Day 4

I woke up a bit later today, took yet another shower to wash off the gross motel cooties and headed out. And as for the “couple” residing in the room next to me separated by tissue thin walls, let’s just say given the clientele at this fine establishment perhaps they shouldn’t put headboards on the beds. Another amazingly sleepless night due to noisy neighbors. Bahhhh. It’s possible the solitude of camping is truly a better option. Maybe I will find me a bridge tonight.

So, the weather report. Yeah…the weather. It was predicted for lightening storms late afternoon which I already knew would mean my mileage would be more pitiful than anticipated. I have an awesome metal rod that I’ve attached to the back of my bike for my GoPro and that would be PERFECT for lightening. But…I didn’t really want to find out. So I planned one way or another to be off the road early. 

Jefferson was my first stop. Woop woop! Yet another convenience store. Super exciting. But actually, it was pretty warm out by now and the icee machine looked pretty enticing. OOooohhh…food coloring, lots of high fructose corn syrup and some ice. Just what I was craving. Actually, in all honesty it did sound good because of the weather. Then I pulled the trigger and out came this uber thick, syrupy, liquid that had a super special viscosity I have never seen in an icee…no ice…no slush…no way Jose. It was thick enough to probably block my entire esophagus and I’d probably collapse about a mile outside town into the ditch beyond the shoulder and never be seen again. Promptly chucked that in the garbage and went back to the cooler case for my new tradition of water and chocolate milk.   

Full disclosure, I’ve done a bunch of weekend riding for training but…uh…actually…I’ve never ridden more than 2 days consecutively. I tried once over Christmas vacay and on day 3 I set out for a ride and decided I didn’t want to play anymore and got on BART and went home. So…technically at this point, I’ve already doubled the longest ride and I’m only on day 4. Yeay!!!

Onward to Gainesville. In Gainesville…population….about 100, I met Dale and Amanda.   

They moved out here from Birmingham so not your typical resident. They took me in for the night. It was super! Talk about hospitality. Food, wine, amazing guest room. 

I call my house “old”…ha! My 1950’s bungalow “old” but their house is over a hundred years older and magnificent! With amazing artwork everywhere. They work part time as artists in multiple medias. They both like hiking and cycling. Dale has even hiked the AT, my kind of people. We bonded over discussing instant mashed potatoes (backpacker bargain of the century) and our favorite Mountain House flavor.

Three dogs, two cats and two horses. How cute is he?!? I forgot to get pics of Jack and Ace. :-/  I should have smuggled him in a pannier. 

I was able to get a tour (from Dale & Amanda) of the local cemetery. Civil war cemetery. Including many many unnamed soldiers.    

 
Then…okra! Totally love okra and Amanda cooked an amazing vegan meal for dinner complete with potatoes (real ones, not the fake ones mentioned above), corn, salad (with home grown organic veggies) and…okra! This was amazing because when I travel, I miss fresh food the most! 

The rain did pour. Lightening. Thunder. Rain. And I couldn’t have been happier to be under a roof instead of under a 10 mm sheet of poly praying I hadn’t pitched my tent in a flood zone or if an armadillo was going to try and snuggle with me. Actually I don’t know anything about armadillos but I have seen a few now and well…they scare me. Even though I’m probably more likely to be struck by lightening than encounter an armadillo close up. Preference towards turtles vs armadillos. More turtles please. Thanks.