I've discussed it with the other bikers I've met, and between all of us, no one has the perfect solution to avoid the dog attacks. And the worst part is, as we come out of the Deliverance area of Kentucky, the dogs seem to be getting smarter and more organized. They don't just all-out run, they set up look-outs, flanks and ambush positions.
It used to be that you just heard them barking and getting closer, so you pedal faster and out run them, but now I am starting to see them hiding in bushes waiting for the perfect moment. One guy will bark as I pass, then I look back and he is still there, but then I see the dogs up the street move into position. Two will stand right in the road, one will run along the left side, and as I move to avoid hitting the decoy dogs, another one will pop out of the bushes to my right and lunge at me.
Now this may seem like chance and cooincidence, but it happened twice. Plus, they are silent. Except for the look-out giving the first warning to the others, they are all silent and focussed- like ninjas.
Barking dogs are no big deal, it's just instinct and excitement, but silent dogs are scary. When they are silent, you can see the calculation in their eyes... They demonstrate patience and planning.
So even though the dogs are getting significantly smarter, the people still trail slightly behind. I have been running into some really friendly and helpful people, but for the most part, the towns are still full of arrogant and zealous bigots masquerading as patriots and Christians. Guys, the civil war is over. Please stop clinging to the notion that the South is a sovereign country and calling people from the North "Yankees". No one cares anymore. It wouldn't be so bad if it were just for fun, but like most baseless and mindless beliefs, when it effects the way you treat people and make decisions, it becomes a problem.
Anyway, Central Kentucky is turning out to be a lot better. There is a lot more agriculture and production. Eastern Kentucky is so mountainous and crazy that there really is no way to make anything out of the land. They can't grow anything, they can't really transport anything through the place, so there isn't even potential for jobs. Even the coal industry (which is essentially the only line of employment for that region) is suffering and shrinking. I don't know what they are going to do in few years...
Central and Western Kentucky are full of farms and businesses. I actually saw numerous farms today growing things other than corn and soy. It was really cool to see people raising food instead of feed. This is what the whole country should be doing.
The campground I am staying at tonight is pretty decent. They have a pool, a bench swing (which I am currently in) and showers. The owner even made me a BLT for free. He just came in to the bathroom while I was shaving and asked me if I wanted it. Of course the answer was yes.
The bike felt great today after I cleaned and oiled it all last night. It was running cool and quiet. I finally got a few oppurtunities to lay out today too. So far, it has been all hills, but today I got a few flat stretches where I could just kick it into high gear and let it rip. It felt good to be going at 16 mph again and it not be just going down a hill. I was pushing 20 mph for a little while, too. That expression, "stretching the legs" is so perfect to descibe how it feels to finally be able to roll at full speed. There were still plenty of hills, but they are getting shorter, farther apart and shallower. The end is near! Can't wait for the plains!
Time for bed. Only 70 miles today, but it was good to take the morning and limber up. I didn't get rolling until 10:30am and stopped at 6, but it was still a pretty solid day of riding. Now to look ahead at the map and figure out what tomorrow holds!
Location:Elizabethtown, Ky
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