Day 16 - May 26, 2023. Madison, IN - Dry Ridge, KY

Too bad we had to leave such a lovely hotel.....  But - we were on the road by about 8am.  A few more signs as we left Madison this morning.






Then about 20 miles on State Route 56, close to the Ohio River.  Nice flat and pretty ride.



Into the lovely little town of Vevay IN, which was settled by Swiss immigrants in the early 1800s.


The first courthouse was built on this site in 1816.

Another five or six miles, than over the Markland Dam bridge and back into Kentucky.  We had a great view of the locks beside the dam.  The bridge was actually on top of the dam.  The bridge/dam is 1395 feet long, and was opened in 1964.  The locks began operation in 1959.  One lock chamber is 1200 feet long and the other is 600 feet long.




Once over the bridge we were on a bit of a busy truck route for about 10 miles, but with a decent shoulder.  At about 36 miles we turned onto a quieter road but I quickly came upon a bunch of our riders milling about and both vans were on the scene.  One of our riders (our strongest & fastest rider) had been bitten by a pit bull and the sheriff had been summoned.  The dogs were still loose so the guides asked us not to proceed.  I waited about a half hour and then a group of us walked by accompanied by the sheriff who had to pepper spray the dogs (there were about 5 of them) as they tried to race out to chase us.  At this hour - the rider has been to urgent care, police are still trying to reach the owner to verify vaccination status, and Animal Services has been engaged.



Once past the dogs, it was a nice quiet ride for about 5 miles until we came to the small hamlet of Glencoe and this great little historic general store.  


The last 15 miles on State Route 467 were really rather unpleasant - traffic, no shoulder, rumble strips, headwinds, etc.  I only stopped to take a picture of this poor emaciated longhorn along the way.


I overshot the turnoff to the hotel and found myself at McDonalds.  One ice cream cone later, I turned around and found the hotel.

Another busy day for the guides today, so dinner was at Cracker Barrel.


Dry Ridge, Kentucky

Population 2102 (2020).  In 2000 the median income was $30,647.  From around 1910 until 1960 the city's economy was dominated by business related to its mineral water wells, purported to have healing properties.  The city was incorporated in 1909.  People came to Dry Ridge from all over the eastern United States to take the mineral water of what was known as the Kentucky Carlsbad Springs, although it was a well and not a spring.  


Stats for the day:

Distance:  93.2 km / 57 miles

Elevation (Garmin):  837m up / 659m down.  2746' up / 2162' down.

Elevation (RWGPS):  1111m up / 966m down.  3645' up / 3169' down.

Weather:  10C - 31C.  Headwinds all day again; ugh!  Sunny with cloudy periods.  When the clouds came out the temperature dropped to the mid-20s - perfect!  I really enjoyed the early morning cool, but others were bringing out their long layers; really??




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