Pages From Life

[T L Cole]

Nashville Sunday Ride
October 12, 2008

What to do when you wake up on a Sunday morning in October with weather forecast of 83 degrees and sunshine? After the usual morning coffee, bowl of cereal and some reading it was out the door to the garage. The Speedmaster required a quick wipe down to remove a layer of dirt and bring the paint back to shining black and blue; put the helmet on, slide on the gloves and it’s time to head out from the East Side neighborhood for my favorite ride route. It takes a 12 mile run down I-40 West to get beyond the edge of suburban sprawl and make it to the McCrory Lane exit. Taking a left puts the bike right into the middle of a long right hand sweeper and then up the hill with a sweeping left hander. At the top of the hill a look to the left shows a view back towards Nashville with rolling hills and trees changing colors. A few more miles of gentle turns brings up the four way stop and a right hand turn onto Poplar Creek Road. Now it is gently sweeping rights and lefts as the two wheels head down the hill and along the creek. Several homes on large lots with green fields and several groups of cows are to be seen from my peripheral vision. The leaves are falling from the trees as the breeze breaks them loose. Several sections of road are covered with them. Thankfully it has been dry lately so they just blow away as the bike cruises through.

The road takes a quick left hander as I crest a hill and then down the other side to put me along side the South Harpeth River. A few more miles of gentle left, right, left twist in the road along side a large rock cliff and then it is out to highway 100. Down to highway 96 and then over to Old Hillsboro Pike taking a right with a quick left hand turn and the road covered with more leaves. Now the bike is heading into the Fernvale valley with farm land, cows, and horses and back to following the South Harpeth River.


Last spring a tornado came through this valley leaving behind a trail of twisted trees and homes. The hillsides are littered with trees lying like someone dumped a box of wooden matches. I decide to take a right hand turn and head over to site of the historic Community Church which was leveled by the tornado. The sign reads that there will be a fundraiser in a week. The church has served the community since 1849; hopefully they will bring the building back so that it can serve another 150+ years.



Back across the river and continue on Old Hillsboro Pike. The road is actually quite narrow and in need of resurfacing, but I don’t mind slowing down a bit and enjoying the tree lined stretch. Past a covered bridge that serves as the entrance to someone home and then it is a hard left and up the hill with some more quick left – right – left twisties. Along the ridge is a tree domed stretch that has always reminded me of being in a park; with the fall colors coming into their own even more so.


Now I am in the groove of what is so great about riding around middle Tennessee; twisting roads with great scenery. The mind wants to wonder to family, work, dreams of what could be and even presidential politics. That last one is sad but the yard signs don’t allow an escape.

Lieper's Fork and Puckett’s Grocery at last; this is the local ride destination. It is an old country store that serves some great cookin with a place to hang out. The bikes come and go and the people watching opportunities endless. The Sunday morning after church crowd; a young lady takes a break from horse back riding; several bicyclists loading up on carbs; and the farmers looking like they just came in from the field. I have a homemade cinnamon roll and chocolate milk; talk with a few other riders and its time to get back in the saddle.



Heading back towards Nashville puts me on Hillsboro Pike and more of the South Harpeth River, On this stretch the homes and lots get bigger and fancier. Here is where I take in the 20 plus acres of groomed green grass with horses playing within there picket fence confines – one after another. There is a sign for Polo lessons and another for horse boarding along the way. I take a left and divert myself towards another of the older roads and back to the trees over hanging the road and the leaves being blown about but still following along the river. I eventually make it to Moran Road and a right hand turn. These estates bump up in stature about 10 fold with 50 plus acres of manicured farms, horses and mansions on the hill sides. It is a beautiful road to slow down and take it all in. Think about life and the day of rest. At the end of the valley the road takes a right hander and puts me at the entrance to the Alan Jackson residence, actually his 28 room mansion.


Another couple of miles and its back onto Hillsboro Pike and the traffic is picking up as I close back in on Nashville. I decide to follow the road all the way into town; first through Hillsboro Village and the Vanderbilt campus and then to the center of town and the State Capital.


I take a brief stop to check out the downtown happenings and then it is on to the East Side and home. The bike is parked in front of the garage door not wanting to be put away yet.

[londonerforever]

No pictures of people. Getting to be quite the writer cole. londonerforever.

[T L Cole]

I will have to pick up a tripod for the camera phone and see if I can add some people to the foreground.