Day 8 - May 18, 2023. Buchanan, TN - Gilbertsville, KY

Hmm - technical difficulties.  Not sure when I’ll be back on line.  

Got the computer fixed once I got home, so I can now resume the blog.................

Long day.....  I'm not starting this until after dinner, so this morning seems like a long time ago!  As per usual, it seems we started the morning with a bit of backtracking.  We started by going back (east) over the Tennessee River/Kentucky Lake.  And - a look back at our lodging from the bridge.




We rode on US 79 for the first 11 miles.  Pros - no dogs and a wide shoulder.  Cons - the shoulder was strewn with logging truck debris.  Not our first day of this, but the first day I've thought to mention it.  There has been quite a bit of logging activity right from the start of our ride, but even those trucks have been very well behaved.  


At 11 miles we turned left onto The Trace Road which took us into the "Land Between the Lakes".  


This used to be the "Land Between the Rivers" before the Kentucky Dam (Tennessee River) and the Barkley Dam (Cumberland River) were opened in 1944 and 1966, respectively.

As I had a brief visit with Smokey, I thought of my fellow Albertans and the terrible wildfire situation still going on there.


I thought it was a bit of an idyllic ride today.  Beautiful weather, lots of rolling hills (some bigger than others!), and little traffic on the forested peninsula.  And best of all - no dogs!  Also - a few interesting places to stop and look around.  








A few of us stopped at The Homeplace and took a self-guided tour around the farm.


This woman is prepping the soil to plant tobacco on Saturday.


This is the main family home (although not original to the site).







And a few other buildings on the site.






At about 28 miles we crossed into Kentucky.  Margaritas tonight!


At 37 miles there was an interesting visitor centre - Golden Pond Visitor Center.  In addition to the exhibits inside, there were a few booths set up outside - a radio station giving away soft drinks (thank you!) and the Forest Service giving away Smokey Bear buffs.  Lots of historical information inside.  Also - an armadillo stuffie that was just too cute to leave on the shelf.  "Roadkill" will be a nice momento from this trip.







At 57 miles we crossed the Barkley Canal which joins Kentucky Lake/Tennessee River to Barkley Lake/Cumberland River.  The first picture below (and the one with the bike in it) is of the Barkley side while the second picture is of the Kentucky side.




Then through the small town of Grand Rivers, and I managed to fight the draw of the ice cream shop.  Not sure what all the flags were about.  Memorial Day, perhaps.


Then on towards Kentucky Dam on the Tennessee River.







On the far side of the dam was a bike path on top of the dam that went almost a mile.  Shortly after that - Kentucky Dam Village and the Resort where we're staying.  Nice place and great location right on the lake.  No internet in my room, though.....

New guide Casey arrives tomorrow and Kristie departs the next day.  Big(gest) day tomorrow.......


Gilbertsville, Kentucky

Population 332 (2020).  It is the closest village to the Kentucky Dam.  The town was relocated around 1940 to its present site when Kentucky Dam and Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park replaced the former site.  The original town was founded in 1871 near the Tennessee River.  In 1874 it was incorporated and named in honor of Jesse C. Gilbert, who served as a Kentucky state senator from 1871 to 1875.  The early village thrived because of fertile farmland, river access for transportation and fishing, and railroad transportation.  Tourism related to the dams and lakes created by the TVA has driven the economy of Gilbertsville since the 1940s.  


Stats for the day:

Distance:  105.9 km / 65.8 miles

Elevation (Garmin):  1188m up / 1188m down.  3898' up / 3898' down.

Elevation (RWGPS):  1770m up / 1760m down.  5807' up / 5774' down.

Weather:  17C - 34C.  Beautiful!





















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