Traveling Home - Days 1 and 2
Day 1
Well, evening one, that is. After finishing the ride up I got the bike taken apart and loaded up with all my gear, we headed north into South Carolina.
The goal was to get a few hours of driving out of the way, and position ourselves for a short leg to Congaree NP in the morning.
Stopped at a restaurant near the hotel, Santee Steak & Seafood.
Ordered alligator bites and a fried catfish platter. Turned out delicious.
Day 2
Breakfast at the hotel, and then off to Congaree National Park.
The park was gorgeous. Beingin the south and a river flood plain, it was a strange blend of forest and swamp that I'm not used too.
Bugs were abundant, but at least it wasn't a “war zone.”
Very diverse vegetation that, from the walking tour pamphlet, changes throughout the park even with just a foot or two of elevation change due to the nature of the area. It was neat to see essentially dividing lines where the undergrowth changes species
We got to see all kinds of wild life.
Dragonflies, snapping turtle (was hard to get a good picture mostly submerged) and yellow-bellied slider turtles, alligator, and deer.
After our hike we loaded back up in the car to drive to Charlottesville, Virginia, our rest stop for the night.
Pizza for dinner, and then off to bed.
Tomorrow we stop at Shenandoah NP then, sadly, back home.
Day 7
Final day of the ride!
71 miles today, but limited climbing. Mostly flat with a downhill trend across the day.
Started off leaving our campsite, Georgia Southern University. Snapped a picture of their main fountains with the sun rising behind the buildings.
First rest stop at 18 miles in was hosted by Hunter Cattle Co. They had a nice farm store and field with wild flowers.
The second rest stop at 33 miles was also at a farm. Made some friends with goats and cows!
Third rest stop was uneventful. More or less a parking lot at 51 miles in, with 20 to go.
We were cooking with gas the last leg. Got in a paceline with about 10 people and we were working well together moving across the flat stretches, taking turns pulling at the front.
Entering Savannah and rolling a few miles through the city blocks, the finish line was in sight.
6 days of riding.
403 miles.
City to Sea.
Atlanta to Savannah.
Bicycle Ride Across Georgia has been an incredible experience.
Final day stats:
Day 6
Short day, compared to yesterday, at only 56 miles.
Great rest stop hosted by a restaurant Pepper Jack's. The ride support had the usual food, butI went with a double cheeseburger inside. I think that was the correct choice at 9:30 a.m. I was 33 miles into the ride at that point, so I was hungry!
One can only take so many photos of the bike with farmland in the background, so not many photos from today.
Excited to roll into Savannah tomorrow and get a bunch of great photos as we enter town.
Final day is 71 miles, but only 820 feet of total climbing!
Day 5 - Century Ride
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
“The Road Not Taken” - Robert Frost
Today at 60 miles into my ride I came across these signal markings on the road.
What do they mean?
Continue straight to do the 80 mile route, or turn right to ride 100 miles today.
I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.
This was my first century ride. Something that has been a goal since getting into cycling.
Riders completing the route received “Century Rider” bandanas.
I didn't take many pictures today. The day was focused on riding, hydrating in the 90° heat, and refueling. Her are the few I took.
Ride statistics:
Two days left, 57 and 71 planned miles.
Day 4 - Rest Day
Today was a rest day in Milledgeville, Georgia.
The city was the capital of Georgia from 1804 to 1868.
In 1868, during Reconstruction after the Civil War, the capital was moved to to Atlanta. Milledgeville was felt to have too many ties to the old south.
We visited the old Georgia Statehouse and Governor's Mansion.
On nearby signs the history of slavery in the area was not glossed over, nor was General Sherman’s destruction of important Confederate structures in the city.
Already a humid day before noon, we stopped at a highly recommended coffee shop, Morning Grind.
We were warmly welcomed by staff immediately upon entering, and after talking they recommended the Sunshine Surge Smoothy.
After a stop at a local bike shop for some odds and ends, we found ourselves at Stacked, a local sandwich shop. The signature club was a big portion and delicious.
A stop at a BRAG (Bicycle Ride Across Georgia) welcoming business for a beer, and then across the street to look at a used book store for some old first editions of favorites. We both left with a few first editions of old favorites and a few new reads.
Some more stretching and a nap, then it was time for dinner.
We went to BiBa's Italian. I got Veal Parmesan. Loads of sauce, almost hard to tell there was pasta under there!
Back to the room. Final packing and some before bed stretching. Tomorrow will be the longest ride of the week.
