Day 18
Harrodsburg KY, 47 miles
I was only about two miles out of town and the U.K. couple pulled up behind me. We stopped and chatted for a few minutes. They were very kind and it was obvious they were surprised to see me. They passed me on the Blue Ridge Parkway back on day 7. I was having a bad day back then and I could tell they were concerned about me. That was the day my Trail Angle Tim came to my rescue on the Parkway. They are strong cyclists but somehow I had managed to more or less keep pace with them. Although, to be quite honest, this is the last time I expect to run into them on the route.
There is a very unique aroma in the air. It’s flora of some sort but I have no idea what it might be. I haven’t encountered it up to this point. It is very noticeable and appears to be unique to Western Kentucky.
My friend Terry called and we chatted while I was riding. I have the phone mounted on the stem and I can put it on speaker. It was great to hear his voice. He chided me a bit for being in Kentucky and not yet having sampled the great bourbons that are only available here. I explained to him that if I were to do that to my liking, very little riding would get done. That means I have to come back for a “bourbon tour” some day. I’ll make Terry my “Captain” on a Tandem and I’ll indulge while he pulls me across the state. (I realize it infuriates tandem riders, especially the Stokers, when people say things like that, but honestly, I think it would be fun to have Terry pull me through these hills…)
You see a lot of barns painted black in these parts, many also have quilt patterns painted on them. A lot of these quilt patterns are “family patterns,” some handed down for generations.