Tuskegee stop
The big event during the night was the fire alarm system going off in our hotel at 11:00 p.m. Many people left the building and gathered outside, although the alarm did not sound on the fourth floor. The fire department did respond, though it was a false alarm. The hotel had recently reopened after a complete renovation, and there are apparently bugs in the fire alarm system. This was a voice notification system, and it was helpful that the voice in the alarm gave some detailed information. Some of us went to the McDonald's next door for a late-night milkshake.
In the morning, the police led the team out of town. One of us experienced a breakdown with his rear derailleur, and a SAG person took him and the bike to the Auburn Trek shop. The shop owner opened early, and the mechanic worked on the bicycle as soon as he arrived. The mechanic is an Army veteran wearing a t-shirt with the Auburn Student Veterans Association logo. This is the same organization that supported our dinner last night. The shop made the repair and refused payment in support of the ride. "Just keep doing what you're doing," they said. A SAG truck returned to Auburn and picked up the rider and the bicycle. They caught up with the team at about mile 40.
The first stop of the day was Tuskegee. It was pretty amazing to see the field where the airmen trained and see some of the history of the Tuskegee Airman in the museum. Definitely worth a visit.
Lunch was at the First Baptist Church in Union Springs, Alabama. Kathy Scroggings and others at the church made ham and turkey sandwiches. Chief Deputy Rover of the Bullock County Sheriff's Office was our escort in town. Union Springs is noted for annual field trials for hunting dogs and attracts people from around the country.
In the early afternoon, we stopped at Mount Olive Baptist Church, where Jessie Jones hosted us. The temperature was 82 degrees, and the wind was 11 mph from the northeast, making it a tailwind for much of the day. We were on Alabama Highway 223 for much of the afternoon. This is a two-lane road with narrow shoulders and a lot of traffic, including large logging trucks. We often had several vehicles backed up behind us. We split into two groups so the drivers could more easily pass, and we often pulled off the road when we had sufficient space on the shoulder.
The drivers generally seemed polite and perhaps too concerned for our safety. Most passed, driving fully in the left-hand lane. The riders need space, but leaving the right lane is unnecessary. This evening we are in Troy, Alabama, home to Troy University: a Division I state school. We had dinner at the First Baptist Church of Troy, hosted by Buck and Kathy Connally. Buck is a fellow alumni, USNA Class of 1978, and an acquaintance of one rider. Those who prepared the dinner were church members Karen Mears, Linda, Smith, and Geoffrey Spann.
Our thanks go out to all who provided food today. For one rider, today was a personal best for distance so far. He remarked that he may ride longer tomorrow.
Statistics:
82 miles; 3580 ft of climb;
On the day - no flat tires; no falls; some interaction with dogs.
Totals: 353 miles and 17,070 feet of climb. T
Tomorrow's ride is the longest: 104 miles with 4200 feet of climb. Bag drag is at 6:30 a.m.