Started from Boone tavern in Berea this morning at 6:30. Thanks Lynn Phillips for driving me down here. A cool 60 degrees and clear sky’s…..should be a good day of riding.
8:30am and about 20 miles down….no dog chases yet. Climbed some steep hills, but hills are much better than mountains…toward the end of the day it was very noticeable that I am out of mountain country and am in rolling hill country.
Stopped at a little country store near Buckeye, KY for orange juice and two twinkies. A guy stopped and asked me where I was headed. He said he grew up here and remembers in 1976 watching all the bicycles go through here when the initial 76 ride across America. Told me they put up the green 76 signs through KY in 2016 to celebrate the 40 year anniversary. This is a very nice morning; unfortunately nice cool morning turned into very hot afternoon—88 degrees and full sun 🙁
Met Duane just outside Kirksville this morning. He is from Farmington Missouri and started his ride there headed East to Yorktown. When he gets there he is flying to Oregon then riding home to Missouri…unique way to do it, but makes sense—one plane ride and start and finish at your front door step. He gave me info about a bridge being out a few miles ahead in Bryantsville and suggested a detour. I warned him about dogs and mountains—he was dreading both. We talked for a while then continued on—we will most likely cross paths again somewhere west of the Rockies.
Had to detour around Bryantsville due to a bridge being out that added about 10 miles to my trip. I decided to take 34 down almost to Danville (crazy road to ride on, but had no other choice) then I cut across to 33—most people were taking 33 back up to Burgin then heading over to Harrodsburg to get back on the route. This is where living around here and being familiar with these roads came in handy. I knew 33 would be a nightmare—no shoulders and fast traffic, it I continued on west and 127 then turned north to Harrodsburg—127 has a large shoulder (like on interstates) all the way to Harrodsburg—nice 🙂
When I got to Harrodsburg my plan was to stop for lunch, but for some reason I peddled right on through—it was hot, and I wasn’t thinking straight. I was about out of water, it was getting hot and I didn’t see anything else on the map for 20 or so miles—common sense said I should have stopped. But I got lucky and as I topped a hill in a little place called Rose Hill I saw a country store on the right—that became my lunch stop— 2 turkey sandwiches, Diet Pepsi (because they didn’t have coke), a bottle of Gatorade and water. I sat out front in a rocking chair in the shade, had lunch and tried to take an early afternoon nap, but everyone who came into the store wanted to know where I was coming from and where I was going—think I may have gotten 10-15 minutes worth of cat naps 🙂
While at the store I put on sunblock today for the first time—only because I promised June I would, so I guess since she supported me making take this trip I’ll keep my promise and put on sunblock each day 🙂
Got to Mackville and was going to stop at post office and buy a post card, but in Mackville, KY if you’re going to the post office you had better go early 🙂
Did I say it was hot? 88 degrees, full sun, and hot, hot, hot….
Just outside Harrodsburg I rode through Lincoln Homestead State Park. Stopped at the gift shop and I think I woke up the guy at the counter from a nap. He told me about the cabins on the property—all of which you could clearly see from the gift shop. It was $5 to walk down and look inside them—I passed. I did buy a 32 cent post card and I have a pen now, so June and Tori will get a card with writing on it for the first time. Also the gift shop guy gave me a 2 cent discount on the card and a free cold bottle of water—what a deal 🙂
Rolled into Springfield about 4:30. There is a park in town where a lot of people camp…I’m being wimpy tonight and am staying at the Springfield Inn—air conditioning was calling my name 🙂 $78 with retired military ID—I’ll take it!
Tomorrow I should cross into the central time zone.
A good day of riding!
