I left at 6:45 am, heading south through London, Mt Sterling took 207 to Chillicothe and then 23 and 104, I had alot of fog in southern OH. Once I got into Kentucky I got off of the 4 lane road and onto more back roads, Rt.7. They were beautiful and fun, then I came to a road block which had a turn off to the left but it was so small and crossed a single laned covered bridge, seemed like a lane more then a road. I stopped, no signs directing for a detour.
A farmer came along in his truck and instructed me which way to go. I followed him and he led me out of it. I wish I had got off my bike and took pictures, it was like another world. I found a picture of the bridge on google, it is called Bennett Mill Covered Bridge. So I get back on Rt. 7 and sure enough again it was closed with no detour signs. I turned left but did not know where that would take me so I turned around and got back on 7 thinking that my next turn may be before the block. Well sure enough there was a little gas station and sure enough there was my farmer. We laughed and he told me how to get back on 23. I stayed on 23 until I got to Big Stone Gap, got off for gas and a break, bought some caffine and headed to a Jefferson National State park. Theses pictures are where I ate my lunch.
I took 23 the rest of the way until I got to Kingsport and wanted some more back roads. I stopped at a gas station and 4 different people came up to talk with me. They all asked where I was from and were amazed that I came that far alone. One women use to ride and taught herself how to ride by reading library books. Another old guy that was toothless talked with me for awhile. And then a sweet older lady who said her husband rides and she rides with him a bit, was picking up her cigarettes. And then a younger man came along and talked awhile and helped me with directions. They all complemented me on my bike and all had sweet southern accents. I really enjoyed that stop, was the friendliest gas station, on the corner of 23 and 224. I took 224 and then 93 was a great curvy, hilly country road.
So I finally get to my parents home around 5:45 and because I had driven the steep gravel drive last year I thought I could do it again but I did not know about the new gravel put on in Dec., OH MY. So I get half way up and I stop, my tires spin. I grip the brake and gather myself and try again. I go a little ways and my tires spin again. I freeze squeezing the clutch and the brake, I think what do I do now I try again and I start to go backwards and then I almost dropped it. Oh the images of my Shad sliding down the hill on his tank. I use every muscle and keep it up. Ok now my legs are rubber, I can't move so I lay on the horn. My dad comes up on the mower from the barn and my brother comes down from the house. Oh what a relief to have help, my brother climbs on as soon as I climb off and my dad and I help him turn around and he walks it back down to the barn and that is where it stays until it is time to come home.
My ride home was nice I rode 23 most of the way home. Katie, Laban, Renee, and the girls where behind me all the way even thou we did not travel together. They never did catch up with me except when we meet for lunch, was nice they could call me as I was driving with my blue tooth Scala rider set. I got home around 7:00 they came in about 1/2 hr. later.
Nice trip!!!!
Laura and I contacted each other in the morning and checked out the net of what to do and where to go. We really enjoy hiking so we headed down to Athens to go to the Strouds Run State Park. We got down there around 12:30 and it was time to eat. Laura did college at OU so she knew of this great little spot with great chicken, Millers Chicken. Real small place that was constatly busy the whole time we were there. Very good and moist chicken, I heard so many gizzards ordered that after we had eaten I oreded a half of an order. Wow they were good. I brought them home for Paul to enjoy. 
Now for the hiking, we get to the park and find the map. Well that did not look to hard, the trails were not named on the map except for 1 or 2 but we thought we could do it in about an hour or so. No need to bring the walking sticks with the compass, the trails won't be to ruged. Five minutes into it we relized those sticks might have been handy, we were headed straight up. We talked with a guy that said that we were about 1/2 way up and when we get to the top if we go left it would level out and take us back to the parking lot. We decide we will go right to see if we could find the scenic over look. 
