Brandenburg to Louisville, KY

Yea!! I'm at the Marriott in downtown Louisville, in a comfy chair, legs stretched out on an ottoman, clean from a 15 minute shower, and not too hungry yet. JUST had to ride my bike 51 miles to get here, but after that killer day yesterday, today seemed easy. It was almost cold when we left Brandenburg this morning, after a rain last night. We crossed the Ohio River into Indiana soon after we left the motel, and GUESS WHAT!! Indiana has hills, too! Not as bad as yesterday, but they just kept on coming. On some of the downhills I could get up enough speed to ALMOST make it over the next one. I still had to stand up and crank near the top, but not as often, and not as long as yesterday. Our cue sheet was three pages long today, something like 50 turns, so we had to be careful to stay on our route. We missed a turn early on and had to back-track about a mile, and believe me we DON'T want to add extra miles to our day, so we were more careful after that. We rode through the Indiana countryside for about 40 miles, then got into the urban area and had to navigate our way into downtown Louisville. We crossed over the Ohio River into Kentucky again, and saw our hotel was waiting just beyond the bridge. I toured the cute little town of Corydon, Indiana with the group in the first part of today's ride, but then skipped a museum stop and just rode on the the hotel. Kathy came with me. All either of us wanted to see at the end of today's ride was the Marriott! We beat our luggage here, so although we were able to check-in, we couldn't shower because we didn't have our clothes. We chatted a while with a local guy who asked where we were going, and went on to ask a lot more questions. We stopped by a bike shop and just looked around like for a few minutes like bikers do, then Marilee and I rode along the Riverfront for three or four MORE miles while we waited for the van to get here with our bags. Since there was not a good place for our usual parking lot dinner at Cafe Trailer, we all went out to eat at The Spaghetti Warehouse which is just behind the hotel.
Now, I'm back where I was when I started this note, but this time I'm not one bit hungry. I'm planning a lazy day tomorrow, but there is a "Welcome to Louisville" guide on the desk in my room, so .......
Today 51 miles - So far 1,060 miles - 16 Days of riding - 4 Rest Days

Lewisport to Brandenburg, KY

Today was one of my best days so far, and one of my worst days, too. The 88 miles from Lewisport to Brandenburg started in a dense fog. It gave the early morning Ohio River valley farmland we cycled through a soft and beautiful quality. The roads were smooth and flat for the first 15 miles as we cycled pass more tobacco and corn crops. The sky stayed overcast until almost noon. The hills began too soon, and were almost too much for me before the day was over. Kathy's Garmin showed over 4200 feet of climbing in our 88 miles, with some of the long hills over a mile and a half long. Several of them were 15 - 18% grade. It got hot when the sun came out, and the hills almost got the best of me. I really had a hard time the last 15 miles. I just wanted it to be OVER!! We took a break at a little country store at 75 miles, and I had a coke and part of a PB&J sandwich, and was able to ride on into Brandenburg. We entered the Eastern Time Zone, so when we finally got to the motel, it was 4:45--we started the morning at 6:45--much too long on the bike for me!
Today we passed through several little Ohio River towns, and visiting them, and talking with some very nice local folks just made my day. I fell in love with the riverfront town of Cloverport. We talked a while with a nice guy in a red pick-up truck who told us a lot about their local history. On down the road, we saw a "Strawberries For Sale" sign in front of a Mennonite farmhouse and stopped, bought a quart, and ate them on the spot. The mother and her seven children all came out to visit with us. They had just picked the strawberries that morning. They were red and ripe, and tasted just like strawberries should taste--absolutely delicious!! There were several other interesting places along the way--a rock quarry, a huge mansion in ruins, a bright blue bridge, and more beautiful farm and pasture land.
Tomorrow we have a 51 mile day into the city of Louisville, then a rest day. Again, I am ready for a day OFF the bike. Most of our ride tomorrow will be in Indiana. We'll cross the Ohio River twice. We'll be at the Marriot downtown, so there should be some new things to see and do. I'm looking forward to it--I've never been to Louisville. Wish Mike could come again, but it's just toooo far.
Today was riding day number 15. We start the last half of the tour tomorrow.

