To Rain Gear, or Not to Rain Gear…

What a day! What nerves, what consensus-building, what roar of traffic from the left lane, what rain, what bliss — what a first great day!

We were expecting the rain, and we had different perspectives on departure, but a well-reasoned meeting over breakfast led to an 8:30 am departure time, come what may.

And after a 3.4 mile detour, which was an upshot of my bad navigation, we had a 2-hour window of rain free riding on lightly travelled rural roads. 

What a pleasant ride through North Carolina coastal farm country.

Our first break of the day at Hunter’s Crossing  near Silverdale, NC, and an opportunity to get out of rain gear, and a caffeine fix (an Orange Celsius for me).

At Hunter’s Crossing, Silverdale, NC

After lunch the rain started in earnest. Off in a driving rain that often became torrential. Taking a much needed moment away from traffic and donning rain gear again on NC 24. Broad Creek, NC.

No one stayed dry, especially Scott who ran point most of the day without rain gear. At least temperatures were in the low 70’s and manageable, but traffic was s constant roar four feet away to our left.

Ashley taking control to get us the last few miles to our Air BnB for the night in Morehead City, NC. For the record second, and last, Celsius stop of the day for my, with a much needed bathroom break at CVS.

The patio at our spacious Air BnB is a good place for a pack explosion and staging area for the bikes. Morehead City, NC.

More executive decisions being made: lodging for the next two evenings; where to eat dinner; where to resupply; ferry schedules; what to make for breakfast tomorrow … the crucial stuff! Morehead City, NC.

Do you know the way to Staples? Morehead City, NC.

Shipping stuff home…

… shopping for breakfast at Walmart …

… Mexican dinner at Plaza de Mexico Restaurant …

… massive portions … you know, the crucial stuff!

Day 1 (7):
Start: Jacksonville, NC
Finish: Morehead City, NC
Miles: 49.0

Leisurely start tomorrow, around 10am, after a home cooked breakfast — that’s why we shopped at Walmart, after all, and we’ll take our time riding to the 4:30 pm Ocracoke ferry. Much better weather forecast — that’s a welcome respite.

What I’m Reading:

Much of our country’s private lands have fallen into just a few hands, and there’s also an emerging crisis with the management and ownership of our public lands.

— Ken Ilgunas / This Land Is Our Land: How We Lost The Right to Roam and How to Take it Back