Underground Railroad Bike Tour

Congratulations to Mike for Finishing!

2009-06-16T16:55:00.004-05:00

Friday, June 11
Miles Traveled: 65
Elevation Gain: 2,800 feet
Average Speed: 11.8 mph
Maximum Speed: 33 mph

After Lunch as Mike headed to Collingwood, he made a wrong turn and ended up riding 8-10 miles down a gravel road. However, he did not seem to mind all that much because he said that Friday was one of the prettiest days, if not the prettiest, to ride. He really enjoyed riding in the country area where there are farms and beautiful scenery to see. As Mike was about 5 miles away from Collingwood he had another flat tire. This was his first flat that he had to change while out on the road. He fixed his flat problem and made it to Collingwood about 5:30 to 6 p.m. Later that night Mike met with his wife Susan and Brett Mitchell when they arrived.

Saturday, June 12
Miles Traveled: 48
Elevation Gain: 1,800 feet
Average Speed: 12.0 mph
Maximum Speed: 35 mph

On Saturday, Mike's last day, he rode with Brett Mitchell to the last destination on the Underground Railroad, Owen Sound, Canada. On the way, Mike experienced the longest hill of the whole trip with and elevation gain of about 800 feet. When he reached Owen Sound, Mike and Susan went to Harrison Park. This park is dedicated to the Underground Railroad since Owen Sound was the terminus for many slaves. Mike said that this park was very nice being only a few miles south of Lake Huron with hiking, camping, woods, a pond, and even a restaurant. In fact they ate at the Harrison Park Inn Family Restaurant that night. Afterwards, Mike went to Brett's house where he stayed for the night.

Mike Celebrates his accomplishment. Congratulations Mike!

Mike celebrates with Susan and Brett.

The next few nights, Mike and Susan went to Niagara Falls where Mike relaxed and healed from the long trip. They are heading home now and will be stopping in Cincinnati tonight at the same bed and breakfast he stayed in on the way up. Mike would like to thank Glenda Neff for putting him up again at the bed and breakfast. He should be arriving home tomorrow afternoon.

This is from Mike's hotel room at Niagara Falls.

Mike wants to thank everyone again for all the support he has received during his Bike Tour. It really meant a lot to him. He also says that he will write his own personal update to the blog in the next few weeks from the notes he took along the way.

So remember, visit biketour.lipscomb.edu and click on "Give Online" if you would like to donate to Mike’s Underground Railroad Bike Tour Diversity Scholarship Fund to benefit underprivileged students who would like a quality, Christian education at Lipscomb University.

More Sights Along the Way

2009-06-12T14:45:00.005-05:00

It looks like Mike has made him some friends!

This was taken on Mechanicsville Rd.

Llamas in Ohio

From Owensboro, KY

Mike takes a day off to relax in the hot tub.

Mike's Almost Finished!

2009-06-12T13:01:00.005-05:00

Thursday, June 10
Miles Traveled: 58
Elevation Gain: 2,800 feet
Average Speed: 12.0 mph
Maximum Speed: 31 mph

On Thursday, Mike woke up and received breakfast from Vern Carter, and a flat tire. So Vern helped him fix his tire before Mike started out. Mike then road to Brampton where he stayed with Ross and Joice Redford. Ross is a biker who picked up on Mike's story from the Adventure Cycling Association. Ross contacted Mike some days back and told Mike to call him when he got to Brampton and he would give him a place to stay. Ross even got Mike a place to stay two days earlier with a friend of his.

Wall in Dundalk

Bike trail in Canada

Pretty flowers along the way

Today, Ross rode 20 miles with Mike. Along the way some more of the bolts on Mike's bike came off. They tend to come loose due to the rough roads he rides on sometimes. Ross decided to help him out by giving Mike a bolt from his water cage to help secure Mike's luggage rack. Mike plan's to make it to Collingwood tonight. His wife is driving up to meet him there tonight at about 10 p.m. Also, Brett Mitchell is riding up with Mike's wife and plans to ride with Mike tomorrow. Tomorrow Mike will ride to Owen Sound and finish his bike tour!

Ross helps Mike replace a bolt on his bike.

If you would like to donate to Mike's Underground Railroad Bike Tour Diversity Scholarship Fund at Lipscomb University, click here.

St. Catherines to Waterdown

2009-06-11T10:45:00.005-05:00

Wednesday, June 10
Miles Traveled: 58
Elevation Gain: 2,900 feet
Average Speed: 12.0 mph
Maximum Speed: 33 mph
Cumulative Miles: 1904
Miles To Go: 136

On Wednesday, Mike left St. Catherines and headed out, but not alone. He was accompanied by Gerry Irvine, who gave him a place to stay the night before, and his friend Albert. Gerry is 71 and Albert is 73 and both have done lots of touring. Gerry plans to ride across Ohio in a few weeks. Albert during his 70th birthday rode from coast to coast across Canada. Mike said they are an inspiration to him to keep riding. Both of them rode with Mike for 31 miles to lunch. After lunch, Mike headed to Waterdown where he met up with Vern Carter who gave him a place to stay. Vern is the uncle of Judy Mitchell, a former head resident of Johnson.

Gerry Irvine Biking Along With Mike

Mike next to Lake Ontario

WWII Plane Monument

Please visit biketour.lipscomb.edu if you would like to donate to Mike’s Underground Railroad Bike Tour Diversity Scholarship Fund.

If you would like to read more about Mike Smith's Underground Railroad Bike tour visit here.

From Lake Erie to Niagra Falls!

2009-06-10T12:22:00.009-05:00

Monday, June 8
Miles Traveled: 65
Elevation Gain: 2,800 feet
Average Speed: 11.6 mph
Maximum Speed: 34 mph

Mike left Lake Erie State Park and headed to Buffalo. On the way he stopped in Hamburg and decided he wanted a hamburger for lunch. However, he could not find one so he settled for Chinese food. It rained the next 3 hours after lunch as he rode to Buffalo where he stayed that night. He was supposed to stay at a hostel, but due to the situation he ended up staying in a hotel.

Tuesday, June 9
Miles Traveled: 53
Elevation Gain: 2,200 feet
Average Speed: 11.4 mph
Maximum Speed: 34 mph
Cumulative Miles: 1846
Miles To Go: 194

Mike's getting closer to Niagara Falls. There's the first sighting of some mist.

A little closer...

He made it! Look how close he is!

Tuesday Mike crossed the border into Canada. Then he road about 20 miles to Niagara Falls. He stayed there about 30 to 45 minutes and they headed to St. Catherines where he met Gerry Irvine. Gerry Irvine is a 71 year old biker who learned about Mike through a friend of a friend and gave him a place to stay. Today, Wednesday, Gerry is riding with Mike to Watertown, Canada.

History Plaque from Niagara on the Lake
Click on the picture to enlarge it.

If you visit Mike's Facebook profile, then you can see his newest album of Lake Erie, the Canadian border, and Niagara Falls.

Also, Mike wanted to let everyone back at home know about how much he appreciates all the support you give him. He says that even though he is doing this trip himself, he feels like he is part of a large community because of all the comments on the blog and Facebook, and calls and texts that you give him. He does not feel alone because all of your support has been great motivation for him.

So remember, visit biketour.lipscomb.edu and click on "Give Online" if you would like to donate to Mike’s Underground Railroad Bike Tour Diversity Scholarship Fund to benefit underprivileged students who would like a quality, Christian education at Lipscomb University.

If you would like to read more about Mike Smith's Underground Railroad Bike tour visit here.

