I slept very soundly and didn't hear a peep of fireworks. I slept with earplugs in and was oblivious to everything up on the fourth floor. Rolled over at midnight and considered getting up but decided to sleep a bit more and got up at 1:42. Got back on the road at 2:30 or so. It was still 81 degrees in town and it took 10 miles of highway riding to break free of Augusta sprawl. Thankfully the road was deserted. Saw many deer, a couple raccoons, and a fox. I turned off the highway well before sunrise and enjoyed a series of gravel and quiet paved roads through Lincoln and Wilkes counties. The sky was totally clear so it warmed up super fast and was already hot by the time I got to my first stop in Elberton at an Ingles. I got a lot of food and water here even though Hartwell was less than 40 miles away. I felt sore and far from 100% but considering the worst case scenario of how I thought I would feel I was doing good. I pressed on through quiet back roads near and over lakes, and enjoyed what shade there was on the gravel roads. Rolled into Hartwell still feeling good but it was really really hot even though it wasn't even 11am. So I decided to sit inside some ac for awhile and get some Burger King. They had to make me an impossible burger but it didn't take that long and I was happy to cool off. I refilled my drink witg tons of ice and snuggled it in my feedbag where it's pretty insulated from the heat. I rode some busy but fast road north out of town and was very glad to turn off. Hartwell was busier than you would think at first glance from its size. But soon enough I was on quiet roads. And as I went north and up in elevation it was ever so slightly cooler. Not by much as I was still cooking. I was taking the heat pretty well and was keeping a positive outlook despite it. However at about mile 126 just north of I-85 I crossed a creek that had some lovely shoals and good flow. It was right by the road and easy to get down to so I took the opportunity and took a little mini dip in the water. A couple of the rocks had a pool deep enough to fit myself inside. Instantly I was cool to almost the point of chills after plunging in the 60 degree water in stark contrast to the upper nineties air temperature. I only spent a couple minutes here but it was well worth the stop even though I had only just stopped at an unplanned brand new DG market where I got a Cheerwine. Getting through Stephens county to get to Toccoa was extremely hot and hilly and busier than I would have liked. As I rode north the clouds had gathered into a couple of storms so I was getting pretty excited about the possibility of rain saving the day. So it wasn't a hard decision to stop at the Dairy Queen to cool off. I got a vanilla milkshake with fries and onion rings and a soda. I actually found it hard to finish my food as I was pretty full from the milkshake. Nature called as well while here which I was thrilled about because it's such a pain to take care of things in extreme heat. I rode on through the rest of the Toccoa area which was pretty fun and crossed the Tugaloo river on a very deserted highway. Began climbing in South Carolina away from the river very slowly in the still crazy heat. I tried my best to take it easy and save energy for the last push up the climbs to Highlands. But first was a minor climb up a forest service road. It was still extremely hot at the base where there was a gate and a road closed sign. I went around and found the other side a little grown up with foliage but fine. Then another area further down was blocked off with concrete barriers. I went around this and found that the roadbed had been recently seeded with grasses. This was slow going. Soon after I came across a road washout or landslide. It was easy enough to go around on foot along the narrow edge that was still intact. More new grass then soon after another concrete barrier. Then I was on gravel but grown up from lack of vehicle use, then soon after a road closed gate blocking vehicles. Right then a storm suddenly came up out of nowhere and the wind picked up and the temperature dropped 20-30 degrees. I secured my phone and other sensitive stuff in bags and pushed on to the descent as light rain began to fall. I expected a deluge but never saw anything more than steady light rain. But the job of knocking back the heat was accomplished and I was happy. I rode through a lovely valley beside Brasstown creek and then did a short highway climb up to a little general store and gas station. The rain had passed over and I was really looking forward to some soda and then getting on with the rest of the ride through beautiful forest to Highlands. Got a soda for the road and a little extra snack for insurance against bonking. I had plenty of food but was starting to get picky and losing my appetite a bit. After this I was on some pretty deserted roads in upstate SC and encountered a closed road that turned out to be just a bridge that was being replaced. A concrete layer had just been poured so I was able to walk across around all the rebar and equipment. Soon I was climbing proper and I took it easy and was really glad the rain had come through to cool things off. I was pretty fatigued by this point and was going really slow. I crawled up highway 28 and the steep pitches of Clear Creek road. I was overjoyed to reach the Highlands city limits sign and cruise through the back streets right at sunset. Every little rise was difficult for me by this point and I was really looking forward to finishing. The descent through the gorge in twilight was spectacular and i really enjoyed the moment despite all efforts of both rides. At the end I felt pretty destroyed. My right knee was sore and I had some unbelievable chafing. Although not as much as I had feared. I was sore everywhere, from my hands and feet to my lower back. It was all manageable but I was glad to be finished. I definitely doubted myself before, during and even near the end that I would be able to finish in such extreme conditions. But I found a way.