Day 11, Surf City toWilmington

Overall today was a dud of a day, just a write off really. I think my legs were a bit tired from my push yesterday so I lacked a little bit of the mustard I needed to really knock off the miles. Plus I stopped in at a TD Bank and opened up an American account PLUS I broke another spoke. I broke the spoke somewhere within my first twenty miles so I just limped into Wilmington over the final thirty miles.

Surprisingly the bike did alright with the broken spoke, held up nicely. Got it fixed at a local bike shop and bought a new front handlebar bag. My hope is that a bigger front bag can move some of the weight forward and off my rear tire. I'm tired of these spokes breaking and if this works it should make for smoother sailing. After that I just took the rest of the day off, my achilles was starting to get a little sore and my day had been wasted at the bank and getting the spoke fixed anyway.

I'm going to try and push for Charleston for Saturday night but it would mean back to back big days. If it doesn't happen then I'll have to figure something else out as it happens. Maybe Myrtle Beach, maybe something else, not sure yet.

Christian ponder is the worst quarterback ever. I can't believe I made such an effort to watch this football game and Teddy didn't even play. I'm getting a Teddy jersey, this settles it.

Trip stats
Hours riding: 3:56.54
Day miles: 53.64
Total miles: 692.51
Average speed: 13.5 mph
Max speed: 26.5 mph

Day 10, Otway to Surf City

Today was a big riding day though I didn't know it when I woke up. The amount of dew that falls during the night is bordering on ridiculous. It may as well rain each night because everything is soaked come morning time. The tent is just drenched with dew so much dew. Basically, all of the dew made for a late start because I tried to give everything time to dry. So much moist.

BBQ: Down the road I ate some lunch at Fat fellas BBQ and grill in Newport. Had the small BBQ plate with butter beans and fried squash, hush puppies on the side. It made me realize that north Carolina pulled pork is big on vinegar, strong vinegar flavor. Not so much about the smoke or the sauce, the meat itself is strong with vinegar. It is different but also really good, balances out the meat in a nice way.

After that I had to just jet through the southern heat because my campsite was mikes away and I had wasted the entire morning. I think I drank 2 gallons of water all day and just sweat it out, saved time on bathroom breaks I guess.

Did make my goal and arrived in surf city before the sun went down and watched some of the baseball game at a local bar. My campsite is just by the water and I'll be able to hear the waves while I sleep, so luxurious.

Tomorrow is the Vikings game so I'm going to probably motel it so I don't miss the game. Love football.

Trip stats
Hours riding: 7:42.16
Day miles: 112.48
Total miles: 638.86
Average speed: 14.6 mph
Max speed: 30.8 mph

Day 9, Hatteras to Otway

September 30, 2014

Big ferry day and a big day for strange meetings. Firstly, I had to take the ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke. It was a nice ferry, an hour long crossing and free to ride (take note BC ferries). On that ferry I met Tim who had just completed a walk from Los Angeles to New York. Apparently he self sorted himself in his car so his 3100 mile walk actually took 4700 miles of walking. The man was passionate about walking I have to say that. Spoke about it very fondly. He was driving to Florida before heading home to San Francisco but you could tell he wished he was walking.

Next ferry was from Ocracoke to cedar island, two and a half hour crossing and only three dollars (take double note BC ferries). On that ferry I met Scott and Ivan who are doing the exact same trip as me at almost the exact same time. They started from Wilmington last Saturday and ate going to Florida then San Diego. They are only trying to do sixty miles a day though so we had to part ways after the ferry. I'm a man craving miles, I need them, I want them.

I also had a guy hold the door open for me at a convenience store who insisted I not call him a gentleman. I laughed and said thank you and then he launched right into a tirade about the government. Holding the door open for someone I guess gives you discourse for expressing your opinions on the government. "Don't call me a gentleman because that's what they have in the white house and I don't want to be like them. Better to be a gentleman than someone who can run the country. Don't call me a gentleman." Thanks for holding the door regardless crazy man, sorry the government is out to get you.

After that I blasted out to Otway and am in a nice campground. I ate too much but that should just mean a good sleep. Still got my eye on the Vikings game on Thursday, need to make sure I watch that. Everything else is secondary at this point.

Excited about morning camp coffee also, so fresh.

(Camera picture of riding with Scott and Ivan)

Trip stats
Time riding: 3:38.47
Day miles: 49.74
Total miles: 526.37
Average speed: 13.6 mph
Max speed: 27.3 mph

Day 8, Kitty Hawk to Hatteras

Well after an entire day in the bar watching football I didn't want to get out of bed. The bed wasn't incredibly comfortable but there was a little bit of dread to get back on the saddle after a day of rest. Love day of rest.