Over The Weekend: From Oberlin to Erie Lake State Park, New York

2009-06-08T13:35:00.012-05:00

Friday, June 5
Miles Traveled: 62
Elevation Gain: 2,200 feet
Average Speed: 10.5 mph
Maximum Speed: 40 mph

Saturday, June 6
Miles Traveled: 85
Elevation Gain: 2,800 feet
Average Speed: 11.8 mph
Maximum Speed: 34 mph

Sunday, June 7
Miles Traveled: 85
Elevation Gain: 2,800 feet
Average Speed: 11.6 mph
Maximum Speed: 38 mph
Cumulative Miles: 1728
Miles To Go: 312

On Friday, Mike rode to Hudson where he stayed with Allen Pitney. On Saturday, Mike rode to Austinburg where he was scheduled to stop, but decided to continue to Ashtabula to see Lake Erie. While in Ashtabula, he visited the Hubbard house where he learned about the town and the house's significance along the Underground Railroad. Ashtabula claimed to be the terminus of the Underground Railroad. Many slaves would travel there and find shelter at the Hubbard House. From there, they would sneak down to the lake, board ships, and travel to Canada.

Click on the picture to enlarge it.

Mike really wanted to set up a tent overlooking Lake Erie. So, he found a man in his yard and Mike asked if he could stay in his yard for the night. The man said he did not mind, however he could not let him due to the local laws. But, the man told him where the nearest campground was. Make traveled to Camp Luther, between Ashtabula and Conneaut, where he was given a free cabin to sleep in for free. His cabin sat right next to Lake Erie.

On Sunday, Mike headed out and decided to stop at a Lutheran Church because they were having their service outside. He continued biking until he pulled into Lake Erie State Park where they let him have a free cabin as well.

On Sunday Mike rode in three states.

Steve helped get Mike free lodging at Lake Erie State Park.

Today, Mike said that it keeps looking like it is going to ran. Rain is predicted for the next few days. However, he is ahead of schedule and does not have to ride as far on the rainy days. He also said that it is definitely colder up north and that he may have to buy some rain pants. Mike plans to stay in a hostel in Buffalo tonight.

Oberlin - A Town Full of African-American History

2009-06-05T12:08:00.006-05:00

Thursday, June 4
Miles Traveled: 55
Elevation Gain: 2,000 feet
Average Speed: 11.3 mph
Maximum Speed: 35 mph
Cumulative Miles: 1,496
Miles To Go: 544

Mike rode on to Oberlin, the home of Oberlin College and a city that claims it is “the town that started the Civil War.” He stayed in the dorm of Oberlin College, which claims to be the first college to admit blacks and white together, according to Mike. The campus is beautiful, and includes the sculpture pictured here:

Here’s the description of the sculpture above from the “Passage to Freedom” Website:

The sculpture dramatically symbolizes the underground nature of the effort to resist slavery and help individuals on their way to freedom. The "underground" represents the secret work carried on by individuals and groups who risked their livelihoods and their very lives in protecting freedom.

The city of Oberlin has a long history of racial tolerance and equality, as described on this historic plaque that Mike got a good photo of:

The claim that Oberlin is the “town that started the Civil War,” comes from a famous court case that occurred in 1858, and achieved national attention at the time. Here is a description of that historic case from the “Ohio History central” Website:

The Oberlin-Wellington Rescue Case of 1858 showed how divided Ohio had become over the issue of slavery.

On September 13, 1858, a federal marshal in Oberlin, Ohio arrested a runaway slave named John Price. Under the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, the federal government was required to assist slaveholders in reclaiming their runaway slaves. As soon as Oberlin residents heard of the marshal's actions, a group of them… attempted to free Price. The mob stormed the hotel and found Price in the attic. The group immediately returned Price to Oberlin, where they hid him in the home of Oberlin College's president. A short time later, they took Price to freedom in Canada….

A federal grand jury indicted thirty-seven of the people who freed Price. Ohio authorities responded by arresting the federal marshal, his deputies, and other men involved in John Price's detention. Following negotiations between state and federal officials, the arresting officers were set free, as were thirty-five of those arrested under the federal charges. Only two of those indicted went to trial. Simeon Bushnell, a white man, and Charles Langston, an African-American man, were found guilty in federal court in April 1859. Bushnell received a sentence of sixty days in jail, while Langston's punishment was set at twenty days.

Bushnell and Langston filed a writ of habeas corpus with the Ohio Supreme Court. They claimed that the federal government did not have the authority to arrest or to try them because the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 was unconstitutional. The Ohio Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the law by a three to two ruling. This ruling angered members of Ohio's abolitionist community.

Trip to Mifflin

2009-06-05T11:49:00.002-05:00

Wednesday, June 3
Miles Traveled: 57
Elevation Gain: 2,200 feet
Average Speed: 11.3 mph
Maximum Speed: 35 mph
Cumulative Miles: 1,441
Miles To Go: 599

Mike says that Wednesday was the toughest day of the trip as far as weather goes with 48 degree temperatures. He tried to wait out the rain in a barn, but ended up riding about 25 miles in the rain, before arriving at Mifflin for the night.

From Delaware to Mifflin

2009-06-03T17:01:00.009-05:00

Tuesday, June 2
Miles Traveled: 77
Average Speed: 11.3 mph
Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet
Maximum Speed: 25 mph
Cumulative Miles: 1,384
Miles To Go: 656

Mike stopped in Delaware, Ohio, on Tuesday and stayed with some members of the local Church of Christ.

Mike has left the hills of Tennessee and the river valleys of Kentucky long behind. Ohio roads and flat indeed. He has spent the last 85 miles riding on wooded, scenic bike trails. But on Tuesday, those trails came to an end, and it was back to the regular roads with lots of cars.

Wednesday was a cold, rainy day again, and Mike was forced to take shelter in a barn along the route. Along his route on Wednesday, Mike passed by Lucas, Ohio, the site of Malabar Farm State Park. Here is some information on Malabar Farm, founded by a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and dedicated conservationist, from the park's Website:

In the rolling countryside of Richland County, Louis Bromfield, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and dedicated conservationist, created his dream -- Malabar Farm. Inspired by his love of the land, Bromfield restored the rich fertility of the farmlands and preserved the beauty of the woodlands. He built a 32-room country home, where his family, friends and neighbors could share the pleasure of life on the farm.... As a park, Malabar Farm is dedicated to perpetuating Bromfield's farming philosophies, preserving the Big House and its many artifacts, and providing a place where visitors can explore life on a farm and the beauty of nature.

According to the farm Website, Bromfield's farm was an early pioneer in sustainable farming, which has certainly come into vogue today. Today Malabar Farm has animals, wagon rides for visitors, camping sites, a produce market, mercantile, fishing holes and sustainable farming in action.

Mike continued on past Lucas, to Mifflin, Ohio, and is staying the night in a cabin on Charles Mill Lake.

Turtle heads in Xenia

2009-06-02T18:22:00.004-05:00

Monday, June 1
Miles Traveled: 69
Average Speed: 11.6 mph
Elevation Gain: 800 feet
Maximum Speed: 23 mph
Cumulative Miles: 1,307
Miles to Go: 733

On Monday, Mike rode on his first designated bike trail without vehicle traffic. It was nice and wooded but lacking in civilization.

Mike did happen upon a fellow named Dirk Morgan who rents canoes and sells hot dogs. Morgan showed Mike a photo of a 200 pound rock he found in his yard that looks like a turtle head. Mike just had to have a photo! He was pretty proud o the rock, Mike said. He had even hired a geologist to come out and confirm that the rock had been carved by ancient Indians to look more like a turtle.

Mike rode to Xenia on Monday and stayed with members of the Xenia Church of Christ. As he travels farther north, Mike said he is getting more and more excited about the natural scenery coming his way soon: Lake Erie, Niagara Falls and the land of Canada.

