M2C Day 7

 Cycle North Carolina(CNC)

Mountains to Coast(M2C)

Day 7: Kingston to Emerald Isle. 66 miles, 715

“Great joy in camp we are in View of the Ocian, this great Pacific(ok the Atlantic) Octean which we have been So long anxious to See. . . . and the roreing or noise made by the waves brakeing on the rockey Shores (as I Suppose) may be heard distictly.”- William Clark, 1805. Earlier, some 20 miles away overlooking Grays Bay, he exclaimed "Ocian in view! O! the joy,"

While certainly not on as long an expedition  as the Corps of Discovery and traveling in the opposite direction, our joy is no less. We have had such a grand time. Our discovery included new geography but more the joy came from all the new friends we met; Haresh, Jesse, Shelby,  Bob, Scott, Steve and so many more. 

Earlier this morning Miss Rhonda announced she could not ride today’s 66 mile course. News travels fast in camp. Many folks were saddened. Jesse,a fellow rider, and his wife, Shelby live nearby and she offered to drive Rhonda to the end or the last aid station should Rhonda feel up to riding the last leg with me. So at 7:45 am with tears rolling down my cheeks I pedaled alone under the banner and towards the sea. 

At the first aid station Steve came up to me and asked about Miss Rhonda and then gave me a big hug encouraging me to hang in there.

I road past more farm land but swampy wetlands began popping up and soon I was at the second aid station serving hot dogs, my preferred comfort food. I talked to Rhonda and her ride appeared and she would meet me 20+ miles down the road at the last aid station. 

Today’s parcours where deadpan flat with a slight tailwind, making for easy soft pedaling. As much as I love the comfort of out fat tire Salsa Cutthroats, a go fast road bike would have been screaming. And indeed, many pace lines riding deep section carbon wheels whooshed past me today. It’s the difference between a race bred thoroughbred and a sturdy pack mule. 

I made the last aid station to find Rhonda waiting. After some hydration and fuel, we set off at a fare pace towards the coast. Soon we are in coast town weekend  tourist traffic with CNC signs counting down the miles until finally we see the finish banner complete with red carpet as cheerleaders welcomed us to the finish. 

It was mayhem at the finish. So much activity. We strolled to the beach and stepped in the ocean completing our journey. Then it was off to drop off our bikes at the right truck to deliver them back to Durham tomorrow. Then the celebratory southern fried shrimp, fish and hush puppy dinner(I’ll need a cleansing at home starting with some oatmeal and Greek yogurt). Then find our luggage and a shower. 

Camp was found and great joy can be heard. A walk back to the beach and we sat and enjoyed the noisy crashing and breaking of the waves. 

M2C Day 6

 Cycle North Carolina(CNC)

Mountains to Coast(M2C)

Day 6: Tarboro to Kinston. 61.67 miles. 853’

Last night was warm, muggy and calm. Sleeping came late and fitful and steamy. The good news was there was little dew as the temp never dropped to the dew point. Science is real. 

Yesterday the town of Tarboro rolled out the welcome mat. But not to be undone, the towns of Fountain and Farmville would not be outdone. As the peloton passed schools, the streets were lined with students cheering us on. Town folk clapped and yelled support. Pretty awesome. 

I also enjoy seeing the country and what is grown or raised. So far we have seen tobacco, cotton, corn, soybeans, and sweet potatoes. Today I watched a farmer harvesting peanuts. I guess I could have been an agronomist. Then we stopped at a Jersey dairy for a break. I had some chocolate milk. Ice cream would be too much in the heat, humidity and remaking miles. 

Today’s course was pretty flat. A nice reprieve for sore legs. As we entered Kinston the route weaved through some nice neighborhoods. I was thinking Mark Bertram would love this ride. 

We arrived in Kinston around 1:30. Rhonda is not feeling well. Hopefully just a cold. Y’all can pray she heals up before morning. She may take the shuttle to our final camp. 

We set up camp close to all the excitement: charging stations, luggage drop off, music stage and most importantly, the Fat Tire happy hour table. We are also front and center to the live music. The local blue grass is phenomenal. The rock and roll cover bands, not so much. Rhonda must not be feeling good at all as she is sleeping right through the noise. 

We had some good local BBQ sliders as we got into camp. A good supplement to the meal plan, which is scheduled for some more bbq and something called sweet tea. 

I’m praying Rhonda can join me for the last leg tomorrow. I’m feeling ok now, and hope I avoid the crud. 

Check in tomorrow. 

M2C Day 5

 

Henderson to Tarboro

75 miles 1936’

Another beautiful, warm day in NC. Today you could ride either 74 or 101. We decided we have nothing to prove and rode the 74. We had four aid stations today and some of the coolest ones. I loved the Laurel Mill and checking it out. Lots of history there and a beautiful setting. There was live music there and another rest stop also featured live music. The second stop served sweet potatoes. While we were there a newspaper (the old fashioned kind, used a notepad) reporter asked if she could interview us. I think we kind of shocked her with a few of our answers. Anyway, she told us the story would come out in their weekly newspaper (the paper kind) and we should contact them and they would mail us a copy. Our last stop of the day, they were so enthusiastic ringing cow bells and whooping it up for us. We only wanted to finish, so we got back on to ride and get away from the gnats! Right before town, an older cyclist tried to avoid a pothole and hit someone’s tire and went down in front of us. It was scary but he seemed to be ok, his bike (an expensive one) had some damage. He got a ride to camp. 

