Jim's Ride Across America: Day 17 Senora, KY to Falls of Rough, KY

Yorktown, VA to Falls of Rough, KY Completed 943 Miles

Biking Detail Senora, KY to Falls of Rough, KY

Day 17 Thursday, May 28

Spent time in the Guest House sunroom with coffee enjoying the peaceful surroundings! I got up early to do 401k entries for Pharmacy. Had great morning chat with Charlie. Owned his own oil/gas company in New Orleans where he lived 35 years before returning to his old homestead. Met his second wife, Audrey, in New Orleans. She ran a homeopathic alternative medical facility. Didn't make any money he said but they liked the naturopathic way! He sold his business and they moved back to Sonora where he spent mega$$$ restoring three old homestead buildings plus making a 9' deep man made lake stocked with fish. Uses the properties to host family reunions twice a year. Has become a destination wedding spot for the area. He limits guests to bikers and private individuals mostly known to him. He enjoys cooking Cajun style food. Saw pictures of shrimp boil he did for large football reunion (locals who went on to play mostly for UK then professional!) and sure looked good. If we were staying longer would have done some Cajun cooking for us, but felt we needed to move on as weather good!

Took SR 84 out of Sonora. Scenic in the beginning with Amish farms. They really don't want pictures taken but Margie got a few rolling by. If stop and ask they will say No. SR 84 rolls on through lots of farmland! Two and a half hours and still on SR 84 and farmlands. All looks same after a while. This was the best peddling we've had since Yorktown. Mostly downhill with rolling 2% hills for 11 miles. Then hit two 9% short climbs within 2 miles. Back to nice riding until we cross over the Rough River for the first time at 26 miles. Then up we go! A 16% ball buster just to remind us that some tough climbs still exist. You just don't know when.

Margie had a great catfish lunch at a small deli in Leitchfield ( Peter Cave General Store) just before the junction of SR 259 and SR 79 that takes you to Rough River Dam. Great stopping place for good food first in many miles and came upon it right at noon! I had hot pancakes and sausage. First pancakes of the trip! Headed out again and had a 10 mile ride with a couple of 7%-8% hills to Falls of Rough State Park. Biked over top of the dam just before the Park. Got to the Lodge at 1:00 pm, early for stopping for the day, but next stopping point about 37 miles (Utica) and that is a Fire Station, no motels. Decided to stay. Lodge nice and rooms only $49 with AAA. Nice balcony overlooking the lake and lodge has a restaurant so we are here for the night and will enjoy a half day of rest. Lodge located in town of Falls of Rough, population 1,900.