A Day of Rest in Milford

2009-06-01T11:22:00.007-05:00

Mike took the entire day off on Sunday. It was a day of luxury for Mike, as Glenda Neff, daughter of Deane Tennant, who hosted Mike in Falmouth, Ky., put Mike up in a Milford bed and breakfast, where he spent some time hanging out in the hot tub, soaking his tired muscles.

He attended services at Withamsville Church of Christ and had the opportunity to speak to the congregation about his bike ride and the goal behind it. Before he left, the church had taken a collection to benefit diversity scholarships at Lipscomb University.

Lipscomb is making a strong effort to make a college education more accessible to student population that have traditionally been underserved. The university has established programs to provide additional scholarships to community college grads, discounts for military veterans and scholarships for Hispanic students. Mike Smith’s Underground Railroad Bike Tour Diversity Scholarship Fund is just one of the many ways Lipscomb is trying to bring Christian education to more students. So far, through Mike’s efforts and commitment to his ride, Lipscomb has raised $6,411 to benefit diversity scholarships.

If you would like to make a donation to the Underground Railroad Diversity Scholarship Fund, go to biketour.lipscomb.edu and click on “Give Online.”

Freedom Center in Cincinnati

2009-06-01T10:23:00.003-05:00

Saturday, May 30
Miles Traveled: 50
Average Speed: 11.6 mph
Elevation Gain: 2,600
Maximum Speed: 37 mph
Cumulative Miles: 1,238
Miles To Go: 802

So much for a break in the rain! On his way to Milford, Ohio, outside of Cincinnati, Mike ran into more rain, and hail and tornado sirens. But he spent most of it under cover. Also on the way, he went through Georgetown, a town that Mike had visited before some years ago on a mission trip with Tusculum Church of Christ in Nashville.

Once he reached Milford, Mike headed out to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, one of the most exciting stops on the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route. Here is a description of the center from Ohio’s “Passage to Freedom” Website:

The Freedom Center’s mission is to “reveal stories about freedom’s heroes, from the era of the Underground Railroad to contemporary times, challenging and inspiring everyone to take courageous steps for freedom today.” The Freedom center is made up of three buildings which symbolize the cornerstones of freedom- courage, cooperation, and perseverance. The exhibits trace slavery in America, exploring over 100 people who are champions of freedom, the Civil War, and the struggle that continues today for freedom across the globe.

Mike and Glenda Neff, his hostess for Sunday night, stand in front of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

These pictures are from the Freedom Center's website.

If you would like to know more, watch this youtube video about the Freedom Center and its exhibits.

At Milford, he stayed Saturday night with Doug Orcutt, a cyclist who rode from Portland, Oregon, to Washington D.C. in 2005 with his son, who was 14 at the time. The men sat around sharing cross country biking stories.

If you would like to donate to Mike's Underground Railroad Bike Tour Diversity Scholarship Fund at Lipscomb University, click here.

Check this out.....

2009-05-30T12:52:00.001-05:00

Check out this New York Times article on "Cycling through history..." on the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route.

Mike's Bike Tour: By The Numbers

2009-05-30T12:42:00.002-05:00

20 Days into Mike's Underground Railroad Bike Tour!

Crossings of the Tombigbee River: 5
Crossings of the Ohio River: 5
Number of times Mike got lost: 2
Number of days Mike rode in the rain: 5
Bike repairs: 3
Number of states so far: 6
(Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio)

Churches who provided Mike lodging: 8
Church leaders who hosted him in their home: 2
Church buildings he slept in: 1
Churches who paid for his hotel: 4

Unoccupied buildings Mike slept in: 4
Acquaintances who hosted him in their home: 4
Number of times Mike paid for his night's lodgings: 1
Number of times Mike camped out: 0
Number of nights Mike spent at home: 1

To learn more details about Mike's goal to raise money for diversity scholarships at Lipscomb University, go to biketour.lipscomb.edu.

Traveling Underground in Ohio

2009-05-30T11:40:00.005-05:00

Friday, May 29
Miles Traveled: 61
Average Speed: 11.6 mph
Elevation Gain: 3,800 feet
Maximum Speed: 38 mph
Cumulative Miles: 1,188
Miles To Go: 882

Mike had his most exciting day of the trip on Friday as he came to one of the most active stations in the Underground Railroad. Not only did he finally have beautiful weather in Kentucky, but he crossed the Ohio River, the landmark that brought escaped slaves into the free North.

"Free at last!" Mike crossed the Ohio River on Friday.

Just as the escaped slaves did, Mike traveled on to Ripley, Ohio, where he stopped to tour various historic sites related to the Underground Railroad. He stayed the night with Sonja Cropper, the tourism director for Brown County, Ohio, and a member of the Adventure Cycling Association's advisory board for the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route. She gave him a personal tour of some of the sites in Ripley.

While Ohio was in the free North, slave catchers were still authorized by law to catch escaped slaves and return them for rewards of $50 to $100. As Ohio was just past the border, it was a convenient place to catch escaped slaves, so the network of friends on the Underground Railroad still had to operate in secrecy. Cropper showed Mike the riverside Rankin House, a large house owned by John Rankin, one of the leading "conductors" of the Underground Railroad, that escaped slaves could recognize because it had three front doors. The Rankin family was large and everyone was involved in shuttling the escaped slaves from safe house to safe house in Brown County in the middle of the night.

Here is a description of Ripley and the Rankin House from the Brown County Tourism Department's Website:

"The village of Ripley was an important stop on the Underground Railroad. Situated on the banks of the Ohio River, a dividing line between slavery and freedom, this borderland community had some of the most active stations in Ohio. The geography helped shape its role; creek beds threw off tracking dogs, and hills and valleys provided excellent hiding places and escape routes.

"It as in this setting that Rev. John Rankin crossed the Ohio River on December 31, 1821, to begin his new life in a free state. An active abolitionist and Methodist minister, Rankin and his entire family became well known by both freedom seekers and slave holders alike for their role in the Underground Railroad. The Rankin House, located on Liberty Hill, overlooks the Ohio River and the town of Ripley and is one of the most recognized sites on the Underground Railroad. Rankin said, 'My house has been the door of freedom to many human beings but while there was a hazard of life and property, there was much happiness in giving safety to the trembling fugitives.'"

Mike also toured the Parker House in Ripley. Here's more from the tourism department Website.

The Parker House, owned by John Parker, advanced his status from former slave to successful patented inventor and businessman in Ripley before the Civil War. He is credited with assisting hundreds of slaves as they made their way north to freedom. According to Parker’s recorded journals, the real warfare against slavery in the borderlands along the Ohio River was waged around the few houses at the top of the riverbank on Front Street in Ripley.

Mike also visited a church in Ripley, and guess who was buried in the cemetary? Aunt Jemima!

Carrollton to Falmouth, KY

2009-05-29T13:30:00.006-05:00

Thursday, May 28
Miles Traveled: 62
Average Speed: 12.4 mph
Elevation Gain: 2,800 feet
Maximum Speed: 38 mph
Cumulative Miles: 1,127
Miles To Go: 943

Poor Mike had more rain on Thursday. He says it's rained so much he's just gotten used to it, even though he still hates starting the morning all wet and chilly.

He traveled to Falmouth, Ky., where he stayed with Deane Tennant, who read about Mike's trip on the Internet and offered to provide lodging. Turns out, Tennant is an alumni of Lipscomb University, Mike's employer and the beneficiary of his fund-raising campaign. He was on campus earlier this month for graduation when the Class of 1959 was honored at a Golden Circle reception and announcement during the commencement ceremony. Tennant earned an education degree and Lipscomb and has had a successful career as a superintendent of schools in Kentucky and Ohio.

