Day 7 
Fulton, MS to Crump, TN
I had read about dogs around Fulton but could have NEVER imagined the number of them. Within two hours of leaving my campsite I had encountered over 30 dogs. About 10 of them were tied up with just enough rope to just barely reach the road, the others were all free. Luckily…two things…one – I am getting way less phased by dogs (this may later be a bad thing) and two – I am getting better at figuring out tactic with each dog and figure it out faster. Stop? Pedal? Talk to them? Get out as fast as possible? All are becoming increasing instinctual. The sheer volume of dogs was a bit overwhelming. At times I’d have 5 dogs chasing me and barking at me. Then they’d signal ahead to their posse who would literally be standing in the middle of the street like a gang eagerly waiting for me to step on their turf. I found myself approaching and saying “hey guys, I don’t want any trouble now, ok?” That didn’t always work but it was worth a shot. I will post an awesome video of one of these encounters with 5 dogs at once when I’m home. This was a friendly pack so I felt pretty ok videoing while riding. This is the norm in my day. 

Yesterday, being on my 15 second or so news slot (that most people probably used to go to the bathroom) seemed unreal and like a million years ago. However, today, twice people on porches yelled at me asking me if I was that girl from TV. Yeah. Seriously. How crazy. Seriously crazy. At this point I figured at least two people watch the news and even watch the little short filler stories in between the death and destruction stories. Then some fella was flagging me down, I was cruising but figured I ought to stop and see what he wanted. Being a bit full of myself I figured he wanted to ask if I was that famous girl too but no, he didn’t. Ha! He was set on giving me directions even if I didn’t want them. “Where are you headed?” Me: Burnsville and beyond. Him: Ok, well Burnsville is exactly 10 miles from the edge of my driveway over there to town, turn here, turn there…. And then he went on to giving more very precise directions and landmarks etc. I kept telling him I had a map but at some point I realized I should just let him help me. This is Billy Jones:

  
He spent 42 months in Germany serving and a total of 5 years in the military. His wife is army. He was born and raised here and afterwards, he came back. He grew up in a house about 10 blocks from here. He occasionally sees a touring cyclist come down the street usually in late April or May and he was wondering why I was so early. He didn’t recall ever seeing a lone woman cyclist though, in all his years of watching things go by out his front window. He was a sweet sweet man and though his photo doesn’t reflect it, when I asked if I could take his picture his whole face lit up with flattery. Billy Jones is a keeper. 

Rivers. 

  
I kept riding. I rode through Cairo but I’ll say…sure doesn’t look like the Cairo I’ve backpacked through. 

  
Then finally to Burnville to a grocery store right off the main drag. As I was refilling my water bottles in front of the store, Scotty came over. He said “Aren’t you the girl from the news last night?” By this time, I realized my failings in my other encounters and I quickly responded with ” YES! I need an affidavit. Can I video tape you saying that, people aren’t going to believe me and you’re the third person TODAY to ask me that!!!” He seemed a bit startled (I was a bit hyper about it all) but agreed to the video so for the record, I have proof that for a mere day, I was famous in the northeastern corner of Mississippi (famous by 3 people). Again, another video to post when I’m home. Here’s Scotty…and his Smart car. 

  
  
This fame was just getting to be too much for little old me so I decided to flee to the anonymity of Tennessee. So…remember that part about lacking balloons and confetti coming into Mississippi? Well, sheesh, there wasn’t even a sign coming into Tennessee. Simply a change in pavement. What a jip! I stopped, took a picture of the pavement. And had a celebratory piece of Kings Hawaiian Bread I had picked up from the grocery store in Burnsville. And then kept on trucking. 

  
  
I rolled through the Shiloh Military Park but it was getting late. Notice to other riders, the park apparently closes at dark and that’s the road to get to the highway so keep that in mind, although, honestly a bike could sneak by. I read lots of signs, took lots of pictures. Blah blah blah. 

  
  
  
  
I took a wrong turn somewhere and ended up off roading it. All good. No problem. (No idea what I did) 

  
Horses!

  
  
At almost 85 miles of riding I reached Crump, TN, my home for the night!