Tuesday, June 02 2009 @ 08:30 CDT Contributed by: patclem
A friend of mine sent me this cartoon. I hope it's not gonna get me a cease and desist or something because of copyrights. I'll take it off if someone has a problem I guess. But, Pat = Jeff.
Rode my bike to work today. For as much as I spout off advocacy stuff, I don't practice what I preach nearly as often as I should. I should ride my bike to work every day.
Took off at 6:30am this morning. It's 12 miles towards the lousy side of town - Antioch. I only say the lousy side of town because the area is populated with middle class "working" people, and the area is generally forgotten about when it comes to improvements like bike lanes, sidewalks, etc. I'll write about the Antioch sidewalk problems another time. Needless to say, my bike commute is fraught with challenges. So what's it like to ride your bike to work? I'll try to explain some of the sights, sounds, and general experiences on my commute. Hopefully I can make it as interesting as I can.
Early in the morning, I share the road with very few cars, drivers usually polite because they've left early enough to make their commute a low-stress activity. It's great to share the road with these early morning folks (I wish everyone trapped in their box would leave a little earlier.) I also share it with folks out walking their dogs. They say if your dog is too fat, you're not getting enough exercise. Refer to the cartoon above!
Ah, the smells. Things come and go into bloom. On a bicycle, you can breathe that sweet scented air. Sometimes it makes me sneeze, but no big deal. I can usually smell other things - cologne if someone drives by me with their window open. Remember, it's early and it's all fresh. I can also smell people smoking. Marlboro Light - reminds me of some parties, night clubs, playing pool. That was the brand my friends used to smoke (and probably still do.) I'm so glad I never started smoking. When it's really hot and I stop by a smoker in a car at a light, no good memories there. I feel sorry for them - stuck in their car with their addiction ruling a small part of their life. I guess our addiction to cars can be just as bad. Refer to the cartoon above! (you couldn't understand the connection, could you?)
I rode down Thompson. Most of it has really nice bike lanes. The thermo-something decals are pulling up. I heard they're $800 each, and I think Nashville or Tennessee should get their money back. It reminds me every time about an email conversation with the state Bike/Ped coordinator about them. I was hoping they'd be fixed by now.
I cut over to Antioch Pike near a church. It's a middle-class neighborhood again. A bicycle really slows you down to take in the sights! Several of the yards are filled with yard art. One has at least a dozen fake deer in the front yard. Do they love deer, do they love to hunt deer, or did their friends "deer graffiti" their yard? My grandmother was "ping flamingo'ed" once. Her front door was surrounded with pink flamingos when she got home. Someone put an old toilet in our landscape, complete with petunias planted in it. Donna was angry, I was completely tickled, and no one has fessed up to the prank yet. Maybe a deer drinking out of the toilet would make a nice presentation.
When I arrive onto Antioch, I pass at least three schools. That section of Antioch is four lanes through a residential neighborhood. On the far end on Nolensville, there's plenty of shopping. Very little traffic occupies the area. A center turn lane, then a "road diet" to add bike lanes would be a great thing for this road, a great thing for the Antioch community, and a great thing for my commuting route! Someone needs to turn those drain grates perpendicular to the bicycle tire. Someone is gonna get hurt, and it might be me?
I finally arrive in the parking lot at work. It's a downhill glide across a huge parking lot, and I pass by where I usually park my car. It's a great feeling. Usually the security guard will unlock the door for me to get in, since my badge is usually tucked away somewhere inconvenient. I get lots of questions too when I see folks in the morning when I'm coming or going. Someone thought my Campy freewheel sounded like I had cards in my spokes. Most common question is how far I ride, and then how long does it take me. I usually return the question in hopes that I can convince them to ride too. (see cartoon above.) Most of them commute 20 or 30 miles from their urban sprawl. I'm going to write some day about why population density is a good thing.
OK, I've been summonsed to the Tivo to see some funny stuff from the first show in the new timeslot. Get out and ride your bike. The more bicyclists out there, the safer it is for bicyclists in general. (see cartoon above.)
