Boola Boola !!

Wednesday, May 21

Waverly to Dover, TN

43 Miles. 

Total Miles to Date ~ 631

We spent 6-hours on the road today - a day that was advertised as "worse than today" at last night's map meeting. "Worse than today", meaning a lot more climbing. Holly, Mary, and I pulled out of the motel parking lot at 7:30. It was cool this morning, in the 50s. Because we were climbing almost immediately, at grades between 10 and 12 percent, I was overdressed within miles - wearing arm warmers under a windbreaker, tights, socks, and my light weight balaclava. The roads we rode along, those two lane country back roads, were beautiful and partially shaded with dappled sunlight. It was difficult to appreciate the beauty while we traveled downhill at speeds somewhere between 20 and 35 MPH - always on the lookout for holes and other obstacles in the road that were difficult to see where the trees were casting shadows. Interestingly, the early hours of the day were the most difficult for me - I walked part of two or three climbs (must be losing my short term memory from the heat and exertion). 

Bo-Peep was waiting for us at 18+ miles, and again at 35 miles. At 30 miles we stopped at The Cotton Patch Market for a break from the heat (although, not as bad as yesterday's), some water, some chips, and company as the other women came along. Most of them ordered burgers or some other sandwiches. We ate our PBJs. There is no way climbing and a full stomach would work for me. 

When we turned onto US 79 at 40.8 miles (with less than five to go) we found ourselves on a repeat of yesterday's road - the one with a wide clean shoulder. Our final climb was a long easy grade to our motel, The Dover Inn. We passed the hotel (located at the top of a steeeeeeep hill) to hit a McDonald's for a McFlurry. What can I tell you? There are just no DQs in the deep south.

Today is Patty's birthday (our cook/guide) so we ate out at a local restaurant, Sue's Catfish Palace. Great salad and food bar. The pie was not anything that Clark would approve of. 

Tomorrow we ride right through the middle of Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area along The Trace. We finish at the north end at Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park and will be there until Saturday morning. Friday is a rest day. Good thing. We've got nothing by dirty clothes in our suitcases. 

Cannot post this tonight - Wednesday. No WiFi at this motel. Just dial-up. According to John, Holly's husband, Apple stopped putting a connection for a telephone line in their computers ten years ago. Dial-up! Who'da thunk it? Happy birthday, Pam. I love you.