This was not a very good day. I started out with another late start. That’s okay because I had 2 days to go about 80 miles to Louisville and as such I was in no rush. I picked out a campground to spend tomorrow night and got a reservation since it was a weekend. I hit the road after noon and headed south without eating since I wasn’t hungry yet.
I came across a huge wildlife preserve. Google’s directions had me cutting through it but it was completely fenced off – i would have to go around. And so I was stuck on this highway with a 4 inch shoulder going directly into headwinds for 10 miles. At one point I pulled over to refill my water bottles and watched as a hundred motorcycles passed me by. I could see them coming from miles away since the road was absolutely flat and straight. Back on the road, I was getting hungry but it was only 15 miles to my stop for the night so I decided to keep going.
Indiana has been the worst state for dogs so far and today was no exception. At one point a pack of 3 little dogs came after me and because of their numbers I had trouble keeping my bike between me and them. I resorted to my pepper spray for the first time which slightly deterred them but didn’t stop them outright. I probably didn’t get them in the eyes sufficiently. Anyways, after over a minute of being harassed by them, the owner calls them away. I continue on only to have the owner chase me down on his ATV and threaten to run me over. Keep it classy, Indiana.
I arrive at the campground. It looks like a trailer park. Stepping inside the office, I tell them about my reservation only to have them tell me they don’t take reservations. Apparently the google maps result for the Lakeside Camping in Indiana (a trailer park) has the phone number for Lakeside Camping in Vermont (an actual campground). Lovely. So I find another campground and head that way. Getting pretty hungry.
On the way to the next campsite I get harassed by more dogs. I do my usual dismount and walk maneuver which usually keeps them several feet away, but this dog is pretty persistent. A SUV drives by and the driver smiles and waves. I give him an exasperated look while the dog is barking just a couple feet from me but he just keeps on smiling and moves on. Eventually the dog relents and I am able to continue.
I arrive in the town of Scottsburg and decide to just get a motel. I’m starving and almost out of water, having gone 60 miles without any food or refilling any water.
The restaurant in front of the motel has a deal for four Coronas for 6.50.
Today’s mileage: 60 miles
Total: 1075 miles
It is surprising how much of a problem dogs turn out to be. I imagine things will improve once you get past the Mississippi.
Yeah. Once I hit Missouri I’ll be taking the Katy trail bike path for 200 some miles which will put me not too far from Kansas. So I hope I’ll be past the worst of dog country by then, which just leaves me with 5 or so more days of dealing with them.