Most Recent Post: 06/25 11:12 by Anonymous [ Views:: 32 ]
Taking a Walk
Sunday, April 12 2009 @ 11:36 CDT Contributed by: patclem
Donna and I walked over to her sister's house on Saturday. It's easily less than two miles, but the route travels across I-440 overpass and continues on 21st Avenue. Along the way, we were nearly run over three times, one time I had to jump back because the driver was speeding through a corner, looking back at traffic, and didn't see me until I screamed at him.
It's amazing how drivers are oblivious to bicyclists and especially walkers. Nashvillians believe that people that aren't driving solely have a responsibility to watch out for themselves. I think every bicyclist and pedestrian does have a responsibility to be safe. But by law, it's just the opposite. But somehow in Tennessee, if you get run over, the incident will likely be documented as a terrible unavodable accident. Even Grand Juries tend to pass incidents off as tragic accidents. The only exception is the drunk driver that runs over a pedestrian or bicyclist.
Take David Meek - an experienced cyclist in Chattanooga run down by some truck driver that didn't see him. Didn't see him? that MF that drove that truck should NEVER drive again. I seriously hope David's family sues the driver and the company he drove for into bankruptcy.
http://www.wrcbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9959220
This kind of injustice is not uncommon. This kind of behavior infuriates me - Traffic Justice must prevail. Citizens of Tennessee, I call on you to abandon your tolerance for this kind of injustice. I am so ashamed at old fashioned conservative ignorance. We must change the way people think. "Unavoidable accident" should be considered an oxymoron. All accidents are avoidable. Someone MUST be at fault.
Walkers are Bums or Lower Class Citizens - the common stereotype. I believe this is what most people think and I'll explain why. We were walking along 21st and I felt kind of funny - like people might think we didn't have a car, like maybe people thought we were walking because we couldn't afford a car, or we had lost our drivers license because we had a DUI or something. We had bags in our hands, so that probably reinforced the stereotype. Nashvillians think that if you're walking and you don't have exercise clothes on, you're at the bottom of the social food chain - can't afford a car, can't afford a bus ticket, you must have just gotten out of jail. I believe that THIS is the reason people don't walk. This has to change.
More Info:
http://bikeportland.org/2009/03/11/seeking-a-national-legal-standard-for-cyclists-right-to-the-road/
http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2008/11/25/traffic-justice/
http://www.bikewalk.org/tji.php
Sunday, April 12 2009 @ 08:20 CDT Contributed by: patclem
Oh, the great buzz around the new Water Dog in the Whitehouse! Oh, the new dog has that cute curly hair, he's non-allergenic. What a great thing for the girls! What a horrible sad day for shelter dogs, perhaps all dogs, everywhere in the USA.
The Obama family is tremendously popular. Michelle wears some brand or outfit, thousands run right out looking to mimic her. The Obamas choose a purebred Portugese Water Dog? Thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, head out hunting for one. What's the problem? Well, let me start a list:
Backyard Breeders and Puppy Mills - the United States is in for an explosion of poorly bred dogs - an invention of new genetic defaults from inbreeding and other behaviors. Here are the characteristics we'll see in the dogs of the future, from the AKC site on PWD:
1. Temperament--Shy, vicious, or unsound behavior.
2. Head--Unimpressive; small in overall size; narrow in topskull; snipey in muzzle.
3. Substance--Light or refined in bone; lacking in muscle.
4. Coat--Sparse; naturally short, close-lying hair, partially or over all; wispy or wiry in texture; brittle; double-coated.
5. Tail--Other than as described. Extremely low set. Heavy or droopy in action.
6. Pigment--Any deviation from described pigmen- tation; other than black or various tones of brown eye color; pink or partial pigmentation in nose, lips, eyes, or eye rims.
7. Bite--Overshot or undershot.
Start looking for thousands of PWD's with those seven characteristics. And you'll see the PWD rescue groups cranking up.
