The Rock Island area is very interesting both geographically and historically. The longer ride enters the watersheds of the Caney, Rocky, and Calfkiller rivers, climbs to the Plateau on Bone Cave Mountain via new pavement, and contends with continuous rollers found in this karst region. We will ride on the Old Kentucky Road which connected Lexington, Kentucky with Huntsville, Alabama and was used by thousands of settlers entering this area along with traders driving their hogs to market. Rock Island was the site of a large Indian battle in the early 1800s. We will ride past tent graves unique to this area in mile 14. We will ride along the same road used by Bragg's Artillery Corps during his 1862 invasion of Kentucky as we enter Cummingsville. As we round Milksick Mountain on mile 25, a Mennonite store is available to supply our hydration and nutritional needs. You should stop and try their whoopee pies. A conventional store is also located at mile 30. Giant sloths were known to roam the neighborhood. Their remains were found in Bone Cave giving the community its name. While it has been some time since sloths have been seen, dogs have taken their place. Bring your dog strategy with you and be prepared to utilize it.
The shorter ride initially heads north along the Old Kentucky Road then turns back south on the Quebeck Road past the Pisgah Church. There is classic karst landscape on this route into Quebeck. A short distance on Old 70 leads to Buffalo Road and a crossing of the Caney Fork on East Cole Road. After crossing the river a turn to the west on the Sparkmantown-Cummingsville Road heads to Bone Cave. The route turns south via Laurel Creek to HWY 30. A turn there to the west leads to a store at the intersection of HWY 30 and the Bone Cave Road. This store at mile 21 is a must stop to see the photograph there of the largest rattlesnake I ever saw. The return is to the north on Bone Cave Road. Navigation is the challenge on this route. A GPS will help. Roads have varying names and the road signs are not all straight if they exist at all. I hope you enjoy this 30 mile ride.