The heat really got to me today. I rode 41 miles today and it was around 90 degrees, but there was no shade on A1A. There was no coffee or food available when I left, so I had to stop at a gas station down the road, where there was a Subway. I don’t mind Subway for lunch, but their breakfast sandwiches are pretty awful. I had some coffee and an orange juice and felt better.
I alternated between riding on the road and the sidewalk at first. When a huge apartment building provided some shade, I stopped to cover myself with sunscreen. A woman walking her dog said, “That’s very smart!” The scenery didn’t change much, and you’re not able to see much of the ocean here, so I put my music on to liven things up. As it got later, it got hotter and I was happy when I arrived in Vero Beach, because there was a CVS. I replenished my water supply and bought some toothpaste. I’m still trying to coordinate getting my prescription filled, so I called my doctor’s office and they said they’d call it into Fort Pierce. Cross your fingers. As I went by one of the developments in Vero Beach, I noticed it was owned by Disney. I heard Disney music playing, which confirmed it.
I switched to Google directions as I approached Fort Pierce. I was really struggling and the heat was really getting to me. I actually biked down the road, facing traffic, which is something I don’t like to do, but it was the only way to get some occasional shade. People were cool about it. I crossed a bridge over the Indian River and saw something that looked like a bunch of baby sharks feeding on a small school of fish. I stopped to watch for a minute. The water was a beautiful shade of blue green.
I made it to the hotel, and checked in. Unfortunately, there’s no washer and dryer here, and I really need to do laundry. Badly. Hopefully, I can do that in Stuart. I have a short day of riding tomorrow, which will be nice after the tough day I had today.
I went down to the restaurant to try my first Cuban sandwich (watch the movie Chef) and a nice man sitting at the bar with his daughter paid for my dinner. I guess people had been talking about me, and when I mentioned what I was doing, he said “Oh, that’s YOU” He was very interested and asked me about the ride. My sandwich arrived, and it was really good. I took half of it back to my room to have for breakfast in the morning. It’s so beautiful here. I didn’t go down to the ocean, I just sat and looked at it. It was my reward for the hot riding I did today, and I was grateful.
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