Mood:  a-ok

Jack left the evening before last, and I had all of yesterday to relax and prepare for today.  The most important issue was to have my brakes checked at the local bike store.  My brakes are starting to fail, and the brake pads need replacing.  Unfortunately, the local bike shop had neither the proper parts or time for installation, so they gave some quick adjustments, advised that I have them replaced prior to traversing eastern Kentucky (which, I gather, is supposed to be very steep) and sent me on my way.

My room at the Ramada was a joke at any price, least of all the $100 that I was paying.  The phone didn't work.  The internet computer didn't work.  The entire facility was under renovation.  My room was nice, but when I stepped outside the door, the concrete hallway was dirty, and had rebar showing through the holes in the concrete.  I started calling around.  Comfort Inn: All full. Days Inn:  All full. They were all full.  Wait a minute, what is this?  Budget Inn:  yes they have a room for $39.  I took it.  And, yes, the phone worked. 

Today, I was to leave Owensboro and try to get to an area called the Rough River Dam.  There is a state park there, and several motels.  I missed the turn onto Highway 54 and had to backtrack to find it.

As the hills started to add up, I pulled into a little post office in Deaneville.  From there, I took items off my bike that I doubted I would need, and mailed them back home.  One item was my tent.  I kept the ground cloth, pillow and two sleeping bag liners, so I could sleep outside (if it was not raining).

The miles started adding up.  The hills were tiring but I could do them.  Ironically, an email that I received from someone in Granite Falls helped.  This gentleman had been reading my journal and felt inspired by my trip.  He had lost weight through his bicycling workouts.  It is seldom that we have the opportunity to inspire anyone, and this gave me energy on even the longest hills.

As is common, I had eaten three times before I arrived at the motel around 2 PM.  They had a small but nice swimming pool, and for the first time since leaving home, I put on my swim trunks and took a dip.  It was fantastic!  It was just the right temperature to feel cooling, yet the water was warm enough that one didn't need to tiptoe into it.  I lay in the shade, listening to Ivanhoe on the MP3 player, taking occasional dips.  This was definitely heaven.  The outdoor temperature was in the mid-90's.

Tomorrow was going to be exciting.  The ride was not going to be exceedingly long, 58 miles, and I was to meet one of my fraternity brothers, W.T. Wrege, and we were going to visit the area, especially Mammoth Caves.  I wanted to be at the motel first if at all possible.

Speaking of possibilities, I had no accidents of any kind today.  This shouldn't be newsworthy, but, after riding over 3,000 miles without any mishaps, the last several days have made me a little more conscious of how easy it is to fall.  Maybe it was the day of rest in Owensboro, or maybe it was just the increased focus while riding.  Whatever, it made for a good day.

Will McMahan