Up at 4am after not falling asleep as early as I wished. I'm often anxious before these road trips, lying awake going over multiple checklists in my head and thinking of everything I need to do and bring. On the road before 5am, managed to get through morning rush hour in Louisville without much delay. Had a great sunrise to watch as I drove east over the rolling pastures of northern Kentucky.

No views, just weeds and rusted metal.

Arrived at the Kentucky highpoint without a problem. Hills were beautiful fall colors, maybe just past their prime, and the best views had been climbing up to the KY-VA border from the town of Lynch. However, the summit of Black Mountain was horribly ugly. What beauty there may have been was despoiled with weeds, old antennas, a rusted fire tower, and barbwire. No view either, as the trees obscured the distant hills in all directions.

No reason to stay long, I'm headed to Damascus, Virginia and Mount Rogers.

The view was much better just north of Black Mountain at the KY-VA border.