After more than a month of bike riding, Joel and I finally got a chance to ride on the Tanglefoot Trail last weekend.
The trail runs from Houston to New Albany on the abandoned 43.6 mile railroad corridor.
After much dissuasion with Joel offering me two options for our ride that day, we left the house around 9:30 a.m.
I have been riding my one speed beach cruiser every day around town averaging 5 miles per day.
He said we could get on the trail at Houlka and ride to Houston– 9.9 miles each way, or go from Pontotoc to New Albany– 17.8 miles each way.
Lisa McNeece
I instantly picked Pontotoc to New Albany so we could eat lunch there. Never pass up an opportunity to go to downtown New Albany.
Joel cautioned me about the miles saying that was about as many miles as I rode in one week. My answer “I can do it.”
We absolutely loved it. The weather was perfect. The surface was nicely paved with several wooden bridges along the way. After riding a short distance we saw a rabbit hopping along, a couple of cats, and many people walking dogs. There were young and old riding and walking all along the trail.
We went through forests, trees draped with kudzu, fields of cotton and soybeans and pastures.
Riding side by side we were able to talk along the way, and didn’t have to worry about cars or other motorized vehicles. The rest stations– a couple of picnic benches were spaced out nicely, and there were two “Whistle Stops” along this route– one at Ecru and one at Ingomar. Whistle Stops had picnic tables, nice clean bathrooms and water fountains. And I will say, that was my first trip to downtown Ecru.
It took us about an hour and a half to get to New Albany. There is a beautiful arced pedestrian bridge where the trail ends/starts right in downtown New Albany.
We parked our bikes at the many available bike spaces and headed to Fat Luey’s for lunch. Next to Oxford, New Albany is the most charming town around.
Before heading back, we stopped in the Trails and Treads store where they rent bicycles and carry all types of biking equipment and paraphernalia.
I suggested to Joel that we trade our bikes in for the two seater they had. And I told him right up front, if we got on there, I wouldn’t even act like I was pedaling.
The downside to our day was simply that I was not prepared for that much riding in one day. Joel told me the trail seemed to be on an incline going toward New Albany and that going back would be more downhill.
Wrong. Somehow, and I don’t know how, that trail was uphill both ways.
Easy riding for the more trained bikers with 10-speeds, etc. But I am riding a one speed.
Joel, who doesn’t ride his bike but about once a week, was having no trouble at all. I seriously considered stopping at Ecru on the way back and telling him to go to Pontotoc and get the Jeep and come back and get me.
But I was determined I was going to make it, and I did. But there was a lot of whining going on.
I have never in my life been so glad to see Pontotoc.
The next time we go, we will go on a shorter leg of the trail, like he suggested, but I didn’t listen.
He was nice enough not to say “I told you so.”
•••
After last week’s column on bees on the hummingbird feeders, I had several people call with suggestions on the ants and bees.
I control the ants with Vaseline when it’s not too hot or W-D 40. But one caller told me to spray around the feeder with Cutter for the bees. I’ll try that next.
•••
The predicted rain for last week was much ado about nothing. I had pulled plants out late Wednesday night for the impending rain that didn’t come until Friday. And it didn’t rain enough to make much difference.
•••
Casey Deaton, of Bruce, was the winner of the Football Contest this week. He had two misses and won by tie-breaker over Marlon Long of Eupora and Michael Luker of Randolph.
Pickers with three misses– Chris Nix of Pittsboro; Jello Chrestman of Bruce; David McCammon of Calhoun City; Larry Shaw of Bruce; Tim Holloway of Derma; Linda Luker of Calhoun City; Joshua Warren of Calhoun City; Amy Bailey of Vardaman; Fay Griffin of Bruce; Joe Goforth of Derma; Cassie Ferguson of Bruce; and Earl McGreger of Vardaman.
You may email Lisa at lisamcneece@gmail.com and follow her on twitter @lisamcneece