Blood Doping

I implemented my new two prong breakfast initiative this morning. First element: eat more breakfast. Second element: eat slowly and consistently so as not to cause a rumbles in my tumbles. We had a few scant rain drops overnight but the skies were clear again as we set off from the Carolina State Park campground to begin our day.

Just after descending a bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway we faced a question. Our map instructed us to turn left on River Road but a large, bold sign informed us "Road Closed 4 Miles Ahead." The highway we had been riding would continue in the correct direction, but with lots of traffic and noise and little room for us bicyclists. After a short deliberation we decided to risk the closure. Immediately the new road was an improvement. Another sign in bold, block letters: "Road Closed 2 Miles Ahead." A few more pedal strokes. "Road Closed 1 Mile Ahead." I told Rach I would take full responsibility if this turned out to be a bonehead move. We slowed at the barricades for the work trucks and bulldozers. Hooray! The friendly construction workers let us through and we continued on our way past elaborate waterfront homes, including one on its own private island.

There are scads of new development on the outskirts of Wilmington, NC and heavy machinery lumbers one way and the other clearing lots, spraying water, or scraping land. Then a series of boatyards, shipping depots, giant mounds of asphalt, train tracks, and fuel terminals.

Rach has often felt stronger than I have on the trip thus far so we joked that we need to start blood doping so I can capture some of her strength. I believe she may have wandered away from the campground one evening to talk business with a dark figure at a crossroads...

Later in the afternoon we had smooth new asphalt and the miles slipped away. We rode through Surf City, then Ocean City, passing dozens of stores selling "resort wear" and towels and sand toys and beach chairs and sunglasses, etc. All of the houses here are built on stilts. Dark, ominous shapes began to form in the sky. We started riding faster. A few drops... Pressing on the pedals. A few more. We stopped at a store. I went in and when I came back out it was lashing down rain. Furious, heavy sheets of water assaulted the road. Rach and I were underneath an awning at this point, still dry. I said "Just wait a few minutes." Rach was unconvinced. While it didn't dry up completely the rain certainly lessened and we rode the final few miles to Ray and Melinda's house where they served up an incredible dinner of lasagna and salad and ice cream with strawberries. We shared stories of all sorts of trips before excusing ourselves for bed.

The shape of things to come

House on stilts

Topsail Beach

Intracoastal Waterway