Don't forget, if you would like to donate to Mike's Underground Railroad Bike Tour Diversity Scholarship Fund at Lipscomb University, click here.

Here are more of the sites along Mike's Underground Railroad Bike Tour.

Jeffersonville to Carrollton, KY

2009-05-28T12:37:00.013-05:00

Wednesday, May 27
Miles Traveled: 75
Average Speed: 12.2 mph
Elevation Gain: 2,800 feet
Maximum Speed: 32 mph
Cumulative Miles: 1,065
Miles To Go: 1,005
Finished 34 of the 68 maps

Today Mike hit the Eastern time zone. He arrived in Madison at 3 p.m., later than he expected as he was delayed by a rain shower (see video). While in Madison he saw the remain of the courthouse that had recently burned. The city had just finished refurbishing the courthouse when it suffered from an electrical fire. While Mike was there they were taking off the tower.

In order to leave Madison, Mike had to cross the Ohio River. However, the bridge was narrow with a sign saying “Caution, narrow bridge, no shoulder." This was unnerving to everyone as cars either had to go around Mike or follow behind him while he was crossing the bridge back to Kentucky.

Mike arrived in Carrollton, KY, about 5 p.m. (but really 6 p.m. now that he's in Eastern time). He found the Carrollton Christian Church and decided to see if he could find a place to stay. The people there were very receptive and were tickled to have him. Worship started 15 minutes after his arrival. Ron Lacefield, an elder at the church took him in for the night, took him out to eat, showed him around the town. He slept in Lacefield's guest bedroom. Mike enjoyed getting to visit with him.

During the church service Mike was inspired by a video he saw there. The video was about nine guys, from that church and the Baptist church in town, who took the paraplegic sister of one of the group to the Grand Canyon. It was a 33 hour van trip out to the Grand Canyon, and they took her down to almost the bottom of the canyon. They spent 21 hours taking her down to the canyon and then back up. Mike, who has led many adventure outings for Lipscomb students, admired the adventurous spirit of the guys at that church. It was inspiring to him, that they would do something like that to bring joy to a teen-age girl.

Mike plans to spend the next few nights staying with people who learned of his trip through the Adventure Cycling Association and offered to house him on the trip.

He plans to take his first total rest day on this coming Sunday, and is hoping to finish the route a little early, on June 14.

If you are interested in making a donation to the Mike Smith Underground Railroad Diversity Scholarship Fund, go to biketour.lipscomb.edu and click on "Give Online."

Mike's Already Half-Way!

2009-05-28T12:18:00.005-05:00

Lipscomb students celebrate that Mike has reached the half-way mark on the Underground Railroad Bike Tour on Wednesday, May 27! Celebrate by making a donation to the Mike Smith Underground Railroad Bike Tour Diversity Scholarship Fund at biketour.lipscomb.edu.

Bradenburg, KY to Jeffersonville, IN

2009-05-27T11:08:00.006-05:00

Tuesday, May 26
Miles Traveled: 48
Average Speed: 11.4 mph
Elevation Gain: 2,800 feet
Maximum Speed: 35 mph
Cumulative Miles: 990
Miles To Go: 1,080

Mike crosses the bridge from Indiana back into Louisville, Ky before heading back to Indiana.

You have got to love some fresh strawberries!

Mike biked to Jeffersonville, IN where he started looking for a place to stay. He went to one church and they could not help him out. Mike was about to get a hotel room, but decided to try the Meigs Avenue Church of Christ. He talked to Hayward Blanton an elder at the church. Hayward allowed Mike to sleep in the pastor's old, vacated house next to the church. In fact, Mike and his air mattress were the only things in the house that night.

While Mike was there, he got to know the pastor David Wright. He learned that David was one of nine siblings which all attended Falkner University. The most unique thing he learned about David was that he is blind. David showed Mike his books of the bible in braille which looked like Encyclopedias because of their size. They also discussed about the many of the changes in the Church of Christ. Mike says he appreciates hearing David's view on this.

Pastor David Wright says that he wears glasses because they protect his eyes.

If you are interested in donating to Mike Smith’s Underground Railroad Bike Tour Diversity Scholarships fund, please click here.

Entering Indiana on May 26

2009-05-26T17:00:00.002-05:00

Mike made it to Indiana today. He'll spend the next few days jumping back and forth between Indiana and Kentucky.

Memorial Day on the Road

2009-05-26T09:36:00.006-05:00

Monday, May 25
Miles Traveled: 75
Average Speed: 12.4 mph
Elevation Gain: 3,200 feet
Maximum Speed: 37 mph
Cumulative Miles: 942
Miles To Go: 1,128

Memorial Day brought new challenges for Mike as practically everything was closed. He did get a good breakfast from the Ellises in Owensboro, but had to stop for a picnic of crackers and juice at a park overlooking the Ohio River. He did find one store in Cloverport, Ky., open and four patrons were milling about the store. After striking up a conversation, Mike left with $12 donated to the Mike Smith Underground Railroad Diversity Scholarship Fund for Lipscomb University. Even on a holiday, he's hard at work raising funds for underprivileged students who desire a Christian education at Lipscomb.

In the spirit of escaped slaves who traveled the Underground Railroad almost two centuries ago, Mike has been relying on the kindness of strangers for lodgings, and sometimes for food, as he did on this day. He saw someone lounging in the shade by the road in Kentucky and asked for some water. He left with a Mountain Dew and the offer of a barbecue sandwich. He's been coming across lots of Mennonite establishments in northern Kentucky, including passing a horse and buggy on Sunday. He did just barely win that race, he said.

Memorial Day also marked Mike's first near spill from his bike when the tire got caught in a seam in a bridge. But he managed to pull it out and escaped with nothing more than a scrape on his leg. He's enjoying the great views of the Ohio River, as many of the towns he is going through are located right on the river.

He ended up staying the night at New Highland Baptist Church in Brandenburg, Ky., where Pastor Darrell allowed him to sleep on the floor of the fellowship hall. So Mike had another first -- he actually had to break out his air mattress and sleeping bag. Sleeping on the floor encouraged him to get an early start on Tuesday, so he was up and preparing to hit the road by 5:30 a.m.

Mike had a blast playing with Caleb and Zooey, the "preacher's kids" at New Highland Baptist.

If you are interested in making a donation to the Mike Smith Underground Railroad Diversity Scholarship Fund, go to biketour.lipscomb.edu and click on "Give Online."

Change of Plans!

2009-05-26T09:19:00.004-05:00

Sunday, May 24
Miles traveled: 102
Average Speed: 13.4 mph
Elevation Gain: 2,200 feet
Maximum Speed: 34 mph
Cumulative Miles: 867
Miles To Go: 1,203

Well, after a well-timed conversation with this blog reporter, Mike changed his plans on Sunday and decided not to stay in Henderson. Instead, he contacted Kim Chaudoin, Lipscomb's director of communication and creative services, and arranged to stay with her parents, Jim and Julie Ellis in Owensboro, Ky. That made for a long day, riding from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., mostly in the rain. He traveled the most miles in one day of any day of his trip so far.

He arrived in Owensboro just in time to attend Sunday evening worship services at Owensboro Church of Christ. The Ellises were being visited by their son and two of their granddaughters, Sara and Montana, who enjoyed eating dinner with Mike after church on Sunday.

Drizzle in Henderson

2009-05-24T15:11:00.003-05:00

On Sunday, Mike was stuck in drizzling rain all day. So he stopped short of his intended destination, Owensboro, Ky., about 100 miles away, and stayed in Henderson, Ky., about 65 miles from Cave-in-Rock.

Mike says the last few days in Kentucky have brought out his country boy roots, as he smells the overwhelming smells of honeysuckle and freshly tilled earth all around him on the route.

