#330daysofbiking Days 101 & 102: 1879 – nothing happened

... and in 1875, Hugh Martin explodes (?!) ~ sidewalk timeline, Dayton, TN

It has been a rather crazy couple of days — at least more eventful than 1879, in any case.

I know this is a biking blog, and I really do try to keep these posts about biking stuff … so forgive me if I lose the thread a bit with this one.  There are bikes involved, I promise, but this is going to end up being a picture story.  Bike stuff and non-bike stuff, I will forewarn you. (Hey – I am not making anyone read this, so I don’t want to hear any complaining… 😉 ).

Day 101 – Began the day with some bike commuting; a swim, some errands, and a stop at the bookstore for a new NYT crossword book (my brain needs more exercise than my arms and legs, trust me) and a glass of pomegranate green tea.  Ahhh…

bike, tea, brain exercise

In the evening, we headed to Chattanooga ….

Chattanooga at night - Market Street

… because the boys’ band, The Night Shines, was playing at the Mosaic.  Best show ever for them 🙂

Boaz (vocals), Grant (bass)

The Mosaic was a pretty cool place – music, original art, and … a bike.

(digitally manipulated) bike inside the Mosaic

Day 102.  Headed to nearby Dayton, TN, home of one of the most infamous publicity stunts/evolution-creation circuses of the 20th century – the Scopes “Monkey” Trial.  (I write this, hanging my head in, well … embarrassment). Also the site of the above sidewalk timeline (lol), evidence that plenty of goofy stuff apparently has happened – and not happened – in Dayton.

Each year on the anniversary of the trial, Bryan College and people of Dayton put on a big re-enactment of the whole show-down – which just happened to be taking place this weekend.  Gah!  Our only reason for going to Dayton today was for a stop at their local music shop – Grant was looking to buy a new bass guitar, and had found one here.   The music store sits directly across the street from the courthouse where the whole Monkey Trial anniversary party was happening.  It was, er, … interesting.

The Rhea County Courthouse - home of the Scopes "Monkey" Trial

high wheeler inside the music store - apparently the owner had been riding it on the street for the re-enactment festivities

Grant got his guitar and we headed back home – The Band had another show tonight in Cleveland, and Mark and I were heading over to one of the local vineyards for some blueberry gathering.   It’s been a bumper crop this year; I’ve never seen the bushes so full.  We picked about 13 pounds of delicious berries; just perfect for my favorite No-Bake Blueberry Pie (archives).

bountiful blueberries

a little post-berry-picking wine tasting at the vineyard

Came home (again), tired, but Mark and I decided to head out on the bikes for a dinner date … pizza and salad at our favorite little local spot.  Nice way to end the day, riding home just as darkness settled – lights and plenty of Blinkies.

The end.

(For now, anyway… 😉 )

bicycle pizza date - Dovino's