Roaming Cage Free

 Batesville (MS) to Murfreesboro (TN)

570 mi                                                                                                                                 August 7th, 2024

One final time on this trip: load the liners and tour pack, fill the cooler with ice, swear while trying to sync Android Auto to the BoomBox, dial in some tunes… then fire up the bike… wakey-wakey, guys!

Flat as a pancake here, easy rolling on backroads to the “Gateway of the Blues” visitor center.
Photo Stop – snap! Done. Too early, not open yet.

I turn North, one more photo/coin stop in Metropolis (IL). But first: let’s get safely through Memphis. My GPS has me on the main highway through town. It sucks big time, with cars cutting me off left and right. I had been to Memphis before, about 10 years ago, and nothing has changed. GPS, I am really not impressed – what part of “avoid major highways” did not compute?

All good, in the end. I cross the Ohio River; the trip was otherwise uneventful. Metropolis is synonymous with Superman – and here he is! Blue tracksuit, red undies.
The museum could be intriguing, but some weather is brewing, and I better keep going East to stay out of the worst.

Not a coin stop, but it was recommended to ride through the “Garden of the Gods” up here. Some nice backroads, no traffic, through lush forest and twists and turns. Sadly, the main parking site was closed for re-paving.

That is fine. An invisible force starts pulling me South towards Nashville anyway. I dodge some bad weather once more (just a few sprinkles). No stopping till I’m past the clouds.

Southern Kentucky is bathed in sun again; and I really need a rest stop. None of my usual places anywhere nearby (think Starbucks) but behold: a sign to a distillery nearby! That could work (I mean, I’ll make the effort).

Casey Jones Distillery is a neat stop; no one’s there, and I make room for a few Bourbon Samples, and some Moonshine, too. I enjoy those on the porch, in a very comfy rocking chair. I wish I could have one more, and more time.

Entering Tennessee on I24 at Clarksville, the horse smells the stable already! All went smooth, till…. I’m stuck in traffic (stop and go). Luckily, an exit right up, and I take backroads towards Franklin. It’s getting late in the afternoon, so the last 40 miles I take the highway.

And without further delay, I enter our driveway and reach home. A fun adventure has come to an end.

Quite a trip. Quite an experience. Quite many coins.