Today was a wonderful day. I woke up at 05:30, and started getting ready for my departure. I did some computer stuff, email and printing and backing up of files. I packed all my stuff and left a bag of stuff for Steve to send home with his parents or take home when he goes at Christmas. I left the big gloves (it's not gonna be that cold, plus I won't be skiing or snowboarding too much in the Caribbean), the handlebar bag for my bike (I don't need to carry any more stuff) and some other things. I drank a milkshake and then had my ceremonial mate (Argentinean tea). I did the stuff Steve asked me to do, close the windows, take out the trash do the dishes (in the machine), plus, I shaved (I did a bad job last night). I got a little bout of diarrhea (premonition of Central America), probably just the mate. Then, I got my bike setup and left. I went down Hidden Springs Drive to Peacher�s Mill, which I took to its end. I went left and then at the bottom of a hill I turned right and took that road (41A Bypass - I think) to 48s/13S I swear it's impossible to get directions on how to get out of Clarksville, Tennessee. You have to do it step-by-step and ask a lot of people. It�s like a collective effort, but I got out and took 48S pretty much non-stop except for an occassional stretch, orientation , eat-a-banana-break. I reached my destination pretty early 14:00. Dickson is like Clarksville it�s spread out so I had to ride 20 miles to get to the campground I was going to after I got into the city itself. I wonder if most cities in Tennessee are like this�? Well as I was cruising down 48S in downtown Dickson I noticed a store that sold knives. I thought maybe I could get mace there for them dogs that keep chasing me. I went in and asked for it� then the lady behind the counter asked if I had been having dog problems, because she noticed my bike. I told her yeah, that since Kentucky I had been chased all the time, I told her about my trip. Her and her friend were impressed. You go David impressing fat old ladies around the world! But they were mad nice, the lady said take the mace (�on the house�) that was really cool, it made me feel good, like that there were some nice people left. Someone else gave me a thing for my backpack the other day when I left Louisville (the Hydrapak valve) that�s cool too. I wanted a knife too, but I paid for that. It is a Smith & Wesson folding knife with a rubber handle (cause my hands are always sweaty from biking). It is nice, not too strong, but strong enough, it was only $11. As I was leaving I asked how far I was from the campground (just to verify) and good thing I went in that store because the road I was on was mismarked and was about to dead end. So, they saved me the pain and frustration of getting lost, by telling me a way to get back on track. Then as I got to the campground I saw a convenience store and the sign said, campground and canoe info so I went in. I asked and there was a lady that said there was Tan Bark Campground right there at the intersection of Rt. 48 and Rt. 40 or there was another one about 7 miles farther down Rt. 48. I bought some candy bar delight ice cream and left, when I got to Tan Bark I realized it was quite early and I wanted to bike more, plus the lady said the campground was next to a river, which beats an Interstate (Rt. 40) anyday. Plus it would be 7 less miles tommorrow. Besides, it was only like 15:00. I road like 40 minutes and got to the turn for this campground. I think its Pine River Campground on Hollow Cave Drive, it�s 7 miles south on Rt. 48 from the intersection of Rt. 40 and Rt. 48. I turned right to get in and it was like a mile or two down the road. I was pissed because I hate getting off my route just to camp, but I got there and stopped. The first thing I saw was a dog coming at me, damn dogs. They�re everywhere, he wasn�t barking (the worst kind) just too energetic so I let him smell me then I went away to find a site. All there was in the campground was a green hippy van and two abandoned looking trailer homes/RVs. Then the dog�s owner came out. She reminds me of Reds, social, but wackoo. She is a hippie or so she said, but looks just like a bum (nothing against the self-respecting bums I�ve met and am, just against the disgusting derelicts that are just too out there for help) but hell, I�d live here too if I were her, rather than on the streets of a slummy big city. I called the owner of the campground on a phone they have there for that purpose. It was the lady form the store. She came over in a red truck, I paid my $12 and borrowed a casserole from her to reheat the pasta I cooked this morning at Steve�s house. I would�ve left it, but I need pasta and he�s on a no-carb diet anyway. I swear, this campground rocks. It�s like one of the ones from the Lake District in Argentina, but it�s all mine tonight (well, I am sharing it with the psycho green van lady and her hyperactive dog, but they�re on the otherside, I�m on the beach next to the river (little one) Piney River, I think. I took a few pictures it�s great there�s the beach, a river and a cliff, it�s beautiful and there�s so much good firewood, I have plenty of heat and light. I think the lady is playing Ozzy� Ironman� she�s great� that�s a trip� I am fishing, well, I put my pole together and cast it a few times. I�m leaving it out overnight maybe I�ll catch something. Today was quite hilly I think that Natchez-Trace is too, I�ll see. Now that I have nobody to meet I�ll do less daily mileage, without extended stays, 50-70 miles max., one night stays till Centroamerica or a beautiful warm beach. I�m happy, but then again I have been all month. I miss Emese a lot. I guess I done fell in love� DOEEEEEE! I want to call grandma for her b-day, see if I can. I�m gonna shower, do some excercises and go to bizzed. Goodnight, tommorrow I get to the Trace.