It was a sultry morning in Orangeburg, SC.
I headed to Cordova, Bamberg, Hunters Chapel Community, Ehrhardt, Rivers Bridge, Colston, and Govan.
I was in search of the perfect "century".
I tried to keep a good pace and of course miss this photo on the fly of my favorite house.
Near Spring Branch I see a cyclist. I appreciate these riders who ride bikes daily.
It was here that I heard some vultures say that they would "catch" me later.
20 MPH is an attainable goal sometimes.
Riding alone drops me to about18, sometimes less.
I love this home set in an oasis of Pecan trees.
Here's a cabin off the road.
These old farm houses are so beautiful.
Sandy road typical of the "low-country".
Hunters Chapel, a church for hunters, long ago.
A favorite farm greets you well in advance.
I love the Salkehatchie River below.
This is the biggest and longest hill on the ride unless it's the climb out of Orangeburg to Cordova.
Horses and a race track..
A pretty home in Ehrhardt..
Beautiful places and smiling faces..
An old RR depot..
Mount Pleasant Road goes left.
I take Ben Road for the first time.
Approaching Rivers Bridge State Park..
Perhaps a rest stop here on the "real century" in November?
You reap what you sow?.
Charming farmhouses.
Colston Community.
Ehrhardt Road toward Govan
Middle Place Road
Govan Road toward Bamberg.
I started to "bonk" well before Blewer Road toward Cordova.
I had gotten a coke at Snake Swamp Road on 301. It wasn't enough or soon enough.
Riders enjoying a Saturday.
I wondered if these guys would drop me. I was down to 8 MPH.
Below I find water at a faucet beside this salon.
It's mostly downhill from Cordova to Orangeburg.
I had nothing. Sometimes I've said that I "bonked" when perhaps I was "bonking".
Today I had a complete, full blown, "BONK". I actually wanted to lie down beside the road with 4 miles to go.
I called to the engine room. The lights were out and the silence was deafening.
I remember two full blown bonks in France that stand out very well.
I was riding Paris-Brest-Paris and bonked on the second day.
It took hours after replenishing to recover anything at all.
One bonk was during the day, another at night.
At night riding at 6-8 mph I just pulled off onto a gravel road to a field.
I lay there on my back on rocks listening to the whir of bikes passing.
There was nothing I could do. Today there was nothing I could do.
I took these last 2 pictures holding the camera out of the car window.
I scurried to the Bi-Lo nearby for a soy protein shake in a bottle.
I had quickly and briefly "bathed" in the Edisto River.
I unintentionally frightened children staggering down to the Edisto River.
I was a fried, mess.
The Edisto River was so wonderful. What a treasure.
The "century" came to 100 miles and 1 tenth of a mile by GPS calculations.
.
.
In the making!
1st Anal Rivers Bridge Ride 04
1st Anal RBR 04 (Make Up)
Paul & Michael 01-12-04
Adam,Brady,& MD 02-19-04
Brady & Michael 03-02-04
