This day started out very nice in Rocky Mount with cool, but not cold, air. We had a great rest stop in Tarboro at an historic house. We traveled another 20 miles to Robersoville Lyons park for a rest stop and it is still a great day to be biking. After a snack and potty stop we peddled 11 miles to the next rest stop and it is now a little after 11 and our little group (George, Mark, Cassandra) are thinking about lunch other then PB&J. We decide just to ride on the route and stop at some local place that looked good. A few miles down the road at 11:30 we encountered the The Service Station Restaurant. One pick-up truck and one bike out front wasn't too promising but we decided to take a chance. The staff was super friendly and competent. Our meals came quickly and by noon the place was pretty full with locals and bikers. Mark posted a photo from the front of the place and from the text you can tell he was happy. So this was about mile 50 and so far the day was nearly perfect. Then the head winds came up and we eventually got onto Highway 64 and, for me at least, it stopped being fun. We struggled to ride the remaining 27 miles and with frequent rest stops finished by around 4:30. No happy finish line photo's today. Mark posted several nice pictures of us on our way today.
Tomorrow my plan is to repeat the terrific morning and ride 50 miles on the short course to the Alligator River Marina. Carol will meet me there and we will have lunch at Miss Wanda's. Then I plan to avoid the afternoon head winds and load the bike on the car and drive to our hotel on the beach at Nags Head and maybe go for a swim in the Ocean. Doing the Century Option never entered my mind, and completing every mile of the route simply is not a big deal for me.
