After eating breakfast and planning my route, I checked out of my b&b and got on the road around 10:30. I made my way out of Louisville back into Indiana towards what will be the hilliest day of my trip until I hit the Rockies.
My directions were kind of confusing from the get-go as I found myself on a freeway attached to an interstate. There weren’t any signs prohibiting bicycles so I proceeded for a couple miles until i veered off to head west. After 10 miles of flat roads, the hills began. After the first long climb, I followed the “ridge road” so it was somewhat flatter.
I eventually stopped for a late lunch at a Mexican restaurant. Their burrito was more like an enchilada and came coated with cheese. Maybe I just need to start asking if my dishes will have cheese on them. Oh well, I scraped the cheese to the side and went on.
After lunch the hills returned in full force as I headed down a country road towards a state forest. Once I reached the forest I was informed that the roads I was planning on taking had long since been closed and I would have to go 5 miles out of my way to go around the forest. At least I had a tail wind when I turned around.
I connected to rt. 62, a 2 lane state highway with no shoulder. This road took me straight through the hills and into Hoosier National Forest. At least there wasn’t a lot of traffic.
Every time I saw a steep hill down, I dreaded it since I knew it was followed by a long climb back up another hill. After a long time on this road I came across a gas station and got some trail mix for dinner and headed south. This new road had a huge shoulder and a “share the road” sign. Awesome. I came across a campground almost immediately and called it a night.
No dog problems today, amazingly.
Today’s mileage: 64 miles.
Total: 1179 miles
No dogs because the “dog days of summer” are over! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_Days
Hope the cool front makes pedaling more comfortable!