Riding Blind
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Well, since being back from the marathon ride to Lancaster and Jacksonville, I have been flying blind. No, I didn't gouge my eyes out, I was without my GPS. It got soaked on the last day of the ride, and began to malfunction. After researching upgrading to a new model, I realized that I can not afford it in the era of Obamanomics. I believe the worst is yet to come. Well, Garmin to the rescue, they would repair or replace my existing model for 160 bucks. Very affordable compared to 600 to 700 for an upgrade.
So we took off without any electronic map before us. I made a route on Street and Trips, and had it packed away, but most of this route would be from memory. So we headed out of Danville, Indiana.
We went west on US 36 until SR 75, which we took south. Not the most scenic or curvy roads in Indiana, but it took us down to the National Road, US 40.
Heading west once again, we rode until SR 231 and then headed south again. As you get closer to Spencer, Indiana, the road get more scenic, and more curvy. The gentle sweepers turn into some tighter turns, and reminds me of Sr 135 north of Nashville, Indiana. Upon arriving in Spencer, we took a small break, and fueled up the bike.
This time the leg started out heading east, out of town, and passed the entrance to McCormick's Creek State Park. Then we headed south on SR 43. The head end of this road is marked with warning signs about how curvy the road is with steep curves, warning trucks to not pass.
We weaved our way through southern Indiana on Sr 43, coming upon one of the greatest views in Indiana, the hill before you dive into the valley town of Whitehall, Indiana. Someday, I will get a great picture, maybe this fall?
SR 43 lead us to SR 54, which would still take us south, but also to the east. We pulled into the small town of Avoca, hungry for a stop. In Avoca, there is a fish hatchery, and it happened to have a picnic area, great for a lunch stop, and an after meal walk.
We continued east on SR 54, joined up with SR 58, and rode through towns like Oolitic, Indiana. We were in Limestone Country. Lots of building across America are clad in Indiana Limestone.
We also traveled through Kurtz, the town that hosts Cafe 58, where Al and I went to have lunch and met the Bloomington Chapter by chance.
SR 58 joins Sr 135 for a bit, and we stayed on the three digit road until it comes into Nashville, Indiana. On the outskirts of town, we decided to give a try at looking at campsites in Brown County State Park. They wouldn't let us in to just browse, so we head back out for home.
We continued on SR 135, taking it north out of Nashville, Indiana. In Morgantown, we took Sr 252 west to Martinsville, Indiana. After passing through the town, we headed north, first on SR 67, then on SR 39. SR 39 took us on winding way into Danville, Indiana.
Well, since being back from the marathon ride to Lancaster and Jacksonville, I have been flying blind. No, I didn't gouge my eyes out, I was without my GPS. It got soaked on the last day of the ride, and began to malfunction. After researching upgrading to a new model, I realized that I can not afford it in the era of Obamanomics. I believe the worst is yet to come. Well, Garmin to the rescue, they would repair or replace my existing model for 160 bucks. Very affordable compared to 600 to 700 for an upgrade.
So we took off without any electronic map before us. I made a route on Street and Trips, and had it packed away, but most of this route would be from memory. So we headed out of Danville, Indiana.
We went west on US 36 until SR 75, which we took south. Not the most scenic or curvy roads in Indiana, but it took us down to the National Road, US 40.
Heading west once again, we rode until SR 231 and then headed south again. As you get closer to Spencer, Indiana, the road get more scenic, and more curvy. The gentle sweepers turn into some tighter turns, and reminds me of Sr 135 north of Nashville, Indiana. Upon arriving in Spencer, we took a small break, and fueled up the bike.
This time the leg started out heading east, out of town, and passed the entrance to McCormick's Creek State Park. Then we headed south on SR 43. The head end of this road is marked with warning signs about how curvy the road is with steep curves, warning trucks to not pass.
We weaved our way through southern Indiana on Sr 43, coming upon one of the greatest views in Indiana, the hill before you dive into the valley town of Whitehall, Indiana. Someday, I will get a great picture, maybe this fall?
SR 43 lead us to SR 54, which would still take us south, but also to the east. We pulled into the small town of Avoca, hungry for a stop. In Avoca, there is a fish hatchery, and it happened to have a picnic area, great for a lunch stop, and an after meal walk.
We continued east on SR 54, joined up with SR 58, and rode through towns like Oolitic, Indiana. We were in Limestone Country. Lots of building across America are clad in Indiana Limestone.
We also traveled through Kurtz, the town that hosts Cafe 58, where Al and I went to have lunch and met the Bloomington Chapter by chance.
SR 58 joins Sr 135 for a bit, and we stayed on the three digit road until it comes into Nashville, Indiana. On the outskirts of town, we decided to give a try at looking at campsites in Brown County State Park. They wouldn't let us in to just browse, so we head back out for home.
We continued on SR 135, taking it north out of Nashville, Indiana. In Morgantown, we took Sr 252 west to Martinsville, Indiana. After passing through the town, we headed north, first on SR 67, then on SR 39. SR 39 took us on winding way into Danville, Indiana.
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