September 1, 2016 – Overcast, 75 degrees

Miles Today: 46

Miles to Date: 15,503

States to Date: 43

Kentucky is like the Runaway Mine Train kiddie coaster at Six Flags, an endless series of little hills and dales. On this grey day, I added color in my imagination and envisioned the crazy quilt of contours and crops as a real-life David Hockney painting.

Kentucky ought to be named ‘The Front Porch State.’ Almost every house has one, and on a seasonable Thursday morning, a good many of the rockers are occupied by folks chatting, smoking, taking in the view, and waving at oddball cyclists.

It is also a place where architectural symmetry is worshipped as a god. Like all theologies, this can be followed to a fault.

By late afternoon the clouds lifted and the sky came clear. When my host Joyce opened the door she had confused the day, but didn’t miss a beat in offering me on of the best meals of my trip: cornbread griddle cakes topped with white northern beans and homemade relish and homemade pineapple cake for dessert. That woman can cook!

After supper, Joyce was off to visit her three-week-old twin grandsons. She gave me a ticket to Grayson County Fair, a short walk away. I enjoyed walking the mid-way, watching the Mrs. Grayson County Pageant and tractor pull. But what I liked most was checking out all the blue ribbon winning food. Next year, I‘m hoping they invite me back. Who could better judge the sweets?