Final morning and long trip home

Epilogue Day 8   May 10,  2014       Driving Nashville to Atlanta

At our final breakfast, Paul Wood is wearing some of his gifts. Bob Long is admiring those lips.

It was bittersweet saying goodbye to everyone at breakfast. Great group. The same five of us who had driven in the van from Atlanta to Natchez back on Day 0 headed out early to drive back to Atlanta. I stayed again with Helen and Peter Falco for the night, and we went out to a super Italian restaurant for dinner.

When I posted my blog on our final day, I did so before the evening really got underway and before our late fancy dinner.

Here's the happening scene down on Broadway, where I visited a few honky tonks and enjoyed the music. Before going into the bars, I went a couple blocks farther to see their new Music City Center that was still under construction when Janet and I were here in 2012.

It is so huge, taking up several city blocks.

One of the streets actually goes right under it.

I also got this photo of the "Batman" building.

This is the group playing at my first honky tonk, a place Janet and I had liked. At some point, Paul and I texted to learn where everyone was, and I decided to join the rest of the group at a honky tonk almost directly across the street.

Lonnie and Lorraine (the tandem team) are off to the left there as we watched in Standing Room Only. Pretty soon, someone said we should go try another bar, so we all strolled out and went to Tillie's:

Here are quite a few of us enjoying the honky tonk music at Tillie's: Left to right in front are Susan Long, Paul, Lorraine and Lonnie, then Nate is behind, and behind him I see Ken and Bob Long.

Eventually it was time to walk the mile or so to our restaurant. I'm sure glad I was in Paul's group or I would have gotten lost. Over hill, over dale, cross the tracks, and we finally got there. It was a fine evening in our own little room off to the rear of the restaurant.

Not a great photo, but I wanted at least one of our final celebratory dinner. The chef would describe choices to us in delicious detail, and we had several incredible courses. With full bellies, some of walked all the way back to the hotel, using up a few of those calories. What a fun evening it was from beginning to end.

And what a fun bike tour it was from beginning to end also. I hope to do another with Paul Wood soon.

On Sunday, I said goodbye to Helen and Peter Falco and drove home without stopping except once for gas. I was so glad to see Janet again.

Look what was waiting for me when I got home! Janet had gotten me a trophy celebrating my accomplishment. Here it is up close:

What a nice way to finish a big ride. Thank you Janet.