The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

South Carolina is definitely not the greatest state to conduct a bike tour. The are some beautiful back roads that skirt some of the old plantations but there are others that were unpaved sand based paths. And the most terrifying again was highway 17 with no shoulder and speeding cars. At this point I just want to get to North Carolina and hopefully safer roads.

On the back roads we had a chance to see the old south. Rice plantations and low country living still lingers in these modern times. Ancient churches and graveyards lined our route. But all too often the quite rural roads lead us back to the dreaded Route 17.

About 12 miles from Charleston after a harrowing 4 miles on Route 17 we found the Greenway bike path into the city. It was a great relief but once it ended Dick and I had to cross the bridge into Charleston during rush hour. There was no shoulder and cars were honking at us every few second. I am happy to report that by using Google Maps we found the gym where we’re staying tonight. The name of the gym is Ethos and it, without a doubt, is a premiere facility. The employees have bent over backwards to make us comfortable and Lauren McGuffey provided us with a wonderful dinner. I’m sleeping in the spinning room which seems appropriate.

Lauren and her children provide dinner

Great hospitality at Ethos

Tomorrow we have another long day, 98 miles. I’ll probably do an extra few miles just to say I did a century.

My Aero/Tech Design gloves still providing comfort after 6,000 miles.