April 19, 2024
To Georgetown
There was much discussion last night about how to get to Georgetown, South Carolina. This was going to be a two-day ride from Charleston but I could only find one place to stay on the way - a primitive campground with no bathroom, no water, certainly no indoor activity center and likely a healthy mosquito population. Not appealing.
Ultimately we decided to suck it up and ride all the way in one go. I've mapped an 88 mile route that meanders on and off U.S. 17. That would surely be a record for us touring loaded. We can cut the mileage by skipping some of the detours off the highway; the more we do on 17, the sooner we'll get there. And it'll be a hotel night, another incentive to go the distance.
At 7 am on my way back from an early morning writing jag at the campground activity center, I pass Mike all loaded up and on his way out, fast. The mosquitos have nailed him so badly that he has blood running down his hand. We definitely don't want to camp tonight.
An hour later Barry and I are on the road in hot pursuit. Well, at least lukewarm pursuit. On our way out of Charleston we cross the spectacular Arthur Ravenel Jr. bridge on a wide multi-use path.
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The Ravenel Bridge delivers us to the quiet neighborhood streets of Mt. Pleasant. The Publix store here is the last real food stop before Georgetown so we stop to pick up some sandwiches for lunch.
For the next 38 miles we're on and off U.S. 17. As we skip some of the detours where the shoulder of 17 looks fine, our projected mileage total drops. Most of the way the shoulder is decent, traffic is moderate and we're lucky enough to have a tailwind again.
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With 18 miles to go we swing south of the highway on the North Santee River Road and find a shady spot for a lunch break. This stretch runs by old plantations, nice houses and plenty of fixer-uppers. It's all flat and easy.
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We finish with 78 miles, which feels a lot better than the original prospect of 88. It's the first time this year that we've ridden past Barry's age, with three extra miles past that milestone.
Mike is already chilling out at the Quality Inn. He took more of the detours off 17 and had some extra work to do on a road that degraded into sand. And still, he had extra time and energy for a liquor store run to toast the big ride with celebratory Margaritas. Get you a touring buddy like Mike.
No camp dinners with Walmart fare tonight; we're treating ourselves at the River Room on the Georgetown waterfront. Tomorrow we'll ride to Myrtle Beach and use the day we saved on the road for an extra day at the beach.
Today's ride: 78 miles (126 km)
Total: 1,071 miles (1,724 km)
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