Dolly's Bike Blog

The first 5 miles leaving the hotel this morning.  You might think that the traffic would be light at 7 am, but not the case leaving Moncks Corner – not sure where everyone was going, but they were moving fast.

Once clear of the early morning traffic, we were on roads in the Frances Marion National Forest.  They had recently done a controlled burn of the underbrush and the smell of smoke was still faintly evident.

I didn’t take photos on the ride today, trying to focus on pedaling and getting into Georgetown, a harbor town.  After 80 miles yesterday, I was tired today and the road surfaces were bothering my hands, my neck, and my backside.  These photos were taken by Marilyn – I rode with her and Gail all day.

Our last turn into Georgetown revealed an unexpected bridge – we should have known as the town is an historic seaport.  On one side is a large International Paper Plant (explains all of the lumber trucks we have been seeing), the other side a steel mill, then the harbor area.  Then I began taking photos.

Allergies are draining me, looking forward to a shorter day tomorrow into Conway – early bedtime tonight.

Cue sheet showed 68.6 miles today, with sightseeing I would guess at least 70 for the day.

We had another early start today, as our route was 80 miles long.  I actually enjoy the early starts because of the coolness of the air, the reduced traffic, and the beautiful shadows through the trees.  Sadly the photos don’t do that beauty justice.  Our first historical marker was for a Presbyterian Church (I am a member of Northminster Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis).  We are seeing a few more Methodist and occasional Presbyterian Churches as we pedal north, though Baptist churches definitely dominate.

Stopped in Hendersonville at 17 miles to read this Historical Marker and enjoy this beautiful church.

At mile 25, we passed through Walterboro, the county seat (sadly, I didn’t get a photo of the county courthouse), but we did take a bonus mile detour to the Low Country Regional Airport to see the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial – lots of interesting information.

This has been a week of “fallout”: Alayne left due to tendonitis in her knee, hoping to return the end of the month; Peg, one of our SAG drivers, took a fall on rumble strips last week, injuring her shoulder; her doctor warned her not to bike and she is going home to California; Mary’s father passed away yesterday and she will be gone for several days.

Peg and Nancy I., fellow SAG drivers.

Just before pedaling into Moncks Corner, our overnight location, we stopped for this Historical Marker.

Mileage for the day:  81.91 (second longest day of the tour, longest-97- later this week).

I have been saving some quotations to add to my blog:

“Life is like riding a bicycle – to keep your balance, you must keep moving.”  Albert Einstein

“Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road.”  Jack Kerouac

And some “stray” photos, many from others cameras and iPhones:

And lastly, a poem by my riding partner Nancy H.:

ODE TO SADDLE SORES

O Saddle Sores, O Saddle Sores why do you vex me so?

I shift my weight to compensate

But only more do grow

There’s only so much real estate on saddles made of leather.

The current focus of my universe!

You twist and turn and shift and yearn

For something that feels better.

With udder butter and assos creme I lathered up my bottom.

I shimmied into padded shorts and hoped that I had got ’em.

But five miles in, as on I spin, the sores begin to fester

O Saddle Sores, O Saddle Sores, why do you sorely pester?

So in the van I sat today and watched the bikes go by

And hoped a day of cushioned seats would heal you on the fly.

Tomorrow I will rest again and then continue biking.

I hope this respite cures these ills

O why did I stop triking!

Nancy reciting her Ode at dinner tonight. Luckily, so far, I have been spared.