McBRAAM Stage 25: Prattville, AL to Phenix City, AL..."Back roads found along with a preponderance of War Eagle."

2,492.2 miles ridden.
91,087 feet climbed.

Today was the most scenic day yet since we crossed the Mississippi. Our route took us along mostly back roads of eastern Alabama. About halfway, we went through historic Tuskegee. Before and after, we rolled through some beautifully wooded countryside that was short on population and plenteous on steep rolling hills. Everything is still very green, apparently Alabama has not yet received the memo that it's Fall. The fun thing about the country back roads is that you never know what you'll see, what kind of pavement you'll ride on, or what kind of terrain is in store. The variety and surprise keeps things interesting.

Until today, we were clearly in Crimson Tide land as virtually everyone who cares about such things as college sports (and in the Southeast, we're really only talking about football) was sporting their crimson colors and elephant logos. I expected that since, yeah, there is a football team from around here that I hear is doing OK these days, but what I didn't expect was the sudden and total change as we went east of I-65. Today, all we saw were the War Eagle and AU flags and banners of the Auburn Tigers. And this also got me pondering how this university can have two mascots. Are they a War Eagle, or a Tiger? Pick one, but ditch the split personality. Personally, I'd go with War eagle as it's unique. There's two other Tigers (MO, and LSU) in this conference, and a Wildcat (KY) too. Their closest relative would be the Gamecocks (USCe), but surely an airborne fowl is superior to one that can't even fly.

But I digress...

Re-ranking the cycling friendliness of the 8 states to date:

1. Arizona
2. New Mexico
3. California
4. Alabama
5. Arkansas
6. Texas
7. Oklahoma
8. Mississippi

https://www.strava.com/activities/1245330395
https://www.relive.cc/view/1245330395

1 monstrous calzone eaten, mostly.
1 pint of butter pecan ice cream eaten by SAGMan (a dinner time confession).
2 C-17s in a flyover.

Hotel: Quality Inn, 4 of 5 stars (very nicely appointed and good breakfast).
Restaurant: Giovanna's Pizzeria, 5 of 5 stars (everything homemade in real time).

The calzone.