Saturday is generally a better day biking. After stopping at 30 miles yesterday due to the intense logging truck traffic, I was hopeful that the traffic would be less on a Saturday. We still had logging trucks zipping by at 60mph but at about 50% less intensity than yesterday. We were relived when we finally passed the intersection where the trucks were coming/going from. We did have two scary vehicle incidents today. At one point, we were passing a house with two dogs barking. We decided to slow down and pass with caution as the owner was outside and watching the dogs. We were paying attention to the dogs when a sports car whipped by us, staying in our narrow lane even though there was no oncoming traffic. The vehicle was really really close and I think it surprised the driver as well. The car stopped about 40 yards ahead to make sure that we were alright but had to move onward as other cars were coming up from behind.

Later that day we were biking on a relatively quiet road as a pick-up truck approached. The truck suddenly crossed the center line heading right towards us. I panicked and almost tipped over when I put my foot down to stop while my bike was still moving, but fortunately the driver self-corrected back into his lane and we were all safe. I think it put a scare in all of us as we had just taken off from a break and Marie saw it happen as well.

On a memorable and happier note, we passed a rural house later that day and we heard dogs. All of a sudden, 17 jack russell terriers (Dale counted them) came running towards us barking. They ran as a pack alongside us, just off the road, and finally stopped when we came to the edge of their property line. They made us smile.

We have seen a lot of trash along the sides of the roads, cans, bottles, and fast food containers. Leaving Louisville, it was interesting to see groups of people out collecting it and really noticed the difference and how the clean-up enhanced the beautiful scenery. We also biked past a front yard full of antique farm equipment. I told Dale I would have stopped to take a picture and send it to him if he had not been with me as it made me think of him. So we stopped anyway and I took one with him in it!

All in all it was a strong 41 mile day and we moved a little further ahead in our schedule.

We stayed in Louisville, MS for the night at The Mason Boutique Hotel. Louisville is a small town of about 2000 people and has this truly lovely hotel. It was an old masonic building that they refurbished. It reminded me of a sophisticated "Chip and Joanna Gaines" fixer upper. Really well done! We also saw a town tornado shelter which was a reminder of the weather challenges they deal with in the south.