LBL > Nashville (home! but not finished)
Just before I got out of the park, the sun gently peeked up above the horizon-level clouds. There wasn't too much that could have brought me down that day because I was going to be home by days end...
First real sunrise sighting of my trip. There was a convenience store that was just opening up as I exited the park and stopped in to get a replacement breakfast of a single-serving apple pie, sticky bun and chocolate milk. I allowed myself to continue waking up as I ate at a picnic table outside. While I was sitting there, an older gentleman approached me after getting out of his Cadillac with a Vanderbilt front plate on it and started asking me about what I was doing. I showed him the route I was following and he said he was impressed that a guy my age was using proper maps instead of my phone. He mentioned wanted to do something similar to my cycling trip and that a few of his friends had done it a few years ago. I liked this guy and was happy to have met him. It put me in a better mood.
Once I was done eating, I asked the clerk of the store what the next town was and how far away it was. He said "Kaydis" and about 20 miles. I said thanks and rolled on extremely confused because the only town anywhere close to that that I saw on the map was one called Cadiz. Cadiz is also a big town in Spain pronounced "Cahdeez" and it took about 15 minutes of thinking about it to finally understand the Englishism debacle.
Once I was done eating, I asked the clerk of the store what the next town was and how far away it was. He said "Kaydis" and about 20 miles. I said thanks and rolled on extremely confused because the only town anywhere close to that that I saw on the map was one called Cadiz. Cadiz is also a big town in Spain pronounced "Cahdeez" and it took about 15 minutes of thinking about it to finally understand the Englishism debacle.
Doesn't look like much... After getting kind of lost in the neither regions of Amish country Kentucky and following bad advice from Google's cycling route, I wound up in Herndon. Google had put me on a few roads that weren't actually roads, not even service roads. The most notable was what must have been a clearing cut in the woods to install a long row of telephone poles. The undergrowth these days was impassable. There were new sapling trees that were taller than I was and brush so thick you couldn't see through it. Nice try Google. But it was just as well because the road it was trying to connect me it turns out was on the Ft. Campbell Army base and I definitely would have been in trouble for trespassing.
Herndon doesn't really classify as a town, I don't think. It was more just an intersection of two country roads. But I stopped at the Herndon Market LLC to get a snack that would last me till Clarksville. Well, I thought I smelled burgers outside and when I went in, I figured out where the smell was coming from. Right there. And I really wanted one. So I got one. It was dark inside and the only thing happening was that the husband was watching some infomercial program on a tiny, old tv. His wife was manning the grill, but until I got there, there were no other orders. Both of them looked generally unhappy but the burger was pretty good and I made sure to let her know that. I asked for a local map and eventually the guy found one after looking all over the place. I was finally able to figure out where I was and the best route from there to Clarksville.
Herndon doesn't really classify as a town, I don't think. It was more just an intersection of two country roads. But I stopped at the Herndon Market LLC to get a snack that would last me till Clarksville. Well, I thought I smelled burgers outside and when I went in, I figured out where the smell was coming from. Right there. And I really wanted one. So I got one. It was dark inside and the only thing happening was that the husband was watching some infomercial program on a tiny, old tv. His wife was manning the grill, but until I got there, there were no other orders. Both of them looked generally unhappy but the burger was pretty good and I made sure to let her know that. I asked for a local map and eventually the guy found one after looking all over the place. I was finally able to figure out where I was and the best route from there to Clarksville.
(Tenness)Eeeeeeeeee! Another hot day it was turning out to be and at the junction of the main route into Clarksville, I stopped at the huge Flying J truck stock on the corner to refill all my fluids. I was finally back in civilization, with ice in my bottles, and a solid route to follow. I had a new outlook on life. This was really the home stretch because just after the Flying J was the state line.
The elation withered pretty quickly though because Clarksville is kind of shithole. I apologize to anyone who likes it there. Ft. Campbell Boulevard was way too busy to ride on, especially when you're bike is heavy, slow and wide. The entire town is there to support the Army base and that's it. It's not a pretty place. I did like watching all the planes and helicopters take off and land from the airport though. I really just wanted out. Once I got through the old downtown part and started leaving the city, things mellowed out but very slowly. Alt Route 41 paralleled I-24 for a very long time and it was kind of annoying to see that, knowing that all those cars were going to get to Nashville hours before I would. I still liked having people around though.
Every once in a while I'd crest a big hill and be able to see Nashville in the distance. Of all the times that the ride seemed like it was going to last forever, this was easily the longest, most agonizing one I guess because I so desperately wanted it to be over. I thought I was never going to reach Davidson County, or the city limits, or any road even close to my house.
BUT! I made it. I had just enough time to shower and drive immediately to the airport to surprise my parents. Total SNAFU though, because they took a cab home not expecting me to be there. Haha, when my parents got home, my dad thought the car had been stolen. Oh well. It was just nice to be home and see some familiar faces. The best part? I didn't have to wake up in the morning and get on my bike. :D
The elation withered pretty quickly though because Clarksville is kind of shithole. I apologize to anyone who likes it there. Ft. Campbell Boulevard was way too busy to ride on, especially when you're bike is heavy, slow and wide. The entire town is there to support the Army base and that's it. It's not a pretty place. I did like watching all the planes and helicopters take off and land from the airport though. I really just wanted out. Once I got through the old downtown part and started leaving the city, things mellowed out but very slowly. Alt Route 41 paralleled I-24 for a very long time and it was kind of annoying to see that, knowing that all those cars were going to get to Nashville hours before I would. I still liked having people around though.
Every once in a while I'd crest a big hill and be able to see Nashville in the distance. Of all the times that the ride seemed like it was going to last forever, this was easily the longest, most agonizing one I guess because I so desperately wanted it to be over. I thought I was never going to reach Davidson County, or the city limits, or any road even close to my house.
BUT! I made it. I had just enough time to shower and drive immediately to the airport to surprise my parents. Total SNAFU though, because they took a cab home not expecting me to be there. Haha, when my parents got home, my dad thought the car had been stolen. Oh well. It was just nice to be home and see some familiar faces. The best part? I didn't have to wake up in the morning and get on my bike. :D
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