Day 8: 3/27/22: Meriwether Lewis Campground to Home

 It was downright cold when we woke up this morning, but fortunately the wind wasn't bad.  I delayed our start because I could not find my glasses after I had packed my sleeping gear.  That meant I had to unpack everything and pack it back up to make sure I didn't accidentally pack my glasses.  This turned up no glasses.  I had pretty much given up on finding them, when Bob came over with them. He found them laying underneath our picnic table.  It was very windy when we arrived at camp yesterday and things were getting blown around.  My glasses must have been on the table and got blown off.  I was so tired and cold I was just wanting to get in my sleeping bag yesterday afternoon and did not do my normal routine that would have made me realize I didn't have them.

Last night, there were several young adults at the campsite across the road from us. They were talking loudly.  Scott told me and Bob this morning that these young adults' conversations woke him up from a deep sleep. Thinking that it was middle of the night, he thought to himself that he hoped they would not be that loud all night.  He then looked at his clock and it was only 8:30 p.m. :)

Scott and I rode with Bob for about 26 miles today.  We then separated, with Bob heading east toward Chattanooga and Scott and I heading south toward Athens.

Some views from our ride today.

Strange yard art...

Woohoo!!!  We're finally made it to the correct State and County...

Pics below of us getting home and starting to unpack some of our gear.  

Total miles today: 69.13

Total miles this trip: 546.4

Day 7: 3/26/22: Colbert Ferry Campground to Meriwether Lewis Campground

 I woke up this morning with a craving for a large breakfast with eggs and pancakes.  There were no restaurants near our route today, so I decided to head back to Cherokee and eat at JJs Restaurant.  This would add 14 miles to my ride today, but it was worth it to get the breakfast pictured below.

As in any small town, you can learn just about anything by listening at the local cafe. This morning I learned about a bad car accident, diabetes, and family problems.  I met the owner of the pharmacy and grocery store, the local hog hunter, and 2 ladies preparing to go to yard sales.

One of the locals told me there had been talks in Cherokee about turning the old jail into a hostel for cyclists.

I crossed the Tennessee River (pics below).

And made it to...

Scenery pics from my ride today.

Robert is our neighbor at the campground tonight.  Below are a few pics of his interesting camping rig.

Total miles today: 74.37

Day 6: 3/25/22: Tupelo to Colbert Ferry Campground

 I got a first hand experience of the labor shortage this morning.  At 6:30 a.m., McDonald's had only 1 employee working so their lobby was closed. I then went to Waffle House for breakfast, but they were doing take out orders only due to lack of staffing.  Finally, there was a Burger King that was open at that time, and I had breakfast there.  I was down to 4% charge on my phone and was able to sit awhile and recharge me and my phone.

Bob and Scott went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast and then had an errand to run.  We met back together after that and rode together today.

A couple of pics from the Natchez Trace today.

We were on the Trace for about 27 miles and crossed back over the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (pic below).

Shortly after crossing over the waterway, we had to exit the Trace and rode most of the rest of today on country roads. We went on many back roads in Tishomingo County, Mississippi.  One road had a sign memorializing an employee who had worked for the county 40 years (pic below).

Leon must have been a highly valued employee.

Sample of our Tishomingo County riding below.

In some areas, the litter on the side of the roads detract from the enjoyment of the area (pic below).

Pic of us enjoying lunch outside a local church.

We met Jared from upstate New York who is riding a part of the Trace to get ready for a 1 month bicycle ride in Europe he is going to do (pic below). He has less gear in his bike because he is staying in hotels.

After a few miles we made it back to…

(If you can't read the sign, it's Alabama. Someone stole the state sign. Also, I'm pointing to the sign, not headed for the nose with my finger :))

Bob and Scott crossing a bridge over Bear Creek in Colbert County, AL.

Mondays and Fridays are Bob's dessert days.  Since today is Friday, Scott and I celebrated dessert day with Bob by us all getting ice cream at "The Pig" (Piggly Wiggly) in Cherokee, AL (Pic below).

Some pics below around downtown Cherokee.

I took a couple of shadow pictures of us outside of Cherokee.  The first is Bob and Scott, and I am the second one.

We got back on the Trace north of Cherokee, and made it to the bicycle only campground at Colbert Ferry.   Signs like the one below indicate where bicycle only campgrounds are located along the Trace.

Below are a few pics I took today of my favorite kind of vehicles (the kind that won't hurt me).

Below are pics of some old abandoned houses/sheds we passed today.  One can't help but wonder about the history of those houses. 

Total miles today: 78.34