July 22 - Jeff

Jerry and I made it to NKY and spent time with our families and slept in real beds.  Jack stayed in Berea and his family came down and visited him.  Everybody enjoyed the two days off of recovery and was ready to ride Monday morning.  Our bikes were stored in the basement of the Boone Tavern.  We met our sister Janet and her husband Don and son Adam as well as Christie, Jerry and Sue’s daughter, in Berea on Sunday and we had dinner together.  The four of us stayed at the Fairfield Sunday night so we could continue back on the trail on Monday.  I got to attend an MPS Regional picnic in Columbus on Saturday.  If you haven’t donated yet, try to do so.  Donation site is up to $2,400, with a goal of $5,000.  So far 39 people/families have contributed.  Thank you so much on behalf of the MPS Society.

Shout out to Drew Von Handorf (my godson) for winning the “Feed the Fork Folk Music Trivia Contest in G” during his stay in Berea.  How many people do you know who can say that?

We left the hotel parking lot a little before 6:00 and got back on the trail in front of the Boone Tavern about 6:05.  Went through cities Bighill, Sandgap, McKee, pop 884, Booneville, pop 112, and ended up near Buckhorn, pop 154 which is where our campground will be if it stops raining.  Otherwise, it could be on to the lodge at Buckhorn Lake.  The campground is just below the dam of Buckhorn Lake.  Ride today was beautiful.  Hills were not as bad as anticipated.  Few dawgs, but no attacks.  Felt good to be back on the bikes.  Today’s ride was 64 miles.  Light traffic today and trucks that were present, were all very courteous.  Hope that continues.

We met our brother Jay in Booneville for breakfast at a little café.  Pancakes were maybe a C+.   Coffee was not as good, but it still tasted good.

Our sitter Joan and her husband Dave met us at the campsite.  Dave brought his special spaghetti sauce for dinner.  Those plans may change with the current rain.

We are seeing a lot of old abandoned cars along the way.  Collector’s items.   Every time I go to a car show   which is about once every 5-20 years, I see the ’57 Chevy section, the Mustang section, the Camaro section, but never the Chevette section.  Well, guess what, on today’s ride there it was, the ultimate prize rusting in the tall grass somewhere between Booneville and Buckhorn, a ’79 or ’80 Chevette, white.  I may have to get my brother-in-law, Paul and go back and get that baby.

Tomorrow, trying to make it to Melvin (they’ll be no Melvin’s on this job) or if we get real brave, Breaker’s State Park in Virginia.  Not a whole lot of places to stay between here and there.

Jeff, Jerry, Jack, and Sue

July 19

July 19, 2013

 

Packed up the bikes and rode in the car back to the route where we left it yesterday.  Started riding about 6:50.  Ride was a little more hilly than yesterday.  In cycling terms that means some good climbs.    Several dawgs.  Problem with the dawgs is the person ahead rides through and pulls the dawgs out and the second person gets nailed.  Jerry hates me today.  Had pancakes and coffee in the Village Café in Burgin, pop 965.  Talked to some of the patrons, and they were very nice.  Maybe our opinion of Kentuckians will change.  We went through Harrodsburg just before that.  They had a café called the Blue Moon for future reference, but it didn’t open until 10:00, summer hours.  Rode through Herrington Lake.  Lots of boats.  Noticing that a lot of the state parks in Kentucky have golf courses.  Last couple of miles into Berea were flat   .  Nice to have some flat and some tail, as in tailwind.  And again, we have a beautiful state.  We just take it for granted.

Got to Berea and met Jack and Teri who were already in town.  We were able to store our bikes in the Boone Tavern until Sunday.  Then all hell broke loose.  Mary called me and suggested that she come and pick me up and bring me home and she would drive me back on Sunday.  We have an MPS event on Saturday and she and the girls were going to attend and get to Berea late on Saturday.  She thought this would work better with getting to spend more time with family.  So I agreed.  Then Jerry thought maybe he would do the same thing.  So we were able to cancel our rooms for Saturday night and we’re now on our way home in the van heading toward  NKy.  We will come back on Sunday and begin riding on Monday morning heading for Yorktown.  It should take us about 10 days.  We have about 750 miles over some good climbs.  Last couple days are flat heading for the Atlantic and our ultimate goal.

Back on Monday.

Jeff, Jerry, Jack, and Sue

July 18

July 18, 2013

Time changed on us again.  Makes a difference in the sun and departure times.  Left around 6:00.  Great sunrise.  Beautiful ride and again not many hills. Beautiful ride through Sonara.  Jerry had pancakes in Sonara.  Jerry found some nice Kentucky folk there.   A few dawgs.  Big hill just before Heaven Hill Distillery.  Ended up in a city called Springfield, home of St. Catharine College.  In the city park.  No showers but there are some available at a local aquatic center. Once we thought about all that, we remembered that there was a state campground at My Old Kentucky Farm.  So we packed up the bikes and rode backwards in the car.  We went and had a beer in a place called Mammie’s in Bardstown to toast our making it to Berea which at times seemed remote and impossible.   Tomorrow we make our ride into Berea.  Hallelujah.  Ride should be about 70 miles.

