Day 1 - Hixson to Walls of Jericho Alabama Trailhead

Left home this at zero dark thirty (6 a.m.). Very nice, pleasant ride into Chattanooga. Cool weather and light traffic always makes for a very enjoyable ride.  If there was a part of work I miss, it would be the morning bicycle commute. 

In downtown Chattanooga this morning I came across James, who promotes and encourages participation in outdoor activities around Chattanooga.  James was biking to work and we got to ride a few blocks together and catch up with what is going on.  He was headed to the Community Kitchen in Chattanooga to teach a bicycle safety course to homeless individuals.  The program provides those homeless individuals who attend the course with a bicycle.  It was good catching up with James.

I met Bob (TVA retiree) at our regular meeting place, McDonalds in Tiftonia.  Bob will be riding with me for 3 days to Iron City, Tennessee, where he will turn around and head home.

From Tiftonia, we rode through Wildwood, Georgia, (I forgot to list Georgia as one of the States I will be riding in during this tour) and New Hope, Tennessee.  Just before New Hope, we passed Nickajack Lake and the Nickajack bat cave.

 

We then crossed the Tennessee River on the bridge pictured below entering into South Pittsburg, Tennessee.  There is a definite advantage to riding with a civil engineer (Bob), he is a wealth of knowledge.  I have ridden across this bridge numerous times, and had not ever really given it any thought, other than it is a "neat bridge."  Bob told me he had read in the Almanac years ago that this bridge was at one time one of the longest steel tube girder arch bridges around.  I didn't even know folks read the Almanac.

View of the Tennessee River from the bridge. 

We went through the town of South Pittsburg.  I'm sure any folks that went through South Pittsburg before the 4-lane bypass was built recalls how busy and congested the Main Street was, with people shopping at Hammers and other shops along the main strip.  Well, this is what that strip looks like today thanks to that bypass. 

Here is a monument to Sequoyah (1760-1843) that is in front of the South Pittsburg library.  Sequoyah is a Tennessee native, who at one time resided in the area of South Pittsburg and created the Cherokee alphabet.  Impressive. 

After South Pittsburg we entered into Alabama (my birth State), and went through Stevenson, which is another town that has pretty much dried up, but is great to bike in.  Here is a photo of the Main Street in downtown Stevenson.

And the old train depot and hotel there.

After Stevenson, it was all backroads on several Jackson County, Alabama, County Roads.  We went through Fackler, another great area to bike in.

If your are ever on Jackson County Road 32, the Rock Zoo is a must to see.  I'm sure you can look on Trip Advisor to learn more about this attraction.  If you do go there, please follow the rules and do not feed the animals.

From the Rock Zoo, we had a few miles to go before we started our about 2 mile climb up Crow Mountain.  Here is a photo of Bob manhandling the mountain.

We finally made it to Hytop, which is about 5 miles from our final destination tonight, The Walls of Jericho.  Glad to be on top of the mountain - it will be all downhill tomorrow.  Other than the Walls of Jericho, Hytop's claim to fame is the Doppler Radar.

Supper at the Hytop City Park. Never eat spaghetti wearing a white shirt. 

We made it to our campsite and set up camp. As I always tell Lisa, my wife, when I call her at the end of the day, "I am just going to lay here and let whatever happens happen". She knows what usually happens....zzzzz.

Today's ride 93.8 miles, 8 hours 6 minutes saddle time.