Henderson to Lewisport, KY

A cool Kentucky rain pelted down on our screaming yellow rain jackets today as we pedaled through more farmland on our way from Henderson to Lewisport. It started within a mile of the motel this morning, and continued all day, but we're TOUGH now, and don't let a little rain stop us. It does, however, take some of the fun out of it! I am so glad today was a flat ride. I don't think I could have rode hills in the rain--the downhills would have frightened me into the SAG van. My group completed the ride without any mishaps, but two of our ladies fell crossing a railroad track and were banged up quite a bit. One of them cracked her helmet, but neither broke anything that we're aware of. Both are icing their injuries (shoulder, elbows, knees, and hip), and taking Ibuprofen. We don't know yet if they will be able to ride again. I hope so.
Kathy, our California firefighter, has been on a mission to rescue any turtle found crossing the highway from becoming roadkill on the half-shell, and today's photos include her most recent TURTLE 911. Today, by the way, is her birthday. She is the youngest one on our tour--a mere baby at 51!
I saw tobacco growing today. Corn seems to be the crop of choice in this Ohio River valley, along with hay. The farms are beautiful. Most of them have red barns and grain silos, and many of them have white fenced pastures with horses. There is almost NO LITTER along the highways. What a pleasure it has been to ride through this beautiful countryside, even in the rain!
68.4 miles today, Average 13.4 mph, 5 hours and 4 minutes riding time.

JJ and the Rotary's "Cycling to Serve"

Just wanted to give you an update on the Monroe Rotary Club's fundraiser. I was on JJ Dixon's team and rode a total of 739 miles in the two weeks between May 8 and May 22.

"Hello Mike - pass the word to Sondra - we did a total of 1,072 miles for the two weeks - the Rotary Club raised apprx $5,000 for bike trails in Oua Par - great start for bikers and a big thanks to Sondra - I have been reading her reports - I even tried to leave her a note - but I failed to make it work - JJ"

Morganfield to Henderson, KY

The hills we've been riding everyday have made me wish for some flat land, and today I got my wish. We rode an easy 27 miles, almost all flat, through more farm land in the Ohio River valley. We had a little wind, but the roads were smooth with almost no traffic. We had a SAG stop in a church parking lot in Geneva about 10:00, and the pastor came out and invited us to join them for church. One of the ladies told us she read in their newspaper that we were coming through their town. Womantours sends out press releases to the towns we stop in for the night. The people we meet along the way have been one of my favorite parts of this tour. They are always so nice, and are very interested to hear where we're from and where we're going.
We got to the Comfort Inn in Henderson before our rooms were ready today, so some of us went down to their Riverfront. The Ohio River runs right by their downtown, just as the Ouachita does in Monroe. It's a beautiful day here, and people are out enjoying their long holiday weekend. John J. Audubon lived here in the early 1800's, and my photo today is of a bronze statue of him studying a white pelican. We had lunch at The Diner in downtown Henderson, then came back to the motel and sat by the pool for a while. Kathy and Anne both got in the water, but it was toooooo cold for me. After yesterday's hard 87 mile ride we are all happy to have a lazy afternoon of R&R. We have another 90 mile day on Tuesday.
27 miles today - 852.8 total miles - 13 days of riding - 3 rest days