Still not finding the Kentucky people to be overly friendly.  Out west, it was so different.  Today we came over a route 150 that is not on the route.  Tried to shave a few miles.  Trucks and cars would not get over at all.  No shoulder to speak of.  Some deer today.  Still in Amish country.  Arnold from last night, the guy with all the schtick, was talking about the Amish and how they farm and how they like their beer.  Didn’t know that.

Camping was hot again.  Not sleeping very well.  Lots of cars on the road next to the campground.

Not much else to report.

Jeff, Jerry, Jack, and Sue

July 17

July 17, 2013

Great sleeping last night.  AC was great.  Brutal outside with the heat.  Sleeping in the tent would have been no fun.

Got an early start today.  Left around 5:10, but I had to go back.  Forgot my cell phone.  Went through Whiteseville, pop 552, where they had a high school called Trinity.  I always thought it was in Louisville and was much bigger.  Then it was onto Fordsville, pop 524, where we got a cup of coffee.  Went through Rough River State Resort.  Beautiful lake and dam.  Lots of boating.  Resort place.  Golf course nearby.  Then it was through McDaniels and Madrid (?), and I have no idea what city we are in or even if we are in a city.  We are staying at a hostel.  Lady has a store and she allows cyclists stay for a donation.  You can set up a tent in her backyard and she even provides a meal.  She has been doing this for 22 years.  Her daughter went to Elizabethtown High School.  Just one of the nice people we have met on the  trip.  She has like a side porch on the store where we can sit in the shade and just watch the cars go by.  Or she has some couches and tables inside to get out of the heat.

We did about 70 miles today.  Thought there would be more hills than there were.  A good ride.  About 170 miles from Berea. Looking forward to seeing friends and family.  Saw some dawgs  today.  Got chased by two.  No real wildlife.  Saw a sign advertising “fast rural Internet service”.  I saw that as maybe an oxymoron.  Not seeing as much UK Wildcat fever as I thought we  would.  Saw some Amish shtuff yesterday.  Saw a couple Catholic Churches. Overall, we have seen thousands of churches on the trip.  How do they all stay in business.  Saw a restaurant called The Knotty Pine and one called Boogie’s.  Climate is very humid just like home and very hot early.

One thing we have noticed is that the people we are seeing in the diners and places we stop are not nearly as friendly as earlier in the trip.  Not sure what that means.  Either we are getting grumpy or the people are  not as friendly.  I think it is the latter.

The meal was out of this world.  She made mashed potatoes, mixed  veggies, green beans, pasta salad, chicken, and we had sweet pickles that this local guy in the provided.  His wife cans pickles.  His name was Aaron and he reminded me of Andy Griffith.  He was funny and had that accent.  Arnold, Lucy’s husband was a hoot also.  After dinner, her daughter  Lauren engaged us in a game of foosball.  She and her dad were pretty good.  It was me and Arnold versus Lauren and the guy Lyle room Hawaii.  We split, each winning a game.  She wouldn’t let us help with dinner, so it was soon off to bed.  Hot as Hades.  Difficult sleeping and there were motion lights going off and on all night.  Like Chinese water torture.

Jeff, Jerry, Jack, and Sue

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July 16

July 16, 2013

Packed up today and took the ferry to the Bluegrass State.  A good feeling.  But it’s weird because we are in our home state, but it seems like a foreign land.  None of us have ever been in this part of the state.  Lots of farms and lots of green.  People we have met that went east to west talked about how beautiful Kentucky was.  We were scratching our heads saying Kentucky?  Now I know what they meant.   After seeing the rest of the country, Kentucky is really a beautiful state compared to much of the US where many parts look like the moon.  I don’t think we appreciate it sometimes.

Hills are again part of our day.  Lots of them.  Not huge ones yet like we saw in Missouri.  Went through a city called Marion.  Had pancakes and coffee in Clay.  A place called Jeri’s.  Good food and service but not as friendly people as we have experienced other places.   Stopped for lunch in Sebree.  Then it was onto Utica, our destination.  We are in a volunteer fire department.  Since 1976, when the trail originated, they have been providing space for bicyclists.  It is a room about 20 X 60.  We have AC, washer and drier, showers, stove, fridge, but no Internet.  It is a godsend.  No tents again tonight.  Two other guys are staying here also.  This is their second night here.  One is a 19 year old from Pennsylvania.  The other is a 65 year old retired teacher from Hawaii.  They are both going east like us.  And two more guys just walked in.  Going to be a full house.

Few dogs today.  Only one seemed vicious.  Actually Jerry got chased once also.  Jack is feeling better and rode about 60 miles today.

Tomorrow is unknown currently.  We have to find somewhere to stay.  Not much available.

Saw a logging truck today.  Saw one two days ago also.  Brought back memories of Idaho.  Thought we had made a wrong turn.