To learn more about the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route and Mike's goal to promote greater diversity at Lipscomb University with a scholarship fund, click here.

Mike enters pirate country

2009-05-24T14:54:00.005-05:00

Saturday, May 23
Miles Traveled: 51
Average Speed: 12.2 mph
Elevation Gain: 2,200 feet
Maximum Speed: 38 mph
Cumulative Miles Traveled: 765
Miles To Go: 1,310

The big news on Saturday?? Mike broke his streak of free lodgings. On the 13th night (appropriately enough), Mike paid for his own hotel room in Cave-in-Rock, Ill. Good thing, as the town has a sordid history! The town at the very tip of Illinois is named for a cave just off the Ohio River where priates would lure river travelers and rob them.

Here's the Cave-in-Rock State Park's Website description of the park where Mike stayed on Saturday:

"Sitting atop the high bluffs overlooking the scenic Ohio River, the heavily wooded park is named for the 55-foot-wide cave that was carved out of the limestone rock by water thousands of years ago. Trails winding along the riverbank offer views of riverboats, barges and other river scenes.

"Following the Revolutionary War, this immense recess came to serve as the ideal lair for outlaws, bandits and river pirates who preyed on the people traveling along the Ohio River. One of the most ambitious of these ruthless malefactors was Samuel Mason. Once an officer in George Washington’s Revolutionary Army, in 1797 he converted the cavern into a tavern which he called the Cave-In-Rock.

"From this apparently innocent and inviting position, Mason would dispatch his cohorts upriver to befriend unwary and bewildered travelers with offers of help and guidance. As they neared the cave, these henchmen would disable their boats or force them toward the yawning hollow, where the hapless pilgrims would be robbed, or worse. Few victims lived to tell their story."

Mike had to take a ferry across the Ohio to get to his lodgings in Cave-in-Rock. Luckily he crossed over without any priate intervention.

Memories of Home.... Crossing the Cumberland River

I was curious how Mike got the shot of him crossing the Tennessee River on his bike, as it looked like a pretty desolate place (see "Crump to Pineview, TN" post). So I asked, and Mike reported that there happened to be a couple of fishermen scouting out the best fishing holes on the bridge when he came by, and they snapped the photo of him riding over the bridge on his bike.

If you would like to support Mike in his goal to promote diversity on the Lipscomb University campus, go to biketour.lipscomb.edu. There you can learn more about his job as dorm director at Lipscomb and more about the history of the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route as well.

Land Between the Lakes

2009-05-23T18:11:00.006-05:00

Friday, May 22
Miles Traveled: 54
Average speed: 12.2 mph
Elevation Gain: 3,200 feet
Maximum Speed: 37 mph
Cumulative Miles Traveled: 714
Miles To Go: 1,361

Mike rode through Land Between the Lakes on Friday, and was struck by the utter lack of convenience for miles and miles. Used to having a new town every 10 miles or so to stock up on carbohydrates and fluids, Mike rode 42 miles through Land Between the Lakes with no place to stop and stock up.

Mike's quick trip home made those 42 miles a little lonlier. It was hard to get back on the road after getting to see his wife and sons and sleep in his own bed on Thursday night.

Mike thought this was a convenience store in Land Between the lakes!

Alas, it was actually an old furnace.

In the back there you can see some Lipscomb Bisons who are summering at Land Between the Lakes!

Mike ended the day ay Grand Rivers, Ky., located on the Ohio River between where the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers meet the Ohio. This location played a big role in Nashville history, as the original Nashville settlers cruised in barges the length of the Tennessee River to the Ohio, and then pulled the barges upstream on the Ohio to the junction with the Cumberland, so they could sail back down to Middle Tennessee and the chosen site for Nashville. Mike stayed Friday night with Bill and Irene Morgan, the parents of a good friend of Mike's wife, who hosted him in Benton, Ky.

Grand Rivers, Ky., where Mike ended Friday's ride.

Waverly to Dover, Tenn.

2009-05-22T14:31:00.004-05:00

Thursday, May 21
Miles Traveled: 43 miles
Average Speed: 11.5 mph
Elevation Gain: 3,800
Cumulative Miles Traveled: 660 miles
Projected Miles To Go: 1,415

On Thursday, May 21, Mike headed out at 9 a.m. from Hunter's house in Waverly to bike 48 miles over some very hilly terrain to Dover. However, Mike was not alone. Today Kerwin Everson accompanied Mike along his bike tour which turned out to be very beneficial. After they had biked about 43 miles, Mike had his first flat tire. It was a slow leak, so he decided to pump it up and try to bike the rest of the way. A few miles later he realized how much more serious his tire problem was. Mike noticed that there was a hairline crack on either side of the spokes around the wheel. He counted about 10 spokes that had bad cracks next to them.

Mike realized how blessed he was to have Kerwin biking with him on that day. It was the best time to have a bike problem like this, because Kerwin's son, Aren, was waiting for them to arrive in Dover. He came, picked them both up and brought Mike and Kerwin back to Nashville where Mike got a new wheel from Cumberland Transit got to spend Thursday night in his own bed! This side trip also allowed him to visit his Friday morning bible study before his son Seth drove him back to five miles south of Dover to continue on his bike tour.

If you are interested in donating to Mike Smith’s Underground Railroad Bike Tour Diversity Scholarships fund, please click here.

A "Mike's-Eye" View of the Route

2009-05-21T13:56:00.006-05:00

Wednesday, May 20
Miles Traveled: 34 miles
Average Speed: 11.2 mph
Elevation Gain: 1,800
Maximum Speed: 34 mph
Cumulative Miles Traveled: 617 miles
Projected Miles To Go: 1,458

And other weird and wonderful sites along the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route:

If you are interested in supporting Mike in his goal to promote increased diversity at Lipscomb University, click here and go to "Give Online" to make a donation to Mike Smith's Underground Railroad Bike Tour Diversity Scholarship Fund.

Making friends in Waverly

2009-05-21T13:40:00.002-05:00

Mike (the slacker) got a late start on Wednesday morning. He wasn’t on the road until 10 a.m. But he arrived in Waverly by 2:30 p.m. and hooked up with his host Hunter Patterson, a Lipscomb student who lived in Mike’s dorm at the university this past school year. Hunter showed Mike all around Waverly, including his high school, his church where his parents work. They attended church services at Waverly Church of Christ and Hunter’s family took Mike out to eat.

With 400 boys living under his roof in High Rise Residence Hall, Mike doesn’t get a chance to get to know every boy personally, he said. So getting to spend time with Hunter and learn about him personally was a big highlight of the trip so far, Mike said.

Mike is certainly getting the full Underground Railroad experience, as each night of his trip so far he has found himself dependent on the help of strangers, old friends or acquaintances for his food and lodging. On Thursday, May 21, Mike will give up his solitude for a day as Kerwin Everson will join him for the bike ride from Waverly to Dover.

So close, yet so far...

2009-05-20T14:30:00.004-05:00

On Wednesday, May 20, Mike came the closest he will come to his home town of Nashville, where his route crosses Interstate 40 about 20 miles from Waverly, Tenn., his stop this evening, where he will bunk with the family of Hunter Patterson, a Lipscomb student who lived in Mike’s dorm this past school year.

If you are interested in donating to Mike Smith’s Underground Railroad Bike Tour Diversity Scholarships fund, please click here.

Crump to Pineview, Tenn.

2009-05-20T09:30:00.006-05:00

Tuesday, Map 19
Miles Traveled: 73
Average Speed: 11 mph
Elevation Gain: 4,200 feet
Maximum Speed: 40 mph

Mike crossing the Tennessee River.