Kentucky Dam Village to Morganfield, KY

Today was one of my favorite rides so far. It was just beautiful all the way. We passed miles of farm land and hay fields, and pastures with more of those beautiful white horses you saw in my photos at The Homestead. They look like work horses, to me. We saw lots of American flags along the way in celebration of Memorial Day on Monday. We had our steepest climb of the tour today, too. Kathy said she saw 20% on her Garmin, but all I know is that I had to get off my bike and push for about 50 yards. I couldn't pedal and breathe at the same time. I was able to get back on the bike after walking, but had to just stand up and crank to the top of the hill. It was tough!
I've been wanting to tell you about our SAG, the white Subaru. It's name is "Little Bo Peep", and we are the "sheep". It's packed with apples, oranges, bananas, gatorade, and all kinds of snacks, sunscreen, and first aid stuff. Today we had fresh cherries and apricots, too. Patti fixed lunch for us today because of the long miles with no stores. We had turkey sandwiches with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and avocado, potato salad, black bean salsa and chips, pickles, and probably some things I'm forgetting. It was just great--I must have been really hungry--all this talk about food. But, really, the food has been a great part of this tour. Soooo good!! I might as well tell you that our last stop of the day was at a Dairy Queen. After 86.8 miles and six and a half hours of riding, ice cream just hit the spot!! I wonder if I'm going to gain weight on this tour? I think all that stuff you hear about being able to eat anything you want and not gain weight while biking across the country just can't be true. I decided today that peanut M&Ms would meet Andy Holyfield's idea of a healthy snack. She says always combine a carb with a protein, and that equals peanut M&Ms to me.
Tomorrow we have a VERY short day--28 miles to Henderson, Kentucky. Breakfast is not until 8:30, so we can even sleep late. Oh, Mike made it home safely, too. Funny, it took us about the same amount of time to ride our 86 miles as it did him to drive from Kentucky back to Louisiana!

Rest Day - Kentucky Dam Village

I've really enjoyed having Mike here for my Rest Day. He joined us for dinner on the parking lot last night and talked with several of the ladies about our adventure so far. Unfortunately today, he had to do laundry with me. Three days of biking clothes are pretty bad, believe me, but we got that chore out of the way this morning, and had the rest of the day to just hang out. We went to lunch at Patti's Restaurant in Grand Rivers. It has been written up in Southern Living magazine as the best small-town restaurant in the southeast. The sandwiches we had were great, along with their homemade potato chips and coconut meringue pie. We had to wait about 45 minutes for a table, then lunch took about an hour. I was really pushing the envelope with Mike, who had rather just "grab it and go" for lunch. I guess absence does, indeed, make the heart grow fonder. He has been so sweet.
I got caught up on emails today, too. I got this funny one from Keri (my younger daughter). She was telling me about telling some of her friends about my tour and showing them my blog:

I went to Atlanta and showed my friends....they couldn't believe it. Most grannys are home sewing and doing craft projects, mine has a reflective triangle stuck to her butt and is riding a bike to Canada! I'm tired just thinking about it.

Tomorrow we have another long ride--90 miles to Morganfield, Kentucky. We'll have hills again, but not the whole way, and the weather should be good--cool in the morning with sunshine, and temps in the low 80's. Since Mike has been here, and I've had such a nice break, I think I'll try to psyche myself out and think: "tomorrow is the first day of my new three-week tour." Yea!! Just three weeks and 1200 miles to go. Piece of cake!!!

Waverly, TN to Kentucky Dam Village State Park, KY

Today we entered into Kentucky. We'll have margaritas before dinner to celebrate. Almost our entire 54 mile ride today was on a scenic highway called The Trace in the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. It was a delightful ride, rolling hills, speed limit of 50 mph, and best of all--NO DOGS!! Four of us stopped for about an hour and toured The Homestead, a beautifully restored living farm from around the 1850's. We cycled by a herd of Bison along the way. It was pretty all the way, very much like The Natchez Trace. We'll have a rest day tomorrow. I am so ready for it. This has been a long six-day stretch for me--the most miles I have ever ridden in one week--383!
Mike is here!! I am so happy to see him. He called yesterday and said he was thinking of driving up to see me on our rest day. I couldn't believe it--it's an eight hour drive from Monroe. Of course I wanted him to come. It will be a great break for me. He is joining us tonight for one of Patti's "Cafe Trailer" dinners. We'll spend tomorrow sight-seeing in this pretty Land Between the Lakes area of Kentucky. He thinks we're going biking (he brought his mountain bike). AIN'T NO WAY, HOSEA!!! I'm sleeping late, eating ice cream, and riding around in a CAR!! No biking for me on my rest day.

