Day 50, July 16

Sonora to Springfield, KY
72 miles

Before I hit the road the owner of the guest home took the picture below.

Heading out of Sonora into the fields of Kentucky:

Early in the day I passed by the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery, where one of Abraham Lincoln's childhood playmates was buried. The first 2/3 or so of my ride today went by numerous Lincoln related sites. The Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site was just off my route.

Somewhere near Howardstown:

Below is something you don't see everyday; a drive through window at a liquor store. They are relatively common in Kentucky.  This one was in Howardstown.

Looking back down the road a bit east of Howardstown:

Somewhere between Howardstown and New Hope.

Wild flowers near Loretto:

Entering Loretto there was a spooky looking complex of about a dozen black buildings.  At first I thought it was a prison but noticed it lacked razor wire and any other type of heavy security.  At the cafe in town I found out that it was an aging facility for Makers Mark Whisky.

Leaving Loretto after lunch I missed a turn and got lost. The transamerica trail maps have little detail off route but it appears that I actually circled back around the town counterclockwise, crossing the path I came into town on, before heading about 5 miles south. Whatever the case, the gentleman pictured below got me back on track.  His name is Ronnie and he bicycles around his county "10 to 12 hours a day." Due to a head and neck injury he suffered a few years ago he is not currently working but is trying to start a business from home.

Due to my getting lost I was in a bit of a hurry to get to Springfield and did not take any more pictures. I spent the night at Idle-Hour City Park in Springfield. Another cyclist, who was from Texas but started his trip in Toronto and was headed to S.F., showed up and we spent a couple hours talking about our adventures.