Intolerance for Behavior Problems - most dogs in shelters awaiting their death, or chained to a tree in the back corner of the yard are there because their owners have a lack of tolerance for behavior problems. My dogs are not the most obedient calm dogs in the world, but I understand what kind of behavior to expect.
"Oh, I have a Obama Water Dog! I'm so cool! I'm just like the Obama's! I'm showing my support of the pres!"
"Well where is she?"
"Oh, she's out in the pen in the back corner of the yard."
"Why?"
"She kept eating the baby's diapers, chewed my shoes, pee'ed on the floor, had diarrhea from left-overs, barked too much and tended to knock the kids over."
Shelter Dogs Awaiting Death - too many dogs,through no fault of their own, find themselves awaiting death at our county pounds and shelters. Most are there because of nuisance behavior problems that could be solved with some basic techniques, proper socialization when they're puppies or just some exercise (which would also benefit the owner.) Over 4 million dogs are put to death every year in shelters. It's sad that the Obama message couldn't include this. He should buy a Hummer next, to give Americans a role model to follow on energy issues.
In Closing....
I'm amazed at the lack of criticism of the Obamas and their dog choice. Multiple Google searches to see what kind of noise this is generating revealed very little. Is it because Obama is pro-environment, against seal killings, etc. On the positive, he has the opportunity to demonstrate proper dog ownership. There's already talk that the girls will walk the dogs, pick up the poop. I wonder if the dog will be allowed to dig up the vegetable garden and pee on the rug? If problems makes it public, then people will know what it's like to own a dog. I can see Michelle in one of those striking outfits, those arms and shoulders, on her hands and knees with "Nature's Miracle" cleaning up a dog diarrhea stain, with the Whitehouse photographer snapping shots! Ha!
Further Reading:
http://www.peta.org/feat-abc_campaign.asp
http://blog.peta.org/archives/2009/04/joe_biden.php
http://www.angelanimals.net/newobamadog.html
Most Recent Post: 04/13 03:48 by Anonymous [ Views:: 41 ]
Donald Hall Foundation
Wednesday, April 01 2009 @ 08:22 CDT Contributed by: patclem
You may remember this story from the DNJ back in February. On 1/21/09, Donald Hall was a victim of a hit-and-run driver and left on the side of the road for six hours before someone found him. Donald rode his bike to work everyday in Lavergne, TN just outside of Nashville. Donald is paralyzed from the accident and was recently moved to the University of Michigan Hospital to be close to his family.
http://www.wsmv.com/news/18786996/detail.html
After reading this story, Sarah Lovett and I decided we needed to do something. We contacted Keith Webb of the Jeff Roth Cycling Foundation, and he helped us work with Don Hall's family to set up a foundation for Don. As a result of this "accident", Don has lost his 7 year old son, his home, and his independence. He is currently at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor working very hard to regain some independence. His son is living with Don's mother, Jean Gonzales.
You can follow Don's progress here http://www.carepages.com/carepages/CupCake
You can make a donation here: http://www.jeffrothcyclingfoundation.org/DonaldHall.htm
If we all just gave $10, and you pass it on to your friends for $10, soon we can raise enough money to help buy Donald a wheelchair. Donations can be made to Donald's family to help support his on-going medical expenses. All donations received for the Donald Hall Family Fund will be disbursed to the family in full.
Donations made through the Foundation are tax-deductible. Please include your return address and email so we can acknowledge your donation.
Most Recent Post: 05/20 06:02 by Anonymous [ Views:: 68 ]
Dawson "Dee Dee" Clements
Monday, March 09 2009 @ 01:02 CDT Contributed by: patclem
Dawson "Dee Dee" Clements ???? - March 9, 2009
We were spending Thanksgiving 2003 with Donna's folks in Smithville. As usual, Boppy and I were out at the office in the barn with the door open, enjoying the cool air. An old ratty black cat was milling around, squauking, purring and generally looking for attention. She walked with a crippled limp, and was skin and bones. When Donna came out to check on us she immediately took interest in this old ratty bony cat.
