Ride Distance: 58 miles
Elevation Gain: 3,629 feet
Destination: Purple Heart Homes | Statesville, NC
Did you know: FireFly Balloons, one of the largest manufacturers of sport and commercial hot air balloons, is located in Statesville. First known as The Balloon Works when it was founded in 1972 by Tracy Barnes, this company is the second oldest hot air balloon manufacturer in the United States.
Rest Stop 1: Bethlehem Baptist Church. Grabbed some breakfast provided by the congregation and learned about how this vibrant church recovered recovered from a devastating fire in 2015.
Rest Stop 2: This 3-story Victorian mansion that is listed on the National Register of Historic Place aims to connect the public with the rich arts and cultural heritage of the northwest region of North Carolina. They had music and a food truck onsite for us to enjoy.
Rest Stop 3: Fort Dobbs State Historic Site. Got a glimpse into the tumultuous period of history known as the French and Indian War that took place from 1754 to 1763. As the state’s only historic site associated with this period and one of the last remaining forts overall from this war, it represents North Carolina’s link with a global war for empire that crossed five continents, lasted near a decade and sowed the seeds for independence.
Camp Site: Food Trucks - Viva Tacos, Sabor and Bushcraft BBQ. Southern Distilling is here handing out samples. Red Bufalo Brewing Company, a local brewery, had brews on tap. HOT AIR BALLOONS! What kind of host would Statesville (The Ballooning Capital of the East) be if they didn’t let us experience hot air balloons? They had tethered hot air balloons for us to go up in. Awesome!
Tomorrow's Ride Distance: 65
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