MAGGIE VALLEY DAY 7

HEADING HOME!

 

It was a very cool 52 degrees when I left this morning just before 7am mountain time.  Wore full leathers and a stocking hat with insulated gloves and they felt good as I headed up the valley.  Got onto I-40 and headed over the mountains, enjoying the big, sweeping curves, the tunnel, and the mountains around me.  This is just as pretty as I-70 over the Rocky Mountians and I-64 in West Virginia.  Crossed the Tennessee line at 7:30, making good time.  Got to Knoxville and remembered it was Sunday, and therefore the traffic was thankfully light.  Next was I-75 North.

 

 

Soon I got off the Interstate and started enjoying the Tennessee countryside as I headed North into Kentucky.  Stopped for breakfast in a town called Oneida, and shed my chaps and hat before continuing my ride.  In Kentucky, I got onto the Cumberland Parkway and headed west through the southern part of the state.  The parkways is like an interstate but without the billboards. Nice.  I got that hour back that I lost on the way east last week.

 

Stopped for lunch at one of my favorite restaurants!  Put the jacket away as it was getting really hot!  Was reminding me of Missouri weather.

 

Now, I'm going to have to keep a closer eye on my GPS, because I'm pretty sure it's been smoking crack.  Second day in a row its gotten me lost.  Today it lead me into the Kentucky country roads, right, left, right, left, and eventually the roads didn't have names, but they did have tall fields of corn all around.  Luckily I had plenty of time to enjoy my circumstance.  I turned around twice and tried other roads until I came to Adairville.  Asked an elderly fellow in the store if he could help me.  He looked at my map and said his eyes weren't very good, but he could tell me good directions if I told him where I wanted to go.  I told him and he told me, and soon I was lost again, and now I was lost in TN instead of KY!  The next old guy in Adams, exclaimed "he sent you this way!"  He had his daughter give me directions, and I eventually I got to I-24, but  was now 25 miles south of the KY border, and pretty hot!

 

Well, I made it to the motel in Gilbertsville 90 miles later.  The ride was supposed to be 433 miles, but ended up being 500 miles.  It was an interesting day, though, and the trip is supposed to be interesting after all, and it was.  I wonder if I can make 8 days in a row without rain?  Will find out tomorrow as I start the last day of my ride, heading home to Joplin.  I miss my wife, family, and dog.