June 13,
2001. Rough River Dam State Park to Utica Fire Station, Kentucky. (48 mi.) Mile 1084
More
of the same only hotter
This morning when we headed out of
the campground with the Helms, we could tell it was going to be even hotter
than yesterday. It was 93 degrees in the shade before 11 am, so we decided to
stop checking after that. 
Three of the four of us opted to wear long sleeves
in order to avoid sunburn and direct radiant heat. This was OK when cruising
along fast enough for ventilation, but overdressed for grinding up the hills,
which were placed at the end of the day as usual. This made today much like
yesterday, leapfrogging with Peter and Maren from one small, cool country
store to the next. The countryside remains rural, with lush, green grass and
high humidity.
Identifying
markings: How to tell a bicycle tourist from other aliens by the bike glove
tan pattern. We each have a browner left leg than right too. Peter recommended we
bicycle from the west coast back to the east to balance this out.
Everyone seemed
preoccupied with food today. Peter and Maren wanted a big salad and
watermelon, and Mike and I wanted ice cream.
We have been traveling
with Germans who have been bicycling many hard miles in 90+ degree heat
through regions that prohibit the sale of beer. They have been good sports
about it, but today Peter started dreamily describing the beer back home, the
size of the cold mugs, the frothy head..... Thinking about a pint of cold,
German beer was more than any of us could
take, so Mike rode off route 3 miles to pick up a 6-pack in the next county
while the rest of us bought more watermelon and ingredients for a big salad.
This added quite a bit of weight to our loads, so we were completely
overheated and exhausted when we arrived in Utica looking for accommodations.
Utica is very small, without a campground or motel.
We had heard there
might be somewhere to stay associated with the Fire Station, and when we
inquired, we were immediately ushered to the station, given the run of the
place, shown where to park the bikes next to the fire engines and EMT rigs,
and where to take showers. Here in Utica, many people remember well the
thousands of bicyclists that came through and camped here in the
Bikecentennial year of 1976. The community has been hospitable to cyclists
ever since.
A six-pack and a salad with the Helms at the Utica Fire Station
We bought a bag of ice
at the nearby mini-mart, chilled the beer, and made a large salad. This
evening we sat around the table and made a toast to good friends and tail
winds. Peter summed it up by saying, "This is what adventure is all
about. I feel good!"
