One Very Hot Day

It may be steaming hot outside, but, when you get the chance to take off on your Harley - you just have to go!! 

And believe me, it sure is HOT in Kentucky and Tennessee!

For this trip, we headed down to Tennessee.  I just love riding the TN roads which have been cut out of the hills.  Such as the picture below.

We headed south toward the TN/AL border.  Our friends, Gary and Donna led the way toward Fayetteville, Petersburg and Kelso TN.  Donna's family originated from this area.  

 

The hills and valleys were breath-taking and lush with every shade of green. 

This train station is about all that is left of Kelso TN.

Petersburg TN - once a thriving town square, is now
hardly more than old buildings decaying in the hot sun.

Petersburg TN is a very old community.

 This area of the state seems to be mostly farming.  Which means more barn pictures!

GREEN as far as the eye can see! 

Our day began at 7:30am with a temperature of 77 degrees. We arrived home around 9:00pm and the temp was 82 degrees.  In between we hit temps as high as 101 degrees or more.  We added another 459 miles on our odometer.  Very hot and totally exhausted it was shower and veg for the remainder of the evening.

Just a Ride Around the Neighborhood

Wow, is it ever hot here in Kentucky!  Riding the Harley has become quite a challenge due to the heat.  Typically, riding is a great way to stay cool on a hot day, especially when you are riding through the hills.  In the hills of Tennessee and Kentucky you will usually find quite a few shaded roads that offer relief from the hot burning sun.  However, with the heat index above 100, even the shaded roads offer little relief from the heat.  Thus, we find ourselves hiding away in the comfort of our air conditioned home. 

Kentucky landscape

Mid July and the bushes are in full bloom

A bad spring storm left many damaged trees
in Trigg county

Earlier this summer it was wheat that dominated the
farming landscape - now it is corn

We took on the heat last Saturday, well at least for a couple of hours.  The skies were cloudy when we began, which helped to ease the heat.  However, after an hour of riding, the sun was in full body and the heat was on.  Before we gave in and went back into summer hibernation, I did get pictures of a few great barns.

A Kentucky barn, most likely used for drying Tobacco



I am really hoping the heat will ease up soon, although the natives here say the worse is yet to come.  It seems that traditionally, August in Kentucky is all about heat and dry, gee . . . can't wait! 

Tennessee Smoky Foothills

Taking advantage of the beautiful blue skies, we took off on another adventure on Saturday (June 11, 2011).  We headed for Tennessee (our favorite riding state).  We picked up our good friends and headed for the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. 

  This is a view as we leave home on Saturday morning.  With clear skies like this, I knew we had a fun day ahead of us.  How inviting is this scene?

We have learned that sometimes you just have to share the road.

  At times during our day we were just on the edge of some type of rain storm.  Fortunately, we did not get rained on.  A little rain splatter from the road was all that we felt.

With temperatures in the 90's and a 30% chance for rain, the mountains were extremely smoky.

It just amazes me the difference in the season's scenery.  During this time of year everything is green green green!  You just wouldn't think there could be that many different shades of green.

As the temperature rises, I am always thrilled when we find roads with lots of shade!

On Hwy 111 there is a beautiful scenic overlook of the valley near Dunlap, TN.  Our restaurant of choice for Saturday, The Cookie Jar, is in this valley.

On our way home, Tim snaked his way through this awesome valley by Woodbury TN.  This is one of those roads that is a must ride for all motorcycles!

I had to add a picture of a wheat field.  It must be the crop of choice this year because there are so many wheat fields.  They seem to be about a month ahead of Nebraska's harvest, since they are beginning to combine now. 

We spent 14 hours riding 499 miles on this day trip.  Hot - tired - exhausted would describe us as we dropped off our friends and headed back to Kentucky.  We had just made it home, put the Harley in the garage, let Lola out and brought in the mail, when a flash of lightning brought on a very windy thunderstorm.  How fortunate we were to make it home and inside before the skies opened up and the winds took off. 

An Amish Countryside

We now live in a community that is rich with Amish settlers.  It is common place to see a horse and black buggy running down the highway.  We are usually on the bike when we encounter our motorless neighbors. 

I just love the farmsteads of the Amish.  They are so neat and well maintained.  I just had to take a picture of a few of them . . .

We were fortunate to watch one Amish gentleman work his fields.  It totally amazes me that they are able to farm the land with  one-row or two-row machinery. 

We also rode by the Amish school house.

So far, I have not found any Yoder's in this community.  I continue to ask any of the Amish I come into contact with.  I think it would be so cool to run into a Yoder that I would actually be related to. 

Ride to Dale's Hollow on May 22, 2011

Another fun ride with our HOG friends.  Tim lead the ride on Sunday, with a goal of having a sack lunch at Dale's Hollow Dam.  But, first a few curvy roads, some beautiful scenery and even a small Ferry ride.

By Lafayette, TN, there is a beautiful valley that goes on for miles.  Regarless of the season, it is a very beautiful road to travel.

And now, for the Ferry . . . 

This is a really fun ferry to cross.

 The water was high - so the
ramps were not near as steep
as we have seen in the past.

 Our ride across the Cumberland
River on the Ferry.  Short ride
but, fun!

Could be stormy.

Rain getting closer to our picnic.

Time to put on the rain gear.

 We rode 382 miles and spent about 11 hours riding around Kentucky and Tennessee.  What an awesome day!  Maybe you can join us next time?