We left the still sleeping beach town with blue skies, the sun burning off the last remaining cloud.  Though the humidity was high the southwest breeze made the 71° feel quite cool.  We warmed up quickly, as we headed inland to climb the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway and then a short ride on the busy Route 17.

As soon as we turned off the highway, we entered North Carolina and onto a freshly paved road with a shoulder and signage to watch out for bicyclists; a far cry better than Georgia and South Carolina.

We had the option to take the beach road, but we were enjoying this nice road and wanted to see something different.  The road was surrounded by golf courses and “plantations” all set far off the road so all we could see were their grand entrances.

 We rode through the flower adorned Shallottepast the Sunnyside School built in 1915 and then back on colorfulcountry roads.  We enjoyed the step back in time, but not so much the gently rolling roads of the countryside.

At 37 miles we took a much needed rest/refreshment break, the 95% humidity was sucking it out of us.  By the time we rejoined the duckies, the SSW breeze had picked up to 15 mph.  Our route this morning had taken us in every direction but north, we hoped the wind would not bother us on our last south east leg.  This straight road was fairly busy, but no trucks, so we could enjoy the scenery.The sun, trying to burn through the fully clouded skies of an hour ago, was hot.  Thankfully, the wind was just to our side, so it helped us slice through the humidity and down the road.  Evidence of the past days rain squalls had been everywhere, flooding still evident in this field.  A quick ice cream stop and we were at our hotel by 1:30.

It was pouring rain by the time we went to dinner, but be it the luck of the Irish, we found a place to eat but steps away from our hotel.  Pictures do no justice to the Irish Mac N’ Cheese and Shepard’s Pie, but they were both quite tasty.  A bit of a nightcap to top the 55 mile day and then off to bed.