May the Odds be Ever in your Favor

Miles Wednesday: 196

Julie had convinced Jaron to lock his topcase while camping in case a bear decided to whack it until it popped open. Usually he just rides with it partially latched and the road vibrations pop it open every now and then. So, Jaron had to unlock his topcase this morning. We had a leisurely breakfast bc we weren't in such a goddamn hurry to break camp, since we only needed to go 4 hrs. 

We set out and headed for Capon Springs & Farms, a cute privately owned unincorporated town which is a resort centered around the spring water. It's a little carbonated and contains trace amounts of lithium. Julie had girls' weekend here a few weeks ago and liked it so much that she made this reservation to come back before leaving. 

We spent most of our day on highway 28 which had more gentle curves and a higher speed limit than 39 did yesterday. The weather was beautiful. We stopped at the same picnic area for a pit stop. We are trying to use more parks than gas stations for pit stops. We had a gas stop in Green Bank which had a pizza place attached to it, so that sounded great for lunch. 

After being able to check the weather in Petersburg when we had cell service, it called for drizzle all afternoon so we'd decided not to take the dirt road in to Capon Springs. As we got closer, it wasn't drizzling so we did it after all. Julie kept reminding herself that she did this on purpose. This was what I just did all of this training for. It was a really pretty way in, about 4 miles. When we got here I jumped up and down and said "We made it! We made it!" 

We got checked in and went up to our remote cottage, and this road was dicier than the forest road. We got in at 5:15, just in time for supper at 6:00, so that tells us that 4 hrs of riding distance seems to be a reasonable goal. Dinner (and lunch also) is preceded by an hour of music played on speakers throughout the grounds. It reminded Jaron of the Hunger Games. 

After dinner we had a fire and did some reading, and then slept like the dead. 

Miles Thursday: 0

Having been here before, Julie knew to request strong coffee for our party. We exchanged inappropriate Jesus jokes with our waiter over breakfast. Our table by the window overlooked the shuffleboard courts, so we tried that and of course Julie epically failed at it. Soon the torture was over bc it was time for our soaking bath followed by massages. Both of our massage therapists commented that we looked a little out of it (relaxed) afterwards. 

Jaron did not want to walk up the hill post-massage and asked for a ride. They gave us the keys to a golf cart they had available for handicapped guests. 

Naps came after massages and lunch, and a little bike maintenance. Julie's bike has too much oil in it so it is slowly normalizing, but it's disconcerting to see so much oil under my bike all the time. I also have a fancy adjustable kickstand now and it needed to be a little longer. 

Thursday dinner was steak over a wood fire. Then back to our cottage for laundry and a little pre-downloaded Ozark, and packing.