Northeast Ride – Day Eight

Day eight is in the books. After last night’s post I went “next door” and had some good campfire chat with the neighbors. A nice couple getting away from the same storm I had played chicken with. We talked about the usual stuff…. where we were from, what we did for a living. Was taught some stuff about farming that I didn’t know. Like, there’s a male and female watermelon plant and how honey bees are pretty much responsible for making seedless watermelons. And how corn cobs grow on the stalk. I was even offered a late night plate of food, but graciously declined as I was still quite full from dinner.

We eventually said our goodbyes and went to bed. Them to their cozy camper and I to my snuggly sleeping bag. I planned on a short day so wasn’t worried about waking up too early. Still, I was up by 7:30 and on the road just before 9:00.

The day started in the mid 60’s, chilly but not too cold. The skies were clear and no rain forecasted anywhere in my path. It was just about 50 miles to the Tennessee border and the hills north of the Great Smoky Mountains. A few more small crop fields, rolling fields and several miles of tree lined highway. More yellow than up north too.

Stopped for lunch at a little place called Bella’s Twisted Grille. Not the classiest of joints but the food was good and the beer was cold. Onward we went. Was planning a short day and already had a couple hundred miles in so another hundred miles or so and we’re calling it a day.

Stopped for a break at a rest stop. At this point we’d run almost 300 miles. Time to start looking for a place to stay for the night. But I noticed the time, it’s not even 2:00 yet. I’d crossed back into the Central Time Zone and gained an hour. We’ll go another 50 miles and then start looking for a place.

Exits out here are a few miles apart. Some only have a small gas station. Others have small motels with rooms for just $36 a night. Some of those are Knight’s Inn motels. Knight’s Inn? No thanks, I’ll ride all night before staying there again. A $36 motel room, maybe, but not tonight. I want a nice place with a comfortable bed, a mini fridge and no lingering odors. If you don’t know the lingering odors reference then please come visit me, and bring a six pack, it’s a story worthy of a few beers.

As the miles flew past I began to notice billboard signs for Loretta Lynn’s Kitchen. At least a dozen of them. Every mile a memory. I’ve eaten at Loretta Lynn’s Kitchen before. A down home cooking kind of joint. Good food. Dad and I stopped in here after leaving Nashville on our 16 state trip back in 2015. After lunch we continued on and after a few more miles stopped for gas at a small 4-pump station. Two of them were taken up by a couple other bikers and one was not happy to see us. Turns out they were members of the Black Pistons, a support club for the Outlaws. If you haven’t heard of them, the Outlaws are a part of the 1%, think Hell’s Angels or Bandidos. The Piston rider thought we were following them and once he realized two bikes loaded with camping gear were not a threat, cooled down. We had a quick, friendly chat and went our separate ways.

Back to today. The 50 miles and then start looking turned into another 50 miles and then start looking. Then it turned to, “Well, Jackson is only 70 miles away.” So here we are in Jackson, Tennessee. My short day turned into 504 miles. But, we’re less than 700 miles away from home. I’m going to sleep in tomorrow, if I can, and take a leisurely ride through the south. The next two days will be easy going. Not sure of my route yet. I could continue on through Arkansas or cut south and hit Mississippi and Louisiana. I’ll decide in the morning.

Enjoy your Sunday, that bed is looking awfully inviting so I’m headed to it!