WEEK 12

Starting sun 22nd Aug.
Well we had been warned that the worst part of Kentucky with regard to dogs was from Berea on and I reckon thats correct. I would guess that every household in Kentucky has at least one dog and probably most have about four. Many dogs chased us but so far we have come to no harm. You see we devised a system.... Dermot would go a bit ahead as a sort of a dog scout. The plan is as follows; If he is just standing and doing nothing then he's waiting for me; if he has his right arm raised then theres a dog on the right and left arm raised, then dog on the left. This gives me time to get my foot out of the cleat (pedal clasp) and be ready to jump off and confront the beast! Usually a firm reprimand is sufficient and we're on our way again. We did have a couple of nasty ones though....one horrible little dog ran out at us with his mouth and teeth all covered in grass; his starter I guess before a nice juicy Irish ankle or two! We soon sent him packing, we weren't having any of it! Then two Dobermans the size of donkeys rushed out at me but were called back by their owner before I was eaten alive. Another lucky escape! Sometimes our plan doesn't work as the dogs miss Dermot and he doesn't see them but by the time I'm on the scene they are waiting to pounce and let me tell you the silent runner is the worst! The loud barker lets you know he's there but the silent runner gets you unawares!
The most interesting thing about this past week has been our accommodation, We really have slept in quite bizarre places! We had a night at Linda's Victorian Rose B&B found it a little strange. In all my life I have never seen so many ornaments and plastic flowers, the whole house and garden was full to bursting! Linda's husband was buried in the garden and I felt it rather odd that she had her own name already engraved on the headstone....all ready and waiting. Creepy!
Our next two nights were at Camp Conrad Weiser in Wernersville Pennsylvania (Ceri's camp). We had a 14 hour drive to get there but it was lovely to see her and see a new stste!
Our next B&B was in a tent! It was run by a man called David on behalf of the Historical Society. We were welcomed with ice cold glasses of iced tea. then shown our tent! Our 50 bucks included Baked potatoes with lovely fillings, an amazing ice cream sundae, lots of ice tea and nibbles, and before bed we had poitin(the Kentucky equivalent anyway) and also blackberry brandy. All in all it was a lovely night and we slept very well.
We had a night in a very cheap (38 dollars) motel with the most cigarette burns ever on the bed spread, the rest of it was threadbare! Crisp white sheets though so not all bad!
Then we had 2 nights in church accommodation. The first was in a Methodist church house which was lovely only it didn't have any beds! It was a night on a hard floor. I was tempted to sleep in the actual church which had a thick red carpet but thought it might be the wrong thing to do! Our cycling mate Heidi turned up again and also a boy called Will so we all shared the floor together, though actually Heidi slept on the table!!
From there we went to a Baptist Hostel described as a bunkhouse, now I would think that bunkhouse implied beds to sleep in....not quite!!!! Wooden bunks,NO mattresses!!! Still lots of pillows were supplied and as we were the only ones there we made pillow mattresses which worked a treat as long as you didn't toss and turn! We went to the restaurant nearby and as we saw beer in the fridge we cheeered up and ordered 2 beers only to be told that they can't be served in the restaurant on a Sunday so we had to buy them and go outside to drink them and then come back for our food!!!What an ordeal! This really is a very strange country!!We couldn't take any back with us to the mattress free zone as alcohol was banned there so it was another very early night!
This past week the weather has been much better for cycling, well down in the eighties and so much more enjoyable.
We left Kentucky and entered Virginia out tenth and final state on Saturday 28th August. We can see why Virginia creeper is called that! Its all green and hilly and covered in leaves as far as the eye can see!! The hills are steep here too but the scenery is very pretty and varied. Photos will follow!