Sunday, September 17, 2023

Day 5: 9/17/23: Marion, KY to Piney Campground

This morning was the first time during this trip that it rained on me.  There was a steady shower during the first couple of hours of my ride.  It was the type of rain that is enjoyable to bike in.  It then cleared off and became another beautiful day for riding.

I met Mike and Allison (pic below) today while riding in the Land Between the Lakes.  They are siblings, one being from Louisville, KY and the other Indianapolis, IN.  They are riding a section of Adventure Cycling Association's Underground Railroad route.  They started in Corinth, MS and are riding to Owensboro, KY.

I am camping at the Piney Campground, which is at the southern end of Land Between the Lakes.  This will be my 3rd or 4th time I have camped here, all at the same campsite (#E281), which is very close to the bathhouse.

Pic below of campsite and sunset at the campground.

Total miles today: 89.1
Total Ascent: 4426 feet

Saturday, September 16, 2023

Day 4: 9/16/23: Hillman Ferry Campground to Marion KY

I got another early start today so I could make it to Eddyville KY for breakfast.  I was considering turning south in Eddyville and stay with a Warm Showers host near Dover, TN.  However, I relaxed a little too long in Eddyville and time got away from me.  Since I left there later than expected, I decided to continue north to Marion which was about 40 miles closer to me than Dover.  I've also ridden this route numerous times on trips to and from Kansas and the roads and scenery are really nice.  

For about the 4th time, I'm staying at the bicycle hostel at the Marion United Methodist Church.  They have continued this cyclist ministry since 1976, when a group of cyclists rode across the U.S. and it was called Bikecentennial '76. 

Below are some pics relating to the cyclist ministry at the church.

Total miles today: 45.4
Total Ascent: 2087 feet

Friday, September 15, 2023

Day 3: 9/15/23: Erin, TN to Hillman Ferry Campground, KY

Mike and I said our farewells early this morning as he was heading back south and I was continuing north.  Pic below of the morning sunrise from the road.

I've ridden this portion of the trip several times when I travel to/from Kansas.  Pic below of the Gunnar in front of the Kentucky State line sign.  I'm assuming this is the first time it has been ridden in KY.

Camping at the Hillman Ferry campground tonight at the northern end of the Land Between the Lakes (pics below).

I purchased a $20 national parks yearly senior pass today which allows me, among other things, to get basic campsites for $8 instead of $16.  Now that's a bargain.  As much as I travel through the Land Between the Lakes, it should be easy for the pass to pay for itself.  I can also eventually apply that $20 to the $80 lifetime senior pass.  It's like getting the lifetime pass on an installment plan.
 
The little dude that can barely be seen in the pic below (middle) with the shining eye was hanging around my campsite.  Mike referred to it as a "farting squirrel.". His advice to me in a text he sent to me was NOT to throw a rock at it to try to scare it away.  Mike indicated he knew not to do that due to a life experience he had :)

Total miles today: 75.1
Total Ascent:  3717 feet

Day 2: 9/14/23: Natchez Trace to Erin, TN

Mike drove up from Athens to join us on our bike ride for 1 night.  Below is a pic of all 3 of us at the Gordon House rest area on the Natchez Trace.
Notice Bob in his non-riding clothes.  Of course he will not be able to ride with us because of his cracked rear wheel.  Lisa drove up to the Gordon House in Bob's van, which he had parked at our house.  She offered to do this because she's a genuinely nice person and she did not want him to have to hang around the rest area a couple of days waiting for Mike to return.  Pic below of us 3 and Bob's "ride" in the background.  He had much rather been able to complete the bike ride.

Our ride today was on some good roads with very little traffic.  We were on one dirt road that was in the middle of nowhere and crossed a Creek.  Pic below of Mike pushing his bike across the Creek.  

Turns out Bob and I traveled on this same road and pushed our bikes through the same Creek during a tour we did a few years ago.  Another pic of the dirt road below.  This section was actually very steep.

At one point on this dirt road, we passed a house that was very isolated from everything.  There was a woman in the yard when we passed, and her dog barked at us.  She began shouting, but it did not sound as though she was scolding the dog.  Mike and I both believe she was shouting at and threatening us for riding our bikes on that road. Unfortunately for Mike, he is planning to take that same route back and has to pass that house again.   I think I'll go back a different way :)

Another pic of today's scenery below.

Pic below of our campsite at Hidden Haven RV Park in Erin.

 
Total miles today: 66.7
Total Ascent:   3725 feet

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Day 1: 9/13/23: Athens to Natchez Trace

Bob drove from Chattanooga and spent the night with us last night.  We woke up bright and early, finished packing up our bikes, and headed out on a 6-day trip to the Land Between the Lakes.  Our departure pic below.
It was a great day for riding.  Mosty cloudy and temps in the low 80s.  We did have a slight headwind out of the NNE, but it was still a very enjoyable ride.

Pic below of our steeds hanging out at the old train depot in Elkmont.

Never trust any road that has Gap in its name.  It usually means there will be a pretty good climb involved.  Pic below of Bob nearing the top of Hoover Gap Road.  It was about a 1 mile steady climb near the 75-mile point of our ride.

We made it to the Gordon House rest area on the Natchez Trace which is close to the bike only campsite where we will be camping tonight.  At the rest area, I had my supper of cold rice and pinto beans that I brought from home (pic below).  It tasted as good as any gourmet meal.

Bob's bike developed a ticking sound during our ride today which got worse as the day went on.  When we made it to our campsite, we closely examined his bike and discovered that his rear rim had developed a crack in it that was hitting his brake pad.  Due to the danger of riding on a bike with a cracked wheel, it is game over for Bob for this trip.  Bummer.  Lisa is coming to pick him up tomorrow morning.  Pic below of the cracked rim.

Total miles today: 87.0
Total Ascent:  3406 feet