Cycling the Underground Railroad

DAY 17:  Counce to Crump, Tennessee  I'm finding that the day after a storm passes through is often a good day to ride.  Today was cool, with a bit of a headwind, but sunny.   No worries about rain today.  Antique Mall in Counce, Tennessee On my way out of Counce, I once again enjoyed some of the local flavor.  Ole Charlie's Antique Mall was closed today (many stores are shut down or close early on Sundays here in the South).  Would have loved to seen inside! If walls could talk.... On the main thoroughfare for just a few miles, the Underground Railroad route took me on back country roads, the destination being Shiloh National Military Park.  I passed the cabin above with an old well in front, and wondered what stories the wall could tell. Last night's storms dumped a lot of rain, and there were weather alerts for flooding still in effect this morning.   Twice my way was blocked.  The white in the far left of the photo below is...

DAY 16:  TISHOMINGO TO COUNCE, TENNESSEE  The reverie of sleep was rudely interrupted by Mother Nature at 2 AM by loud claps of thunder and bright flashes of lightning, accompanied by sometime heavy rain which lasted for just over an hour.   Having anticipated this event (thank you, National Weather Service), the tent was firmly staked down and everything inside was dry. By 7:30 AM, there was no sign of continued precipitation, so I packed up my wet gear and continued northward.  Since another strong storm system was bearing down on me, I deviated from Adventure Cycling's prescribed route to cut off about 20 miles to guarantee I had shelter for the afternoon and evening. Bozo's Used Cars in Tishomingo, Mississippi. My brother Kent (the other half of Shelley Brothers Cycling Adventures) has been following me faithfully on this trip, checking out potential points of interests, campgrounds, motels and restaurants.  (I guess he feels I need additional expert as...

DAY 15: AMORY TO TISHOMINGO  The storm cleared, and the weather was great this morning.  I combined two shorter days into one so I could still have an extra day in my pocket, especially to deal with the unpredictability of this unusually unstable Spring weather. Still following the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, the first 25 miles to Fulton, Mississippi seemed to go by fast.  North of Fulton,  the terrain got hillier for a while,  and the going got a little slower. Turns out that John E. Rankin wasn't who I thought this lock and road was named for. I was now on the John Rankin Highway, a delightful stretch of road, except for the frequent dog attacks/chases.  I have lost count of the number of canine encounters I've had on this trip; they've become daily (and on most days, multiple) events.  I now keep my "Halt!" Dog repellent in my jersey pocket for quick access.  I'm now glad I brought two cans.  I'll probably use them both by the end of the...

DAY 14: AMORY, MISSISSIPPI  Though yesterday was an almost perfect day for pedalling, the forecast for today was grim. Wisdom seemed the better part of valor, so to avoid the "tennis ball size hail," 60 mph winds and flooding (along with the tornadoes and lightning), I decided to hold out in the Briarwood Inn in Amory today and wait out the storm.  For the last couple of hours it has been a deluge, so it proabaly wasn't a bad call. (Now I'm starting to hear emergency vehicle sirens.) The next two planned days are on the short side (25 miles to Fulton and 36 miles to Tishomingo), so I can combine those two days tomorrow into one longer day and still be a day ahead of schedule.  (I may need that extra day if another big storm comes my way.) Check out the water blowing off the roof of the building. Weather for tomorrow night is clear and dry, so camping is on the agenda.

DAY 13:  COLUMBUS TO AMORY Again today I was following the Tombigbee River, more or less.  Most of the time I was on country backroads.   Mississippi backroads and farmland. When I wasn't snaking my way around the rich, black soil of these northern Mississippi farms, I was fighting for my 3 feet on busy highways.  Although Mississippi does have a few more road signs than Alabama (which really isn't saying much), I've yet to see a road with a rideable shoulder.  I've mentioned previously about the stuff folks here in the South tend to deposit by the side of the road.  Today I had a first. Oops!  This magnificent instrument evidently jumped off the back of someone's truck. I'm not exactly sure how to dispose of out-of-tune pianos, but I'm pretty sure this isn't it. But I did see a few road signs, which were helpful.  The older roads today seemed to follow railroad tracks rather than rivers. When this street sign said  "Old" Highway 25, it ...

DAY 12:  ALICEVILLE, ALABAMA TO COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI  I figured sometime on this trip I'd have to pedal in the rain.   Today was one of those days.  Moderate to heavy downpours, with one incidence of lightning and thunder a bit too close for comfort.   When did it stop?  As soon as I pulled up to the motel.   Go figure.  Today I crossed into The Magnolia State.  (Yes, that's rain in the picture.) Entering Mississippi, after 11 days cycling in Alabama. After four hours of cycling in the slosh, I arrived at Columbus, home of Columbus Airforce Base, one of four which train pilots. My friend and fellow coach, Dr. Colonel Scott Frickenstein, was formerly a Base Commander here, so he used his charming influence to set up a short tour of the base and meet a special friend of his. John Almond met us and took us to a local eatery, Zachary's, for lunch.  We learned we had so much in common--a love of cycling, urban ministry, and co...

  DAY 11: LIVINGSTON TO ALICEVILLE, AL A bit warmer, still sunny, with light and variable winds, 75% of today's ride was on more secluded backroads, very few cars and decent pavement.  That made it easier and more enjoyable to take in the sights and sounds of my last full day in Alabama. Out from the forest, a rare vista of the western Alabama countryside. Because this route has taken me mostly through forested, hilly country, "vistas," the places where you can see a long distance and really get a feel for the landscape, have been pretty rare.  Today, cresting a hill, there was such a view (above).  Alabama looks nothing like this when one is riding tucked into the valleys and hollows.  It was good to get another perspective.  Today I would parallel the Tombigbee River and the Tenn-Tom Waterway (more on that a bit later).  Evidence of western Alabama's extensive forestry industry was again evident.  The timber industry is prolific in this part of ...