Jeff, Jerry, Jack, and Sue

July 15

July 15, 2013

As much as last night was a debacle with no bathroom within half mile, tonight we feel like we died and went to heaven.  Like in “all dogs go to heaven.  We have a campsite with showers and a bathroom within walking distance, there is nobody else in the campground, and better yet, there is nobody to collect money for payment.  And the flies are not as bad.  We are in the town of, and I am not making this up, Cave in the Rock.  Jack could not find a soul in town to talk to.  A true ghost town.  We can see Kentucky.  Tomorrow we take a ferry across the Ohio into the Bluegrass state.

Our day began about 6:15.  Jack did not ride today.  Food poisoning.  Mexican food.  I am partly responsible because I picked this “friendly little place” for us to get out of the sun yesterday.  Our trip today took us through Carbondale, home of the Southern Illinois Salukis.  Reminds me a lot of WKU.  Directions are getting tougher on our maps.  Lots of twists and turns.  Today, we missed a turn because the street was unmarked.  We turned later, and all worked out, but there is that fear of turning in the wrong place or direction and having to go back.   Not the same as in a car.

We stopped for coffee in Goreville (guy in the café said it was the bicycle capital of Illinois), at a place called Delaney’s.  Great service and hospitality and a bonus.  Bikers get free desserts.  We opted for chocolate milkshakes.   One of the best ever.  Finally got a pancake and coffee.  They even had a “Jack stack”, but Jack couldn’t partake because of being ill.  Back on the trail, we took an alternate route along a bike trail that was less hilly than the normal route and eventually got us back on a road on our route.  Nice change of pace.  It was part of a national program called “rails to trails”.  We went through a city called Elizabethtown, pop 299 and into Cave in the Rock, pop 318. Total mileage, about 107 miles.  Climate is changing, ore humidity. 

Saw a church slogan today, “God does not have a plan B”.

We stopped at the Chocolate Factory.  Good sthuff.  Couldn’t take any with us because it would melt immediately.  Had to eat it there.  Saw more correctional institutes today.  Across from the chocolate factory was a boot camp for inmates.  They were doing drills and carrying logs. 

Road are ok.  Still not much shoulder.  But better than Missouri where it was so common to put the rumble strips right on the right line which is where bicyclists ride to stay out of traffic.  Made no sense, but you would not know that if you don’t ride on the public roads.  Not many “knuckleheads” lately.  Cars and trucks have been very courteous.

Tomorrow, we head to Utica.  Going to stay at a volunteer fire department.  Payment is beer in the fridge.  About 80 miles closer to Berea.

Jeff, Jerry, Jack, and Sue

July 14

July 14, 2013

We left Farmington at 5:40 this morning.  Great sunrise. Ride was beautiful in beginning.  Not too bad as far as hills. We saw a few dogs today.  Sue had bought whistles for us as a deterrent against the dogs.  A shitzu came at us; Jack said if I used the whistle on the Shitzu, I had to wear a pink tutu the rest of the trip.  As we went up the last up and down, before us was the most beautiful sight—flat land down below.  The Ozarks were behind us.  Missouri may have been the most difficult state with the hills/mountains.  Went through St. Mary, pop 360, (there were no bells in St. Mary’s) and then we crossed the Mississippi.  We left the Mizzou state and entered the Land of Lincoln.  When we crossed into Illinois, we crossed the bridge into Chester, pop 8,856.  If you didn’t know, Chester is the home of Popeye (I yam what I yam).

You would think that a city of that size would have a place to get a pancake and a cup of coffee.  Not.  We ended up at a Hardees.

We decided to do a n alternative Mississippi levee alternative route from this point.  We expected to see the Mississippi.  Not.  We got a glimpse of it early and then it was marshland and corn and soybeans.  I half expected to see Shoeless Joe Jackson come out of the corn patch.  The alternative route wasn’t too great.  We did see a coal drop.  We got to see a machine in a little house actually turned a coal car upside down to get the coal out of it.  Amazing.  Never had seen so much coal.  Then we ran cross some guys fishing.  They were fishing for catfish, but there were these fish called Gars jumping out of the water.  They were good ol’ boys.  We proceeded on to parts unknown.  At times, we were t 4^th and Plum.  Four miles out and plum in the   middle of nowhere.  Ended up in a bar in Neunert, called Bottom’s Up.  We just wanted to get walter.  But they had popcorn, so Jack had to have some.  Watched the NBA Developmental League.  Then it was onto Murphysboro for the night.  We are in an RV Marina Campground.  We have no running walter, no electricity, and the restrooms are several hundred yards away.  And it just rained.  We went to a laundry mat.  Then, to get out of the heat, we went to a Mexican Bar and had a round of beers on the Greely’s.  They spotted us some “fun” money.  It rained dogs and cats while we were there.  We decided to stay and have dinner there.  Had to be about our 5^th time for Mexican food.  Back to the campsite.  Could rain again.

Saw some banana trees today.   Not nearly as big as the ones I have at home.  Seeing lots of road kill, many times a double hit.

Ended up doing about 85 miles today.  Saw some turkeys, rabbits, a deer, Gar fish, and dawgs.  407 miles to Berea.  Tomorrow, 95 miles.

Gotta stop here, the flies are driving me crazy.

Jeff, Jerry, Jack, and Sue