Eaton Adventure Cycling 2018: Thursday, May 9 2013 Collinwood TN

Note to self: when buying yogart make sure spoon fits in top

When I last wrote we were in Matheston MS in a crummy hotel! We got out of there as early as possible. Riding down the highway to eat at a restaurant for breakfast. Breakfast was nuthin to write home about either! The Natchez Trace was a mile or so down the road. It was sunny and warmer (70's) than it has been for some time. But our ol' friend (headwind) was with us once again. It seemed like we were climbing for most of the day. Not any really bad hills, but the kind that are just annoying. You don't even realize you are climbing it just feels like your not goin anywhere. The Trace was very pretty, everything is very green. Traffic is light and I don't even think we had "the one" today. We ran into several cyclists, all of them going the wrong .... I mean the other way. Mmmm.....wonder what's up with that? We stopped to chat with one fellow on a recumbent. Boy did he have a load. He was pulling a trailer and for some reason had several cameras mounted on the bike. Even had one pointed backwards. He started in Nashville and was going to Natchez MS then to St Augustine and north to Washington DC. Then turn around back to Florida, across to San Diego CA, north to Seattle, east to Missoula and then he thought he might check out the National Parks............... and you thought we were crazy....

Tock....what?

We had made arrangements to pick up some mail in Tupelo so we had to get off the Trace and go into town. There was alot of traffic getting to Tupelo. There really wasn't any camping available in Tupelo and we needed to get some laundry done. After picking up our mail, I found a Motel 6 in our price range so we decided to stay there. We rode across town to the motel. The motel was on a super busy street! We got there and realized we didn't have any food for dinner. And the only grocery was back down the super busy highway! We asked the clerk about food and he said if you just walk out the back of the motel, go around the building, walk up the hill and there were several restaurants. After I got the laundry done, I found an Outback steakhouse on the map close to where he said. We followed is instructions and my map to Outback. Funny thing was though that my I Phone said we were 340 feet from Outback and we couldn't see it! So we kept walking and then the phone said we passed it! Huh?? We finally decided that there wasn't an Outback there anymore. We found a chinese restaurant and ate there. It was great food even if it wasn't steak.

Hap leading the way

In the morning we had oatmeal, PB bagels, juice for breakfast at the motel before leaving. One thing about riding on the Trace is that there aren't many services. Food, water, or bathrooms so you need to come prepared. On the map we saw one water stop for the day. We stopped at a gas station and picked up juice, coke, chocolate milk (which we drank!), snickers bars (they were on sale what can you do?). Once again we had the obligatory headwind and the fun climbing all day. It was warmer today, maybe 80 and sunny. There was more traffic around Tupelo. But not too bad. There isn't supposed to be any commercial traffic on the Trace. But at some point a big semi truck with a huge load of steel sheets passed us. We thought it was kind of strange but he gave us lots of room so we didn't care. Alittle while later a police cruiser went zipping by us at a high rate of speed with lights flashing. Mmm.... ok.... wonder what's up?? About 10 miles later, sure enough the police had pulled the guy over and were not happy. Wonder what that ticket cost? We stopped at the visitor center to ask about the water availability since apparently they close the restrooms at certain times and days. For example, the only one that was available for us, was closed Wed am through Friday am. Also, We were planning to camp at Colberts Ferry which had primitive camping for bikers only. Which meant they left the bathrooms open at the Ranger Station and had water available. But we weren't sure if water would be available, since it was Wed, at the camping area. The ranger assured us that water would be available at the ranger station.

We stopped for lunch at our only water stop for the day, to find out that the water wasn't working and the restrooms were closed. Nice! We drank our coke, had apples and peanut butter for lunch. There was a guy there who was out on his motorcycle for the day. He was fun to talk to. He has ridden all over on his Gold Wing. Hap went off into the woods to .................. and came back frowning. When I asked him what was wrong and he said there was a dog laying in the woods that looked hurt. I went over to look at the dog. I called him and he was able to get up but he was all skin and bones. He looked like a shepard mix. We weren't sure what to do. If we had a car I would have taken him somewhere but that wasn't an option. We ended up feeding him some peanut butter and bread. He was starving. We had to leave him there but we decided to tell one of the rangers about him. Poor little guy...........

