Day 2: 5/22/19: Hytop, AL, to Huntsville, AL

I sweated myself to sleep last night because it was so hot. However, it cooled off during the night and I had to pull out the sleeping bag.

I went to my regular haunt, Cumberland Mountain Outdoors to have breakfast. They actually have 99¢ pancakes now so I ordered one of those and a sausage and egg biscuit. It turned out to be quite the breakfast (pic below).

The pancake got the attention of the other fee patrons inside the restaurant, so hopefully they will start selling more of them. 

A lady named Judy was eating breakfast also and asked about my Colorado shirt. We struck up a conversation and actually sat at the same table and talked while I finished my breakfast. 

She started losing her eyesight about 10 years ago, but surgery allowed her to maintain good eyesight in one of her eyes.  She is legally blind, but is able to drive.  She grew up around Hytop, but currently lives in Birmingham, AL. She indicated she has been robbed 3 time in Birmingham by criminals that targeted her after seeing her cane for the visually impaired. She stated she now owns her late father's home that was given to him by President Grover Cleveland. She is wanting to rehab the home and has contacted the producers of "This Old House" and is awaiting a response. She also owns several acres of land around the Walls of Jericho and is currently working to get 55 acres designated as a wetland as a sanctuary for animals. She was wearing a t-shirt that had " Wildlife in the fast lane" on it with some animals paddling a canoe. She is trying to start a non-profit group that introduces people with physical challenges to wildlife/adventure activities.  She was quite an interesting person to talk to and I could tell she loves all life. Below is her pic

So I finish breakfast and get back on the bike. I am going down the mountain when a Subaru passed me. When I got to the bottom of the mountain, the Subaru was beside the road and Ben stopped me to talk about my bike and trip. He had ridden a bike from Hytop to a class reunion in Harriman, TN, and told me about his experiences. He has lived in Hytop for about 30 years, but is still considered an outsider. He stated the folks that live there are very hardworking.  Again, another great conversation. 

I go on about my way, and stop at a church I regularly stop for water.  I had just drank my last water when I arrived at the church. I filled up my bottle and the water was milky white. I let it run some, but it remained milky white. I decided not to drink it. It was hot and I had no water. 

Less than a mile from the church, Alfred and his 2 daughter's were waiting in their front yard to talk to me about my trip. He and his brother did a bicycle tour on a portion of the Natchez Trace last year and we talked about bike touring. They are now getting ready to hike about 150 miles on the Appalachian Trail. He asked me if I wanted some water and he filled up both my water bottles. God provides. Still yet, another great person to talk to.

I continue on and pull up to another church that is a regular stopping place for me just for a break. Rayburn came out of the church with a container of water and I asked him if he was going to dump it on me. He said he was watering some winter flowers to try to keep them alive a little longer. I told him I was disappointed it wasn't to be dumped on me to cool me off. We struck up a conversation and he told me about being an alcoholic and the Lord setting him free from his sin and burden. Again, great conversation. 

I made it to my father-in-law's house at about 5:00 p.m.  I usually arrive at his house between 2:00-3:00 p.m., but was delayed by my conversations and the wind. 

The conversations were enjoyable, but the wind was not. I had a stiff head wind most of the day that pretty much wore me out. I found myself actually envying the motorists heading in the opposite direction thinking to myself, "Y'all are not even appreciating your tailwind!!" :)

Total miles today: 75.6