August 14- Sonora to Bardstown, KY

Today's ride was as near perfect as we could find here on earth. Sunny skies, temperature uncharacteristically cool, beautiful countryside, good backroads to ride with plenty of curves and rolling hills for variety, an interesting historical stop, and even company on the road.

When we got on the road this morning after a long chat over coffee with our host at Sonora, it was bright and sunny, but cool enough that Sandy wore her rain jacket for a while. What a refreshing change from the rain, clouds and steamy humidity we've suffered for the last few days.  After ten miles we stopped at Lincoln's birthplace near Hodgenville. There is a monument right on the spot of his family's cabin, and even a cabin inside the monument, with a story. It seems that some entrepreneur was taking an old cabin around the country and charging people to see the cabin where Lincoln was born. It turned out the cabin dated from the 1840's. Old, but not old enough. Abe was born in 1808.  When the monument was built for the centennial of Lincoln's birth, they wanted to put a replica cabin inside. Someone said they knew where there was an old cabin available, so there it is now.

At the Lincoln birthplace we ran into our friends Peter and Marie-Christine, whom we had met back at Sebree. Marie-Christine was anxious to get on her bike before we were ready to leave, but we ran into her again at Howardstown when we stopped for lunch. She had lost contact with Peter, who was shadowing her in their car, but he rolled up soon. We decided to ride with Marie-Christine for the 25 miles to our stopping place at Bardstown, while she was to continue another 20 miles. We've met plenty of westbound riders, but this was only the third time of the trip that we actually rode with anyone; it was a very pleasant change to have her company. Not surprisingly, since she was traveling without a load, she was stronger uphill than we are. But we had the momentum advantage on the downhills, so it worked out.

At Bardstown we bid Peter and Marie-Christine goodbye again. I hope the rest of their trip goes well, and I hope we keep in contact. Nice people.

We found a motel in town, right on the route. Immediately next door was a restaurant where we could actually sit down, order a drink (KY has local option, and almost every place we've been has been "dry") and get a decent dinner. Convenience stores are... convenient, but we have made do at a lot of them, and we appreciate the chance to eat better when we can.

This part of Kentucky is beautiful, and many of the country houses have acres of green lawn. I wouldn't want to mow that much, but it does make for good scenery. Today ends our 10th week on the road, at 3367 miles and 104954 feet of climbing. East Ever Eastward!