Primary
Date: Tuesday July 31 and Wednesday August 1
Weather
Backup: Tuesday August 7 and Wednesday August 8
Ride
both days starts and ends at the Tunnel Hill Trailhead with a 9 AM arrival at
Tunnel Hill. This would put departure at about 6 from Hendersonville,
Nashville, Goodlettsville.
Day
one; ride
from Tunnel Hill to Harrisburg, with option to go on to Eldorado. Total mileage
for the day 50 or 32. Lunch in Harrisburg.
Overnight
we would drive to Marion, Illinois for lodging. Multiple options are available
right off I57. Looks like prices between $80 and $120. Cheaper available but
you get what you pay for. I tend to gravitate toward Hampton Inn (points) but
have also found Country inn and Suites to be good value.
Looks
like an interesting barbecue restaurant near one cluster of hotels, but
multiple other options.
Day
two; ride
from Tunnel Hill to Vienna with option to go on to Barkhausen Cache Nature
Center. Total mileage for the day 20 or 46. Lunch in Vienna.
Probably
want to start earlier on day two to allow for drive home. (Adjust start time to
minimize traffic in Nashville area on return. )
On both
days there is option to turn around at any point and backtrack if it is too hot
or just because you want too. Just be aware, services may only be available in
Harrisburg or Vienna.
Looking
for suggestions on who else to give heads up to.
Lastly,
here is the TrailLink website for this trail. tunnel-hill-state-trail
Tom Benim
