Brian's Daily Journal: Day 10
Breezy, dark and fast. Riding before dawn has benefits. Farm country enveloped us immediately after leaving the RV park. Hearing roosters crow “cock-a-doodle-do!” before 6:00 AM from every barn ushered a new day. Peddling was easy despite minor hills. Martin and I built up speed on descents and made rolling hill climbs without much resistance. Country roads didn’t last. We turned on route 60 and rode on four lane divided highway for ten miles. These rolling hills were strewn with neat bales of hay and tall gleaming grain silos. I dismounted taking a picture of cow that appeared to be sucking its own utter. The cow spooked and ran away. We saw five or six fierce dogs chomping to break chains and attack. One dog was not chained and sprinted towards us. I bypassed him but Martin, who was fifty feet back, resorted to using his water bottle as "doggie mace".
Other dogs caged behind fences would chase us the length of their property begrudgingly setting us free when they could go no further. I was surprised that a creamy tan-white horse galloped across her pen as I rode past. The sun finally showed as we rode thirty miles on Route 58, a.k.a. Roadkill Heaven. Dozens of raccoons, possums a plenty and two mice as flat as pennies sprawled decaying in the road. Three or four dead animals were only inches apart from one another. Had we discovered a secret raccoon suicide cult? The last ten miles had us sweating buckets and riding fast. We made it to the outskirts of Chattanooga three and a half hours and forty-six miles later.
Possum Creek RV is nicer than its name. The "Creek", a tributary of the Tennessee river, is wide enough for boat traffic. Our RV slot was only twenty feet from water’s edge. The owner was a nice man. He gave us Possum Creek beer cozies and t-shirts after hearing of Martin's Ride and our goal to cure cancer and ride bicycles across the USA.
Our free dinner at
flavor of Italy Italian Restaurant was excellent. This restaurant's inconspicuous exterior suggested just another roadside eatery. Don't be fooled by this book's cover. The food inside was special. The décor created Tuscany in a small Tennessee town. Flavor of Italy's walls were splashed with paintings of countryside villas and elaborate bottles of ingredients checkered the windowsills. Owners Ana Maria and Giuseppe Iannuzzi were personable and friendly. Ana Maria met Giuseppe when he was a chef on an Italian Cruise. Giuseppe was cooking and Ana Maria was a guest. They've inseparable ever since. Giuseppe cooked Martin a delectable chicken parmesan, Jeremy a succulent Tilapia and myself a liberal serving of fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp. I snapped a picture of Martin with the owners and we drove back Possum Creek RV. I sat by the creek watching boats dart by with motors cutting water likes knives sending rippling waves lapping against our shore. It is almost 9:00 PM. The cicadas are buzzing. My bain is turning into dull mush after another amazing day on Martin's Ride.
That’s all for tonight folks!
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