Today’s weather was unexpected: heavy fog.  I delayed my departure by one hour and energized front and rear flashing lights on my bike.  This picture doesn’t reflect the reality of the fog. Visibility was about 1/2 a mile:

The early portion of the ride was glorious.  But headwinds worsened as the day wore on. And I began experiencing greater elevation changes though I was surprised that I was able to “power up” the inclines without changing gears.

Here’s the entrance to a remarkably smooth bike path:

Here’s a picture of the Altamaha river crossing:

Here’s a picture as I was entering Darian, a quaint town founded in 1736:

Today’s main challenge were the skinny medians on state roads.  Medians ranged from four feet wide to six inches wide. Navigating the smaller widths required laser focus to avoid dropping off the pavement edge, or straying into passing traffic traveling at 55 mph. As an experienced cyclist, I’m accustomed to this challenge but still don’t like it.

Speaking of challenges, I’ve learned that cyclists need to look before stopping in grassy areas.  Stopping by a fire ant mound can ruin one’s day.  I’ve never had the experience but remain mindful of the danger.

And I continue to hear the occasional rustle of critters in the brush.  During one water stop, I watched a three-foot long black snake emerge from the brush, clearly hunting for a meal.  Maybe it was a wise decision not to camp during this phase!

Today’s tally: 59 miles.