After lunch, we had something happen that shook both of us up. We were riding single file, me in my usual drafting Hap spot. I saw a large RV coming up behind us. He was at least 100 yards or so behind us and starting laying on his horn. Since we were already single file almost on the edge of the road we just kept riding. But we were both watching him in our mirrors. He didn't look like he planned to move over at all. The whole time he was laying on his horn. This all happened in a split second. Just before he got to us he swerved over alittle and went around us. He was also pulling a car! After he went by, we talked about what happend. We just couldn't figure it out. We have had cars and trucks blow their horns at us, but this guy was insane. It upset us both very much. After that we both were pretty much done riding for the day. When we got to Tishmongo State Park we decided to call it a day. We had planned to ride an additional 20 miles but............. Perhaps we should require background checks before driving an RV to make sure they are mentally stable! Just hope we don't see him again.

The rate for ol' guys at the park was only $13 and we got a shower! We stopped to pay and the ranger told us to just go down to the campsites and pick one. Then come back up to the ranger station and tell her which one we picked. It was about a mile to the campsites. Down a very steep hill! It took us awhile to find a flat spot for a tent but we found a nice one near the bathhouse. After pitching the tent, we rode back up the hill to the ranger station. For dinner I started cooking stir fry with chicken over rice. While I was cooking one of our neighbors walked over and asked if we would like some hamburgers. We couldn't say no, so Hap went over and got the burgers. When he came back he said they said they were having homeade peach ice cream if we wanted some later. We didn't want to take advantage of them. But later one of them walked over with the ice cream. They sure are friendly in Mississippi! There were 3 older couples in two very large trailers. The campsite was on the edge of a beautiful lake. There were alot of geese and ducks that came by looking for handouts.

Campsite Tishmongo State Park

Tishmongo State Park

On our way to the bathroom after dinner we went over to thank them for the food and they invited us to sit a spell. They were really alot of fun to talk to. I think they thought we were alittle crazy because they told us so!! Super nice folks. Thats what ridin is all about. It was a great ending for a strange day on the bikes. Thanks be to God!

We had a great nights sleep. The people next door couldn't get over how you could sleep in a tent. One asked me if we got wet when it rained. I told her If I did I would get me a different tent! For breakfast we had the usual oatmeal, juice, PB and bagels. We got packed up and started riding around 9:30a. Since we only had one water stop today and no services all day, we filled up our camelback resevoir with water and I carried it on the back of my bike. Hap had laundry drying on his rear rack. It was alot warmer today and we had a tailwind for the first time in like forever. It was a beautiful day. Low traffic and no crazy RV drivers today! We stopped for lunch at Colberts Ferry, where we had hoped to get to yesterday. And sure enough it said restrooms closed. Luckily though the womens restroom was open so we could get water.

Stir fry for dinner

Beautiful campsite

We crossed the Tennessee River today. Its alot bigger than the Ohio River. We also went into Alabama for a short time and then into Tennessee. While we were riding a cyclist came riding south and as he met up with us he turned around to ride with us. He was sort of strange looking. He didn't look like a cyclist at all. He started telling us about a rock wall of some sort that was just up the road. It was only 100 yards off the road he said. He suggested we follow him to look at it. But since we wanted to get in some miles we said we couldn't. He turned off. After riding awhile I said to Hap, that was weird. Do you think he wanted to get us off the bike to rob us or something?? I didn't feel comfortable with him, did you? Hap said he felt the same way. Very strange.....

Camelback water bladder on back Diane's bike

Drying rack on back of Hap's bike

When we got to Collinwood, we planned to stop and get something cold to drink. We stopped at the Visitor center in town. I asked the person at the desk if there was any lodging in town. He said sure there are a couple of motels. I said is there a campground. He said sure is. You can camp at the Fire station right over there. Go to City Hall and tell them you want to camp and they will have someone go over and unlock the door so you can take a shower. All righty then, a free place to camp AND take a shower. Sounds like a plan! We met someone at the Fire station. She took us in and said you can camp out back OR there's a bed in here, a kitchen, and TV if you want to stay inside. This plan is getting better! So for tonight we are in the Fire Station in Collinwood TN. We just walked down the street for dinner at Chip's Place. Now our only problem is we can't figure out what to watch on TV! And how was your night?