I know I'm coming down to the wire on this trip. I was long about 10 days or so of riding but then again I didn't get a bike to polish it in the garage. If I think back I can't say one person whom had a clean bike with out a spot on it, I think this is the new biker fade that's been coming on for the last 10 years or maybe 15 years. I really don't remember anyone with new bikes either, that was well like a giant treat even a used new bike was somthing we were in awe of. Well, times have changed. It didn't seem that anything had chanced much here on this trip except the odometer and memories. So far I liked each place that I visited and had a really great time, from a walking parade and a Scoth Wedding, to being pelted with beads and discovering cajan history, to seeing mother nature's strenght, learning about different Indian Nations, to Blues players and how fieldhand tunes got their beat. I should say the reason for their beat, where music split into country, blues, rock, and soul, to a King's manson, hell of a BBQ feast, and finially the blasted heat! I have to tell you that didn't change I think at 6am it was already 75 and humidity was climbing, Instead of taking the direct route to Nashville by way of highway 40, I took around about way which was longer. Yeah I wondered if I was crazy too why add to the lenght of the day in the heat right? There was this little side tour thing I wanted to do which was south of Nashville and sicne I'd been to the World of Coke eailer this year it only seemed right I visited the reason for drinking coke, right? Oh, come on now ya know what I'm talking about here we're all adults, that's it I hear some "HELL YEAHS" back there. Anyway I left the cool security of the hotel, and started loading up the bike, dropped a bag in the trunk, dropped the other in the saddle bag and dam I was already feeling dicomfort from the heat, strapped the cooler on the seat that it I can feel it rolling on my face, man do I really want to go out of my way to Lynchburg? Fucking A ya know it, so I mounted up and took off to Points untraveled. Within 5 minutes the breeze had cooled me down but That was a short live aahh, about 8:30 or so the heat began to turn on and with an hour and half was the first gas stop and water grab. I tell it to ya honestly, this didn't dissappointment for a minute the sweat was rolling down the crack and I knew it would stop until I got into some air for awhile. A few hours passed I will tell this part of Tennessee is pretty, however if all ya want to see is medows, farms, and acres of nothing well you may not like the chosen route. The rolling hills began to climb higher and higher with eadch sweepeing turn that well got a little tighter, the sing for Lynchburg appeared and I followed the directions. All those little country churches, schools and farm homes just nestled in to the hills is charming along with the extra heated cow scents, the welcome gardens with flowers of every color great ya as you ride by. Now I could live here with out a doubt. I like the ocean here and beach but the Mountians and foothills there just something about them. anyway the road twists and turns through the valley until I reached the tiny town of Lynchburg, TNN. It's a little confusing as to where the distilery tours are but I figured it out, ok I was overheated and slightly melted so maybe I wasn't my usual thinking self. As you pull into the parking area I wouldn't have figured this to be a distillery. It had lovely gardens, paths, beautiful wooden buildings, just not what I had expected. I entered the welcoming center and there stool Jack, oh yeah in case ya didn't get the hints I'm at the Jack Daniel's Distillery, and and explanation as to how the whiskey is made. Of course ya start your tour with a photo really do I have too! Then we walked the tour and I will tell you no air conditioning at all. We went to the fire pit area where they make the coal from the oak barrels, then to the cave where the spring water flows, folks this area is about 20 degrees cooler, there was a small stream that wound its way around the property and empited into a lake. Saw the offices, and went inside to learn about the corn mash and its small roll, folks if ya been there and smelled the first tank can I get a Hell Yeah Now, but the second part of the process isn't nearly as fragrent, the used mash is sold back to the farmers so they can use the grains, so the claim is TNN has the Happiest cows not CA. From there ya learn about the barrel making process and how long a barrel is stored, some batches sit for 5 years other for longer, it depends on mother nature for the curing. How well she heats and cools the product so it soaks into and out of the barrels. After one use, the barrels are either furned for more coal, or sold in gift shop, or to a winery. Since I was heading on to Nashville just before Fan Fare, the Zac Brown Band was there taking a tour, how nice huh? Well from the distillery I went into town. Folks I love the little town square, its what small town america is all about, I know I'd love liviing there. I can see it as a harsh sweet and wholesome place where neighbors know ya, front stooping goes on, and backfense gosp happens just a sleepy little country home connect in the environent its neslted in. Remember though, Nope, no tasting, Lynchburg is a dry county, so ya can't taste it or buy it unless its a collectors bottle, yep. I know, but it is what it is, however that town is still wonderful homey place anyway. On to the big bad city, about 1 & 1/2 hours away. I reached the hotel, went in dropped my bags, flopped on the bed and napped, It was that dam hot. Went across the street for some grub but waited like 1 hour after ordering and the meal still wasn't ready so I left it, I has some where to go. Folks I'm going to go the day has grown long and there are things to be done. The place was very close to where I was staying so maybe tomorrow night. Ok, the Hotel had buses running from the Grande Ole Opry, so I got on a bus about 8pm. I went down to the Opry grounds there were bands out side playing, as I picked up my ticket for the show. Strolled around on the grounds and kind of stood out ya know. There were all these lovely country gals with cowboy hats and boots just strolling around and me I'm in flip flops and well riding appearl. The country twang was thick, and it made me sound like a some one from NEW YORK CITY! no I' m not, but well I'm a dam yankee and that's bad from what I get. It got close to 9:20 and folks were linen up at the door so I did too, dam it was hot, I mean freaking hot with no breeze or nothing. Stood there for ever because the first show didn't end on time. The doors didn't open until close to 10. That's not bad but when your sweating your ass off its aweful. got my sits Holy Cow Thrid row, left center, I can't believe it. That night in the Opry for the frist time I got to see Martina McBride, Laday Annabellum, Darius Rutkis, Jerrod Niemann, Carrie Underwood, and the Oak Ridge Boys. It was a pretty jamming show which ended at 11PM. It took a while to catch a bus back to the hotel. When I got there I was done. The next day there was a parade in Nashville. National Hog Members were asked to be in it, so dirty bike and all I went. The parade was waiting for us to arrive and start things off! awesome ah? After the ride down several blocks in Nashville there I got to park in a speacal place and go see the rest of the parade, all the stars of country would be comeing down the road. After watching for a few minutes, I went to the Wildhorse got some cold to drink, shoot pool upstairs had lunch, got dance lessons. Then decided to stroll the streets, There was fan fare going on by the river. the gate were open and saw Unckle Cracker, and I can't think of the other bands names I'm sorry I've heard the songs just don't know who made them. The next day would be Criag Morgan and the list went on. I let for the temptures were brutally hot. it only took a few minutes for the sweat to roll between the cracks once I got rolling on the road. My bike a dirt pit with almost 3 thousand miles on it from this trip was ready for a bath, oil change, brake pad replacements and nap I think, Just two more stops and I'll be home!