September 11th Cherokee to Montgomery

A very tiring 320 miles today and without too much to dwell on. Highlights for today were: 

1. Shouted at in a Gas Station, 'Eh you look like Bill Clint' to which I replied 'Yeh, I'm looking for Monica, you seen her?'  The black youth laughed a lot.

2. Asked for ID while buying a beer in a supermarket
Maybe its because they don't won't their ex president getting drunk, but more likely its because they are even greater rule followers than the Brits - even if it flies in the face of reality. The guy on the checkin of this motel also asked for further ID even after showing my passport. I have been following Desi's advice not to look like a criminal, I'm shaving and changing my clothes frequently (does it still count if they've been worn before?).

Started the day leaving the very pretty Smokie Mountains and the weather was cooler after the night rain. My tent was great, despite my first attempt at setting up. Though I had to pack it up still wet, which I never like doing. The weather was perfect for biking and the roads matched the weather, well surfaced, quiet, twisty but not too much. For the first time I thought this is the life. After leaving the smokies and into Georgia it became hotter and I turned onto the highway for the remaining 250 miles. Georgia looked more prosperous than North Carolina, but that was only the view from the road - I didn't really see that much off the main highway. Entering into Alabama it began to rain shower, it felt sublime, the temperatures again had been in the high 30's. Even with ordinary trousers and a thin t-shirt it still felt most pleasant. The heat here is really humid, so one sweats at the merest of exertions. So sticking to Desi's maxim I do have a ritual of washing out my clothes every night.
Montgomery is most famous for the Bus boycott in the 1960's which kicked off the Civil Rights movement led by Martin Luther King. Rosa Parks an African American women refused to give up her seat to a white man and she was arrested and fined. I have read about this before and have often wondered what happened to the white man, did he know he started something big and is he voting for Trump and is he aware of his place in history.
Montgomery was also for a short time the Capital of the Confederate states. 

I'm staying on the outskirts with every conceivable outlet store lined along it and Malls everywhere. I know it is convenient but it  is really really ugly. In my late night shop I attempted to buy bread, cheese and fruit in the only store open on a Sunday, the Family Dollar; there was no fruit, horrible synthetic sliced cheese and plastic bread. I opted for crackers, philidelpia and a beer. Not the best of suppers but it filled a hole. This morning I'm going to stock up in downtown Montgomery and hopefully find a greengrocer and baker.

Another long day planned for today as I do really want to get out of America, it is so homogenised it has little character. I also want to stop somewhere for a few days to give me and the bike a rest. Although I'm pleased by the dirt accumulated on the bike, makes me feel like a real traveller.
Final thought for the day - look up Donald Trump on wikipedia - I know we all believe he's dangerous and a bigot but he's also a crook. If you were American and read this there is no way you could vote for him. However I do believe he will get in. Not to frighten you all too much but he is also of German origin!!! Lets make America Great Again......... ring any bells with that other infamous German.

Views from my motel room, note the bike and the temperature at 8am in the morning (look at the sign)
PS I've travelled into the mid west time zone so I am now 5 hrs behind you - some of you will be finishing work as I start my day!!!