Day 20

Day #20: Andrews, SC- Myrtle Beach, SC (52.7 miles by bike – our record!, 16 miles in a car)

We were definitely excited to leave the Colonial Inn Motel.  The weather looked threatening but we had to get out of there.  The fact that it was so cloudy actually made it a really nice temperature for biking. 

The first half of the day we were on pretty empty country roads.  We rode through some watermelon farms where roosters were eating the watermelons, and also some tobacco fields.  

Across the street from one tobacco field was a gas station/convenience store, so we stopped there.  We got some ice cream and charged our phones a little.  I asked the woman working in the store what town it was in.  She laughed at me and said, “Well its just this street and that street.  But it’s called Pleasant Hill.” That store had a little notebook specifically for bikers passing through to write in which was pretty cool.  We signed our name and wrote a short note as others have done before us for the last 20 years. 

After listening to the locals talk in their southern drawl for a while, we got back on the road.  While we were riding away we marveled at how a farmer inside the store pronounced the word “tobacco” He pronounced it “ to-back-her”.  We are not sure where the letter “R” is in the word, but since he grows the stuff he can call it whatever he wants.   For a while it was still the middle of nowhere.  We passed churches and trees, and occasionally a car or house. 

Then, we turned onto 701.  The road had no shoulder, the road was broken and badly paved, and there were a lot of trucks on it.  Some trucks were very considerate, moving over so we could have more room.  Other trucks, a lot of times the ones with trees hanging off of them, wouldn’t move over at all.  When that size truck goes right by you at 60 miles an hour, you really feel it. 

At one point, Google Maps took us on a little 3-mile detour, just to get off of the busy road.  We ended up biking through what was basically the field of dreams.  It was beautiful.  We did have to get back on 701 eventually though.

When we finally got close to Conway, our original destination for the night, our maps had us turning onto 501.  We made the turn, but just by looking we could tell that it wouldn’t be possible.  The roads looked even more busy and less safe than the roads we had been on for the whole afternoon. 

So instead, we went into an Econo Lodge motel’s restaurant.  It was clear that we wouldn’t be able to follow our maps onto 501 the next day, and it was also clear that after a night at the Colonial Inn Motel, this not somewhere we wanted to stay. 

We called Enterprise and they picked us up in 2015 Suburban.  

We then drove to a Sheraton in Myrtle Beach.  We went out for dinner which was really good because we hadn’t eaten any real food all day.

After dinner we went to hang out with the Bernstein/Springer family and appreciated their southern hospitality.  

Thanks for coming along for the ride!

Day 19

Day #19: Mount Pleasant, SC- Andrews, SC (48.5 miles)

This morning we dropped off our car at enterprise, and then had them drive us as far as possible.  They dropped us at a gas station in Mount Pleasant, where we got a powerade, got on our bikes, and hit the road. 

According to our maps, there would be a grocery/convenience store after about 15 miles.  However, when we reached the store called J&W’s, it didn’t seem to be open.  On google maps I could see that there was another place a few miles further, so we kept going.

The next place was most certainly not open.  It didn’t look like anyone had set foot in that store in years.  However, they still managed to have an A rating. 

At this point, we had gone about 20 miles and were ready for a break.  The closest thing was 11 miles away, so that was all we could do. 

I personally was biking pretty fast at that point.  Partially because I really had to pee, but also because there were some very threatening clouds overhead.  When we were about 4 miles away from the Kangaroo Express convenience store in Jamestown, it started raining.  We got wet, but luckily we got to the store before the thunder and lightning started too.  The rain felt refreshing except when cars going in the other direction would spray us as the drove by.

We stayed at the Kangaroo Express for a while, eating, charging our phones, and waiting for the rain/lightning to pass.  Once it cleared up a little we got back on the road with like 15 miles left.

Around 6 miles later, we approached Dale’s Country store. 

Shoutout to Cousin Dale

We decided we should stop to use the bathroom.  When we went inside, the whole family was there.  The dad was asleep, or in some sort of drug induced state, on a chair towards the front, the kids were all sitting by the pool table and jukebox in the back, and one of the older girls was behind the counter.  The strong smoke smell made it hard to breathe, so I was happy to get out of there.  It was definitely something to see though.

After that we continued to Andrews, South Carolina.

Finally, we made it to the Colonial Inn Motel. 

It cost 55 dollars, but if you want an extra towel, that costs 2 dollars, extra floor mat costs 1 dollar, and extra washcloth costs 50 cents.  Shampoo (you ask)… priceless.  In other words shampoo is not available at the Colonial Inn probably because back in colonial times they did not have shampoo. The room is spacious, and has an interesting smell.  It has a great view of a garbage can, which we didn’t have to pay extra for. 

When you turn on the bathroom light it sounds like something comes to life in the ceiling.   

  

For dinner we biked to Piggly Wiggly, a nearby supermarket, to pick up some stuff.  It was not in the best neighborhood – we were the only people not receiving government assistance, but luckily no one took our bikes.  Inside the supermarket we were like local celebrities.  I think this might be the first time anybody has visited Andrews, SC, because everyone else seemed to know each other, and could quickly tell that we were not from there (because the bikes, panniers, and clothing was not enough to give that away).  While we were picking out some food a woman said to us, “Oh you’re the bikers from earlier today.”  When my dad asked her where she passed us she said, “Oh I didn’t pass you, you guys rode by my house.”  Like I said, doesn’t sound like too many people are passing through Andrews on your average day.

