OnTheTrace: Revived and with a Southern Wind

Sunday, September 21. We began our day in Mississippi with our first tail-wind of the trip, flew through the NW corner of Alabama, crossed the gorgeous Tennessee River (Lake Pickwick) and ended the 60-mile day in Collinwood, Tennessee. Leaving the river, we climbed (of course) but as we topped the rise we were rewarded with a spectacular sight. Our first sight of Fall leaves gently departing their branches, twirling in the wind, and reflecting in rays of light filtering through the trees—a wonderous glistening, glittering moment. And then we were racing through the leaves down the hill and up the next climb.

That night we stayed at Ms. Monetta’s Cottage -- a lovely fully furnished home built in 1934 and well-updated with all modern amenities except internet service – all to ourselves. The proprietors, Larry and Dianne Butler, live two houses down the street.

The cottage first belonged to Ms. Monetta, who lived somewhere past 100 years and died of a broken heart after spending her last month in a nursing home. Ms. Monetta’s daughter died shortly afterwards, and the Butlers acquired the property.

We walked through the last heat of the day to the Piggly Wiggly where we purchased the next day's snacks, and evening's dinner fixin’s – which consisted of baking potatoes (cooked in the microwave) topped with chili and sharp cheddar cheese, with a side of coleslaw. Also consumed that night were a quart of chocolate milk, half a gallon of RC cola, a medium bag of BBQ chips and pudding cups with almonds. (Rob also finished off 4 oz of pickle loaf baloney smeared with mustard. This is living!

The last of the Mississippi hills.