A long old day on the road.Today was all about making distance west - towards Nashville where we need to be on Tuesday evening. Careful route planning bit the dust yesterday - but a night in a recommended log cabin in the mountains definitely made it worthwhile. The cost was an extra 60 miles today on an already long programmed route. We clocked up 290 miles in the day - which for the non-motorcyclists amongst you means (a) a lot of bugs on the windshield and in your teeth (b) a big test of matrimonial harmony and (c) a seriously numb rear end. But we arrived safely in Jonesborough - the oldest town in Tennessee. In fact it is older than Tennessee itself - which is interesting - apparently. The time on the road meant that we only met a small number of noteworthy people today - but we did see a lot of road signs. Over the course of the trip so far local place names have brought friends and family to mind . We've passed through; Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight (which wan't an island), Southampton (which wasn't full of scummers), Suffolk (which wan't full of lawnmowers), Chesterfield (does anybody actually live in Chesterfield?!). Suffolk, Dubllin etc etc. We even went along the road to Damascus - and unlike St Paul actually got to Damascus. And in honour of old friends we have ended up in Jones-borough. For any American readers - come on guys can't you think up some place names of your own? Oh yes, come to think of it you have, unbelievably we did pass a place called "Fries." But nowhere called "Big Mac and." Perhaps tomorrow. Again the bed is calling loudly. Nashville here we come.

The problem with American roads is that they are so crowded!

Sunset in the mountains - almost as spectacular as a sunset at sea!