Well it's time to ride some more Tennessee County seats. I love to ride my motorcycle, throw in great scenery, it simply becomes extraordinary. One of the most underestimate places in the country, middle eastern Tennessee, where the Cumberland River flows out of the Plateau. The hills and river create a outstanding backdrop for some of the best riding on the planet.
The world feels new again as we head out of Clarksville after a early morning spring rain. . We make our way east and get to Gallatin on Highway 25 a great motorcycle road. We have lunch in the Sumner County square at across from the Courthouse. It was a nice surprise to find a genuine Cajun restaurant called Crescent City Po Boys. This place is worth a trip all by itself. After some gumbo and a Oyster Po Boy it was time to ride.
We make our way to Hartsville then turn towards Lafayette riding north on Highway 10. This road is simply a religious experience. We take big fast sweeping turns through rounded hills as we make our way to our destination. Once in Lafayette we take Highway 52 to our evening destination of Red Boiling Springs.
Our first stop is the Springs is Cyclemos Motorcycle Museum and Restoration Center. This place was awesome, it was great to look at the old Harleys. The real treat was watching a restoration in progress. The shop is part of the museum. It was fun talking to the restorers and getting to ask questions about the old bikes. While we were there they were working on a 32 flat head with a suicide shift, an old Chicago police bike.
After touring the museum we go right next door to our Bed and Breakfast The Armour's Hotel a hotel from days long past. When Red Boiling Spring was a vacation mecca for Nashville due to the soothing waters of the natural springs. Red Boiling Red Springs had everything; over 22 hotels, a gambling hall, even a house of ill repute called nickel hill. The hotel had incredible rooms and common areas. We ate both dinner and breakfest at the hotel and it was in very good restaurant quality food served family style, The great part about a bed and breakfast are the people that you meet. From the maintenance man working on the Hotel to the city planner from Indianapolis.
After checking in we take a short ride to Celina TN to pick up another county for the HOG chapters presidents challenge. On the way back we come across Doyle's Iris Patch. Imagine a 2 acer of flowers. Doyle's retirement project is something else.
Well back to the Hotel for the night. Then after breakfast we ride to three more county seats; Gainsboro, Carthage, and Lebanon. Between Gainsboro, and Carthage we ride on Highway 85 which is Tennessee's version of tail of the dragon. After Lebanon we take Highway 109 back to Gatlin and rejoin Highway 25 for the trip home. It turned out to be a fantastic trip notching 6 more counties in our quest to ride all of Tennessee. With middle eastern Tennessee exposed we just hope the secret doesn't get out there to much.