(picture: Poster from Cape Fear Wine and Beer bar, Wilmington)

Date: 6 May 2011
Woke up in: Cedar Point, Carteret County, North Carolina
Fell asleep in: Wilmington, North Carolina
Miles ridden today: 76.5
Total miles ridden so far: 875
Weather: Initially sunny/windy Then the rain came. And stayed for the last 25 miles of our ride

Today’s destination was Wilmington, North Carolina – a charming town, as it turns out, and the one where both Dawsons Creek and One Tree Hill are filmed. I’ve never seen either of them, but filming is a surprisingly important industry in this little corner of the south.

This was our longest day yet, in terms of miles. We kept those pedals turning for an heroic 76.5 miles in order to get to Wilmington and find the brew bar Will had carefully researched ahead of time.

It was far from being our best day of riding today. The first 50 miles or so were all on roads with pretty heavy traffic (but fortunately with wide shoulders for the most part).

It was kind of interesting circling our way around the massive Lejeune Marine Base near Jacksonville, but it would have cut 10 miles off our day if they were still allowing civilian access to the road that runs through the bloody place. Instead we circled around it. For what seemed like forever.

Thirty five miles in we started scanning the maps and the road for somewhere to get lunch. There was nothing. At the 45 mile point we fell hungrily on some limp looking sandwiches sold in a small gas station’s shop, and ate in its forecourt whilst jumping on the unlocked wifi we found there. Ah, the glamour of it all.

Eyeing the rapidly greying sky suspiciously, we headed off; and the rain started, light at first, but quickly changing to heavy. It stayed with us for the rest of the way. We were soaked to the skin. It was time to go to the bar – and to stay there a while.