{"id":21715,"date":"2017-05-25T20:25:57","date_gmt":"2017-05-26T00:25:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=21715"},"modified":"2017-05-26T08:53:49","modified_gmt":"2017-05-26T12:53:49","slug":"day-35-thursday-may-25-southport-to-surf-city-north-carolina","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=21715","title":{"rendered":"Day 35. Thursday, May 25. Southport to Surf City, North Carolina"},"content":{"rendered":"

We had a\u00a0short ride through the darling quaint town of Southport.\"\"<\/a> \u00a0Old homes had been colorfully converted to businesses \"\"<\/a>and stately homes sat on a ridge \"\"<\/a>overlooking the Cape Fear River. \"\"<\/a>\u00a0Waiting for the ferry, we realized just how much the wind was blowing, southwest at 15 mph. \u00a0It felt like\u00a0a fall day\/football kinda weather; best of all that wind would be over our shoulder.<\/p>\n

During the twenty minute ferry crossing (in operation since 1965), we passed the Archer Daniels Midland Terminal (details below)\"\"<\/a>and enjoyed the view of Oak Island Lighthouse (more facts below).\"\"<\/a> \u00a0Arriving at Fort Fisher, we immediately felt the tailwind, \"\"<\/a>as we rode past this\u00a0Civil War Battlefield and Landmark<\/a>,\u00a0\"\"<\/a>caught a glimpse of the Atlantic\"\"<\/a> and then through a couple beach towns. \u00a0Kure Beach was bright with color\"\"<\/a> and what looked like mostly new homes. \u00a0This beach folded into the older resort of Carolina Beach, where rental homes,\"\"<\/a> motels and condos\"\"<\/a> were plenty. \u00a0With no continuous road on the islands, we once again were forced inland to cross the inland waterway and navigate the sound, rivers, inlets and other bodies of water\"\"<\/a> that make this area so desirable\u00a0for the water lover. \u00a0The country roads were busy with people getting a jump on the holiday weekend, but speed limits were low, so everyone got along. \u00a0We bicycled through a smorgasbord of homes and neighborhoods;\"\"<\/a>enjoying the small homes with big porches, as much as, the bright and shinny neighborhoods.<\/p>\n

Our\u00a036 miles of sightseeing ended when we hit Highway 17, hopefully for the last time this trip. \u00a0But we had a nice shoulder and now a direct tailwind, so we flew down the road. \u00a0Riding in cool temperatures with a 20 mph tailwind is about the best way to travel this road;\"\"<\/a> it was a gorgeous day.<\/p>\n

A few more miles down the road, we stopped for our daily iced tea and lunch\/snack. \u00a0We took a longer break than normal, as the wind had progressed our mileage ahead of our scheduled arrival. \u00a0When our shoulder ended, we gained a wide sidewalk\/path along the highway,\"\"<\/a>\u00a0 we continued to hum down the road.<\/p>\n

At mile 52, we turned off the highway and our rapid progress came to a halt, \"\"<\/a>as the strong wind we had enjoyed all day, wiped around to our side and occasionally front to challenge our upward and forward<\/em> mobility. \u00a0The last five miles took us almost thirty minutes to ride, fighting the wind the whole way….but we were due. \u00a0It was a small price to pay for the enjoyable tailwind for most of the ride. \u00a0Less than a mile to go and our path abruptly ended.\"\"<\/a> \u00a0We walked our bikes to the road and then threaded our way through\"\"<\/a> the traffic still unmoving from the recent bridge lift.<\/p>\n

Shortly after checking in, thunder rumbled and the skies opened, it poured; by dinnertime,\"\"<\/a>\u00a0there was not a cloud in the sky.<\/p>\n

A short stroll down the beach road brought us to dinner, with a beautiful view of the ocean and a bowl of Jambalaya\"\"<\/a> and Lobster and Shrimp Marinara \"\"<\/a>that could not be finished. \u00a0A shot or two more\u00a0\"\"<\/a>as the sun kissed the waves, goodnight, as we will do too, after 57 miles.<\/p>\n\n\t\t