After checking, she had a tag and her offical name was "Madam", and it had a phone number on it. And, "Madam" had no claws. She was fending for herself in the country with no claws. When we called the number, it was disconnected. Of course, we already had three cats, and we really needed to reunite her with her owners. So, Boppy took it upon himself, knowing this was an "urgent" situation, and called 911 for help! Well, of course we were angry with Boppy, and everyone was mad at each other. A real Family Feud. But, the 911 operator knew Boppy and gave him the address of the phone number. Long story short, on Thanksgiving Day, we drove out into the country and found an abandoned trailer at the address, leaving a note for the residents in what turned out to be a futile act.
So, the old ratty crippled cat went back to Nashville. I immediately posted adopt-a-cat on my website, emails went out, and we even found someone to take her. Well, the potential adopter wasn't good enough. She became a permanent part of the family. So, we needed a name for "Madam" since the original owner's apparent neglect didn't give them the respect to keep her name. Since the whole 911 episode created such a family feud, the name Dawson from Richard Dawson stuck. Yes, she was a girl, but the name fit so well!
When Dee Dee first arrived, she was skin and bones. The neglect she had experienced in the country created a voracious appetite. She plumped up like a football! All the cats went on a diet. For a few years, we were all good. Dee Dee endured the arrival and passing of Joe Amadeus, and the arrival of crazy Izzie Dog. She also endured the medicine every night when her kidneys slowly started to fail. But she loved everyone through it all, and we loved her.
All Dee Dee really wanted was a warm lap and petting. When people came over, she would waddle in, squawk, and insist on a lap to lay in and purr. When Donna would lay down, Dee Dee, her unofficial name, all she wanted was to lay up right by Donna's face and lick her. Sometimes it was annoying, but we'll miss that old rough tongue!
No one really knew what Dee Dee had been through before she arrived at our house and she wouldn't tell. Her original home was almost 30 miles from where we found her, with highway crossings, coyotes, loose dogs and other critters. Stuck in the cold, crippled, starving nearly to death. But from Thanksgiving of 2003, she received so much love and attention that I consider her one of the luckiest cats around.
Dee Dee, and we'll always remember the life lessons you taught us. That love will endure long after the pain of your passing has long dulled through the mercy of time. We hope you're in heaven, full set of claws, strong hips, chasing bugs in a meadow, spending cool nights curled up on Joe Amadeus, thinking of the good times.
We will miss you... no, we already do.
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Green Fleet Messengers - new service!
Monday, January 05 2009 @ 05:39 CST Contributed by: patclem
Austin Bauman, a cycling advocate in Nashville, is starting a new courier service on January 12. Looks like he's covering downtown, West End, 21st, Music Row and Green Hills. What a great way to reduce traffic congestion, be green and get a package across town fast!
You can get more info from Austin at austin@greenfleetmessengers.com
Friday, November 14 2008 @ 06:42 CST Contributed by: patclem
I lived in Mobile, AL for a few years, parents born and raised there, my grandmother was born lived there until she was almost 90. Mobile was actually where Mardi Gras restarted after the Civil War. Long story short, the cajun influence in the way my family eats is present - gumbo, tobasco, etc. No, we didn't eat boudin and cracklin's. I love cajun food. Business trips to Lafayette and Ville Platte are my favorite. A cold frosty pitcher of beer, a good cajun buffet will all-you-can-eat crawfish, and I'm in heaven.
Anyhow, after Katrina, many residents, including some great cooks, relocated to Middle Tennessee. One of those cooks has opened a restaurant called Papa Boudreaux's in Fly, TN. Yes, Fly, TN. If you've ever been to Fly, I think it's because it's like a fly speck on the map. It's a great place for bicycling, and supposed to be a great place for eating. We're gonna give it a try tonight and I'll continue this over the weekend.
UPDATE: It was really good, charming, not fancy by any means. If it's a busy night and the weather is bad, go another night. The waiting area is the parking lot.
Food is family style so everyone has to decide on something. My favorite was catfish with some kind of dill cajun sauce over pasta. It's making me hungry just thinking about it.
Another thing that was funny was the owner sat outside and drank wine with the people waiting. He's a pretty funny guy.
