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Underground RR bike route proving popular with cyclists You may have noticed bicyclists pedaling along Highways 43, 69 and 84 through Clarke County in recent weeks or stopped, eating in local restaurants. Bicycling enthusiasts from all over the country are riding the Underground Railroad Route, a 2,000 mile trail that first opened last year from Mobile to Canada to commemorate the route that runaway slaves would take to freedom. The route is for serious bicyclists. The 2,000-mile ride takes 40 to 45 days to cover, assuming riders can cover about 50 miles a day. The route isn't a direct one. From Mobile, it crosses the bay and runs through north Baldwin and south Monroe counties. It continues westward on Highway 84 to Grove Hill which is usually an overnight stopping point with bicyclists either staying in local motels or camping at Hudson Park. From here it runs south on Highway 43 to Jackson and then up Highway 69 through Coffeeville (usually another overnight stopping point) and into Marengo County and on northward. An alternative cuts through on county roads from Highway 43 to 69 and bypasses Jackson. Bicyclists are complimentary of the beauty of our local scenery and of the friendliness of local citizens and motorists. Many have expressed surprise at the number of steep hills encountered so early in a region that they expected to be flat and coastal. This Underground Railroad Route is bringing bicycling tourists from all over to our region (we have talked to bicyclists from Ohio, Oregon, Massachusetts, Washington and even as far away as New Zealand and Japan). These riders are contributing, however modestly, to our economy by eating in local restaurants and staying in local motels. We welcome them to our area and hope they enjoy their ride through our county.
We wish them a safe journey and urge local motorists to be on the lookout for them.
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