The day started off quiet and easy-going. Mike did some sight-seeing at various parks along the route. The weather was perfect. He planned to go about 50 miles. As promised by the Adventure Cycling Association, Mike has begun to see a lot of dogs. Tuesday he saw the most dogs of any day of his trip so far. Dog chases are a hallmark of the route (and an ironic similarity to the Underground Railroad of pre-Civil War days). So far he hasn’t been bitten.

He has, however, gotten lost for the second time -- this time pretty severely. Opting to keep on peddling past Mousetail Landing State Park, Mike found himself in Pineview and somehow he got himself lost in the hilliest portion of the community for about two hours. Some hills were so big he had to get off and push his bike.

There were no hotels in sight, so around 7 p.m. or so. Mike started to scout out yards and fields where he could perhaps pitch his tent. Fortunately, Mike’s good luck held true on day eight! After climbing a particularly nasty hill, he stopped to talk to a family out in their yard, asking if they knew any members of the local church. The family was working to finish a house, but next door, they also owned a one-room cabin. And after hearing of Mike’s cycling plight, they offered to let him stay in the cabin for the night.

For the ninth night in a row, Mike found someone to lend him a roof over his head. That puppy is awfully interested in Mike's stuff!

Mike's Got Religion

2009-05-19T11:12:00.011-05:00

Monday, May 18
Miles traveled: 68
Average Speed: 11.2 mph
Elevation Gain: 3,200 feet

Here is a selection of church signs Mike has passed along the way.

And here are some other interesting sites from Mississippi and Tennessee.

If you would like to see Mike's complete Photo Album 2 from his trip, then click here.

If you would like to know more about Mike's goal to raise money for diversity scholarships to Lipscomb University by riding the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route, go to biketour.lipscomb.edu.

Fulton to Tishomingo, Miss.

2009-05-18T09:50:00.007-05:00

Sunday, May 17
Miles Traveled: 38
Average Speed: 12 mph
Elevation Increase: 2,000 feet
Maximum Speed: 33 mph

On Sunday Mike attended church at Fulton Church of Christ. During the men's Sunday school class, he mentioned that he was probably going to have to camp out for the first time that night in Tishomingo. So, one of the men gave him the use of his cabin. Mike got lost looking for it he said, but the area was a beautiful place and once he found it, the cabin had all the comforts of home.

During the Sunday morning worship at Fulton, one of the members he sat next to invited him home for dinner. The Tucker's have two sons, one graduating and headed for the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and one a Soph. in high school. They are the same age apart as Mike's sons. Mike enjoyed a big family meal, and he left with some extra pork barbecue that he ate at the Tishomingo cabin on Sunday night.

Part of Mike's route follows the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Storms came through Saturday evening that brought in colder temperatures and stronger winds. Mike says that yesterday and today have been his first real battle with wind. He plans to get to Crump, Tennessee, today where a friend of his, Mike Wade, will pick him up for dinner and his overnight stay. the two Mikes used to coach their kids' little league baseball team together. Mike Wade is driving 45 minutes to pick him up, and will bring him back to the official Underground Railroad route tomorrow morning.

Mike's thighs were really sore after pushing himself very hard over the past week. After a couple of light days, his legs are getting back to normal, so he should be fine in the hills of Tennessee. He is going to cut his daily mileage down to about 60 miles a day due to the hills. In addition, a couple of his friends, Kerwin Everson and Bill Peach, will meet him in Waverly, TN, and bike to Dover, TN, along with him.

The total amount of money donated to Mike Smith's Underground Railroad Diversity Scholarship Fund so far is $5.651. Don't forget if you would like to donate, go to biketour.lipscomb.edu and click on "Give Online."

Aberdeen to Fulton, Miss.

2009-05-18T09:48:00.004-05:00

Saturday, May 16
Miles Traveled: 44
Average Speed: 14.6 mph
Elevation Increase: 1,000 feet
Maximum Speed: 32 mph

Black clouds in Aberdeen delayed Mike's start on Saturday for about an hour.

But he still got into Fulton by 12:15 p.m. as it was only a 30 mile jaunt. When he reached Fulton, he reached the end of his first map. The entire Underground Railroad Bicycle Route is laid out on five maps. You can see what those maps look like at http://biketour.lipscomb.edu and click on "Routes & Maps" and look at "Where is Mike Today?" The Fulton Church of Christ provided lodgings for Mike in a Days Inn, and he had dinner with the retirees from Atlanta who are also biking the route.

During his first week of riding, Mike has crossed the Tombigbee River four times. The Tombigbee flows from upper Mississippi to connect to the Alabama River and form the Mobile River and flow out into the Gulf of Mexico. As it was a more convenient route to the Gulf than the alternative -- the Mississippi River which hooks up with the Ohio River, a canal was created to hook up the Tennessee River farther south to the Tombigbee, so barges could travel to the Gulf faster.

Here's the Tombigbee at Mike's fourth crossing.

Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway
(according to the Encyclopedia Britannica)
American waterway linking the Tennessee River in northeastern Mississippi with the Tombigbee River in western Alabama. The 234-mile (376-kilometre) system of locks and canals along the upper Tombigbee River south to Demopolis, Ala., gives access via the lower Tombigbee to the Gulf of Mexico at Mobile, Ala. The waterway was built (1971–84) to provide an alternate and shorter route to the Gulf than the Mississippi River for Appalachian coal and agricultural products from neighbouring Southern states, as well as to draw more businesses to the region. Barge traffic began moving along the system in January 1985.

Don't forget, if you are interested in supporting Mike in his goal to promote diversity at Lipscomb University, make a donation to Mike Smith's Underground Railroad Diversity Scholarship Fund by going to biketour.lipscomb.edu and clicking on "Give Online."

Hot Feet in Mississippi

2009-05-15T17:29:00.007-05:00

Friday, May 15
Miles Traveled: 72
Average speed: 13 mph
Elevation Gain: 2,000 feet
Maximum Speed: 34 mph

Most typically asked question: Where you headed?
Most typical reaction: Are you crazy?
Most typical follow-up: When do you expect to get to Canada?

Which is how Mike found out that Charlie, a fellow he met at a rest stop, has his same birthday -- June 17 -- the day Mike is scheduled to pedal into Owen Sound, Canada and complete his trip. Should be quite a memorable birthday.

Mike is cooling his heels in Aberdeen, Miss., at a hotel thanks to the Aberdeen Church of Christ. He thought he might actually have to break out the tent tonight, as the church preacher was unable to provide a place to stay. But ever-resourceful Mike managed to hunt down an elder from the church by stopping at a florist shop and asking if they knew any members of the local Church of Christ. They did, and Mike is grateful as rain was imminent on Friday evening. So he's looking forward to a light day tomorrow with only 50 miles to Fulton, Miss., and a light day on Sunday, when he will take time out to go to church services.

"I’m ready to ease off before I hit those hills in Tennessee. It’s going to be a challenge," he says.

He's not kidding! Here is an elevation map of a portion of the route in Alabama:

And here is an elevation map for a portion of the route in Tennessee:

Mike is also suffering from what biker's call "hot feet." Sometime after lunch each day, around the time he hits 50 miles or so, his feet start to feel like they are going to explode into flames. So he has to loosen his shoes, move his feet around and wiggle his toes to try to get the hot foot feeling to ease. Other than that his legs are sore; but his rear is in good shape, he says!

Crossing into Mississippi

2009-05-15T10:26:00.002-05:00

Mike made it to Mississippi on Friday morning.