Everyone gets to know each other. The dining room is small and everyone is kinda elbow to elbow. Plenty of conversations occur based on "what are you eating over there?" between folks that were previously strangers.
Long story short, it's a fun place to go eat. Give it a try.
Most Recent Post: 06/24 07:02 by Anonymous [ Views:: 777 ]
Nashville 2008 Bicycling Accidents
Saturday, October 18 2008 @ 07:56 CDT Contributed by: patclem
I'm going to try to list Nashville-area bicycling accidents that I know of in 2008. If you know of more, let me know and I'll put them here.
August 2008: Jeff B - while morning commuting on Thompson Lane east-bound in the bike lane, on a downhill section, an elderly couple passed him, heading for Shoney's turned right in front of him and ran him into the curb and off the road. Jeff was scraped up, bleeding from the road rash on his elbow. Not sure whether it was that they didn't see him or they misjudged his speed. The couple in the car was so distraught over the whole event that Jeff requested that they not be ticketed. Bad idea. Here are his words:
"The elderly couple that hit me (minor scraps and a bent front wheel) did stop. We exchanged phone numbers and someone else had called the police. When the ambulance and fire truck(!) showed up, I waved them on.
Pat's point about getting a police report is correct, however, and I probably should have pursued that option. But the couple who struck me were more visibly upset than I was.
Bike commuters are still in the vanguard here in Nashville. As we become more prevalent on the streets, I believe motorists will get used to our presence, and we'll become more visible. For what it's worth, you're still more likely to be hit by a car as a pedestrian, but that won't prevent me from walking."
August 20, 2008: Richard M (his own write-up) - "I was commuting into to work today (headlight/tail light blaring). A ride I've been making once a week this Summer, from Franklin to Nashville. My route takes me on back roads across to Hwy 100, where I then take 100 all the way to Nashville. I was just before the 100/70 split, when a person taking their teenager to school decided to SLOWLY pass me then make an IMMEDIATE right-hand turn! All in the distance of 25yds. No turn signal! I was amazed. I yelled out "no f'in way" (I need to work on that part, cause if I'm being taken out of this world, that's NOT that last thing I want going through my mind and/or coming out my mouth). Then, get this, she decides to STOP as she's making the turn. I guess she remembered she had passed me just 20 yards before the turn (yes, 20 yds). I was doing about 25mph. I guess I should thank her for stopping (which put her car at an angle), cause that left me the ability to careen down the side of her car and fall eloquently into the street. She will remember me always, cause I left a nice handlebar mark from the back end to the front of her SUV. Her and her daughter did manage a slight "are you alright?", which I was, so they promptly drove off. Two others at the intersection actually got out of their cars and came over and asked if I was okay.Anyway, so now I question whether or not I will continue riding in to work."
Richard obviously was in no state to get a tag number, name or good description of the vehicle, and neither did the witnesses. There was no police report or investigation of the driver who was demonstrating "leaving the scene of an accident."
May 2008: Wanda H. - she and several folks were out for a recreational ride through urban Nashville on the holiday weekend. Thunderstorms threatened, so the group split up, with Wanda joining one of a smaller group to shortcut back to the starting place. They rode through 'The Gulch" (12th Avenue under the Demonbreun Street bridge) where there are multiple railroad tracks crossing the road at an angle. Somehow while crossing the tracks, one rider took a crash and I think she got distracted by that and crashed herself. After a ride in an ambulance and an extended stay in the hospital and a rehab unit, Wanda fractured her pelvis in two places and chipped it in a third place. She was on short-term disability and I think she went back to work the second week of July.
Was this rider error or were the tracks a hazard? I've ridden in just about every terrain imaginable. I've ridden in urban areas including Manhattan. I've ridden in the country where trains are up to full speed crossing between major towns and depots. I've ridden in small towns all over the southeast. In the country and most small towns, you'll find tracks with rubber bumpers to smooth them for cars, motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrian crossings. Metro Nashville has the worst most dangerous tracks of anywhere I've been. We should (and I am) ashamed that we tolerate this in our community.
