I had been feeling guilty for only riding 14 miles today, but that’s silly. I’ve had plenty of 50-mile days lately, I’m making really good time, and it’s a holiday. I waited until the last possible moment to leave Yemassee. I rode my bike over to Waffle House when I got up, and had 2 eggs over easy, a biscuit and hash browns. Covered, chunked, diced and capped. That means with cheese, tomato, ham and mushrooms. I selected a few songs on the jukebox, and I was a happy lady. Love that Waffle House!
I went back to the hotel, waited a while and then went for a swim. I got all my stuff together and headed to Ridgeland. It was a pretty straight shot on a road that ran alongside I-95. I arrived in Ridgeland, and I have to say, no community on this trip so far has been so impressed and supportive of my ride as they were in Ridgeland, South Carolina. I stopped at RiteAid to get some Orajel (I bit my tongue), earplugs and eye drops. A man approached me and asked if I was the one he just saw going down the road pulling a trailer. I said yes, and he said “Girl, you’re amazing!” and handed me a ten dollar bill. He told me to use it for lunch. I thanked him profusely.
I rode down to the post office to mail a card, and on my way back, a couple of women on an ATV stopped me. They were decorating for the 4th of July. I told them I was on my way to Key West and as I rode off, one of them shouted “I wish I was as brave as you!”
When I checked out of the hotel in the morning, the man at the desk was shocked when I told him I was riding 55 miles on my bike. He followed me out, looked at my bike and grabbed my hand and shook it. He said, “I think that’s just amazing, what you’re doing. Good for you!” And as I left town, a woman with a Burley trailer in her truck (for her daughter) pulled over and waited for me to ride up. She gave me a high-five and said that I’m her hero. It all made me feel very happy and proud. Tomorrow I’ll be in Georgia!
I’m so happy with how this ride has gone. Sure, there have been some tough times, but they’ve always been balanced out with the amazing, sweet people I’ve met and a nice meal or two! I have so many new friends and there’s so many places I want to come back to and spend more time. I hope I’ve inspired people. One thing I’ve heard a lot is this: “You’re biking to Key West?? I couldn’t make it to the end of my street!” My reply is: “Yes, you could. The only things holding you back are the words you just said and the belief that they are true.”
I agree with Ridgeland - you are brave, you are badass, and you are doing something I am living vicariously through (though could never do). I read your blogs at night. Sometimes I forget and I get to binge a couple days and I get lost in the adventure a little. I think, “who has Katy met today?” Or, “Good God, how is she functioning in heat and thunder?” You need to be posting more photos of yourself in all these destinations because it’s not your bike perched next to a sign- it’s you you’re going to want to look back on and remember. And you we want to see smiling at the Georgia sign! Have locals take some pics! Or ask someone to take some with them. It’s the people that make this journey cool too. Still wish this blog had photos— I’d love it. 🚲
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