https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41755987
Today is the shortest of the tour at 39 miles. Given that and to avoid Monday rush hour traffic we planned a late start. We did that but everyone being so tired from the prior day, we were all in bed by 9 pm. I awoke at 3:30 ready to go and killed an hour surfing the net on my cell phone before taking another couple hours nap. The others reported the same, except Ross for whom that schedule is normal.
Breakfast was great. Everything one might get at a Waffle House in a large separate building. The office even had a bin of old towels for folks to use cleaning motorbikes, boots, and bicycles. Bob and I took advantage of the towels and extra time to clean and lube our chains. This is a great motel from every aspect.
Bob had first sag so Tom, Ross, and I set out about 9 to moderately heavy traffic. There was construction on the main street requiring us to go off route for a bit onto what was actually a better street. Once clear of the city, traffic was very light and uniformly courteous. The issue was the constant road undulations. Many, many, down a hill and up a hill just too far to roll over.
My legs began to fade. Just as the road leveled a bit I got a call from my wife that I’d left a blue medicine bag in the room. I have such a bag and had done some last minute fishing around in my bags so figured it was me. A call to Bob and he returned to fetch the bag. I really felt bad about leaving the bag till learning it was actually Bob’s bag, after which I felt much better.
Near the end of our first leg on KY 1392 between Fairfield and KY 55, we had about a 3 mile gentle climb on a gorgeous canopied road with pool table smooth pavement. Tom got ahead of us but not by as much as he estimated.
First regroup was at a Corps of Engineers site on Taylorsville Lake. We arrived a few minutes before Bob finished his harrowing drive on a main road. He had reservations about cycling further but we reassured him we’d not be on that bad.
Turned out the roads and Bob were fine but the challenging undulations returned to be capped off by a 9% 200 meter climb that ended my riding. I’m not disappointed since my goals was to ride at least one leg of each Kentucky day. I’m stronger daily but still not well.
Ross and I went to the Shelbyville Econolodge 1 ½ hrs before the published check in. Most times that’s no problem but today it was. No amount of wheedling helped. He would not let us stash the bikes inside the totally vacant lobby.
Tom and Bob arrived within 30 min and we decided to try Claudia Saunders House restaurant only to find it closed on Mondays. No problem, we wound up at Cattleman’s Roadhouse which Bob declared the best meal of the day.
Ross and I went to the nearby Walmart to gas up and for me to get toothpaste. Now we are napping and considering what to get for a bedtime snack.
Bruce
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