What have we been doing this past week of rest you ask?
Left to right: Haedyn, Hunter, Mike, Ryan, Sue, Paige, Johnny, Me, Jon
Let’s see. We had a tasty, restful, and fun Thanksgiving with Ryan’s family and friends in Fort Walton Beach! Shout outs to Susan and Jon Wagner, Marion Carollo (AKA Memaw 😘), Paige, Haedyn, and Hunter King, Mike Avett, and George and Ruta Bilafer. Thank you for having us and for the great company 🙂
We also did plenty of relaxing, stretching and yoga, football and The Hobbit watching, fire pit sitting, and went for some lovely walks and runs in the crisp fall Alabama and Florida weather.
Day 7
Now we are back on tour and the Alabama countryside does not disappoint! Beautiful rolling hills and quiet roads have been our muse today and once again the southern hospitality has done us well.
We road into Luverne, AL right around sunset today and asked to pitch our tent behind ReImagined “Unique Finds Along 331.” It caught our eye and Kathy didn’t miss a beat showing us to a quiet grassy corner for our tent, offering us snacks and water, and even leaving her business’s bathroom open for us tonight! SCORE!!! Thank you so much Kathy Smith! You have made us a couple of happy campers 😉.
We were directed to The Chicken Shack for dinner which is famous in town and has been voted best fried chicken in Alabama. It didn’t disappoint. We got full for $5 each on delicious southern fried goodness. 🍗 🥬 🍟 🍞 🥤 🌶
Today was a shorter day at 42 miles since my knees are still feeling it, but we are on schedule to get to Starkville Mississippi around December 11th just after Ryan’s friend Trevor finishes his finals. Woohoo!
P. S. If anyone has tips for biking with sore knees, I am currently accepting advice!
Route info for interested readers:
We left Enterprise, Alabama on the 84 West into Elba. From there we got onto the 50 which turned to the 364. This was a beautiful secluded part of the ride. Lots of country homes but very few cars. We turned right into the 141 then 331 through Brantley* and ended in Luverne, Alabama.
*Originally we planned to turn left from Brantley onto the 106 but we’re warned against it for the night due to “sketchy people.” Luverne is great! I’m glad we switched course.
There and Back Again 