Today was a difficult 82 miler where I had to fight through winds, dogs, incorrect guidance from Google maps, and boredom. I was chased probably 5 times by dogs, most of them of the rat dog variety, which was very annoying. One time, a beagle looking dog started chasing me in the middle of school traffic in Brunswick. The owner was there and gasped “THERE YOU GO AGAIN! ONE OF THESE DAYS YOU’RE GOING TO GET HIT BY A CAR AND IM GOING TO LAUGH” after which the dog chased me for about half a mile in the road with cars honking at it. Un-be-lievable! I felt so bad for the dog because it’s owner was a piece of shit. Similarly, Google Maps sent me down some neighborhood road that dead ended after two miles. Before I realized it was a dead end I ran into 3 dogs that barked and chased me for a bit. Once I realized it was a dead end, I had to turn around and go through the little bastards again. One of them (the rat dog in the group) started barking at me like crazy and stood in the road right in my path barking at me. Now I’m not one to back down from a rat dog challenge so I went right at him full speed. The coward jumped out of the way at the last second and then chased me down the block as I had my mace pointed right at his face from about 1 foot away. I decided against doing it because it’s not the dog’s fault his owners are negligent pieces of shit living in some mobile home in Georgia somewhere. But god damn I wanted to… Ughhhhh

Anyways, enough ranting about dogs. The ride was very long and tedious and I am physically and mentally drained right now. I can’t wait to get to Jacksonville tomorrow to hang out with Shelby and to not have to bike on Sunday. The weather was nice and it was relatively flat with low wind but my heart wasn’t into it today — I just wanted to be a sloth but instead was biking for 7 hours. I fought through and though and I’m glad I did because I’m only about 35 miles from the Florida border!

The day started out by learning that Adam Kendall has a tattoo shop just south of Savannah. Who knew?

US17 really wasn’t bad at all in this part of Georgia and was actually quite scenic. I had a shoulder for almost the entire time as well.

I stopped around mile 30 at a McDonalds for lunch but they wouldn’t let me use the drive through because it was too dangerous. Uhhh sure thing guys thanks for looking out for me. Although that would be a shitty way to die… Just sitting in the McDonalds drive through as someone slowly runs you over at 5 mph. But I digress! I got myself a 10 piece and sat in the lounge with my bike leaned up on the glass where I could see it and then moved on.

I crossed a number of rivers and swamps which was pretty. The only time I had trouble going over the river was when some redneck yelled something at me from the back of a pickup. Way to play into your stereotypes redneck in the back of a pickup truck in Georgia!

Darien was actually really nice little town which was unexpected. I figured it would be another truck stop but there was a lot of outdoors stuff going on like fishing.

At this point in the ride I was about 60 miles in with 20 to go. I really needed a pick me up and it came in the form of passing through the town of Needwood. Heh Heh get it!?!

Finally hours later I made it to the Econo Lodge and ate multiple meals at Denny’s. I started singing Ja Rule – Put It On Me to myself but to Denny’s.

Where would I be without youuuu? Denny’s! I only think about youuuu… Denny’s!

… You get the idea. Total consumption was 5 plates of things. Here was some of the fare.

Tomorrow I cross the border and head into Jacksonville. The St Johns River Ferry is closed so I have to go all the way into town and then spit back out on the east side of the river to get to Atlantic Beach. Can’t wait to be there and hopefully tomorrow’s ride is less eventful than today’s.