Rose Pedals . . .: Outpacing the Dogs of Alabama

Day 23
Monday, October 5, 2015
Livingston, AL to Greenville, AL
127 miles
4,203 feet of climbing

Today was another fun-filled, fantabulous day of riding in Alabama. The day started out cool (about 60 degrees) and cloudy, but definitely warmer than yesterday. I was able to shed my arm warmers and vest by our first rest stop at mile 28, and the temp never got too hot or too cold. At one point, after lunch, we got spritzed on by a few dark clouds, but it didn't last long. Our route consisted of more of that fun southern rolling terrain. The winds were favorable, so we were really able to cruise over the rollers at a decent pace, which I appreciated greatly, as this was one of our longer-mileage days. Just before lunch, at mile 68, we crossed over the Alabama River, and then had lunch at a beautiful state part right on the river. The crew prepared spaghetti and meatballs for us, which was a real favorite of our group. We encountered progressively bigger climbs after lunch, as well as more dogs that bark and chase. Alabama dogs, I've noticed, are a little slower on the attack meter - while they bark just as loudly as dogs from other states we've been in, they just don't put a whole lot of effort into the running part of the chase. The whole encounter is over in an instant. I guess it's just a slower pace here in Alabama. Speaking of a slower pace, it's only 7 p.m., and I am ready to fall asleep. A good nights rest is critical to feeling strong for the next day's ride. A chocolate milkshake after dinner doesn't hurt either!