Sweet Home Alabama

You get a real sense of where a lot of the country music comes from when you bike these back roads in the south. The churches all have little billboards, today many were announcing graduation open houses with food and preaching. The smell of honey suckle blossoms continue to permeate the air, it is truly Mother Natures perfume. We were up in the pines most of the day and had a number of big trucks come by loaded with logs. I also saw a number of hunting leases and deer blinds. Today was our 3rd largest climbing day of the trip. Someone told me we have now climbed enough to have climbed Mt. Everest three times. I was so tired and sore this morning I did not even know if I could ride. When I went back to my room to change after breakfast there was quite a battle brewing in my head. I finally decided to give it a go and I am so glad I did. It was a strong day for me, with God's help I was strong. The dog escapades continue with one near miss today and a half dozen other chases. I was asked by one of the veteran riders if I would collect the tip for the staff from all the riders. I think he sees me as friend to all. I did have a car follow behind me for over a block today making me nervous, as they finally came around a woman yelled out the window"nice legs" I am not sure how many teeth she had, I smiled and said thanks.

   I did go by a house today with at least 25 chicken cages with fighting chickens inside the cages. Thanks for all of your love and support. Only four more days, wow.