I started the day off with a big buffet breakfast at the Farmers Family Restaurant, right next door to the Motel 6 I stayed at. They had a Senior Special, the full buffet with omelette bar and coffee for $5.99. What a deal ! The western omelette they made for me at Familys was the best I've had since the omelette bar on the old Carnival cruise ships that my sister Sandy worked on. Of course the Carnival omelets were free, and were served in exotic lands, so they were even better.
There has been lots to see today. I stopped at a giant crop of yellow wild flowers, I took some photos looking down on a river with people camping on the bank, and I pulled off onto the Natchez Trace, and I rode a few miles down the parkway.
I ran into some cyclists out of Nashville and we rode to a little store called Fly Grocery. It was a hoot, real old-timey with lots of locals hanging out. One fellow I was talking with was so local I could barely understand what he was saying. They had some neat bicycle yard art there, too.
I rode to Columbia TN, about 37 miles and stopped at a McDonalds to eat a late lunch. I downloaded most of today's blog while sitting around for an hour or so. I posted a photo of Diane, my number 1 fan at the McDonalds I stopped at. She asked me a million questions about my bike trip, and then told my story to all the other McDonalds staff. I felt like a real celebrity ! But I still didn't get a free cookie ...
I rode another 25 miles to Henry Horton State Park. It ended up being a very tough ride. I think I sat so long at the McDonalds that my body and legs just shut down for the day. I ended up spinning in low gears to get to the park.
I set up camp in the tent section. Again I'm the only camper there. A few trailers and motorhomes are in other sections of the park, but for the most part it is deserted. After setting up my tent I rode my bike around. This is a very nice place. It has a hotel, cabins, lots of pavilions, a big swimming pool, and a golf course. There was a big church group having a cookout, and a family reunion, too.
I rode back to my camp, met with the ranger, and paid my $11 fee. I cooked macaroni marigna and took a long hot shower.
Only a few more days to go !!
