Day Three: Grayson to Sandy Hook to West Liberty (Carter, Elliott, and Morgan Counties)

November 2, 2025

It was chilly and drizzling when I rode out this morning. Before leaving, I talked to the woman at the hotel desk who'd checked me in yesterday. She was the latest in a very long line of people on these bike tours who have asked me if I was afraid to be traveling by myself. "What if someone knocked you in the head?" I just laughed.

I told her that a bigger concern in this part of the country was a dog running into my bike and causing me to crash. As I described my route yesterday, and one of the dog encounters, she said "I live on Everman Creek Road! What did the dog look like? Maybe it was mine!"

I rode downtown, located the court house, took a picture, then rode a few blocks before exiting on a country road.

Almost immediately, four barking dogs ran out of a yard. The fastest one reached the road quickly, and I sprayed it in the face when it was within a foot of my rear wheel. It immediately retreated and vigorously rubbed its face in the grass while the other dogs looked on. Hopefully it learned a valuable lesson.

The scenery was pleasant, despite the light rain. Traffic was minimal on this Sunday morning. There were many churches on the route.

I stopped at country store in Willard (no population listed). Three old men were standing around inside. One of them, very much a blowhard, was doing all the talking, complaining, absurdly, about some new signs along the road warning drivers to watch for children playing. It was hard to determine, given his extremely thick accent, exactly what his objection to this signage was. Presumably he was the sort of grumpy old man who's against all newfangled progressive ideas.

I selected a few snacks, paid for them, and asked the friendly woman behind the counter if there was a restroom. "Oh honey, I'm sorry, but it don't work when it rains." I rode a short distance to a Family Dollar store instead to take care of that business.

Back on the road, it continued to drizzle, I turned onto an even quieter road, KY-486.

A dog came out onto the road, got close to my front wheel, and I sprayed it, in the process getting a small amount of the pepper spray on my right mitten. A few minutes later I learned, when I wiped sweat off my face with the mitten, that the pepper spray does, in face, sting a little.

I arrived at a crossroads and stopped at this store, covered in interesting junk:

I spent some time looking around and taking photos. I could not determine if the store was actually open, but assumed it wasn't.

A woman pulled up in a truck. I'd parked my bike in front of one of the many "No parking" signs on the store, and hurriedly moved it away when I saw her.

I asked if the store was open. "No, he ain't up yet. I'm bringing him something to eat." I was curious who "him" was, but I decided not to inquire further, and rode off in the light rain.

KY-486 was a really nice road. There was a long, flat section, then a steep hill, the climbing of which warmed me up in the chilly rain.

Combination pig operation and tanning salon.

I arrived in Sandy Hook, population 675, the Elliott county seat.

Sandy Hook had a small, attractive little downtown at the top of a pretty steep hill.

The drizzle was starting to slack off as I left Sandy Hook, and the sun was trying to come out.

The rain eventually stopped for good, for the last couple of hours of the ride, as I rode toward West Liberty and Morgan County.

I rode a few miles on a KY-172, a busier highway with a decent shoulder, then exited onto quiet "Old 172", for one last big climb of the day. By the time I reached the top, I was soaked with sweat.

It was a quick descent to West Liberty, population 3,215, the Morgan county seat. I stopped briefly on the way down to photograph these friendly dogs who wisely lay in the warm sun in their yard instead of running into the road to chase me:

I found the Morgan County courthouse after some brief confusion. As I was photographing it, Joy pulled up in her minivan, but, absorbed as I was in taking the picture, I didn't recognize her initially, and (I was informed) angrily scowled in her direction, thinking she was a random motorist interfering with my shot. Uh oh! :)

Joy had brought along her little "changing / shower tent", in which I cleaned up and changed clothes in the courthouse parking lot, then we started the four hour drive back home.

Seven states down, only 113 to go!

While I was riding the last two days, Joy was finishing up her hike of the Sheltowee Trace. Here she is at the end of the trail.

Heart

Comment

Link

Today's ride: 56 miles (90 km)
Total: 188 miles (303 km)

Rate this entry's writing	Heart	10
Comment on this entry	Comment	0