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2009-10-03T11:47:00.001-04:00

The beach at last.

Sent from my iPhone

2009-10-03T09:00:00.001-04:00

7 am - driving to the start. Final leg

Sent from my iPhone

2009-10-03T08:59:00.001-04:00

Final dinner at the Squire's Table in Warsaw, NC. Steak and Pinot.

Sent from my iPhone

2009-10-03T07:00:00.002-04:00

Final dinner at the Squire's Table in Warsaw, NC. Steak and Pinot.

2009-10-02T14:02:00.001-04:00

Veterans memorial. Warsaw

2009-10-02T14:01:00.002-04:00

Welcome to Warsaw. Started to rain. Enjoyed lunch out of the back of the truck.

Friday ride

2009-10-02T09:26:00.002-04:00

It's Friday morning and we're off on a 62 mile ride from Dunn to Kenansville, NC. So far we're safe and just a little sore. Biggest problem is showering after tomorrow's ride.

On my way home.

2009-10-01T11:28:00.001-04:00

Met Pepper for hand off at 11. I am headed home, and Pepper McCary is taking my place. Handoff was at Raven Rock State Park, after two of the most prominent climbs of the trip.

My mileage - around 300 miles, 4.5 days, and a great trip.

From here forward, Fred will blog via his iPhone.

Uh - oh!

2009-10-01T08:42:00.000-04:00

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2009-10-01T08:34:00.000-04:00

Ready for day five!

2009-10-01T08:33:00.000-04:00

Up and at 'em - Day Five

2009-10-01T08:10:00.002-04:00

Morning with breakfast at the Hampton Inn in Sanford. Good hotel, but A/C problems had the temp in the room going up and down all night. Tough sleeping, but after 100 miles yesterday, I think I did better than I thought!

We are almost ready to depart the hotel, headed toward Raven Rock State Park, and a rendezvous with Pepper, who is headed from Kingsport to take my place on tthe ride.

The weather is another absolutely perfect Chamber of Commerce day, with forecast highs in the mid 70s, and low humidity.

Soon, we are off!

The finish - 100 miles today - Day 4

2009-09-30T16:03:00.001-04:00

The century riders!

Today was a tremendous day - 6200 feet of vertical ascent through the Uwarrie Mountains, 97 miles, and over 6500 calories burned. The day could not have been better, with 70 degree weather, sunny skies, and some of the prettiest NC farm country I have seen.

The rolling Uwarrie Mountains are more difficult than last year's century day, near White Lake, but we managed well. Everyone rolled into the Hampton Inn feeling like we could have done a few more miles.

Dinner was at Bella's in downtown Sanford, a town built on the brick industry. Earlier in the ride, we rode through Seagrove, NC, home of North Carolina's pottery industry. Wonderful earthen pottery with over 100 pottery artisans clustered around an ancient clay deposit.

http://www.discoverseagrove.com/pottery-history.asp

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2009-09-30T10:34:00.000-04:00

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2009-09-30T10:17:00.000-04:00

43!

2009-09-30T09:25:00.000-04:00

They looked fine when they started!

2009-09-30T07:56:00.000-04:00

Morning in Thomasville

2009-09-30T07:29:00.001-04:00

Up and at 'em early. Carb loaded breakfast is key - today is our century (100 mile) day!

The route is programmed into the Garmin, so no way we will get lost.

Richard Petty museum in Randleman will be one of our destinations today, and I keep hearing about the Uwharrie Mountains - don't know what that indicates, but combining the words century and mountains in the same sentence seems daunting.

Quite cool now, at 7 AM, and we are thinking if pulling out early.

Cocktail hour in Thomasville

2009-09-29T17:36:00.000-04:00

End of ride - Day Three

2009-09-29T15:42:00.001-04:00

Day Three -

Statesville to Thomasville through beautiful rolling agricultural area of North Carolina. We pass fields of soybeans and hayfields, tidy white "gentlleman's farms", and small southern towns with friendly folks. My highlight was Cooleemee, NC, home of the Cooleemee Judk Man. He has an eclectic junk shop on the outskirts of Cooleemee, where he collects and sells everything from chamber pots to Allison Chalmers tractor parts. After meeting the proprietor, he invites me to see his "drag house". "What is a drag house?" "A house you drag from one spot to another." was the answer. Photos and videos are to follow when I get back home to the cable for the camera.

At mile 54, Fred Wallin met us at Lake Tom-A-Lex with a European style picnic, and we certainly pigged out. The hospitality on this years' ride has been awesome, mainly due to Fred's attentive style. Obviously, Dorothy has taught him well!

We are now at the Country Hearth Hotel, and have said goodbye to Roy and Mike, who have been shuttled back to Mike's car for the trip back to Kingsport. We are awaiting Fred's arrival back to go into Thomasville for some of the food and entertainment downtown.

Today was around 65 miles, 3.5 hours, over 4,000 feet of climbing and 3,500 calories burned. We will make that back up tonight!

Tomorrow - Thomasville to Sanford, NC, and the full century (100 mile) option, which I am sure we will all do!

Fred provides an awesome lunch by the lake.

2009-09-29T15:22:00.002-04:00

Just finished a fantastic white tablecloth picnic at Lake Tom-A-Lex. Baguettes, wine, fruit, prosciutto, cheeses, and a great spot by the lake. 10 miles to go!

The Cooleemee Junk Man

2009-09-29T14:41:00.001-04:00

Any time you see a place like this, stop. There is always a story! More to follow on this one!

What a lunch!

2009-09-29T13:34:00.001-04:00

Just finished a fantastic white tablecloth picnic at Lake Tom-A-Lex. Baguettes, wine, fruit, prosciutto, cheeses, and a great spot by the lake. 10 miles to go!

Funke bike.

2009-09-29T09:40:00.000-04:00

On the road!

2009-09-29T09:38:00.000-04:00