The tracks that Wanda crashed on are under the responsibility of CSX Railroad. The City of Nashville has no responsibility for fixing them. Wanda even wrote to them explaining what happened, simply to ask for more signs to be posted warning bicyclists of the danger. She got a very insensitive letter in response from the city explaining it wasn't their problem. Again, I'm ashamed, and this sort of response inspires me to be active in resolving such issues.
October 2008: Lisa M. - details are still unclear because Lisa can't remember anything for about a 2 week period after being life flighted to Vanderbilt. while riding on highway 70, apparently a car sped past her and turned right, hitting her and by eyewitness accounts, throwing her 25 feet.
"I was hit by a negligent driver on Wed of this week and had to be life flighted to Vanderbilt. No one including myself knows how I am alive. According to the officer involved the car turned in front of me, I hit it and was thrown 25 feet. I don’t remember any of it, nor much that has happened in the last two weeks. I have a concussion, bruised ribs, shoulder fracture and a banged up knee. Plus more bruises and road rash than I will take time to describe. However, I feel very fortunate that I am alive to feel the pain. "
Lisa before the accident was one of the very few that had ordered a 3feetplease.com jersey to spread the word. As of this writing the jerseys haven't arrived. She'll get hers delivered first. The other amazing thing is Lisa is inspired to take on some advocacy activism, and I know she'll be back on the bike. I hope you the reader share some of her increased enthusiasm and get out and do something to raise awareness of bicycling safety for both motorists and bicyclists.
August 8, 2008: Jim Benson -
"On August 12, family, friends and co-workers gathered at First United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro TN to celebrate the life of JimBenson.Jim was involved in a tragic bicycle accident in Murfreesboro on August 8, 2008 when a car turned left into his lane, striking him on his bicycle.
He is survived by his wife, Sandy, and their two daughters, Kate and Kelley.Jim's memorial service was one full of heartfelt eulogies, songs of praise and an outpouring of sympathy and respect.Jim was competitive in nature and always looked for solutions to problems.He was the IT director at Middle TN Medical Center where he was very involved with many projects, including the new hospital.He was truly a great guy and will be missed.Clearly, Jim was a man who enjoyed life and touched numerous lives along the way."
I attended the Jim Benson Memorial Ride on September 8. Damn it was sad when his wife got in front of about 100 riders that showed up, and gave a speech telling us about the beautiful day, how Jim was getting ready, adjusting his helmet, and how she told him to be careful just like any other day, and he said he would just like any other day.
Jim was riding along in a residential area that approached countryside riding. The entire Memorial Ride stopped at the spot for a moment of silence, in the same direction Jim had been going. The family was there, embracing each other, teared up, right on the corner where the cross and flowers had been placed. We approached a stop sign where the road T's into another road. Jim had been approaching or moving through the stop sign when the car short-cutted the corner from the right, and hit and killed Jim. Note the driver was even taken to the hospital with injuries from where Jim must have hit her windshield. I don't think there was a dry eye on the scene.
September 5, 2008: Ricky B - I anonymize his name because I want to share some things about the accident that I clearly think were his fault. Ricky B was killed on Columbia Pike in Franklin while riding home from work as he did every day. He wasn't wearing his helmet, probably because he didn't wear one when he was a kid.
Exact words of someone that remembers regularly seeing him riding:
"I might know the man as well (not personally) I think (just think going by the description), but have seen him ride around a lot. Sometimes he carries a little dog with him, but yes, every time I've seen him; very dangerous riding; running red lights in front of traffic, cycling down the road in the wrong direction, and of course no helmet. I did confront him once about the helmet bit when we were both at a intersection a while ago, his comment was that there was no state law that says he has to wear one (I thought there was now?). But anyway, I don't think anyone deserves to die but then it just supports the common sense of wearing a helmet when you cycle and of course safe riding. Of course, I don't know the whole story, he could have been doing everything right and the truck hit him via it's driver mistake."
