7/1/00
Pooler, GA
Mileage 105 miles
Max. 25.8 mph
Avg. 14.03 mph

Today was the last full day of riding. Tomorrow, I will complete the last 25 miles or so to Tybee Island and wet the bike's front tire in the Atlantic Ocean, having wet the back in the Pacific.

The day was not without frustrations. I had planned to stop in Blitchton or even Statesboro. That would have left 25 or 50 miles respectively to Savannah proper and Forsythe Park where a small formal celebration is planned at 2 pm.

Motels are few outside of Savannah I learned and so the choice was either to stop in Statesboro or hammer on to Pooler. With so much time remaining in the day I decided to go on. As a result, I will get my picture taken on Tybee Island just as it was in Santa Monica, at the beginning of the trek.

Thankfully the sky was overcast through mid-afternoon. That kept the heat index low despite the high humidity. After Statesboro the terrain flattened and the average mph shows it. Anytime the average goes above 14 as it did today, it's flat.

Armadillos remained in evidence until 20 or so miles west of Savannah where shells from road kills disappeared. Their flesh is pink, fatty like that of dogs. I saw dog meat in China. It didn't appeal for the pet reason but also because it looked unhealthy. Armadillo meat looks unhealthy too.

The turtle rescue program was called into service in the afternoon. A box turtle had made it to the center line and shut down as turtles are want to do. On a bike it is easy to stop and usher someone across the road which is what this turtle needed. To discourage road crossing behavior in the future, I rolled it down a short slope into a marshy area.

Since I was riding late, I stopped at Sandy's Seafood about 15 miles from Pooler. Seating was tight, and I offered to join someone. A Mr. Monroe consented.

We talked with genuine interest in one another, but I noticed that I was running low on the bit of energy I need to have another person disclose something unique about themselves.

I realized then that I was tired not only from the long ride of the day but that I was spinning down from the trek as well. I'm just getting a little tired from the grind. I'm glad to wind things up tomorrow.