Curt's Southern Indiana Rides
Here are two good Southern Indiana rides:
1. Vevay-Rising Sun. Take US 42 East from Louisville to Bedford, Ky.
Go North on US 421 through Madison, In. to the intersection of 421 and SR 62 (about 4 miles North of the town)
Turn right (East) on SR 62 and follow to Dillsboro, In. where 62 ends at SR 262.
Turn right on 262 and follow to Rising Sun.
At intersection with SR 56 turn right (West) and follow the road along the Ohio river (56 leaves the river a couple miles West of Rising Sun and the river road is 156 until it rejoins 56 at Vevay) to Madison.
After exploring historic Madison, cross the river on 421 and return to Louisville via US 42.
This route is about 170 miles and will take less than 4 hours without a food stop (what's this business about no food stop? -- ed.).
Maps. The DeLorme Indiana atlas, pp. 52-53, and 59, show the Indiana roads on this ride. To see part of this route on a Mapquest map, click here to link to the Rising Sun portion.
2. Nashville-French Lick. Take I-65 North to Henryville, In.; exit onto SR 160 West to Salem.
Turn right (North) on SR 135 to Brownstown where 135 and US 50 run together for about 3 or 4 miles until 135 turns right (North)
Follow 135 until it intersects with SR 46 West of Nashville
Turn left (West) and follow 46 to its intersection with SR 446 just East of Bloomington
Turn left (South) on 446 and follow to SR 58
Turn right on 58 and follow to US 50 at Bedford, In.
Turn left on 50 and follow to Shoals and intersection with US 150
Turn left on 150 and follow to SR 56
Turn right on 56 into French Lick and intersection wit SR 145
Turn right (South) on 145 and follow to SR 62 (just South of I 64)
Turn left(East) on 62 and follow thru Corydon to I 64 at Edwardsville
Take I 64 back to Louisville.
This a 5 hour trip of about 220 miles. Lots of good eats (good Hafner quotient -- ed.); Story Inn in Story, In on 135 and The Mansion as you enter French Lick.
Maps. The DeLorme Indiana atlas at pp. 49-51 and 56-58 provides a good guide for this route. Click here for a link to the Nashville portion.
-- routes submitted by Curt Jacobs