On to Aliceville

2009-05-15T10:18:00.002-05:00

Thursday, May 14
Miles Traveled: 81
Average Speed: 13.4 mph
Elevation Gain: 2,200
Maximum Speed: 32 mph

On the way to Aliceville, Mike contacted the Aliceville Church of Christ and ended up spending Thursday night with the Beaver family, who fed him, gave him a place to sleep in their home and let him use the computer. Thanks to their generosity, you can check out the entire photo album of Mike's trip so far on Facebook by clicking here.

The Beaver family also had a scale at their home, and Mike took the opportunity to weigh his bike and get an idea how much weight he has been peddling forward ... 72 pounds! Mike decided that was too heavy and left behind a jacket, a book and some batteries to get his load down to 69 pounds.

Linden welcomes Mike

2009-05-15T08:54:00.004-05:00

Mike began Wednesday with a little trouble -- a broken spoke on his wheel, but he got that repaired (thanks to a training session that his friends at Cumberland Transit in nashville gave him before he left) and ended up Wednesday in Linden, Ala. -- once again the beneficiary of Southern hospitality. He touched base with the preacher at Linden Church of Christ who offered to put him up for the night in a hotel. While talking with the preacher, a passerby heard his story and she invited Mike to come to dinner at the First Baptist Church of Linden, which has a weekly fellowship dinner on Wednesday nights.

Mary Kate at the Baptist church took a liking to Mike and she and all her friends asked him for autographs and insisted he sit with them at the fellowship dinner. Mary Kate is also a giving person, as she had donated 12 inches of her hair to Locks of Love that day. Both Mike and Mary Kate got their photos taken by the local newspaper.

So Mike was able to spread the word about his efforts to promote diversity by speaking with the youth group at the Baptist church after the meal and then later attending services at the Linden Church of Christ, where they also allowed him a few moments to explain his bicycle trek and why promoting greater diversity at Lipscomb is so important to him.

If you are interested in donating to the Mike Smith Underground Railroad Bike Tour Diversity Scholarship Fund at Lipscomb University click here.

Friends at Coffeeville

2009-05-14T10:39:00.008-05:00

Wednesday, May 13
Miles Traveled: 77 miles
Average speed: 12.8
Altitude gain: 4,000
Maximum speed: 40.4 mph

25 miles into his third day of riding, at Coffeeville, Mike came across a group of retirees out of Atlanta who are also riding the Underground Railroad Bike Trail, except with a support van and a much more flexible time schedule. Many of the members in the group had previously taken many long-distance bike rides throughout the nation and even in other countries.

Rain and traffic

2009-05-13T14:22:00.010-05:00

Tuesday, May 12
Miles Traveled: 70 miles
Average speed: 12.2 mph
Altitude Gain: 3,200 feet
Maximum Speed: 41 mph

Tuesday, May 12, Mike was on the road by 8:20 a.m. riding from Little River to Jackson, Ala.

Two days in and Mike is continuing to rely on the kindness of strangers to find a place to bed down for the night. He contacted the Jackson Church of Christ and asked an elder of the church if he could sleep in the auditorium or fellowship hall. That didn't go down too well, but the elder did offer to put him up in an "economy" motel. So Mike succeeded in finding an actual free bed for the second night in a row. Much as the escaped slaves probably did, he shared his bedroom with several bugs, he said.

Mike took with him just three sets of clothes: two for riding and one for "walking around" at night. So whenever he gets a chance he will wash or rinse out his clothes. He also has an emergency food pack for when he can't find a place to eat. In that case he'll munch on tuna, crackers and granola bars. He's hoping he can avoid having to resort to that as long as possible. On Tuesday he found a nice cafe across the street from his motel.

Mike got ahead of his schedule on Monday, but lost ground on Tuesday when it rained all morning long. He spent about an hour on a kind woman's front porch (pictured below) waiting out a lightning storm. He also ran into heavier traffic, a thorn in the side of cyclists.

In the spirit of the Underground Railroad and crossing diversity lines, Mike is working hard to meet lots of people on his trip. So far it seems to be working. If you would like to support Mike in his efforts to promote diversity, you can make a donation to Mike Smith's Underground Railroad Bike Tour Diversity Scholarship Fund at Lipscomb University, by clicking here.

Triva

2009-05-13T07:26:00.000-05:00

Biking senerio: Pulp wood truck A is approaching from ahead, pulp wood truck B is approaching from behind, do you A) Hold your ground B) Scream C) Wet your pants or D) Ride on the rumble stripes? Correct answer is D, while B and C can be added they will not help the situation.

Roughing it... really?

2009-05-12T15:03:00.007-05:00

Monday, May 11
Miles Traveled: 60 miles
Average Speed: 12.2 mph
Altitude Gain: 2,400
Maximum Speed: 38 mph

Mike had it easy on his first night on the road. He was around 25 miles beyond his goal for the first day, coming up on Little River, when he passed a large house with a pond and a covered gazebo. As rain was visible on the horizon, he stopped and asked the owner if he could sleep in the gazebo. In true Underground Railroad hospitable style, the owner offered Mike the use of the hunting cabin out back, which houses up to 24 people. So Mike spent his first night washing clothes in the clothes washer and eating frozen pizza. Not quite as rough as the escaped slaves had it, but certainly in the same spirit!

The situation brought to his mind, I Peter 4:9, "Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." He was certainly happy to be the recipient of such hospitality after 60-plus miles on a bike. "I'm happy to provide others with the opportunity to be Biblical," he chuckled.

Don't forget, if you would like to donate to Mike Smith's Underground Railroad Bike Tour Scholarship Fund, click here.

Pre-Trip in Mobile

2009-05-11T17:36:00.011-05:00

Mike was having an adventure on his trip before he even got on his bike. On Sunday May 10, Mike rode down to Mobile with a high school buddy, Jeffrey Jones (pictured above), who had arranged a couple of places for Mike to speak about his trip and fund-raising goals. Mike spoke to members of the University Church of Christ in Mobile, and on Monday morning he visited two classes of eighth-graders at Mobile County Training School.

The history of Mobile County Training School began as far back as 1880. It was the oldest county training school in Alabama. For many years it was a high school composed of grades 7-12. A 1970-71 school term reorganization transformed the school from a high school to a middle school. The kids were impressed with Mike's bike and wanted to know all about where he would eat, sleep and fix his bike on the trip.

Mike rose at 6 a.m. on Monday, May 11, to have breakfast with a few friends (Waffles!) and then headed to downtown Mobile, to the waterfront, to begin his 2,028-mile journey at the site of Mobile's former slave market, where slaves were brought into the U.S. until August 1959.

If you would like to make a donation to Mike's Underground Railroad Bike Tour Diversity Scholarship Fund at Lipscomb University click here.

Headed toward Mobile

2009-05-10T10:11:00.001-05:00

Nathan McCarty is giving me a ride to Mongomery where I will meet a high school friend (Jeffery Jones) who will get me to Mobile.
Weather is looking good with only 30% chance of scatterd showers tomorrow.
I want to thank (in advance) Janel Shoun who will be helping me keep the blog current during the trip.

Check me out on TV!

2009-05-06T08:14:00.004-05:00

Check out the news story Fox 17 news did on my upcoming trip. Don't forget to give a donation to benefit diversity scholarships at Lipscomb University by going to http://biketour.lipscomb.edu and clicking on "Give Online."

http://www.fox17.com/newsroom/top_stories/wztv_vid_5695.shtml

Final week before the ride

2009-05-03T22:54:00.003-05:00

Here I am with Stewart just before the beginning of the 3S3M ride. Turned out to be quite the rainy day. Great practice for what I'm sure I will be doing again over the next few days, riding in the rain. Here I was able to shorten my planned route of 100 miles down to a mere 62, options are wonderful. Die hard Matt Oliver did the 100 despite the rain, way to go Matt! Show up the old guys.
Time to start making decisions about what to pack. I've got a ride to Mobile, leaving Nashville, Sunday May 10 to begin pedaling from Mobile the next day.

