September 3
Sparse lodging choices in this area meant I had to ride 48 miles or 85 today, with no known options in between. (I've been riding 65-70 in these hills).. I picked 48, as I need some rest and I had chores to do. It was the right choice. At around 26 miles I found a wallet on the road. I picked it up and then realized I should hand it off to somebody local instead of trying to contact the owner myself. I found a store across from the pictured Stover's Tea Room, where the staff seemed local and trustworthy, and they gladly accepted the handoff and began working on calling the wallet's owner.
I did laundry a few miles later, cleaning and oiling my bike's chain and topping up the tire pressure while the wash ran. I then hung the laundry on the bike to dry, which worked well and provided a festive look while I parked for lunch and during hotel check-in. The cycling shorts made by Assos work especially well for this, as the padded insert is stitched in at front and back but detached in the middle, making it possible to hang the shorts by the pad from the handlebar.