I'm sorry for the long hiatus... With the lack of internet connection its hard to keep you all posted, even Jerry called me cause he was worried I hadn't updated anything in a while. Alas we are alive! Little foot began a post but cut it short due to the time so I'm going to continue on. The guys we met in Hindman ended up being our lodging buddies for two nights!
The first night was in the Knotts Historic Center, which was definitely a night to remember. We arrived just in time to put our stuff away in our "room", one part of a three room tent that had a queen air mattress in it and smelled like wet cat, then the flood gates of Hell opened up and poured down for the better part of the evening causing the electric to cut out. All of the cyclists (6 including lil foot and myself, the two Brits and a couple brothers) and Dave gathered in Dave's house and sat in the dark. Dave is the grounds keeper and has been hosting cyclists for 15 or so years, which is amazing. Everyone got to know one another and we began to meet the many many cats which Dave has. I would say 30 or so cats and a bunch of kittens as well. Now we know why everything smelled like wet cats, even the tops of our beers made us a little nervous before drinking them, but who are we kidding, let the beer flow! After the storm cleared and we all ate, Dave made us possibly the largest sundae I have ever attempted to consume! It was delicious but I failed in completing mine, as did everyone else. Then it was time for bed as lil foot and I hoped to get an early start and reach our first 100 mile day.
Although 8am is petty early it wasn't the start we originally wanted, but our hopes were still high. As the day went on we encountered a few dogs which we did not hesitate to spray, I think some of them use the scary as mouth wash and just keep coming for you. We survived our second day of dogs but did not make it to Berea, instead we bunker up with Chris and Gary, the Brits, in Bonesville Kentucky at Linda's B&B. What a character Linda is! First the voice you hear on the phone does not match the woman you meet. She was nice enough to pick us up at a local grocery store, then take us the mile and a half to our house for the night. In the process of getting out of the truck we noticed the 38 sitting in the side pocket of the driver's door. This did not make us feel so safe in western Kentucky, first the dogs now we may need a gun? Oh man! Linda reassured us she hasn't had to use the gun, but keeps it close ever since her husband passes away, now the four of us could relax a bit for the night. Lil foot and I cooked dinner while the guys took showers and relaxed, they of course did the dishes while we took showers and relaxed! Then we woke up to the smell or Bacon, eggs and toasted bagels! I could get used to this, but that would be the last of lodging with the Brits at unless they go camping! Haha
It was time to start our trip from bonesville to Hardin Springs, KY. A nice 86 mile day was in store for us, and the sun also decided to join us for the whole day. With the mountains finally behind us and the hills a Kentucky ahead we were positive we wouldn't have a problem reaching our goal. As the day went on the sun was brutal, and along our path we met another cyclists! Nina, a Pennsylvania native, but living in Norway for the last 20 something years, came along and joined us for the last 30 miles of our day! We joined up and camped out at Chimney Rock RV Park for the night. This place was great, only $10 per tent and a nice grassy patch next to the office only for cross country cyclists! Lil foot and I got some laundry done, but yet again went to sleep much too late. We chatted with our new friend only for a short time in the morning, then agreed to join up again for another night of camping. We wanted to get more than 50 something miles in but with lack or resources we didn't have much choice. Our destination for Thursday night would be My Old Kentucky Home State Park, where we meet yet another cyclist. Nina did her own thing for the day and stopped off at a couple touristy things while we just took our time and got to the park nice and early! While waiting for Nina to arrive the new guy came over and chatted a bit. His name is Mike, going from NY to to San Fran. He began his trip a day before us and is averaging 40 to 50 miles a day, so this would be the only time we'll be seeing him. Mike good luck with the rest of your trip. Also Nina made it to camp a couple hours after us, we talked about our plans to comes and realized this would most likely be our last night together as well.
Back to biking... From Old Kentucky we had 72 miles til our next interesting place to sleep. More dogs and smells all day during our ride. We are hoping to pass somewhere to pick up more pepper spray, well at least I am, because the dogs are out of control. In some ways lil foot is lucking out because I tend to ride a little ahead and hit the dogs first, if I spray them then they don't bother her. But sometimes it seems like I wake up the dogs and then she has to deal with them. I tried to kick a little one in the afternoon but missed and scared him off! What ever works, I'll take it. Like I said before, if it comes down to me being bit or someone's dog getting sprayed/kicked then peace out dog. As the day went on I think the sun was at its strongest so far, and it would only get stronger and hotter during our adventure. With the sun comes some strong smells, the smells of nasty road kill. We've seen tons of different animals on the side of the road, wish I could see a lot less. You don't notice this type of thing when you're driving by, trust me this is the worst part of the cycling. The last couple hours of the ride were still extremely hot, (not to worry mom Brittany has made sure I block it up just about every time we stop) but the end was in site! Double L grocery store here we come. Boy oh boy we had no idea what to expect. We pull into what looks like an abandoned gas station where a hoarder lives and decided to have a yard sale. Well this is the kind of place that McDaniels KY calls a grocery store. Can't complain too much, we had a free spot to camp, a hot shower (picture a dirty, dirty hostel) and a free bowl of cereal the next morning! I think if you're a fan of Mullets, people with no teeth and hillbilly accents then this would be your heaven, but for us it was just a free place to crash for the night.
Now that we are up to date I'll let you know how today was!
We crossed over our first time zone this morning, that's right we are now living in the past! Western Kentucky seems to be a lot nicer than eastern. Farms all over with beautiful scenery and a lot less dogs! Although while getting loose this morning only three miles in I was ran off the road twice by a dog a sprayed twice and kicked twice. Lucky me, the bastard kept coming but I finally out ran him and I guess he was out of juice because he didn't go for lil foot at all. Now my body was literally shaking from my closest encounter yet. Not a dog fan at all these days, but I miss my "niece and nephew" and appreciate them so much more! Another hot one today as well. High of 96 and felt like 100 at some parts of the day... Woohooooooo. We got most of our ride done early and took a two hour break from the sun from 1-3 before finishing up another 72 miles.
Tonight we are in Utica KY, staying in a volunteer firehouse which I probably the best place to stay so far. (Obviously not counting friends and family that put up with us! It would be nice if we had more of you spread out throughout the middle of America, haha.) Here they leave the door unlocked for passing cyclists even if none is on duty. Another cyclist is also staying the night, he's going East and ending in North Carolina. His name is Spencer and is lucky enough to be credit card touring. He's traveling light and never camps, but was full of great information for a bunch of locations in our future! We decided since we had the luxury of a refrigerator tonight to attempt eating a box of cereal each and we both failed. We fail a bunch, I think from now on if we lower our expectations then we'll succeed a lot more! Tomorrow we will go for 20 miles! Hahaha I wish, but actually tomorrow is still up in the air. Once we find a place to buy beer by somewhere that we can camp and swim, then our final destination will be decided!
Tomorrow we will cross the border into Illinois and then hopefully be in the perfect place to have a hillbilly 4th of July! Beers, burgers, hot dogs and sun.... As long as we have those four things I will be such a happy camper, literally!
Now my thumbs are cramping up and I can't afford to lose more feeling in more fingers, so I am going to end this long ass post here.
Good night to all, and I will try to update the blog much more frequently.
Just incase we are too drunk tomorrow night or don't have service, HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!
Sasq
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