Less than 2 weeks...

2009-04-29T01:11:00.011-05:00

10 days from now I will be on my way. Lot to do before I leave Nashville. I'll be busy the next few days facilitating 400 residents making a mass exodus from High Rise to various summer destinations. First they have finals to get through. Lipscomb hosted my official "send off" today. Since I will begin my ride in Mobile, it's kind of hard to have a proper send off from Nashville, however it was very nicely done.

Here's a picture from the "Square Fair" hosted by our Multi-Cultural Department last week.

And here's a couple of pictures from my time with the Lipscomb Elementary 1st Graders last week.

Just 3 more weeks

2009-04-21T15:44:00.006-05:00

Had a great 80 mile ride this week with the Harpeth Bike Club. It was full of challenging climbs as it was preparing the group for the upcoming 3S3M ride. This week also provided a great opportunity to promote the ride by talking to the Lipscomb 1st graders about bike safety.
Several people have asked about the route. Here is a copy of 1 of 68 sections of a map I will be using which is published by Adventure Cycling.

4 Weeks away

2009-04-12T20:44:00.003-05:00

An okay week of biking, 175 miles. Kerwin E. and I rode 70 miles Saturday, mostly on the Natchez Trace. Early in the week we had a few bad weather days. As of now I am choosing not to ride on bad days but during the tour I will have to get use to bad weather.

5 weeks and counting...

2009-04-05T23:29:00.002-05:00

A good week of training with about 200 miles on the road. I rode every day with a minimum of 25 miles per day. Yesterday I was reminded that this can be a dangerous activity. Mark, my riding buddy, went down in a pace line with one other person and both were injured pretty bad. Mark has a broken collar bone.

Today I rode with Andrew and Emily Harris. Andrew's first ride of more than 5 miles and he put in 25. Great job Andrew! Here's their picture riding through the Richland Creek Greenway.

Green Expo at Allen Arena

2009-04-05T23:23:00.002-05:00

The booth we had at the Green Expo was a great success. Thanks to everyone who came by and showed interest in helping support diversity scholarships here at Lipscomb. Thanks also to all those who volunteered to work at the booth. Special thanks to Janel for putting it all together:)

UGRR Jersey

2009-04-01T14:03:00.002-05:00

My new Underground Railroad jersey is in. I am ordering a Lipscomb jersey, but it will not be in until the last couple of weeks of the trip. In the meantime if you see this jersey out on the Nashville streets it will be me.

6 Weeks Untill...

2009-03-29T21:55:00.005-05:00

I had hoped to get 200+ miles this week but ended up with only 140. I'll blame weather, work and lack of mojo. In addition to the tour itself I am preparing to ride the 3 State/3 Mountain Century ride in Chattanooga this May 2, the weekend before I head out for the tour. I hope to get several 30 mile days in during April with a once per week long ride getting up in the 80's by late April.

Here's the topo of the 3 ST/3 Mt ride:

Spring Break

2009-03-22T12:05:00.003-05:00

Spring break offered a great week of training. As my wife and I traveled through AL and GA to visit family I would leave a couple hours early and ride toward our destination and she would pick me up about 40 miles down the road. Great way to ride, spend time with my wife, and visit family. I got about 200 miles of riding in.

Training, Sat Mar 7

2009-03-08T22:48:00.008-05:00

Today I took 3 different groups of students for 15 miles each. Beautiful weather and great rides through Radnor Lake, Vanderbilt and down town Nashville.

Training

2009-03-06T09:56:00.004-06:00

Kerwin Everson and I rode 15 miles after our weekly Friday AM Bible study this morning. We rode from Lipscomb through down town, across the Woodland Street Bridge and back. We did a quick tour of Fort Negley.

About the Route

2009-03-05T22:59:00.003-06:00

The Underground Railroad Cycling route runs 2,028 miles from Mobile, Alabama, to Ontario, Canada. The path it follows is based partly on the old Negro spiritual “Follow the Drinking Gourd.” The “Drinking Gourd” is a colloquial name for the “Big Dipper,” the constellation that points to Polaris, the North Star. Many slaves followed that star north to freedom.

The Adventure Cycling Association chose to honor the bravery of that period of history by developing this bicycle tour. The route passes through Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. The ride is divided into five sections based on the Adventure Cycling Association mapping system. The ride is scheduled to last 37 days, and I plan to average 62.5 miles a day with 4 rest days built in to the schedule.

Ginny Sullivan, new routes coordinator for the Adventure Cycling Association, said: “This route is rich in history. Bikers on the route actually mimic the journey of those seeking freedom. The terrain is challenging at times, and many of the towns are small and haven’t changed much through the years. Riders travel past family homes and businesses. A family dog might run after you for a minute. People watch to see where you are going. After you cross the Ohio River, the journey changes quite a bit. It’s exciting to see the route used to highlight the need for minority scholarships.”

You can learn even more about the history of the route I will be riding at my Website, biketour.lipscomb.edu, where I have posted a video called “Biking Through Black History.”

If you are interested in giving, click here, or call Lipscomb University at 966-5720.

Equipment

2009-03-05T22:53:00.002-06:00

I will be riding a Trek 520 which I purchased last year. Today I received my new Arkel handlebar bag in the mail. I am excited about this bag and believe it will be a great asset to the trip. I also purchased a new Seedhouse SL1 tent which is very light weight.

March 5

2009-03-05T22:46:00.003-06:00

Today I rode my 25 mile through Percy Warner Park. Great place to train for the hills. 11 mile loop through the park has 1100 feet of elevation gain. My new Arkel handlebar bag and new Seedhouse SL1 tent came in the mail today. The Arkel bag is top of the line in bike touring and the tent is very light weight.

The Journey Begins

2009-03-04T22:48:00.007-06:00

Welcome to my Underground Railroad Bike Tour Blog. As I begin this blog I am 67 days from the beginning of my 2000+ mile ride from Mobile, AL to Owen Sound, Canada.

This blog is devoted to my journey over the next four months to train for and ride the length of the nation along the Adventure Cycling Association’s Underground Railroad Route. I have been long-distance biking for many years, but this will be the first trip I have planned for a fundraising purpose. The purpose is to raise money for minority scholarships at Lipscomb University, where I have worked for nine years.

My goal for this ride is to raise $30,000. (To give online, click here.) I am very thankful to Lipscomb University for giving me the opportunity to use my gifts and sense of adventure to undertake this trip and attempt to raise money for minority scholarships.

Me and Lipscomb students from Madagascar riding around Nashville. I'm the one in the orange shirt.

These additional scholarship funds will provide hope for minority students who want to attend Lipscomb University but who are unable to cover the financial costs alone. I have lived in the dorm for over nine years with nearly 400 students each semester. I have seen too many students have to move out of the dorm or quit school for a semester or two for financial reasons. It also troubles me to see students graduate with a massive amount of debt. While I would love to help all students receive help toward their educational expenses, I am particularly excited about this trip and tying the Underground Railroad to an opportunity to help students of different ethnic backgrounds.

I’ve been biking for over 13 years now. I bike with family, friends and have introduced several students to the joys of biking. Being able to tie a sport I love together with a chance to provide hope for others and open doors for educational opportunities is very rewarding to me.

I welcome all to follow this blog through the next couple of months of training and then on in to the ride itself as I will be posting from the road during the trip from May 11 through June 17.

If you are interested in giving, click here, or call Lipscomb University at 966-5720.

You can check out the schedule and routes at http://biketour.lipscomb.edu.

If you would like to know more about cross-country biking, check out the Adventure Cycling Association.