A Splendid Cycling Trip

The day was a mild sunny day when I left Berea, Kentucky -- finally leaving  on my first leg of my cycling tour -- destination -- the far West. My planed first stop, Kirksville, Kentucky for lunch. I pedaled the roads to Kirksville going  fast over rolling hills. I was enjoying the sights so much that I missed my turn to Kirksville and ended in the small town of Paint Lick about 15 minutes  out of the way. Turning around, I finally rolled into Kirksville. Stopping at their community park I paused for  my lunch break, I then rolled out of Kirksville toward my next destination, Harrodsburg, Kentucky.

The first fifteen minutes out of Kirksville was mostly flat roads. I was making great time. However, the road-scape changed as big rolling hills came in the way. Pedalling up a good portion of the big hills, I finally hit a “wall.” Unknowingly, there were yet many more big hills to pedal. Exhausted, I walked pushing my bike up the hills making time slow and the trip last longer than expected.

After my walking tour of four big hills, I saw that the landscape had become smooth and flat. I was now able to beginl pedaling briskly without much effort. When I reached Harrodsburg, I expected to sleep outside however, I was only a little more than halfway to Harrodsburg. My thoughts were that perhaps there would be  more hills between my current position and Harrodsburg.

Stopping at a small grocery store on Buckeye Road and focusing on my map, I made two new alternative plans where I could possibly  find a good night sleep. I packed-up my peanut butter and honey and tucked away my map, I was on my way. I figured I would stay outside of Harrington Lake located on the way to Harrodsburg.

The hills are rough, but the scenery and sounds along the way was beautiful. Many black birds, making ready for their migration, was noisily hidden in the trees. Along the way, thick trees blinded me from what lay deeper beyond the road side's edge. I quietly peddled, appreciative of what this time was giving me. The slow pace meant that I could  move a box turtle off the road in the direction it was traveling. Cars were sparse on the roadway.
It was getting late in the day. I was between  Bryantsville and Harrington Lake. The sun was low in the sky, I began looking for a place to sleep.

I went  knocking door to door asking if I could camp on their land, A kind couple answered my fourth “door knocking” and said I could camp behind his big lonely barn. The barn sat on what looked like 100 acres, surrounded by encroaching homes. While setting up my tent, laying out my sleeping bag, and having dinner, I enjoyed a gorgeous sunset -- a gradient of reds to yellows with a thin layer of clouds covering half the sky. Coyotes yelped part of the night, and I woke to an overcast morning. Refreshed and after breakfast, I was ready for another grand day.