Trip 2.13

It didn't take too long before the hills were behind me. Only the most northern section of Delaware has any elevation to speak of. The rest is flat, flat, flat.

I stopped for my first meal at a Chick-fil-A, a fast food place I've seen quite a bit down here. Two white-haired guys asked about my trip, and the kid behind the counter was rattling off some Tour trivia in an effort to be extra polite.

As I was going through my routine of gearing up to get back on the bike, I bent over to fix my shoe. A passing girl (no older than 15) patted my butt. It took a second to register. I just said, "Hey." She did it to make her two friends giggle. They did.


New wheels, and a new state to cross. A flat state.


I added the picture below to explain why I often like roadwork. It forces the traffic out of my way, and gives me my own lane. Turns out I didn't really need my own lane since Delaware has the best shoulders I've ever seen. Route 13 runs straight through the middle of the state, and the roads are in excellent condition. The shoulders are almost always a lane wide. They're essentially built as permanent right-turning lanes, and thru traffic is not allowed in them.

I looked up some facts about Delaware. It has the fifth greatest population density in the U.S. It seemed strange. I never went through what would actually be considered "urban". From the beginning, the landscape was a flat, four-lane, divided highway with strip malls and other businesses along both sides. And it never changed. That same pattern went on for the entire 70 miles of my day. That explains the density.








Even if the wind had not been almost constantly at my right shoulder all day, this would have been long, tiring haul. When I'm not used to it, flat is difficult. Simply put, I don't get to stop pedaling. No coasting on downhills. That leaves no time to stand up out of the saddle, stretch my back, stretch my legs. Stop pedaling, stop moving.

So I pedaled. I pedaled all the way to Seaford, DE. A huge thanks to Shaan at the Days Inn for taking pity on me and giving me a great deal for the night.

Boring day.

http://www.google.com/m/url?client=safari&ei=0VwiTvDCI9KQlAes2MbqAQ&hl=en&oe=UTF-8&q=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3D6M_1fGshM1o&ved=0CCIQtwIwAw&usg=AFQjCNGGBGVefWOaX2VBZi3X8kJcIsHPTQ

Location:Sussex Hwy,Seaford,United States