Today’s Highlights:
We had a late start at 8:00 today, because we only had to ride 59 miles. Although most people wanted to leave earlier to beat the heat, the staff prefers that we don’t get to the next hotel before noon. So we had a leisurely morning, loaded the luggage van at 8:00, and started our very hot and humid ride.
The heat was the only big challenge today. Our route was flat, and the roads were good. I cycled with Rene, Barry and Mike for the first 20 miles and averaged 17.7 mph. At mile-14, we stopped at the North Carolina border to take picture. I had to drop off their paceline after 20 miles, slow down a little, and stopped for a few more pictures. Our one SAG stop for the day was at mile-27 in River Falls Park, along the Roanoke River in South Weldon. Some really smart people were rafting on the river. I would have traded my bike for a raft today.
From the SAG stop, I cycled alone for the last 32 miles. My focus was mainly on drinking and moving along quickly to get out of the heat. It really detracts from sightseeing. Most of the route took us past farms of cotton, tobacco, corn and other crops I am not familiar enough with – perhaps soybean. The tiny village of Halifax had some interesting historic building, once visited by George Washington (he was everywhere) and Lafayette in the 1790s and early 1800s. We passed through some very depressed small towns. Although I have seen plenty of poor city and rural neighborhoods, there was something unusual about these. I can’t pinpoint what it was, but it seems like something I would only expect to see in a movie about the past.
Pictures Of The Day:
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Statistics:
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