DAY RIDE 2/18/2026
  
 

Time To Get Some Wind In My Ears

  
 
February 18, 2026
  
     
  The last two weeks have been a bit unkind as our power was out for twelve days due to the ice and snow storm. In additional, the company that did some electrical repairs to our house made a very critical error that resulted in some damaged items including our refrigerator. We had six different trees that fell across the Holler taking all power and communication lines. There is tons of cleanup left to do in the Holler though I have been working diligently on that project. But today is a rare day in February that is supposed to have some very reasonable temperatures compared to what we have experienced in the last two weeks. So Andy picks a place for breakfast and I get us a route to run. Redbird gets the honors this morning.  
 
  The extensive damage from the ice storm is very apparent on the Trace as they have cleared to roadway but not the debris on the sides.  
   
  I get off the Leipers Fork exit on the Trace and head down Leipers Fork Road. I have always admired this plantation house built in 1850 but I have not been able to find any history about it. You can see the backside of it very plainly from the Trace.  
   
  We are meeting at the Davis General Store, in business since 1928. They have some breakfast options so we plan on checking them out.
   
  There's a nice old restored Farmall sitting beside the building. I never cared much for those tricycle style tractors as they can get up in the air pretty easy under a heavy load or up a steep hill.  
 
  When I was a teenager I worked in a similar grocery store down in Lewisburg where I grew up. It happened to be named Davis Grocery also and had a setup that closely resembled this one.  
   
 

While I am waiting on Andy (who gets caught in a horrific traffic jam trying to get to my side of town), I strike up a conversation with the feller that operates the store. He doesn't own it, but he grew up in the area and his parents and grandparents shopped here when it was a 'full function' store that carried livestock feed. I tell him -

"What you need is a teenager to oil mop these floors to keep them in good shape. That was one of my jobs when I worked in the store down in Lewisburg."

He relates to me that some folks from California bought the place and the first thing they did was sand and refinish the floor. Now due to foot traffic all that is fading pretty badly. The beauty of the old fashioned oil mopping was that it kept the floor a consistent color and protected the wood. But if you weren't from around here, you would not know that bit of information.

Andy gets there, lets me know what happened and we order up some breakfast. I get my usual 'traveling' choice - an sausage and cheese omelet. It is mighty fine - one of the best that I have had.
 
  After Andy and I solve all the world's problems over the great grub, we head out on the route I cobbled together.
 
  We'll be on a few roads that I know and bunch of them that I do not know but look really interesting. There's a light drizzle coming down but not enough to be a big deal.
 
  There a plenty of curves and for the most part the pavement is in pretty good condition.
   
  One of the roads I picked is highway 438 which runs through Coble. It is one of my favorite roads in the area as it takes you through some lovely farms and such, the pavement is good and the curves even better.  
   
  It's just a peaceful day and what I really need to put some of the ugliness of the past two weeks behind me.  
   
  We occasionally encounter road crews still cleaning up the mess from the storm but it usually does not take us long get past them.  
   
  It starts to get a little late, so I decide we'll cut the route short and just head back in highway 100 through Centerville. Neither Andy or me like to be out riding when the sun goes down. He's about ready for fuel, so this stop works real well.  
   
  From here we will cross right under I840 which he can take to get back to his place and avoid the Nashville traffic madness. Once again I have benefited from some mighty fine food, mighty fine roads and mighty fine company. He splits off at I840 and I wander on in via Highway 100 with a little cross connect to US 70 where the Holler is located. It's been another great day to be out and about.  
     
     
   
 
THE END