Day 20: Slow going inland

After last nights swarm of mosquitos I retreated to the tent and itched and squirmed for about an hour before I restlessly fell asleep. Having wanted to be up by 6am I felt lucky enough to check my phone to find that it was 6:23am. Without hurrying I managed to pack up camp, tent and all and get on the road to the pier to catch the first ferry of the day.

Only I was three minutes late. They were backing the ferry away from the dock as I pulled up. The next one wasn’t for three hours. By the time I hit land again I was three hours late in starting. It was already noon and I had at least 70 miles to go.

70 miles is really just a guestimate, the directions provided by Google maps had me turning down a private, gated off road with trespassing signs posted everywhere. With no alternative I pushed on down the only road that seemed to be going in the right direction.

20 miles later at a roadside gas station/convience store I tried to figure out where I was and how to get where I was going, only they didn’t carry maps. Neither did the next four gas stations. Reluctantly I had to rely on people to provide me with directions. So far on this trip that has been a mistake in every instance, people just know know where they are or how to get anywhere else.

Its like asking someone how far away something is, “just down the road” or “right down the street”, means between 3 to 8 miles, “ten minutes away” means anywhere from 10 to 25 miles away.

Anyway I decide that maybe I remember rt. 70 and maybe it leads away from the coast inland, and maybe I can get where I’m going if I keep following it. 50 miles into the day and I am able to check a map at a gas station. I was right, 70 to 24 west and I’m pretty much home for the night.

The map was $13 so I figure I can do without, 90% of the route is memorized as far as Savannah anyway. Maybe.

Then the thunder and lighting storms I was trying to get ahead of catch up with me and I seek refuge in a Hardee’s. Good burger and Onion Rings. The rain stops and I ride, and the rain comes back full force.

So I decide to call it a night and splurge on a hotel room, do some laundry, get online. Only its Saturday and the room is twice as much as I thought. Oh well, I’ll make up the 15 or so miles I was supposed to do today tomorrow. For now I’m showered, and out of the rain.

And watching cable tv and finishing off my Chili Cheese Frito’s like a lazy bastard.