Nashville on the 5th of July

Key Points:

1. Bridge out between Helmsburg and Bean Blossom on Highway 45
2. New Fly-Over route option on MayMyRide.com

Three of us took an impromptu ride to Nashville on our official 4th of July work holiday. The ride was relatively uneventful. We took Lanam Ridge and then Owl Creek to Helmsburg Road into Nashville. Lanam Ridge Road is particularly rough and in bad need of resurfacing. After a brief stop at the Shell Station in Nashville we went went out Greasy Creek and over Bear Wallow to Gatesville Road, which is freshly paved, making up a bit for Lanam Ridge.

At the store in Bean Blossom we discovered that Highway 45 is closed for major bridge work between Bean Blossom and Helmsburg. We talked to some people to plot out a detour via Grandma Barnes Road. But then talking to some more local people we learned that no work was being done today and that we might be able to get through on foot. It was only a mile or two to the work site so we decided to chance it. It looked pretty bad. But we were able to get across on a wobbly gang plank. A couple on a motorcycle going the other direction abandoned any idea of getting across and we recommended Grandma Barnes to them.

Otherwise the ride was uneventful and we made it home in good shape before the day got really hot.

The other point I wanted to make was about the new Fly-Over option. Here's a link to the route we took
Nashville Route via Owl Creek and Bear Wallow If you follow that link, then click on the button "Watch Course Fly-By Video (beta)" you'll be treated to a video of approximately 13 minutes that has the effect of flying a helicopter along the route at 300 feet, say, using Google Satellite imagery. Pretty amazing, even if the photo montage is not exactly current. Naturally this wouldn't be recommended on a slow internet connection.