Team 242: Day Twelve

Day 12: Union City, Tennessee to Bolivar, Tennessee.  95.27 miles.

I have yet to see an RC Cola sign, but I know we're in the south.  Here's how:

1. Instead of an American Flag flying on a grain silo, there's that other flag.

2. My left arm/hand is tired from waving to all the passing drivers/pedestrians.  (This is not a complaint.)

3. Roadkilled armadillos.

4. Kudzu.

5. Hospitality.

a. Erik had a flat.  He was the first rider so the rest of us eventually rode to Erik as he was changing his tire.  He assured us he'd be ok and since there's really no need to stand around in the sun on pavement to simply watch someone change a tire, we kept going.  About 2 miles down the road we stopped at a tricky intersection to wait for Erik so he wouldn't go the wrong way.  As we waited a truck pulled up to the red light and with windows down (bass slightly thumping) the passenger told us our buddy had a flat a few miles back.  He was changing his tire.  Thank you.  A few minutes later another pickup appeared at the light and after rolling down the window the driver informed us that one of our riders had a flat a few miles back, but he was almost done fixing it.  Thank you (again).  As soon as that driver was done passing on his information another truck appeared and the driver got out to let us know our friend had changed his tire.  And not only that, but he had Erik's punctured tube and was going to throw it away for him.  He even showed us Erik's tube.  Thank you (again again).  And then a few minutes later a lady stopped her van in the right lane (right blinker on), got out and walked over to us (we were standing in the shade under a tree about 15 feet off of the road).  She explained she was a rider, too and had checked on our friend.  He fixed his flat and was beginning to ride again.  She asked what we were doing and when we explained the cause/reason she shook our hands and shared that her mother had died from a heart condition.  This is why I ride. (Sidenote: the lady looked back at her van, realized she was blocking traffic and said to us, "I suppose I'm blocking traffic." (pause). "They'll get over it."

b. Slovic had a flat.  Once again instead of waiting on the side of the road for the fix, we waited in the shade at Big Tim's Citgo in Trenton, Tennessee.  Big Tim was there and he welcomed us into his store with open arms and a large amount of 'please help yourself.'  Big Tim also called Danny from the local newspaper and a few minutes later, Karen was giving an impromptu interview and we gathered around for a group photo.  In addition to Tim's generosity, Oliver (a customer in the store at the same time as us) bought me a Gatorade because I had been riding my bicycle for so long and for so far and in that heat.  Oliver is planning on riding his motorcycle to the Pacific Northwest soon.  And Shelby (she works at Big Tim's) was beyond friendly and had plenty of encouraging and supportive words for the group.  This is why I ride.

c. Some ladies working at a gas station on the outskirts of Jackson, Tennessee had a perfect suggestion for a lunch spot.  They had difficulty deciding the directions, but eventually agreed it was a left at that light, another left at the next light, and then in two lights turn left again and the park will be on the left after a bank and a hospital.  They didn't know any of the street names.  We found the park.  And it was a left at that light, another left at the next light, and then in three lights we turned left again and the park was on the right after a bank that was on the left.  This is why I ride.  And the park was perfect.

Non-southern note:

While walking the aisles of a Fred's Pharmacy in Bolivar, Tennessee, an older man shuffled his way towards me and stopped.  He looked up and said, "You're one of those cross country bicycle riders, aren't you?"  When I told him he was right, he replied, "I knew it.  You have that look in your face."

Track 11: Mates of State - Punchlines.  It's not the same without you around.  It's not the same without you.