I did eventually get going and even had clean clothes to show for it. Laundry, so glad to do it early before I really needed it. Quickly stopped for breakfast at "stack em high", nice stack of pancakes.

I also stopped in at a bike shop and replaced my handlebar tape. The guy who owned the store seemed like an old surfer dude. He had just fixed up his bike and showed it off to everyone because it was so "sick". It was a nice bike and he was taken aback by my Brodie. Apparently he doesn't see many Brodies and they were once a really funky company. Overall it was a weird experience at the bike shop but my handlebars are looking good as a result.

I had a great tailwind today too so I was able to makeup some of my dilly dallying. I checked out the cape Hatteras lighthouse and they had a deck with seating that was called the "contemplation area". I contemplated how they could justify charging an admission price to go up a lighthouse. It was pretty neat though, nice looking lighthouse as far as lighthouses go.

Ate at the Hatterasman drive in and it was a mighty fine burger. Fries were thin and delicious.

Tomorrow is a big day of ferries which will be glorious. I have at least three hours on the boats and probably some time waiting on either end. I'm not expecting big miles but I should make great progress on the map even if I'm not the one doing the work. Thanks engines.

Trip stats
Hours riding: 4:53.13
Day distance: 79.23
Total distance: 476.62
Day average speed: 16.2mph
Day max speed: 31.9mph

Day 7, rest day in kitty hawk

September 28, 2014

Just took a rest day to let my legs adjust to riding. Slept in and grabbed a turkey sandwich and a Reese mocha from the southern bean coffee shop before watching football all day at Hurricane Mo's. Great time watching football though. Sat at the bar and chatted with fans of all nations: ravens, Vikings, steelers or panthers; all were welcome.

A full day at the bar should be plenty of carbo loading for tomorrow. Early start and a big breakfast is the plan. Excited!

Trip stats
Day miles: probably about 10
Total: not adding today to total, rest miles. Easy riding.
-preached to my sister about infusing scent into a pinecone

Day 4, Richmond to Chickahominy Riverfront Park

For some reason my original post didn't work so I'm going to try and redo it from memory. Fingers crossed!

I remember it being cloudy and cool all day and having some great riding. Everything just looked really Virginia. I did the bulk of my riding along the capital trail which was really nice except for one weird thing, there were large sections just covered in hay. Straw, hay, coop flooring whatever you call it, it was everywhere. I couldn't see the trail there was so much hay, and for miles! Then it would just stop, like it was never even there. I have no idea why it was there but I came up with: ancient southern paving technique, school prank, hay fight, messy eating horse. Who knows the real answer though.

I also had a nice chat with a guy outside of the country store. It seemed like the country store was a meeting ground for everyone because people were just hanging around chatting. Everyone hadn't seen everyone is a long time apparently. One guy, when I told him how far I came said, "boy done good don't he". Perfect.

First night camping also and everything set up easily and well. Good gear, glad to have it.

(Camera picture of hay trail)

Trip stats
Day miles: 57.97
Total miles: 220.93

Day 6, Suffolk to Kitty Hawk

September 27, 2014

Well today kind of caught me off guard. Yesterday I was looking at my maps and realized it was going to be a long day of riding if I wanted to get to kitty hawk.  I thought that if I got up early, hustled hard and dug deep, there was a chance I could do it. Needed that early start first and foremost.

I didn't leave as early as I wanted but I did get going just after 9am, earliest yet. All day I was focused on keeping a high speed, just spinning the legs and going fast. The faster I go, the faster I'm done. The sun was beating down on me, legs had to keep spinning though. Grabbed some lunch in South Mills and then went back to work.

At about 4pm I hit a wall, just started dragging my legs. I went from trying to keep the pace high to just trying to keep moving. I had about twenty miles left to go, had to keep moving.

The worst part was right at the end, had a 3 mile bridge crossing that was just brutal. This long and straight bridge with lots of traffic and a small shoulder. I was tired enough that it took effort to stay in the lines on the shoulder. Focus.

It all came to an end eventually but everything hurts, my hands especially. Tomorrow will be a day off for football and to let my body recover. Need to recover. Turns out there is a great breakfast place here in town so I'm excited about eating. All the eating.

First hundred mile day though, wahoo!

Trip stats
Hours riding: ~8
Day miles: 108.87
Total miles: 397.39
Average speed: 13.6 mph (light headwind)
Max speed: NA
-information deleted midway, hours and average are estimates