Day 1 - Getting to Jellico, TN

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Hello, friends!

First of all, I'd like to apologize for not updating my blog in time. I did not have access to internet for two nights. Tonight, after completing Day 3, I'm staying at a motel in Holly Springs, MS with WiFi internet

Second of all, I'd like to warn you, this is private blog and and you view and read it at your own risk. Some harsh, curse language will be used, some disturbing images will be posted.

And lastly, even if I don't update my blog, you can always just track my progress using SPOT ME personal tracker.

OK, Day 1 was not a hole lot of an off-road ride, but the goal was to get to the destination, Jellico, TN, where Trans-America Trail starts.

I will post someof the pictures taken that day with some comments.

For Day 1 I rode almost 390 miles, some highway, some slab, and some unpaved trails. My average was 31 MPH, with maximum speed, well,I would not mention that.

Here is my track below.

While riding the Appalachian Trail,some branch got stock in my belly guard, well, it scraped lots of highway pavement after all.

When I got to the first coal mining facility,I rode right in the loading dock. The guy in an excavator did not mind me there, or taking pictures. It was Saturday, so he was doing his business (loading a pick up truck with one spoon of coal), I was doing mine - taking pictures. He actually mentioned that I had to have a helmet and safety shoes. Bro, are you kidding me, I'm a freaking astronaut, look at me, I'm protected better than a turtle.

I camped at Indian Mountain State Park near Jellico, TN. Well, it's a park where we go for a walk some time. Here I watch kids at a playground, behind,some dirty motorcyclist pulling stinky socks and hanging to dry, while camping stove boiling some water for the evening tea.

I went to bed about 9:30PM. Since there is no internet, no TV, no nothing, there is not a whole lot I can do in the dark, maybe waste some batteries. So,daylight - ride, night time - sleep and rest.

I was almost asleep, but lousy kids would not go home and kept screaming at the playground - shut up, go home, do your homework... or something. Well, then geese came around delivering some more poop to the sidewalks.

Everything got quieter when it got colder. I woke up about 1AM. When it got colder, I had to GO. Well, I had a choice, do it in the boot, or get cold and run for the bathroom. Shit, not now...

...I needed dry boots in the morning. When I woke up, the top of the tent was frozen. I checked my thermometer on my bike - 37F (it lies about 5-6 degrees - someone needs to calibrate it).