Monday, July 26 - Day 43 - 82 Miles - 3242.5 Total Miles

The biggest news of the day....it seems we have reached the area of the country where canine discipline is not a high priority of the inhabitants. We had more dog chases today in 1 hour than we had the previous 42 days. One of the chases was pretty comical. I had just looked into a yard to our right at the same time a dog saw us. It was a fairly thick (not fat, but muscular) dog and it was off on the chase. Since I saw it right away, I was clear of its pursuit. Bobby was also. Kyle, not so much. This dog looked like it was probably tied up most of the time, and this was its chance. It was like a heat seeking missile, heading straight for Kyle. The one problem for the dog was the approaching car. The car caught the dog's attention and it looked away from Kyle. The dog's mistake was that it continued to sprint at him. All Kyle felt was a thump on his back wheel. He is not sure if it hit his frame or the wheel, but the dog had to have felt that one.

The ride today was much like the last couple of days.....nothing out of the ordinary to report. We are getting closer to the Appalachian mountains, so we are starting to climb some of the little foothills. We will be just short of Berea tomorrow....what our map calls the gateway to the Appalachians. Therefore, our last round of climbing for this trip will soon begin.

Kim and the kids had some time to vistit the area where Abe Lincoln was born. There was a visitor center, where they watched some video and a replica of his home. True to the theme of our vacation, they were not able to go inside, because it is closed on Mondays. I keep thinking we are going to see a sign one of these times that reads: "Open daily, unless the Dunn's are visiting".

We are staying in the historic town of Bardstown this evening. Our ride ended about 15 miles outside of town, so Kim will have to take us back to our stopping point tomorrow morning. The town is full of interesting looking museums, taverns, and other attractions. So, rather than spending anymore time in our room on this computer, Kim and I are going to explore the sights.

Take care!


The Sign Says It All


Nathan and Anna Denied By The Orange Fence

Sunday, July 25 – Day 42 – 72 Miles – 3160.5 Total Miles

(Kim journaling)
I woke up in the greatest mood today! Maybe it was because I got some of the best sleep EVER in the cool, dark, quiet church basement last night. Maybe it was because I had the most AMAZING home-cooked Southern meal for dinner, complete with home-made Banana-Walnut ice cream! Or….maybe it was the SWEET lingering memories of the great conversation and touching hospitality that Pastor Bob and his wife Violet shared with us yesterday evening. Regardless of the reason, I do know this…..we six people were blessed last night by the bike-ministry of the First Baptist Church in Sebree, KY. If you are a cycling enthusiast and you EVER find yourself in Sebree, Kentucky, then you MUST stop and see Bob and Violet. Tell them Steve and Kim from Ohio said “hello”, and I guarantee you that they will remember! That’s just the kind of people they are! What wonderful servants of the Lord!

So, upon awaking in a great mood, things continued to go super smoothly today, at least for the kids and me! We leapfrogged the guys again today in 25 mile increments, and had very little trouble navigating the beautiful, twisting, rolling hills of Kentucky. Now…..Steve might give you a different interpretation of his day…..because at exactly 0.7 miles he ran over something seriously sharp and immediately flatted. So, before they even left Sebree, there were mechanical issues! However, that was the only problem. There was relatively light traffic and decent roads to bike today for the guys.

We rolled into the Falls of Rough State Park area today at about 12:45 p.m. It was hot and humid, and we had hit our designated mileage allotment, so I checked us into the Pine Tree Motel. It is a very nice motel with a great swimming pool and modest rates. Also, the room is spacious, which means Kyle and Bobby will have ample room for their sleeping bags this evening! After eating a late lunch at a nearby café, the kids and I hit the pool for about an hour. It is so nice to be on a laid-back schedule in the evenings….quite contrary to the norm! I am anxious to be home, yet not quite ready to dive into any kind of work or routine yet! I guess that all good things must eventually come to an end!




Bob, Violet, and Darlene, Our Hosts From First Baptist Church in Sebree

Kim and The Kids Swimming At Hotel in Falls of the Rough