I enjoyed a good night’s sleep… up at 0500 (5 am)!

My phone received an alert that a small craft advisory had been posted for the day. I could hear the wind whirring outside my window. I stepped outside the door and it was COLD!  I decided to add a long sleeve layer to my top but stay in shorts.

As I began cycling, I noticed how clean the bike lanes medians were thanks to the previous night’s rain.

The wind was brutal.  On one occasion, I was buffeted by a side gust and had to stop for a moment.  I normally cruise at about 12-13 miles per hour.  Today, I was lucky to hit 6-7 mph.  While today was as punishing as expected with the wind and the cold, my legs continued to perform well.

On typical sunny days, I prefer to ride in the shade because it’s cooler.  Not today!  Riding in the shade was frigid!  My legs were numb from successive days of riding so they never felt cold. I felt the cold mainly on my fingers (I wear short-finger cycling gloves) and face.

Today’s added challenge was the relative lack of available rest stops.  On a particular 20-mile stretch, I passed an unbroken string of posh gated communities. No stores, no gas stations, no public beach access, no wooded areas appropriate for an unauthorized stop! Such circumstances sometimes compel cyclists to do rash things. I chose to respect the neighborhood and waited until I saw a public beach park with public restrooms.  Here’s a picture of Golden Sands Beach Park.  Note the red flag warning:

Today’s ride was very safe with one exception: This picture shows a sign warning drivers about cyclists.  What it told me is that my bike lane disappeared on the upcoming overpass.  I waited until traffic was clear before heading up the overpass.

I crossed into Melbourne by taking a large bridge over the Indian River. This was into the teeth of the wind. I stopped a couple of times on the incline and was graced with the sight of cormorants diving for fish. And then a pod of dolphins swam by. It was a nice end to a punishing day.

Tally for the day: 56 miles