Day 50 – misery to Davenport.
Each day has positives and negatives, but sometimes you count your losses and try and forget. Today was one of those days.
Still elated with the idea I had ridden into Washington, everything seemed so positiv this morning. The day started wonderfully, with an enormous breakfast in the lobby, including French toast, waffles, cereal, conversation and the Today Show reporting that Tim Horton’s had just opened a location in Manhattan! Awesome.
Sadly, the weather was miserable; 50 degrees and raining with strong west winds, winds that would eventually be my downfall.
As I was loading my bike up in the lobby at noon, after getting my work accomplished and being out of the room by check out, I struck up a conversation with David, who operates the hotel. We talked of my adventure and he told me of their new program they had developed to assist long term cancer patients and their families with complimentary rooms and services their at the hotel. David told me they began the program as a 2 week pilot and now, 6 months later, they were still going strong with an substantial desire to continue extending the benefits beyond the single facility. Here is a fantastic facility opening their doors to help others in need at a time of financial hardship and difficulty for so many. Kudos and my warmest hopes for continued success. Plus, the hotel staff was hilarious and laughing most of the time, a major bonus for a weary cyclist.
So now I pushed out into the elements. The weather reminded me of most of the first week in New York; wet, more wet, windy and chilly. Between the late start, my still smarting leg, and the awful conditions, my speed never eclipsed the 10 mph mark. Most of the day I was lucky to keep upright with these winds, but mentally and physically the day wore me out after a couple hours and I hadn’t even made Davenport, my original destination for last night!
Finally, after 4.5 hours on the road and going all of 38 miles into Davenport, I gave up. With no other towns for some 20 miles, I knew my options were limited. The small motel I saw online yesterday was available, and it was only 5, so I took a cheap room, went to the grocery store for a big supply and drew a hot bath to warm up and wash some clothes. After an hour I posted my situation online and shortly after got a call from Angela, our friend in Seattle, who was only 20 minutes away at the in-laws for the night! She could have come and gotten me, she said, but I had already checked in and was looking forward to an early night and an early start to make up for my short day. That’s what I get for not posting my intentions online and waiting until after! Ah, technology.
So with only 38 miles under my belt today, and not risking my new camera to the elements, I have no pictures of the days adventure thru wet, wind and chill. Perhaps tomorrow, since it’s supposed to be beautiful and sunny. We shall see.
2 years ago