Day 3
Same early routine for all ride days. The BBQ truck returned to offer breakfast sandwiches and bowls.
I'm not a big grits person, which came in all the bowls, so I went with the sausage, egg, cheese biscuit.
It was a long opening leg, took only one picture en route to the first rest stop.
The rest stop was at 24 miles in. I wish I had double checked the cue sheet before leaving this morning and would have taken a bit more water. Hindsight.
The stop was at a small playground. Usual snacks and filled up my bottles.
Took the time to actually check the mileage to the next stops.
The next 14 miles were along railroad tracks and then into a wildlife management area.
The second stop was routine and uneventful, but another 14 miles later the third stop was gorgeous. We were at Twin Bridges Landing along Lake Sinclair. The clouds looked like they were painted onto a canvas.
A final 14 or so miles wrapped up the third of the three roughly equal splits, and the day’s ride was over.
Tomorrow is a rest day, so my mother met me here in Milledgeville, Georgia to get dinner.
We went to an amazing Thai place, Kai Thai.
I grabbed an IPA and some spicy flat noodles with chicken, pork, and beef combination.
This was. The. Best. Asian noodle dish I've ever had. The sauce was fantastic, and the spice level was on point. Shout out to Kai Thai.
Back to the hotel for a stretching session, massage gun, and anything else I can do to get the legs in tip top shape for Thursday. It's slated to be not just the longest ride of the week, but the most miles I've ever done in a day.
Today's stats:
Day 2
First, happy World Bicycle Day!
Eestablished by the United Nations in 2018, and celebrated June 3rd each year.
Up at 5:00 a.m. to freshen up and pack up my sleeping gear. Then, food truck breakfast starting at 5:30 a.m.
Not the best breakfast wrap, that's a small food boat for scale, but ride fuel was necessary.
Close to 10 miles in was the first rest stop. Hosted at a local, cycling-friendly family's house. They had grape vines growing in the front yard. I didn't get snacks here, just filled up my empty bottle.
Most of today's ride was through rural Georgia, so lots of beautiful, but similar looking, farmland. One picture I had to take passing the sign:
The second rest stop around 25 miles in was next to a local coffee shop. A Georgia (Masters tournament) delicacy was served up, pimento cheese sandwiches.
The final stop, around 42 miles in was at Hard Labor Creek State Park. Quite the name.
Got a picture by the Lake Rutledge and of some turtles.
Rolling into our host town for the night, Social Circle, Georgia was a reminder of Freeport. A charming, small town with one intersection with traffic lights.
I stopped at Tin Plate for dinner.
I had a few beers and a sandwich.
The Hopsecutioner was my favorite of the three.
The sandwich was delicious. I doubled down on pimento cheese. Like the other day: when in Rome.
On the way out I befriended the cat you probably missed in the right of the first photo.
Then, a short walk back to the campsite for a nap before dinner.
A few hours later after some shut eye, a shower, and charging up electronics was dinner. A local BBQ food truck.
66 miles tomorrow, then a rest day on Wednesday before heading into the second, harder half of the trip.
Today's stats:
Day 1
Early rise, 4:30 a.m. After a quick shower and double checking my electronics were all charged (it doesn't count if it's not on Strava, right?) it was off to Waffle House for breakfast. When in Rome, do as the Roman's. I don't have this chain around home.
Then it was off to the start of the ride. Thanks, Mom, for taking some pictures of me.
With over 800 people riding, the mass start was crowded, intense, but awesome. Police escorts for the start of our way into Downtown Atlanta.
The first rest stop was at around 10 miles in. A bit early to eat, but I topped off the water bottles.
The next rest stop was at around 26 miles in. Hosted by Aztec Cycles. Grabbed a bunch of snacks to refuel and sat down for a bit.
The next bit of riding was hilly as we went around (thankfully not over) Stone Mountain. The surrounding park was very nice. Well paved, municipal golf course, all the works.
Our next stop near 49 miles in was at a hosted by a horse stable near Georgia International Horse Park. I made some new friends.
Finally, it was a hilly 8 miles into our host for the night, Oxford College of Emory University.
BRAG has an IPA commissioned for the ride! Had one with a burger.
This was a medium length day, but some of the most climbing I've ever done. Let's see how some R&R has me feeling in the morning.
Traveling Down - Day 3
Up early today with much better sleep than the night before. Took advantage of the free breaker at the hotel, then a quick sync up to go over today’s plan.
