OnTheTrace: Two pick-ups, two bike shops, two new shoes, two mexican resturants, a bus and very quick ride into the night.

Tuesday, September 23. Consistent with our plan to get to the bike shop in Franklin, TN, we rose very early, and headed out to the highway. Within about 15 minutes we had landed a ride, at least part way, with two guys on their way to work in Nashville. After they dropped us off at a service station before heading onto the interstate, we approached every pick-up driver who came into the station from the south. All were local folks, heading to work in town. (We also tried thumbing a ride, but we were ignored by most, and given a friendly wave by a few others.) After about 20 minutes, a true gentleman in a pickup pulling a utility trailer responded favorably to our request for a ride. Howard, owner and operator of Howard’s Caretaking, a handyman and home maintenance business, is an outdoorsman who used to do a lot of bicycle camping. He took us all the way to the bike shop, which was a huge favor, particularly considering the very heavy traffic both directions. He shared with us some snippets of his adventures with his buddies and what they call their National Geographic moments. We did the same.

The Mac's bike shop was not yet open when we arrived in Franklin, so we had a fast food breakfast at a nearby convenience store. By the time we were done, the shop opened. Within 90 minutes Rob’s bike was ready to roll, but he remained concerned about possible slight play in the bottom bracket. But we headed north.

We had information from the bike shop owner that the best way to get to our day’s end destination (the Holiday Inn Express in Hendersonville) was right through the middle of Nashville. And since there was another bike shop just off Music Row which might have the tool to check the bottom bracket, we took the plunge--over hill and dell - over and over again. The sixteen miles into Nashville was a continuous set of hills -- long and steep, with fast downhill runs (Diane was passing cars at 35+ miles per hour - screaming "Get out my way, I'm coming through").

In Nashville we stopped at the second bike shop, Green Fleet, where Rob's bike got two new shoes (new pedals) which seems to have stop the incessant clicking in the drive train. Meanwhile Diane had her second Mexican meal of the day.

We glided through downtown Nashville and crossed the Cumberland River on a combined walking/bicycle path. But the terrain within Nashville then returned to the steep ups and downs.

Getting out of Nashville was no picnic. But after another ten miles of intense riding, we caught an eastbound city bus, with a dual bike rack. That cut out the most treacherous part of the road. The end of the bus ride was a Walmart, 6.8 miles short of our destination (got to love Goggle maps). We virtually flew those seven miles, but it was dark by the time we got to the hotel. Tomorrow we aim to be in Glasgow, Kentucky before nightfall.

The one of the many heroes of the day, Howard - (but he truly went the extra miles).