When we got to the city park, a gal came up to us and asked us if we were from Idaho. Long story short, as we talked she said she recognized me. We figured it out, she swam on swim team with my kids at Meridian High. I think Jon and I are the only ones from Idaho. This just bolsters Jon’s case that I always find someone I know. 

Tarboro is a really neat little town. Happy hour was in the town square. The chamber of commerce rolled out the red carpet for us. We are full and ready to rest so we can do it again tomorrow! I saw cotton ready to harvest today and that was a first for me :).

P.S.: rule one in setting up camp-look up. We pitched under a tree in hopes of mitigating the dew. But a light just turned on three tents away. Things to add to the list for next time: eye shades. 

M2C Day 4

 Cycle North Carolina(CNC)

Mountains to Coast(M2C)

Day 4 Mebane to Henderson 63 miles, 2600’

Found some shade to sit  in camp while we listen to a local Ole Timey Blue Grass band. Rather relaxing and quite content surrounded by a bunch of friends we never knew. 

Our typical day begins when about 400 phones in surrounding tents all go off together at 5:30, mine included. It’s dark and the dew is heavy on the tent and drips through the tent’s inner mesh as I struggle to get up. I bought a coffee service months ago believing some barista shack would follow us around. This is the SE and not the PNW. The best part of waking up is literally Folgers! 

I stumble back through the encampment looking for our our Big Agnes hoping I find Rhonda in it and not the neighbor. Rhonda gets up and we start packing and getting ready. By 6:30 we wonder over to the breakfast tent. Each community sources out a local caterer to feed the masses. Of the 825 bikers and another couple hundred family members, about 1/2 purchased the food service. A bus or two of people shuttle each night to local motels. The rest fend for themselves getting a shuttle into town. 

After breakfast we start tearing down the wet tent. The heavy dew has saturated everything. We stuff the tent with the added water weight knowing it will only take a few minutes in camp that night to “dry” it out. 

The course opens at 7:30, but there are a few who sneak out early, hoping to make it to camp by the time the final SAG wagon sweeps the course at 4:30. 

Getting through town in fog and heavy rush hour car traffic is a trick and requires a lot of patience. In addition to the State Troops assigned to us for the week, local LE help at the busy intersections. It’s a bit nerve wracking. Not sure Idaho drivers would tolerate a line of 800 bikes staggering over an hour through town. 

Before we know it we have 10 miles under us and we are on county roads headed for our first aid station, prepared to serve us some southern hospitality with our sports drink, fruit and snack bars. There are three to four aid stations each day separated between 15-20 miles apart. After the first break the bikers have some separation between them and not so much of a nuisance to local traffic. The cars are super for the most part. Today one gal in a silver sedan wasn’t too happy and honked a few too many times and sped past some bikers as they were turning into an aid station. Just as I mentioned that she needed a visit from one of the troops, a moto with his blue lights cut his break short and chased her down. We never saw the stop but it would have been fun to be the back up officer and hear the excuses. 

We travel through the country side and through gorgeous communities whose names end in -boro, -borough or -ville. There is not a strong long “O” said and neither “L” has much mention. 

After the last aid station, with my new staple of pickles and a Coca Cola, my legs gain some extra energy and the smell of the barn is strong. 

Once in camp you quickly make a claim and stake out a tent site. Then it’s off to find your luggage left by the shuttle. The chairs are first out and then our shoes. We lay the tent pieces out to dry, and then get a spot in line at the shower truck. A semi truck has several stalls. The men’s line is usually longer accounting for the population demographics. 

So the shade is cool, the music soothing and the supper line has started to grow. Earlier our new friend Haresh stopped by. He went home today to celebrate his daughter’s birthday with family. He came back to camp to fetch his luggage and drop off some homemade vittles and cold drink. We hope he can return in a day or two. 

So, it’s time to see what’s on the spit, not that I’ve grown particular with my food or the company I keep. 

It’s dark at 7 and we will be in the tent and possibly asleep by 8. 5:30 comes early as does the 2-2:30am potty call. 

See y’all in the morning. 

M2C Day 3

 Winston Salem to Mebane, NC 79 miles 

We were going up our first hill and a large group of cyclists were cruising by us. We laughed as we shared all the things that were “wrong” with the day; horrible blue skies, no wind, completely comfortable temperatures, and we are outside enjoying our work. We left town during 8:00 traffic which is definitely tricky with over 800 cyclists. The state police took care of the busy intersections and we rolled on in each town like celebrities. When we got to Summerfield for our second rest stop the elementary students and the fire department were out waving and cheering like we were celebrities. I wanted to go back and take their pictures but traffic was already being held up, so you’ll just have to imagine it. 

Of course, we had hills but nothing too long. Jon and I kept a great pace all day and he totally rocked the hills today. Tonight after a great taco bar I even treated myself to a massage. Jon likes the free beer but my preference would be the pampering massage! 

As we rolled through many rural residential areas, I made the observation about the houses in this area. They are either all brick, red or a sandy brown color. The other house are sided, painted white with most common black shudders. Or finally, the combination of the two styles. They are a traditional ranch or two story with a front porch. Not bold colors and styles like we see at home; a much more traditional home with large yards. 

We also stopped at a historic town called Glencoe. There is a history of textile manufacturing in the area and it was really neat to see the old looms and sewing processes. They used to make professional sports uniforms at this factory. In the next town was another empty textile manufacturing plant, hmmm don’t know where all the textile industry moved to?

We are tired and already in our tent because it is the most comfortable and the dew is coming in already. Good night.