Boot Chowder
At the moment the rollicking grooves of the Grateful Dead pulse out of the jukebox at Sharky's Bar and Grill. But let's start at the start....
A few scattered drops of rain pattered on the roof of the tent overnight. This morning looked encouraging. I took out the stove and breakfast items and began cooking at the picnic table of our campground. Rach rode her bike over to the bathroom building because it was so far away. Two minutes later an outrageous deluge commenced. I scrambled to pack everything up while I spotted Rach sprinting in the rain back to the tent. Water cascaded down, intent on soaking us to the core. We ducked inside the tent and ate our oatmeal while it rained hard for the next hour or so. Thankfully, the weather relented to a light drizzle and we packed everything up and departed not too much later than we normally would.
It was about 20 miles on to Newport and a routine stop at a grocery store. Then the rain intensified. It pelted us. It assaulted our eyes and ears. It lashed and taunted us. At this point I also had some stomach discomfort and I was gritting my teeth trying to keep it together. Rach was leading as we passed tidy houses along the side of the road. A dog started to chase us, the most determined mongrel yet of this trip. I shouted "Get back! Get back!" I started to drift toward the center of the lane and an oncoming car honked loudly. I unleashed my middle finger and yelled "FUCK YOU!" as they drove the other way. It was not my proudest moment... But, I felt great afterward and it seemed to cure all my stomach ailments.
Today we began the Outer Banks section of the trip. We saw crabs, egrets, jumping fish, beetles, and mosquitoes. The Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge was a delight. The skies cleared for the final hours of riding. Quiet roads and grasslands stretching on for miles, the Atlantic ocean on our right hand side. A determined tailwind helped whisk us to Cedar Island Resort which offers a campground and the restaurant where we've enjoyed tonight's dinner. Tomorrow morning we take a ferry to continue north along the Outer Banks.
Today's mileage: 72 miles
New trip maximum speed: 33.0 mph
*Few photos today on account of the rain. Maybe more tomorrow.
** Today's title refers to the squishy, squelchy situation that develops in your bike shoes on a very wet day.
A few scattered drops of rain pattered on the roof of the tent overnight. This morning looked encouraging. I took out the stove and breakfast items and began cooking at the picnic table of our campground. Rach rode her bike over to the bathroom building because it was so far away. Two minutes later an outrageous deluge commenced. I scrambled to pack everything up while I spotted Rach sprinting in the rain back to the tent. Water cascaded down, intent on soaking us to the core. We ducked inside the tent and ate our oatmeal while it rained hard for the next hour or so. Thankfully, the weather relented to a light drizzle and we packed everything up and departed not too much later than we normally would.
It was about 20 miles on to Newport and a routine stop at a grocery store. Then the rain intensified. It pelted us. It assaulted our eyes and ears. It lashed and taunted us. At this point I also had some stomach discomfort and I was gritting my teeth trying to keep it together. Rach was leading as we passed tidy houses along the side of the road. A dog started to chase us, the most determined mongrel yet of this trip. I shouted "Get back! Get back!" I started to drift toward the center of the lane and an oncoming car honked loudly. I unleashed my middle finger and yelled "FUCK YOU!" as they drove the other way. It was not my proudest moment... But, I felt great afterward and it seemed to cure all my stomach ailments.
Today we began the Outer Banks section of the trip. We saw crabs, egrets, jumping fish, beetles, and mosquitoes. The Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge was a delight. The skies cleared for the final hours of riding. Quiet roads and grasslands stretching on for miles, the Atlantic ocean on our right hand side. A determined tailwind helped whisk us to Cedar Island Resort which offers a campground and the restaurant where we've enjoyed tonight's dinner. Tomorrow morning we take a ferry to continue north along the Outer Banks.
Today's mileage: 72 miles
New trip maximum speed: 33.0 mph
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| Bulbous trees |
*Few photos today on account of the rain. Maybe more tomorrow.
** Today's title refers to the squishy, squelchy situation that develops in your bike shoes on a very wet day.
ReplyDeleteCompletely forgot about the dogs. On my first long bicycle trip I encountered a few. They can really be a nuisance. Pepper spray maybe?
Hmmm...rage as a curative? I'll have to keep that in mind.
I guess it was inevitable that in the thousands of miles you will be covering that some precipitation was going to occur. In my minds eye you are riding along in the sunshine with clear blue skies with the birds gently singing. Reality is not always so perfect.
I would imagine that when you lay your heads to rest in the evenings you don't have a whole lot of trouble getting to sleep. Have a good rest. Tomorrow is sure to be better. As for today, one more story to tell.
So I guess after today's adventures you are not getting up in the wee hours to watch the wedding at Windsor? Perhaps you can keep up the British side with a cup of tea sometime during the day.
ReplyDeleteRide safely.
Cheri