Road Gravel Galore!

Day 4

Start: Garden City, GA

End: Jacksonboro, SC

Daily Distance: 81.71 miles

Cumulative Distance: 319.93 miles

Average Speed: 13.2 MPH

Daily Riding Time: 6 Hours 10 Minutes

Net Elevation Change: 10 Feet (141 up and 131 down)

Cumulative Elevation Change: 10 feet

Cumulative Flats: 1

Cold start to the day.  After the rain passed through yesterday afternoon/evening, it cooled off.  It was in the upper 40s when I got on the road.  I almost stopped and got out my jacket, but then I warmed up enough to keep going with my long sleeve shirt.

What could be better than seeing this first thing in the morning.

I was on a back road when crossing the state line, so I wasn't sure if I would know when I entered South Carolina.  Right on schedule, there was the welcome sign.  State number 3!

There was some really nice scenery today.  I entered the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.  It was established in 1927 as a sanctuary for migratory birds, most notably wintering waterfowl. The refuge lies in both Georgia and South Carolina, divided by the Savannah River, and encompasses over 30,000 acres of vital wildlife habitat, including tidal freshwater marsh and bottomland hardwood forest.  The sanctuary for birds could not be more true.  There were birds everywhere and all over the road in front and behind me.  I was hoping I wouldn't run into any of them.

Not too far from the refuge, the open areas continued with a lot of water.  So awesome to ride through.

About the half way mark for the ride, I noticed a bicycle trail.  It was on the official map, but I had altered my route for the day, so I forgot to include it.  It was the Spanish Moss Trail.  It is a rail trail that uses the former Port Royal Railroad right-of-way now owned by Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority, the dedicated trail follows a north–south path from Seabrook to Port Royal while passing through Burton and Beaufort.  It is a smooth, wide concrete trail with tree coverage that was great for getting off the busy traffic filled road.  Rail trails are great!

I was looking forward to getting to the Harriet Tubman Bridge since it was a milestone that meant I was getting real close to my stopping point for the day.  When I got there, it was just a sign and the bridge was very unimpressive.  

Along the last half of today's ride, the official maps from Adventure Cycling and Google Maps try to move you onto side roads.  I understand why.  The shoulder was decent, but there was so much loose road gravel on the shoulder, it made it challenging to stay in the little three feet I had to ride on.  Regardless, the alternative would have added over twenty miles to the day and I didn't want that.

When I arrived at the Edisto Hotel, the owner was so hospitable.  She is a southern gal for sure and wanted to talk.  I learned all about the history of the hotel and also about the routes that cyclists take coming past the hotel.  She said the route I took was the most scenic even though the road gravel was a pain.

Tomorrow, I head into Charleston, SC and then onto Mt. Pleasant.  I am told that they are both impressive locations.