Taking a vacation day today from riding As much as everyone thinks I’m on vacation this week, it really is the most grueling of vacations in my life. It’s not just the long miles and endless hills, it’s the heat, humidity, bugs, flat tires, long lines at porta potties, searching for food, thunderstorms, lightening, sleeping in hot tent, getting up at 4:00 am, etc.
So today I took a vacation from most of that and rode in our charter’s vehicle today and they hauled my bike to our next overnight town, Perry. I know I could have made it here on bike, but I’d probably be in pain the rest of the week, I’ve saved my one temperamental knee and by not straining myself, I have a better chance of not doing something stupid and really hurting myself.
It really was fun to do something else today and I volunteered my services to help with the daily charter chores. But I’m ready to get back on the bike and do the rest of the ride.
Setting up camp (my tent is the yellow one)
Beautiful city!
Wonderful train murals above the booths of this beautifully restored hotel restaurant.
Another mural.
I was told the next morning by an older gentleman that Lance Armstrong stayed here. This fellow was outside when Lance pulled up in a Hummer and got out. He showed me the picture of him and Lance. And I must have just missed it, I was in the back of the lobby about that time!
This is the air conditioned theater where I outsmarted the heat gods.
Not sure what the theme of this city was, but they had these signs up and Kiss music playing when we rode into town.
Look! They still have a Ben Franklin Five and Dime!
Wish I could have taken a picture off the 20 riders sound asleep well before the movie started. Movie was R.I.P.D which I highly recommend.
Walking the mile back to your campsite from downtown spotted these birds on the water towel. Yep, turkey vultures again. It must be me they are waiting for. There were a couple dozen perched on the top of the tower, many more flying around.
Quite the storm rolled through that evening with high winds, rain, constant thunder and hail. It blew one of our campers tents away, but an extra was found so he could continue the trip.