Had breakfast, sat waiting for it to get light enough for me to hit the road. Cold and raining and forecast all day. Make the break at 7:45. Not a big road out of town, small rough hard shoulder. I have my lights on and riding on the road. Only just got out of the town and I’ve spotted four deer carcasses already. If the drivers are hitting them I’m back on the hard shoulder. Riding across a couple of small valleys this morning, up and down through the woods. I disturb a couple of feral pigs that run along with me for a second or two. A welcome break from the open fields of late. Weather is not improving.
After the woods it up with the wind turbines. I know I’m heading directly into the headwind, but it's confirmed by the angle of the turbines. This is going to be another testing day. After 30 miles I hear a spoke go in my rear wheel, looking down it's still running pretty true. So I push on. 50 miles in it’s time for lunch, I need to eat for my energy. There is know where to hide from the wind or rain. Pulling over I just sit on the bank, eating my sandwiches fruit and chocolate. Cars passing wave in acknowledgement, but they don’t stop and offer me thanksgiving dinner. One spoke broken one very loose, I tighten it just enough to keep it in place.
The road kill I’ve seen today is appalling, at least a dozen deer, 5/6 skunks, coyote's, ring tailed cats(Raccoon), feral pigs and Armadillos The pigs looked like a whole family had been wiped out in a single stroke. “The Road Kill Cafe” needs to get down here.
20 miles to go and it’s freezing fog, sleet and icy winds. I need to finish ASAP.
Pull into my motel, strip of and start drying my clothes. Remove the back wheel and set about replacing spokes and truing it up. Two new spokes and 20 minutes and it’s done. Repair a puncture, coffee and jump in a well deserved shower.
Walk out for food but it’s “Thanksgiving” and the three local restaurants are closed. To the local garage, pick up a couple of beers, Snickers and milk. Back to the motel and I microwave myself some pasta and rice. Chocolate biscuits and bananas for a sweet. Can’t be bad. That’s why we carry food.