Days1-3: 6/13/25-6/15/25: Home-Marion, KY

On Friday the 13th, I began a trip to Kansas to visit my daughter, son-in-law, grandson and granddog.  

The adventure began on Thursday the 12th.  I decided to grease the bottom bracket and crankset on the Heron bicycle, which I was going to ride.  Everything went fine during the disassembly and greasing.  I reinstalled the bottom bracket and was installing the crank when the threads inside the crankarm stripped.  I have no other cranks that are compatible with that bottom bracket.

Change of plans number 1:  Due to the stripped threads, I decided to replace the bottom bracket and crankset with the ones that came with the Heron when I bought it.  The older bottom bracket was installed, and I got the crankset only to realize I had removed one of the chainrings to use on another bike.  I decided to remove the chainring from the other bike and put it back on the Heron crankset, but a chainring screw broke on the older Heron crankset.  I didn't have another chainring screw the same length as the broken one.

Change of plans number 2:  I decided just to take the crankset off the other bike that had the borrowed chainring and use it on the Heron.  All was installed good and tight and I went on a test ride.  I found that the chainline was so off that I would have had to stay mostly on the small chainring for smooth pedaling.  I didn't want to do that.

So, change of plans number 3:  Just go to the bicycle "bullpen" and call in the Gunnar, my newest touring bicycle.  I haven't done any trips this long on the Gunnar and had not ridden it much prior to starting this trip, so we'll see how it goes.

Moral of the story:  Don't start messing with stuff the day before a big trip.  I knew better than to do that, but did it anyway.  Lesson learned.

Day 1:  As planned, Mike rode with me (pic below) for about 30 miles and then turned around and headed back home.  

Just north of Campbellsville, TN, I ran into thunderstorm number 1 of the day.  It primarily rained steadily on me until Mount Pleasant, TN.  Just north of Mount Pleasant, I ran into thunderstorm number 2 of the day.  As I passed a couple of cars that were going in the opposite direction, the drivers rolled down their window and hollered to me to be careful and safe (pics below of what they had passed that I hadn't). 

I don't think I've ever seen so many sheep in one pasture (pic below).

And, of course, their protector.

 It continued to rain on me until I made it to my campsite.  I hunkered under a rest area pavilion at the Gordon House on the Natchez Trace Parkway until the rain stopped.  No rain during the night and a good night's sleep.

Total miles today:  86.3

Total ascent: 3516 feet

Day 2:  Long riding day with a couple of light showers and a lot of steep hills.  Stayed wet most of the day from rain and/or sweat.  I camped at the Land Between the Lakes Piney Campground.  Another great night's sleep.

Total miles today: 100.0

Total ascent: 5077 feet

Day 3:  After yesterday's ride, today's ride seemed much easier.  I guess the short steep hills yesterday knocked the lack of touring "cobwebs" out of my body.  Pic below of bison at the Land Between the Lakes. 

Next state...

 I made it to Marion, KY, and stayed inside the Methodist Church.  When I made it to Marion, I ate at the Mexican restaurant and was told Marion has a boil water order for the city.  So I bought a gallon of water to drink while in Marion.  This is the second time Marion has had a water problem when I was passing through.

Total miles today: 91.1

Total ascent: 4870 feet