through Christiansburg and Radford, feeling dopey from lack of sleep, and thoroughly uninspired.
Deciding that this was going to be tantamount to a rest day, I didn’t push, and ended up detouring off the trail to camp at a state park, which was pleasant, if crowded. I got more ‘You’re doing this alone?’ incredulousness from the guard at the gate. Dinner was canned liver(!) and Rice-a-Roni cooked on my little stove. After calling my family on a pay phone, I tried to ignore how homesick I felt, and turned in early. I slept like a log for eight solid hours. Riding total for the day: 30 miles.