Athens to Monticello

Down the road from B in Watkinsville, we met B number two (same name).  We rode 24 miles that day to make it to Madison where we had another Thanksgiving dinner with him and his wife C.  A good thing, too, that we were inside that night as it was 20 degrees F that night.  We had a little jam session, playing music together by a fire.  The next morning, we hit up downtown Madison, playing for our lunch in front of Amici's Restaurant to a very friendly audience.  A saint-like woman (with a name beginning in A) reminded us enthusiastically of the importance of taking care of each other and that we are blessed.  People like her keep this sort of trip rolling... Off through historic Madison, past 200 year old homes, wearing bracelets that some children at Amici's gave us.

The next day we packed up camp early and rode past a pecan grove.  Hannah was tickled pink to gather pecans for breakfast, our first time seeing fresh pecans in their shells.  We took a break in Shady Dale at the Champions General Store, where we met J, who insisted on buying us supplies and promised to find us somewhere to stay near Monticello (that day's geographical goal).  In Monticello, we played music to the Saturday farmer's market crowd located right on the town square.  There were little critters up for adoption at a store on the town square; Harvey had to refuse a puppy, Hannah resisted a kitten.

As Harvey packed the instruments back onto the bike, a couple, M&R walked up to us.  They had gotten a call from their friend (and our friend as of that morning) J in Shady Dale about some traveling folks that needed a place to stay.  We hit if off with M&R and planned to stay the night at their house a few miles down the road.  They even offered to carry most of Meadow's gear in their car, making for a quicker, more enjoyable pony jog to their house.  Gathering up apple butter and pickled carrots, gifts from M at the farmer's market, we set off for the last leg of a 25 mile day.

En route, a sweet girl chased us down to deliver us yet another Thanksgiving dinner.  Thank you S, for the food, and for spontaneously photographing this elephant for us!  We sure wouldn't mind bumping into you someday on the open road.

M&R treated us like Kings and Queens, offering showers and a laundry-washing opportunity.  They took us out to "Grits", possibly the fanciest and tastiest restaurant this side of the Mississippi.  We recommend Grits, to anyone visiting small town GA.    Thanks so much for your generosity, M&R.  And the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, illustrated by their son's eagerness to gift us with many handy items for the road.  We attended church with them the next day, and rode their Tennessee walkers.  Hannah is smitten and wants one... The following day, we were up with the sun again and off to Forsythe!

- FCF

Olive's pork steak was stolen by a mean cat, nabbed from a foot in front of her expectant then shocked puppy face; Harvey, being nimble and vengeful, retrieved the meal and 'deported' the cat
Meadow talks a lot nowadays (mostly if hungry thirsty or bored) to any critter in her herd that's around to listen