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Ride the Fault Line tour hitting Kennett Sunday
A Sunday morning drive down EE Highway is usually pretty quiet. That was not the case this Sunday when 300 bicyclists and their entourage pedaled their way to Kennett. Those taking part in the Ride the Fault Line bike tour began in New Madrid, with riders getting up early Sunday, heading to Kennett via Malden and Peach Orchard.
The seven day bike tour started and ended in New Madrid. Tour members travel through portions of four states and pedal approximately 60 miles per day. The bikers come from all over the United States, and a couple are from Germany and Ireland. Chances are the vast majority have never heard of Kennett, much less visited. Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Melissa Combs and a large team of volunteers are rolling out the red carpet in hopes that this will not be the last time the bike tour schedules a stop here.
"This is going to be a really interesting tourism activity, and it's going to give us an opportunity to really shine," she said at one planning meeting.
Once the tour members arrive, starting after 9 a.m., they will stay at the Delta Fairgrounds. Many will spend the night inside the American Legion Building. Others set up on the grounds or stay in local hotels.
One of the official rest stops was at Bean and Bean Cotton Company in Peach Orchard, according to Barry Bean of the company.
"We saw nearly 200 plus cyclists to be through between 8 am and 2 pm," Bean said. "The Holcomb Beta club was on hand selling BBQ bologna sandwiches and homemade cookies."
The tour left Kennett Monday morning after breakfast. They will head out of town from 5 to 8 a.m., going toward Piggott. The cyclists used side roads to get out of town to avoid the morning traffic.
(Some information provided by Steve Patton, Daily Dunklin Democrat)