Calhoun Falls To Hamilton Branch

4/8/2003

This was by far the best day.  I woke up in a bed, warm and dry.  That is always a good way to start a day.  I got up at 7:00 but it was way too foggy to leave so I had coffee and some donuts while I watched TV.  The TV has been my first major news contact with the war.  In my world it's just me, the road, and the weather.  It seems a little trivial compared to what our troops are going through, and I use them for motivation when things get hard.  At least no one is shooting at me.

 

I got rolling at 8:12.  It was very gray but it was not raining.  The first 17 miles was gently rolling and I really cruised along for the first time.  At 17 miles I turned right and started cutting across the valleys.  It was up and down for the next 12 miles or so.  It was cold again today and I could see my breath but the hills did warm me up.  I guess that’s a good thing.

 

I stopped in Plum Branch for lunch at the Mini-Mall.   It was a pretty neat place that had just about anything.  It’s a good thing too, because there is nothing else in Plum Branch.  I was able to get a post card at the Mini-Mall and mailed off an anniversary note to Susan.  April 10^th makes 33 years.

 

As I got to Hamilton Branch it started to rain.  They are calling for 2 inches.  I hope they miss it.  The rangers are letting me stay under a picnic shelter and that's a big help.  I won't be as soaked as I was at Hartwell.  It also gives me a dry place to cook.  I had another great road meal of instant mashed potatoes and canned beefL.  At least the hot chocolate is good.  I also have an electrical outlet so I plugged in my phone charger.  The reception has been spotty at times, but I have always been able to call. 

 

Today was a short day.  My body loves short days, but my mind does not.  Not much to do at a rainy camp site, especially one you arrive at around 1:30.  After biking in the rain to the bath house and getting a really hot shower (always the highlight of the day) I sit and listen to my radio.  Its times like this when I begin to rethink this solo part.

 

The numbers for the day

Total miles today 46.9 dr. to dr.

Average biking MPH 10.8

Total time 5:30 (8.5 mph)

Total miles to date 210

 

PS 7:00 PM

As I sit & listen to the short-wave radio I am watching four deer across the cove come down to the lake.  They are completely oblivious of me.   I have seen a lot of deer and turkeys while riding down the road but this is the first time I’ve seen any while in camp.

 

Hamilton Branch to Aiken

4/9/2003

Today again started gray and cold, but at least the rain had stopped.  The road was nice all the way down 28 until I missed my turn.  I stopped where I was supposed to turn, but the route number was different so I went on.  I realized I had missed it after about a 1.5 miles down hill.  I climbed back up to a cut off that would intersect with my road.   Shortly after re-finding my way I meet a feller biker riding towards me.  As we said hello his wife pedaled up and joined us.  We talked for a while and they told me I was now going the right direction.  They reviewed my route into Aiken to make sure I would not get lost again.  From there until I pulled out of Aiken 20 miles later I rode up some of the toughest grades and hills of the trip.  They didn’t me tell about those.  These hills were not as steep as hwy 11, but they were miles long.  Somehow I ended up doing 10 more miles than I had planned, what with my missed turn and a detour some other locals talked me into.  The detour added some miles but was a flat to a slightly down hill grade for fifteen miles.   I made my turn to the Park and rode down hill for another 5.3 miles (that’s going to be fun climbing tomorrowL).  I pulled into the State Park just as the rain hit.  Again I am under a picnic shelter.   I'm cold too.  Today is the coldest.  It is 5:00.

 

I called Susan around 6:00 after I had my shower.  The showers always warm me up, but the ride back to the camp site in the cold rain just about took all the warmth I had.  (That’s the problem with staying under the picnic shelters.  They are usually a mile or two from the campground and the bath houses.  That means you have 2 or 3 mile round trip for a shower.  In the rain!)  I told Susan if she pulled up in the truck I would load up and leave then no questions asked.  She told me she would come get me, but I told her I was going to give it one more day.  It had to stop raining. Right?

 

The numbers for the day

Total miles today 63.7 dr. to dr.

Average biking MPH 9.7

Total time 7:53 (8.5 mph)

Total miles to date 275

 

 

Aiken to Barnwell

4/10/2003

I was too tired and cold to cook last night, so I just climbed into my sleeping bag and listened to my radio.  The next thing I knew it was midnight.  The wind was blowing and the rain was coming down in bucket fulls.    I closed my eyes again and it was morning.  I could not believe I had slept so well. 

 

I got up to a light rain.  I called Susan to tell her if things didn't improve drastically I was giving it up.  The 5 mile climb from the park was not as bad as I had thought it would be, but at the top the rain started to fall harder.  Today is the coldest day by far too.   I have on my leg warmers, rain pants, wool socks & sandals, rain booties, riding jersey, wool t-shirt, rain coat, two sweat bands pulled over my ears, and my riding gloves.  You know … the ones with no fingers.  They work great for keeping your palms warm, not too good for keeping the fingers warm and dry.  That 5 mile climb had me sweating and I was wet under my rain coat.  Gortex or not, it can't keep me dry.   I put out more moisture than it can vent.  My biggest worry was feet.   About 10 miles from Barnwell the rain was really falling and it had gotten colder.  By now my feet were wet and frozen.  It was then I decided I had given it my best shot and I was calling for help.  The last 10 miles were the longest of the trip.  I can’t remember a more miserable time.  Not only was I cold and wet, but I was hungry.   I had not fixed anything to eat last night, so I had not eaten since 2:00 PM yesterday.  I had expected to see a store or pantry but there was nothing the whole way to Barnwell. 

 

It was around this time that my bike, that had preformed flawlessly the past five days, started having shifting problems.  Six days of rain and road grime had started to take its toll.  It would not shift into the big gears.  A little adjustment as I was rolling a long and I got it to shift up.   As I rolled into Barnwell I started up a hill.  It was then that I found out I could no longer shift into the low gears!  A quick turn on the cable adjuster allows me to down shift.   As I pedaled up the hill I pulled into the first restaurant I came to, a Hardees.  I ordered one of their biggest burger meals.  After eating I called Susan.  It was 12:00 noon and she said she would come get me.  I then ordered another big burger meal and here I sit.

 

 My plan is this.  We will go on to Edisto Island and spend the day Friday.   If the weather looks good and I feel like it, I will leave from there to continue my journey.

 

I just talked with Susan and she is passing Clinton and Reece is driving.  That changes things.   I now have the option of coming home, or having them take me to Edisto and drop me off there.  Right now I am planning on coming home.  Its 1:26 and still raining. 

 

The numbers for the day

Total miles today 28.7 dr. to dr.

Average biking MPH 10.9

Total time 2:38 (10.9 mph)

Total miles to date 305

 

Epilogue

4/11/2003

It’s Friday and I have put away the camping gear.  I washed my bike and removed the chain to clean and lube it.  As I was inspecting the wheels I discovered a broken spoke on my rear wheel.  I don’t know when this happened, but I suspect it was recently because the wheel was not out of round too bad.  I replaced the spoke and took the wheel to the bike shop to be trued.  I cleaned and lubed the cables and the shifting problems cleared up.  I guess ole Green had suffered along with me.  She’s back together now and I took her for quick spin around the neighborhood.   She seems to working OK.  I checked the weather in Barnwell and the forecast is early morning rain with 50% chance for evening showers.  The high is only supposed to be 58.  I’m glad I’m Home.

 

The trip is not off, it just postponed.  I’m thinking about finishing either next month, or in early fall, around Labor Day.  Yeah, what could go wrong then?  Hey, when is hurricane season?

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