Cross Country USA: Clarksville, TN

Another beautiful day as we wound along backcountry Kentucky roads (through Olive, Scale, and Bumpus Mills among other small 'towns') with lots of rolling hills then across the 'Land between the Lakes' - a penninsula between large lakes created by the TVA when they dammed the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers that has been designated a national recreational area. Following that we entered Tennessee, our 12th state (I think - for sure our 12th century ride today at 108) and into Clarksville. Named for George Rogers Clark (Revolutionary War hero and brother of William Clark the explorer) it was mainly settled by revolutionary war soldiers who were paid back by the U.S. in land since the treasury lacked funds to pay them otherwise. It continues to have a close relationship with the military as Fort Campbell was established in WWII and was and is the home of the 101st Airborne Division ('Screaming Eagles') which has served as the forward echelon of attack for many battles from D-Day onwards. Currently 29,000 soldiers and over 100 aircraft compose the division. Clarksville is also home to Austin Peay University and is the fifth-largest city in TN. The historic downtown is beautiful - the building next to ours used to be 'J.F. Cout's & Sons Furniture and Undertaking' by the faded sign on the side of the brick (also advertising Uneeda Biscuits - rain or shine they're just as fine). Tomorrow the remnants of Tropical Storm Nestor roll in with storms and high headwinds so could be a difficult 56 miles into Nashville but at least we get a rest day before the toughest week of the trip starts :)