We set off just after 7:30 a.m. to head enter Great Smoky Mountains NP.
The plan was to head to the Cades Cove section of the park, do half of the scenic loop, and then cut south after a stop at the Visitor Center to begin heading towards Georgia.
This section of the park was breathtaking. I highly recommend it to anyone who visits.
The Visitor Center was small but nice, got a stamp for my logbook and did a short walking tour of the old mill buildings nearby.
Hopping back in the car after the walking tour, we started to head south. At first it was a typical NP road, but then we came to this sign:
I had an absolute blast on this road. Crossing over water about a dozen times. The SUV was more than capable, but we did see a small convertible trying to pull off to turn around about a mile in. We're not sure how that went with it being one way and more people coming behind us. I wish them the best of luck.
The dirt road ended right along US-129, best known as The Dragon. 318 turns in 11 miles. I first heard of this road during my time with a motorcycle, but never made a trip down. It was still fun in a car. Very active driving.
Stopped at a famous spot, Deal's Gap Motorcycle Resort, to get a shirt.
Lunch was at a Mexican spot not to far after crossing into North Carolina.
A bit more country road driving then rolled into Atlanta to checked in at my hotel.
Unpacking some gear, setting up my bike computer to charge, and it was off to registration for BRAG.
After registration was dinner at a trippy, Alice in Wonderland themed pizza pace. Amazing decorations and fantastic food.
Ordered a beer and mocktail to drink, and Sriracha Honey wings and The Merry Prankster pizza to share.
Ride starts tomorrow. Time for bed!
Traveling Down - Days 1 and 2
Travel Down, Day 1 - 30 May
Finished work, some last minute packing, and headed off to Beckley, West Virginia. Sandwiches in the car, drove straight through four and a half hours, and we arrived at our lodging for the night. Not that eventful, was dark when we got in.
Travel Down, Day 2 - 31 May
Up at a decent hour, but didn't get good sleep. I used to be able to sleep in hotels so much better when it was weekly for work. I miss those days.
Grabbed breakfast next to the hotel at Chick-fil-A. It was, as usual, just OK.
Then it was off to New River Gorge NP with my mother.
The Sandstone Visitor Center and boardwalk at the falls were nice, but it was time to find lunch.
We found a local place in Hinton, West Virginia called Market On Courthouse Square.
After lunch was the main event for New River Gorge NP, the main overlook at the Grandview Visitor Center.
Next was another four and a half hour drive to Gatlinburg, Tennessee to get ready for Great Smoky Mountains NP tomorrow.
We made a stop at Buc-ee's. It's just a giant gas station, but it's a thing. Passenger car only, no trucks allowed. It's the biggest gas station in the country, 120 gas pumps, 74,000 square feet inside, and noteworthy food options. After everything I've heard, it was worth a stop.
I recommend the jerky counter with unlimited samples. I picked two to buy. Then the sliced brisket sandwich we split was good too.
The view coming over the hill after getting off from Interstate 40 was gorgeous. I didn't realize the Smokys, or any of the Appalachians, looked this way from a distance. Not exactly the way the Rockies pop up suddenly behind Denver, but enough of a view that I was amazed.
That said, Pigeon Forge and even Gatlinburg are much more commercialized than I ever imagined. A part of me felt like I was in Orlando.
I'm excited to get into the actual park tomorrow!
2024's Adventure
Fresh off of Cycle The Erie Canal I was eager to plan my next adventure.
Looking online, there were a number of trails I was interested in doing. Self supported across Missouri on the Katy Trail? The luxury of a supported tour last year had me really second guessing that idea. Pedal Across Lower Michigan? Maybe in 2025 when it's a southern route, ending closer to family.
Then I came across BRAG, Bicycle Ride Across Georgia. Billed as, “City to Sea,” The planned route is 384 miles from Atlanta to Savannah with six days of riding broken up into two parts with a layover day in the middle. Optional out and back ride during the layover, but I'm thinking I'll rest the legs!
I'll have my Garmin inReach updating my map page along the ride, and try my best to post pictures and recap in the evenings.
Traveling down and back I'm planning on stopping at four national parks. On the way down, New River Gorge NP in West Virginia, and the Tennessee side of Great Smoky Mountains NP. The return from Savannah, pending how I'm feeling, may include stops at Congaree NP in South Carolina, and Shenandoah NP in Virginia.
Stay tuned and join me virtually on this year's trip!