If he was riding this way, I feel sorry for him and his family even more than I already do. The police ruled it an accident and didn't issue any citations. Regardless, wear your damn helmet. If you're killed riding your bicycle without a helmet on, I'm going to write about you too.
"Bicyclists fare best when they act and are treated as vehicles." Ride like a car would - obey laws, ride with traffic, be aware of your surroundings, ride predictably, share the road - both ways.
That's enough for now. Again, email me if you have one I've missed. Stay tuned for more of my thoughts on the priorities for Tennessee bicycling advocacy.
2008 Natchez Trace Parkway Bike Tour South to North
Saturday, September 27 2008 @ 05:37 CDT Contributed by: patclem
Back in the spring of 2008, I decided my week-long adventure vacation would be to bicycle the Natchez Trace Parkway from south to north self supported. I was prepared to ride solo or with someone with conditions. Here was my request for company to the Harpeth Bike Club General list:
I'm sitting here thumbing my way through Glen Wanner's book Bicycling the Natchez Trace. Why you ask? It's on my "cycling list of things to do" - ride back to Nashville from Natchez MS. I plan to do it as my annual vacation in September (leave either Friday 9/12 or 9/19, finish about 7 days later. 9/26 will put me too close to Jack and Back.) It sure would be boring to do it by myself. Anyone interested?
MORE DETAILS: Plan is to ride self supported so you need a rack and some panniers, or maybe a trailer. No SAG car. I plan to mostly camp, but a hotel for a hot shower and a real bed one or two nights is not out of the question, especially in the event of torrential rain or something.
Heading to Natchez on a Friday, maybe hitching a ride with a friend visiting family in Louisiana or southern Mississippi. I looked up Uhaul prices one-way, and they're really expensive. Greyhound is my reliable plan - will take a good part of 13 hours to do it that way. I've always wanted to ride a Greyhound and meet lots of interesting people. Could be fun and part of the adventure. If you have ideas for getting to Natchez other than these, please share!
I plan to start riding on a Saturday morning. I want to be back on Friday or maybe Saturday the following weekend. I'm not planning on setting speed records with hopefully 70 mile days max. I plan to stop often and take in the sights, maybe get a 'tall boy' at a convenience store once in a while, possibly stop for a nap in the hottest part of the day. The only deadline might be a hotel reservation. But if you want everything planned perfectly, you might not be satisfied.
Again, if this sounds interesting, reply back with the week of your choice and let's do some light planning.
WARNING - I don't want any maybe's or might's. I'm looking for "that sounds perfect - count me in" or "I'll only cancel if a hurricane blows ashore and parks right over the Trace" or "I LOVE to hear Pat snore from the opposite side of the campground!" (hey, it's better than Turret's In Your Sleep Syndrome - ask me about that!) Another acceptable response is "I'll know for sure by the end of July."
Looking forward to hearing from you soon, whoever you are!
Whoever it was turned out to be my buddy Steve Allen. Monica Summers, another buddy, has family in Louisiana, and dropped us off in Natchez, MS on the way to visit. It really worked out good.
Most Recent Post: 10/01 02:44 by Anonymous [ Views:: 472 ]
Rock Island to Cedars of Lebanon to Nashville
Friday, September 05 2008 @ 07:34 CDT Contributed by: patclem
Steve A. and I are bicycle touring, self supported from Rock Island State Park on Saturday to Cedars of Lebanon State Park. The idea is to shake out our gear/system before we ride the Natchez Trace. One-way drop-off's are a pretty good way to tour.
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Take David Meek - an experienced cyclist in Chattanooga run down by some truck driver that didn't see him. Didn't see him? that MF that drove that truck should NEVER drive again. I seriously hope David's family sues the driver and the company he drove for into bankruptcy.
You may remember this story from the DNJ back in February. On 1/21/09, Donald Hall was a victim of a hit-and-run driver and left on the side of the road for six hours before someone found him. Donald rode his bike to work everyday in Lavergne, TN just outside of Nashville. Donald is paralyzed from the accident and was recently moved to the University of Michigan Hospital to be close to his family. 
