On Wednesday, July 16, 2014, we took a Day Ride. Our destination was the Cordell Hull State Park and Museum located just outside Byrdstown, TN.

We left our home in North Knoxville at 9:45am. It was sunny and quite cool with near record low temps. We both wore our light jackets and brought along extra gloves and an extra shirt.

Jeff kicks off our ride in this short video:

We rode north on Broadway, stopped to fill our tanks and then took Norris Freeway riding north to Norris Dam.

We stopped for a snack and to add a shirt. The morning was still cool! It felt like fall weather, not mid summer.

From Norris Dam we rode through Lake City (Rocky Top), then took 25 to Caryville. In Caryville we rode north on old 63 to 63 and into Huntsville. In Huntsville we took 456 north to Oneida where we took 297 to the Big South Fork.

We rode through the park (a beautiful ride), then took 154 to Jamestown where we stopped again to add another layer of clothes. From Jamestown we rode north on 127 through Pall Mall and then took 325.

325 wound us into downtown Byrdstown.

We stopped in for some great home cooking at the Dixie Cafe.

The food was great and the folks were very friendly. Next time you get to Byrdstown, be sure to eat at the Dixie Cafe!

After lunch we rode the few miles to the Cordell Hull Birthplace and Museum.

Cordell Hull was born October 2, 1871 in a log cabin in Pickett County, Tennessee. He received his law degree in 1891 and was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1893 to 1897. He served in the Spanish-American War, then returned to Gainesboro, TN to practice law. In 1903, he was appointed judge of the Fifth Judicial District. He was elected to Congress in 1907 and served there until 1931. In 1933, Hull was appointed Secretary of State by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He served from 1933 until 1944, making him the longest running Secretary of State. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1945 for his role in establishing the United Nations. He died on July 23, 1955.

The Cordell Hull Museum provides a fantastic glimpse into the political life of Secretary Hull.

After visiting the museum for awhile, we then proceeded down to view the Cordell Hull Farm.

To find out more information about the Cordell Hull Birthplace and Museum State Park, CLICK HERE.

After visiting the museum and farm, we got back on the bikes. We rode south on 111, planning on a quick stop at the Dale Hollow Lake Recreation Area.

But at the Recreation Area entrance, a road crew was pouring hot road tar.

We waited awhile, then followed the traffic flow away from the entrance. We decided we would visit the Dale Hollow Recreation Area another day.

We continued south on 111, riding through Monroe and then into Livingston.

After fueling, we took 84 into Monterey. In Monterey, we took 62 east and rode into Clarkrange where we stopped for a quick snack and a drink.

Jeff talks about our day so far in this video:

It was around 5:30pm and the sun had gone behind the clouds, so once again, we put our sweatshirts on under our jackets. We continued on 62 riding east until we stopped in Lancing, a small, quaint community just west of Wartburg.

After our quick stop in Lancing, we continued on 62 which took us through Wartburg and into Oliver Springs.

From Oliver Springs, we took 61 heading toward Clinton. First, we stopped at the Gibbs Ferry Park (just off Highway 61) for a short break.

We got back on the bikes, rode through Clinton and then back into Knoxville.

We got back home at 7:45pm and our total ride was 264 miles.

Jeff wraps up the day in this video:

You can see our entire list of Day Rides HERE.