Field Trip 21

 Day 41  I left the Lincoln Lodge, and headed south past Lincoln's birthplace at Sinking Spring.  Then east and south to Howardstown and eventually Loretto.  Loretto is the home of the Maker's Mark distillery. As you roll into town, this is what hits you right away: These buildings were on both sides of the road, and there was no sign of activity at all. If I had to guess, this is where the Maker's Mark whiskey is stored in barrels for aging.   Loretto is also the home to the Catholic Sisters of Loretto.  I did pass the Mother house, but was moving fast and didn't take a picture.  A little further up the road was the St. Mary of the Rose Church: Its a sharp contrast to the myriad  Southern Baptist churches. Ate lunch in Springfield, later left heading northward.  The Lincolns moved to this area during Abraham's childhood.  Passed through the Lincoln Homestead State Park.  This caught my eye: Continued through the countryside on...

 Day 41 The ride started out at the North Fork Campground, headed south through the town of McDaniel, then east. The land has opened up quite a bit, with gentle hills and a fair amount of open space.  I think we've arrived at the central plateau of Kentucky,  an geologic uplift of mostly limestone with significant subterranean water. There are very few rivers in this region due to the fact that all the rainfall is soaked into the ground and rock below it. I stopped for a snack where my route (KY 84) crossed KY 62.  Had a conversation with a local who pointed out that route 62 was the first paved road in the region and went all the way from the Canadian Border to Mobile Alabama.  These days the rides are a little shorter, due to where we can find RV camping.  As the route approached Hodgenville, you are approaching Abraham Lincoln's birthplace. He was apparently born in a fairly rough log cabin near where we are staying tonight.  There's lots of "Lincol...

 Day 40 The day started out in Livermore KS, about 10 miles south of the bike route.  It feels like entering a wet sauna as soon as you step out of the RV.  The first part of the ride was due north on route 431, which is not a bike route for good reason--fairly heavy truck traffic.  I pushed it and made it to Utica in about 30 minutes.  Steady riding after that, as I headed east.  Lots of  up and down, but nothing too severe. Eventually I reached the Rough River area.  The ride crosses the dam on the river that forms Rough Lake. Here's a shot of  the resultant lake: We camped in a state park along one of the fingers of the lake, "North Fork Campground" No rain today. Morning Ride Distance 62.94  mi Elev Gain 3,212  ft Time 4 h  18 m Try this route

 Day 39 We had a fairly intense  thunderstorm last night, and the weather forcast was for rain today. It wasn't raining when I started out, and headed south from Marion then east.  My route was closed due to a bridge out on rt 132, so I ended up with a few extra miles on the detour.  Farm roads mostly, light traffic and good surface. No shoulder to speak of though.  I stopped in the town of Sebree for a snack, then set off for my destination of Livermore.  Not far out of town, the sky opened up and it poured for about 5 minutes, then rained steadily.  I stopped and put on my rain gear, but got soaked in the process. My bike computer went crazy, and so I have an incomplete record of the trip.  We're spending the night in Livermore, about 5 miles south of the TransAmerica trail that we have been following, but not bad for a RV park with full hookups. One thing I noted today was lots of turtles on the roads. Mostly in areas with forest, I wonder...

 Day 38 Today we spent in Moran Kentucky, not too far from the Ohio River.  Laundry, bike maintenance and church occupied most of the day. I replaced the chain today, the  other one lasted over 3000 miles,  I put it on several weeks before the trip started. I figured I'd shoot a picture of the bike.  The seat bag contains flat tire tools and spare tubes, my rain jacket, hat and shoe covers and calories.  The bag in the front usually holds a spare water bottle. I generally carry 4 full size bottles, and depending on the heat, sometimes I have to refill before the end of the ride.   So far, I have ridden 2872 miles and climbed 95,246 ft.  Last week was a big one, with 439 miles and 22,953 feet of climbing--all the up and down going through Missouri. Right now we plan to be in Virginia by next weekend.  Thanks for reading.  

 Day 37 The day started out by climbing out of Fernclyffe State Park.  I had noticed a bike path along the highway going south from Goreville.  I gave it a try, but it was so rough with lots of fallen branches.  The road wasn't busy so I opted for that.  The route went east and slightly south towards the Ohio river, then went  back uphill away from the river for a bit.  I stopped in Elizabethtown for a cold drink, then headed off for the last bit to the town of  Cave in the Rock.  As I turned onto a small road to Cave in the Rock, I came across a special stop for cyclists: Shortly after this I made a wrong turn that added a couple of miles.   In order to get to Kentucky, you have to cross the Ohio River.  Here's a shot of the river: Anyway, there's a ferry to Kentucky. Its actually a barge with a tug along side. To cross the other way, the tug pivots and points head first to the other shore.  Here you are looking towards t...

 Day 36 As I left the campground north of Chester, I felt a few sprinkles.  The sky looked a little ominous.  Rode back down to Chester, and who should I run into but Ted, who I mentioned previously. We rode back up to the park right next to the bridge over the Mississippi, where I got the following shots: And who knew? The map gave two possible routes starting out, one along the Mississippi and one inland with more hills.  Both Ted and I chose to head along the Mississippi.   As we made our way down to the level of the river, the rain picked up and started coming down in earnest.  Stopped to put rain gear on then headed down route 3.  This was very busy with trucks going back and forth to a depot/port about 10 miles down.  This made the riding kind of nerve wracking when added to the rain and absence of a shoulder on the road.   Ted, being fully loaded was much slower than I, so I took off. Eventually I passed the truck turnoff, an...