Day 12: First 100 miler

Begin:     Sonora, KY (Averys Campground) 

End:        Utica, KY (Schoolyard Park

Miles:      100+ miles 

+100 miles! 

We did it. 

Woke up at 5:30 am in the dark and were on the road by 6.

Suggested a 5 mile rotating paceline (1st time we have ever tried something so organized). 

It worked great. 

Stopped and had some sandwiches in a roadside grocery store. 

It was the local hangout. (4 old-timers in the store pre-8 AM). 

Very friendly, supportive and curious. 

Had us sign the bike register ("For when we get famous"). 

The miles peeled off until I broke my chain.

A combination of forcing it and Chris playing with my derailleur(?). 

Luckily we had the tools...

We had the technology...

And the chain was fixed! 

Took a break in a Grocery/Service Station in Oklahoma, KY 12:30 (Central time now). 

But not before we got caught in the rain.

If I had not broken the chain, we would have missed it.

Oh well. 

The guy in the store let us bring in our bikes and we sat a table for nearly 2 hrs.

This was the 80 mile mark. 

Had our 3rd & 4th 20 oz Cokes (Ugh!) and got back on the road. 

Finally hit Utica at 3:15. 

The park is not much to talk about. 

Had a hose shower and it reminded me of Grandma Cs after the beach.

===

Back at the 1st grocery store, the guy told us a story about his pear tree. 

He said it was covered with pears so he was trying to give them away. 

One guy in a nearby town said be would love some pears & that he got up vey early. 

Weeks passed and the tree was still covered in pears. 

He saw the guy again and asked why he had not come up to get the pears.

"But I have. You've got a big black dog, right?" 

He does not have a dog.  haha