Whew! :)
Made it! :)
Barely! :)
Woke up this morning, read for a little while, then got on the bike. After a smooth-rollin' day yesterday, figured more of the same today. Wrong! Instead, as soon as I got on the first bit of road, just a few feet in, pop! Flat tire. And on the new rim which I recently learned has some kind of unusual sizing issue.
Turned out I ran over a huge nail! I struggled with the new tube for a little while, and got it in quicker than expected. However, while inflating it, the thing broke! I knew it was a bit risky, my remaining unpatched tubes are all of a valve type not exactly meant for this wheel (Presta instead of my wheel's Schrader). Anyway, luckily I had one more unopened spare, so with considerably more struggle with the rim, I got the last tube in, and got rolling again.
Still have a few bike issues with brakes and other parts -- ok, lots of issues! And with the sometimes narrow shoulders around here, having challenges, but still making headway.
By the way, riding on the highway is mutually beneficial -- highway symbiosis -- as I create a lane out of an otherwise empty area, and speed up the traffic passing me, and the big trucks occasionally give me a lift with their air drafts, and they get a smooth road built that wouldn't be there just for bikes. Plus we get to encourage each other to our destinations! :)
Had a good ride, made it to the next town, Maysville, NC. The people in this area are very friendly. After some good chats and too much food, rode on. With night setting in, just made it to New Bern… birthplace of Pepsi! :)
Beautiful place around here, lots of charming countryside, settlement, and some booming developments. Now sitting outside a laundromat that advertises wifi, and next to a barbeque joint (chicken & seafood) that actually has available wifi. By the way, a BBQ place is the best location to use wifi, for the smells! :)
Rock & Roll!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
We really give a hoot!
