Day 19: Surf City, NC

Alea had a very tough day in the saddle today - 53+ miles into a brisk 13 mph headwind, plus plenty of urban traffic as well.  But we've been rewarded with a private campground that is nicer than we had expected.

We missed this sort of photo-op in Florida, so we couldn't resist this stop in Surf City, NC.

On our way to the campground we stopped to buy a milkshake, to give Alea some easy carbs and protein so that she could recover from a very tough ride.  We had finished most of it, but left a fair amount behind when we checked in at the campground.  Lana KNEW we had intentionally left it for her.  She stealthily carried it back into her den behind the front seats, and if she spilled a drop of it, there is no evidence left to convict her.  Needless to say, she was a VERY happy dog.

Urban riding sucks, especially into the wind!

To keep on pace for spending Friday and Saturday night at a National Forest Campground that is about 50 miles north of us, we've bypassed a portion of Adventure Cycling's Atlantic Coast route, shaving about 15 miles by doing so.  So Alea ended her ride off route in Holly Ridge.  From there we checked out a campground a few miles to the south before opting to drive to Surf City, where we are spending the night.

We are currently about 750 miles south of King of Prussia, PA, where we are planning to arrive on the 13th of May.  At our 40 miles per day pace, that means we can be there in just 19 days, making us officially ten days ahead of schedule at this point.  We plan to soak up some of those extra days while on the Outer Banks, and will do likewise once we are in the Jamestown, VA area.

Our campsite on Becky's Creek.

We are at Lanier's Campground in Surf City ($33 for power and water).  The campground is at the mouth of what we believe is Becky's Creek, which empties into the Intracoastal Waterway.  Our campsite backs onto an area of reeds along the creek.