Not too hard today. I woke before sunrise, and the morning cat greeted me. The morning cat was a tortoise shell, while the night cat was a tuxedo. Sorry, I don’t have any food. I left camp at 7:15.
Goodbye, Day Room and Morning Cat.I got two $1.19 breakfast tacos at Stripes. Yes, there were still flies. I also got a chicken salad sandwich from the refrigerator, since there would be no services for the whole 50 miles to Camp Wood.
Heavily overcast almost all day. The Lord is my strength and my sunscreen.
I had eaten up all my cookies, but remembered the Praline that Kyle gave me. It wasn’t like peanut brittle at all, nor was it like a cookie. Mostly it resembled a big disc of frosting that one might find on a cinnamon roll. It was a good boost of sugar.
This is a typical river in this area. They don’t bother to build bridges. The river was completely dry, but in the rainy season, it must run right over the road.The bleating of sheep was unmistakeable. I also saw 4 (live) deer on the way. No rabbits.I got into Camp Wood at about 3 pm. There were some people selling melons out of the back of their truck. I bought one for $2.Camp Wood had a surprising number of stores for a town of about a thousand. This was Marilyn’s Knives, Jewelry, Quilts, and Furniture.Close up, these were the humorous signs in the window.Cantaloupe á la Motel Ice Bucket.
I walked a few blocks down the main street to Two Fat Boys BBQ for dinner.
Aping what the locals were ordering, I got the rib plate, with beans as one of the sides. I rationalized that a large was okay, as I needed calories for the climbs the next day. The beans were outstanding. Had I known they would be that good, I would have made both my sides beans, or possibly made my whole dinner beans. The waitress told me that they simmer their beans all night long.Not long after.
Tomorrow’s goal is to go over the 4 steep peaks and stay at a motel near Vanderpool. The safety goal is to get to Leakey, over just one peak, 21 miles away. This is supposed to be a very difficult segment. The ACA map warns that it is difficult. A local store owner today told me that it’s a steep climb just to Leakey. And Brian told me that he walked his bike on parts of it. Google Maps says 3 hours for a bicycle. Ha!
I’ve been trying to fine-tune my cyclometer to better match the new wheel circumference. Unfortunately, it locked up late in my ride today, and I had to reset it, so the mileage is an estimate.
Miles for today: 52 (estimate)
(Visited 172 times, 1 visit(s) today)
Good luck tackling those peaks, however many days it takes to get over them!
I’m never bored. If there’s nothing that demands my immediate attention, I’m usually replaying scenes from movies in my head, singing silently, or out loud if it’s downhill. Today, I composed a few verses of lyrics set to the tune of Elliot’s El Tortilla song.
Oh my darling Maria
Makes me flour tortilla
but I got diarrhea
she don’t wash her hands…
I am probably going to repeat myself, but it is fun reading your blog and experiencing vicariously your adventures on the bike. The hot weather would not suit me at all, and I would make a poor riding companion. I hope to dust off my bike and start riding around here locally.
The sun came out today, and the wind matched my speed, so it was much hotter. I got bitten by mosquitoes last night, but I think it was the type I have immunity to. The bites vanished quickly.
Good luck tackling those peaks, however many days it takes to get over them!
My only choices are one day or two, other than calling for help. There are no services in-between.
When you experience monotony on the road, does it have a hypnotic or meditative effect? Do you have epiphanies you care to share here?
I’m never bored. If there’s nothing that demands my immediate attention, I’m usually replaying scenes from movies in my head, singing silently, or out loud if it’s downhill. Today, I composed a few verses of lyrics set to the tune of Elliot’s El Tortilla song.
Oh my darling Maria
Makes me flour tortilla
but I got diarrhea
she don’t wash her hands…
+ a few more
I am probably going to repeat myself, but it is fun reading your blog and experiencing vicariously your adventures on the bike. The hot weather would not suit me at all, and I would make a poor riding companion. I hope to dust off my bike and start riding around here locally.
The sun came out today, and the wind matched my speed, so it was much hotter. I got bitten by mosquitoes last night, but I think it was the type I have immunity to. The bites vanished quickly.