Congratulations on compleating your first tour!

I have just returned from my first tour. It was 6 days long and covered almost 400 miles. Some things I learned?
1. The preperation and trip where well worth it, I had a blast!

2. The Armidillo has replaced the Opossum as the road kill of choice in Middle Tennessee!

3. Don't get hung up on speed! It is amazing how many miles you can pile up at 11-12 mph.

4. Very few of the back country roads have the same name as is on the map! Don't be afraid to ask
for directions.

5. You can't tell anything about the road conditions from a map!

6. Take the time to talk to anyone who shows intrest.

7. It's a strange feeling, coming home when you are hours away, and in a car it would be mins.

I had a wonderfull time, and am already planning my next trip. I averaged 70+ miles a day, it just happened that way, not planed. I visited several of Tennessee's state parks on my tour and several family members that are scattered along the way. I spent a day and two nights with my Daughter's family and enjoyed time spent with them. I experenced things on my bike that I could have never experenced in a car. One of the neatest things I saw was a cave of bats next to a highway that I'm sure most motorist don't even know are there. The freedom of chosing a new route on a whim was exciting and fostered a feeling of adventure in me.

Things I would do different. Take more pictures. Stop more often. Jot a few notes at the end of a day.

I would encourage any one considering taking a tour to DO IT!