Knoxville, TN - Day 36

118 miles and about 6600 feet of climbing today - minor and major climbs scattered across the route including over a mile of granny-gear-grinding at mile 101.7 which wasn't enjoyed. As we climbed higher on the plateau the fall colors were amazing! We had a beautiful ride for the first about 70 miles, the last 50 were tough with some roads with narrow shoulders or no shoulders and a lot of traffic as we wound our way into the Knoxville area around rush hour - we're on Eastern time now so lost an hour on the way today making for a later arrival. We continue to luck out with the weather - chilly starts but warming afternoons to around 70.

Knoxville was settled around 1786 due to its position at the confluence of two major rivers to form the Tennessee River. It was the first state capitol and boomed after the railroad linked it to the rest of the state. The city and county were bitterly divided about secession during the Civil War and due to its location Knoxville was alternately occupied by both Union and Confederate armies. After the war, the manufacturing base grew quickly. Knoxville is home to the University of Tennessee (the mascot, a coonhound named Smokey was decided upon in a 1953 student poll) and hosted the World's Fair in 1982. It sits between the Cumberland Plateau to the west and the Great Smoky Mountains to the east. We'll be climbing those tomorrow enroute to Asheville, NC - 121 miles and over 8400 feet of climbing (second only to our 142 mile day over the pass between Pagosa Springs and Taos). Gotta ice the knees and get to bed - sleeping has not been a problem this trip! :)

Great Smoky Mountains

SATAN ALSO SAYS: JESUS USE BAD GRAMMAR

This would be a great way to avoid drinking and driving... I'm sure the horse knows the way home...