Trip 2.21

Day 21 really begins on Night 20. I climbed into my tent after saying goodnight to my neighbors, did a little housekeeping, checked my map, my mail, had a snack, and finally settled down to sleep.

Once I'm asleep, I'm dead until morning. I've always been like this. On these bike trips it's a little harder to fall asleep because of all the physical activity of the day.

On this particular night I didn't get to sleep for hours. It wasn't the ground, or insects, or noise. It was the heat. I'm sure it never fell below 80 all night, and the wind that had been bothering me all day had completely subsided.

I opened the tent flap completely. No help. I stared up at the few stars I could see through the haze. No help. I went down to the air-conditioned bathroom at least twice. The temporary relief made the outside air worse in contrast. I left the tent completely and sat at the picnic table with my head down on my travel pillow. Nope. I tried to figure out a way to possibly sleep back in the bathroom.

I'm not sure when I fell asleep, but I remember having multiple dreams about the camp. I dreamt that I woke in the morning and all my stuff had been moved, and my superintendent and her girls were now camping next to me.

As soon as I woke I had to get out, even though I had gotten only a few hours of sleep. The sun was just high enough to be heating the tent. Somehow I got everything packed and visited the beach before heading out.





I'm trying hard to smile.





I wanted a short day. I felt a twinge of guilt, but it turns out if I hadn't taken a short day I might not have ended up here, lying comfortably in a friends' house after a great evening with them. (More about that later.)

I remember these shops so distinctly from our trip to Disney with the Ciccarellis back in the 80s. As Joe and I perused the long-sleeved OP shirts, Kristen and Joanne were trying on Panama Jack hats.


Rear flat tire. No mystery this time.





Georgetown was the closest town that would offer some accommodations. I booked a room through Travelocity. I wish I had a good joke here; I just love this review:


Georgetown put me 30 miles further south, which is nothing to scoff at, I guess. The day was insanely hot again, and I spent the afternoon napping, washing my clothes in the tub, and catching the end of Le Tour. (Evans deserved the victory, but I've been rooting for Andy Schleck for two years.)

I know I'm not an "outdoorsman". I can't do two nights of camping in a row. I'm prepared, just in case. But give me air-conditioning and cable and I'll keep on biking.

Location:Church St,Georgetown,United States