Columbus, MS - A newspaper article about us.

Women bicyclists have stopover in Columbus during trip tracing Underground Railroad route


By Vicky Newman
Dispatch Staff
Monday, May 19, 2008 11:27 AM CDT



At 70, Elaine Miller has powered her way across thousands of miles of terrain, and up and over thousands of hills, but “over the hill” certainly doesn’t apply to this woman.

The athletic and adventurous Rochester, N.Y., resident has been cycling cross-country for years, in the United States and Europe. Weeks of biking 65-100-mile days, seeing the countryside, are almost routine to the former college Spanish instructor.

“I started riding in a multiple sclerosis benefit 25 years ago, and I love the physical accomplishment,” Miller says. “I grew up in an era when girls were not encouraged to bike.”

En route to Niagra

Miller was one of more than two dozen women cyclists from various locations around this country, plus Canada and Austrailia, who rolled into Columbus Thursday, en route to Niagra Falls, Canada.


Averaging more than 60 years in age, the women began their 38-day, 2,000-mile trip in Mobile, Ala., May 9. They continued their journey Saturday, after spending a day in Columbus.

Their route follows the Underground Railroad route taken by many slaves in the 1800s.

The challenges the women face may pale beside those faced by slaves years ago, but they exist, nonetheless. And, as it was with the slaves, the trip brings a form of freedom to those who embark on the journey. Riders brave rains, winds and storms. Sometimes they are chased by dogs. While their route attempts to avoid heavy traffic, they face their share of road hazards. It’s all part of the experience. They find safety and support in numbers.

Survivors

Some of the riders are cancer survivors or have faced traumatic illness. Some ride for a cause. Anne Cowan of Bristol, Tenn., is on her second adventure bike tour to raise funds for a hospice foundation. Last year, she raised $51,000. “I got the idea I should do it again,” she says.



Trips are planned in advance, and rooms are booked in towns every 70 miles or so. Laurie Collins, from Charlottesville, Va., is the guide in charge of logistics for this trip. Each day, the cyclists pull out at daylight, and ride until they arrive at that night’s destination.

“Weather is the biggest challenge,” Collins says. “There is a tremendous bonding when you go through rain, headwinds, hail and flat tires. We don’t stop for anything. Once we start, we’re like lemmings going to the sea.”

The women must arrive at their scheduled nightly destinations, regardless of what comes, Collins says. Once, in St. Francisville, La., they faced a major obstacle and setback when they found a bridge washed away because of flooding.

“The crosspieces were still there, but there was a big open gap,” Collins says. “The women crossed the stream anyway, on those narrow crosspieces.”

If weather is bad, health issues arise, or women choose to forego cycling for any reason, they may ride with the SAG (support and gear) vehicle which accompanies the group. The vehicle carries tools, medicines, energy drinks and water and some food, and often serves as the women’s lifeline where convenience stores are not available.

In charge of chow

Patty Jackson of Moab, Utah, is the chef for the trip. Carrying chow supplies in a camper-covered pickup truck, Jackson cooks camp-style in a parking lot for the entourage each night. She bakes in a Dutch oven.

Every five to six days, the tour guides have scheduled a free day. The women spend their time washing clothing, having their bikes repaired, or visiting local attractions.

Some hoped to visit some historic antebellum homes while in Columbus.

Small towns



Sondra Hartt of Monroe, La., explains, “It’s fun to see the small towns of America — see neat places and meet great people. They become like our family, and we keep coming back because it is fun to share and it’s exciting. And, when you finish that last day, it is so phenomenal.”

The bicycle tour is arranged by WomanTours Inc., the only all-women bicycle touring company in the country. For more information, visit the Web site at www.womantours.com.


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