Day #17: Creekview Farm Retreat B&B to The Finish- 40.46 miles

Total for our entire ride: 529.07 miles

THE FINISH

On our last morning of our last day we woke up to rain. We all sat and watched from our screened in porch as we sipped coffee. It was a light rain...but we all heard the heavier rain earlier in the night. We were all so thankful that we again managed to dodge it completely. The raincoats NEVER came out of our bags for our entire trip.....so far. 

Misty, our hostess, arrived at 8:00 sharp with our breakfast of scrambled eggs, fruit, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy. As we ate, we watched the rain slow to a mist, and then stop altogether. Seems our window of opportunity to avoid getting drenched had arrived. 

We saddled up and headed back to the Trace at 9:00am. Each of us getting more excited that "the finish" was at hand....but a bit anxious about the prospect of the mean hills/switchbacks that several folks had warned us about. Regardless, we were on our way through the beautiful rolling Tennessee countryside. 

The earlier debate about wether to finish on this day....or to make the very last approach of 4 or so miles on the following day from our VRBO location in Franklin quickly resolved itself- we all unanimously decided that we wanted to push for the finish today. No more dodging rain and guessing mileages and negotiating potentially monstrous hills- LETS JUST MAKE THE FINISH!

The majority of the day was best described as rolling. Some rolls higher than others.....but none too terrible. Not like we had heard. Also, the prior days and weeks of peddling experience seemed to come together to propel us all up and over these stubborn hills. We were indeed all in our groove and ready to call it done. As we crossed the huge Natchez Trace Parkway bridge- we knew that we were only a mile or two from the finish. As all of us watched carefully for mile marker 444 as we descended the last portion of the Trace- it became evident that there might not actually be a mile marker "444"!! Sure enough, there wasn't. The last mile marker we saw was #442! 

And so then it was done! The Trace ran out and we found ourselves celebrating our success at the area at the end widely known as The Loveless Cafe. .....Although we passed on the hour and fourty-five minute wait and ordered up pulled pork sandwiches from the small general store next door. 

It was very cool as we visited with the waiting crowd and answered countless questions about our long ride. I think we had mixed emotions as we were to enjoy being a bike touring celebrity for only this one last day.

The backtrack mileage to our VRBO cottage proved tiring- It was only about 6 miles....but we knew that the journey was done....and the adrenaline was just about gone. 

As we reflect on our successful adventure from our tidy cottage in the woods here in Franklin Tennessee....we are extremely thankful for our great fortune to have completed it safe and healthy.... And no doubt so much richer for the incredible experience of seeing new and beautiful places and
meeting such great people along the way. And we are also thankful for our Families and Friends that supported us 

along the way. 

We Love you all.

POSTED BY: Mitch