NYC -2- ATL

Today we woke up early to tackle what we knew would be our longest planned day. We were on the road by 8:00 and the weather was great. We made good time, but faced a bit of a headwind for most of the day. We saw a lot of agriculture today including corn, soy, wheat, watermelon and young pecan orchards.

The route was sparse with little chance for interaction, save lunch. We pulled into Allendale, SC right around lunchtime. We looked at the map and were deciding between our options of Subway and Hardee’s when a local resident saw the bikes and began to wander our way. After a quick back-and-forth about the recumbent, we asked where’s best to eat. He told us the church we were in front of was cooking up a bunch of chicken and about to give it all out for free!

We rolled around back of the church and met the Pastor, Apostle Michael Williams Sr. and told the kind folks making lunch about our journey. They said they wouldn’t have us eating at the Hardee’s and we should stick around and have some chicken. We mingled and talked with the Pastor and the people cooking and some of the folks waiting around for lunch. A few minutes later they gave everyone waiting a boxed lunch including smoked chicken, beans, rolls, a slice of cake and a juice box.

We thanked them all profusely and retired to the park across the street to eat with some of the other diners. While there, we plugged our chargers in and tried to get a few more miles of range in the batteries. Lunch was tasty and fun conversation. I walked across the way and bought four ice creams for dad and I and our new friends, but when I returned they had already moved along. Dad and I were able to dispose of the extra ice cream with no problems. We figured 40 minutes of extra charge was good enough and hit the road.

Back on the road, the miles rolled by. There wasn’t much of note until we got to the Savannah River and passed back into Georgia. We stopped at the welcome center, and chatted with the friendly person working there. They give out free cups of Coca-cola products from a fountain to visitors there, but they have no ice. I think a cup of Coke without ice in this heat is almost offensive, so I just filled my water bottle from the water fountain instead.

A few miles later, I spied what I believe are the cooling towers at the Vogtle nuclear power plant. Kind of ironic—all that electricity, and my batteries were waning fast. Somewhere around mile 85, they went completely dead. After a mile or so, we tried a church that looked promising, but the outdoor outlet was dead. A few miles further and I had pedaled to the outskirts of Waynesboro. We pulled into the fire station / 911 dispatch center and inquired about an outlet. They let us sit in the air conditioning, fill our bottles, use their restroom and charge our batteries.

After 20 minutes, we figured I had enough charge to make it another 2.5 miles to the hotel. I did, mostly… I pedaled hard just in case. We checked in and headed to the BBQ restaurant Dad had been remembering all day. The portions were massive and we both felt bad leaving so much behind, but the dinner was good and we will both sleep well tonight. Only a few days left now and I am getting really excited to see my family!