Day 32 – Gimme A Windbreak

Friday, November 21st

Bonifay, FL to Milton, FL

We woke up around 5 this morning after a long night’s rest and rushed through the freezing morning air to the Waffle House on the hill next door.  One tasty, hot breakfast later, we rushed back to pack up and get on the road.  After checking out of the Bonifay Inn, we were leaving the parking lot when the owner came out and called to Dad.  I was already around the corner, so I couldn’t see what was going on, but Dad came back with a box of Premium M&Ms!  Thank you Bonifay Inn!  They were tasty!

We stopped at a grocery store on the way out of town to stock up on instant oatmeal, Dole peaches, Dole mandarin oranges and some other, miscellaneous produce. Leaving Bonifay we spun hard to warm up and, as you probably guessed, fought a sneaky headwind all the way to DeFuniak Springs.  Needing a break, we stopped at a burger/BBQ joint and paid too much for two sandwiches and two teeny cups of stew.  We enjoyed thawing in the restaurant’s heat though.

By the time we made it to Crestview, exhausted, cold and a little depressed at the day’s slow progress, we needed a bathroom break and something to lift the spirits.  Dad opted for a Reeses and the Dole peaches while I worked on a big pumpkin spice coffee from a gas station.  While we rested and the sugar went to work, I called my boyfriend and my sister to help cheer us up.  (Thank you both for brightening my day!)

We made one last stop on the way to Milton at the same Chevron station in Holt were we spotted the Joker while heading East on Halloween.  As I bought us a hot snack of fried chicken and potatoes, Dad talked with an older man who lived right around the corner.  He used to cycle while he was in the Army and said he always welcomes bikers to camp out in his yard or use his house as a place to sleep, clean up, do laundry, etc.  On behalf of touring cyclists everywhere, we thanked him for his generosity.

Thankfully, after we left Holt, the sugar began to take effect and though there was still a strong cross wind from the North, the trees provided a decent windbreak.  We enjoyed the ride along 90 from Holt to just East of Milton more than any part of our route for the past several days.  Though Dad had been worn out from the relentless headwinds all morning, he tore off down the smooth, flat, straight road and it was all I could do to keep up!

We stopped at a local bike shop to pick up a patch kit and ask about a local ride scheduled for tomorrow morning.  They gave us several details and recommended a nearby motel, where we ended up staying for the night.  Once our things were settled into our room, we cleaned up and left to grab some dinner before the sun set.  There was a Texas Roadhouse about a block away, but with the temperature falling and a Church’s Chicken in the lot next to the motel, it was hard to pass up nearby fried chicken.

Today’s Quick Stats:

Bike              Distance (mi)    Average Speed (mph)     Trip Odometer

MiniWini            91.46                   17.5                           2164.9

Sti(ck/g)           91.43                   17.5                               –

Stampedes: 2

Roadside Pees: 2