As much as were enjoying the Colonial Inn Motel, which happens to be the only place for like 40 miles in either direction (trust me, we checked), were hoping to make it somewhere more mainstream tomorrow.

Thanks for coming along for the ride!

P.S.- Congrats Michal on passing your driving test! Watch out for bikers J

Day 18

Day #18: Hilton Head Island, SC- Mount Pleasant, SC (19 miles by bike, 101 in a car)

This morning we followed a bike path in Hilton Head all the way to the end to the most southern point on the island, and all the way back.  

We passed some swamps but didn’t find any more alligators in them today.  We did find a statue of one though.

At the end of our ride we went to a really good bagel store, and then went back to our hotel to pack up. My dad picked a car up from Enterprise, and we started driving towards Charleston.  When we decided to experience Hilton Head we knew that we couldn’t bike there, so we also knew that we would have to drive to our next leg.  Hilton Head was really great and a biker’s paradise.  Once you are on the island, there is almost no road that doesn’t have a bike path.  Most are quite flat and shaded by beautiful trees. 

On the drive to Charleston, we passed a sign for a Krispy Kreme store, and this time we were not going to miss it.  It was all we could’ve hoped for; you could see them making the donuts in the back of the store.  There we so many varieties of donuts and pastries we could have easily eaten a dozen, but we shared only three.

After that treat, we continued to Charleston, where we explored the downtown a little bit.  

Once the clouds got very threatening we got back in the car to go over the bridge to Mount Pleasant. 

While driving on the main road in Mount Pleasant, we passed a Whole Foods.  Compared to the stuff we’ve been seeing, that seemed pretty upscale.  But it got better.  About a minute later, we saw a Trader Joes.  We had to stop.  They had the kosher spicy mozzarella cheese which I live on at home, and we found some other good stuff for dinner too.  

It was good to go into a supermarket that I had heard of before (as opposed to Publix or Bi Lo) and to get some food that tastes like home.

Tomorrow were going to return the rental car, and then head towards Andrews, South Carolina, aka the middle of nowhere.  We are “hoping” to stay at the Colonial Inn Motel – the only place to stay for 50 miles in each direction.  There are no real reviews of the motel, so we are bringing soap with us from the Comfort Inn we are staying at tonight – just in case.

Thanks for coming along for the ride!

P.S.- Shoutout to my Friday Night Lights crew- our hotel last night was on Dillon Road. Even though we're in South Carolina, Texas Forever! (miss you guys!)

Day 17

Day#17: Savannah, Georgia- Hilton Head, South Carolina (35 miles by car, 18 miles by bike)

We had a nice weekend in Savannah.  Tried a few new beers, enjoyed our comfortable beds and nice view at the Hyatt, and took an educational riverboat cruise.  

On Saturday we decided to walk by the Mickve Israel Temple.  We didn’t expect to go inside for services because my dad was wearing his bathing suit and biking shirt.  It was the nicest bathing suit he had, mostly because it is the only bathing suit he has with him. He would have been wearing his shorts and biking shirt but he lost his only pair of shorts somewhere in Georgia.  As we got closer to the synagogue, we asked a woman on the street if she knew where the synagogue was.  She was headed there and insisted that we join her, and not worry that we were not appropriately dressed.  Turns out the synagogue was celebrating its 281^st Anniversary.  It was founded in 1733 – how cool is that!.  They also read from a Torah scroll that was the first Torah scroll brought to this country.  The scroll, although not “kosher” was over 500 years old.  The reform service was very enjoyable and because it was the 281^st anniversary of its founding we learned a lot about the history of the Jewish community in Savannah. 

We planned to wake up at 7AM this morning, but when my dad woke up it was pouring rain.  When he woke me at 10AM it was still raining.  Another problem was that the bridge we needed to take to get out of Savannah did not allow bikes or pedestrians.  So, we took a taxi to Hilton Head, South Carolina, a little less than an hour away.  Hilton Head Island is known for it’s great bike trails.  What’s ironic is that there is no way to bike onto Hilton Head Island. 

South Carolina-Smiling Faces Beautiful Places

Once we checked into the Hampton Inn, we decided to take advantage of the great bike paths.  We rode towards the beach, got lunch, watched the world cup, went to the supermarket, and rode back.

On the ride to the beach, there was a sign saying not to feed the alligators. 

After that, we were obviously on the look out for alligators.  As we went over a bridge, I was looking into the swampy water, and I found one!

Tomorrow we’re going to keep exploring Hilton Head Island, because there are more than 50 miles of bike paths, even though it’s a 12-mile island.   Then, we might drive to Charleston for the night so we can join the Adventure Cycling maps again.  We are hoping for clear weather since it rained almost everyday last week.

Thanks for coming along for the ride!

P.S.- Happy Birthday Esther Malka! Hope you have the best day in Turkey! Don’t party too hard ;)