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Published: August 12th 2009
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Passing through South Carolina & Georgia
This was about as scenic as it got - mostly it was dead straight, not much variation in landscape and 94 º F (35ºC). Actually in the circumstances the sign was the nearest we got to amusement. 11th August. Our first 'bad' day. The promise of a scenic route following the Savannah River Scenic byway didn't materialise. See
.
OK it was probably a lot do to with the heat and the fact we didn't have time to 'off route' to some of the more scenic attractions suggested, and it was better than a plain highway as it was tree lined most of the way and fairly quite for the most part - but nothing of real interest, dead straight and nothing near the actual river for most of the way. It wasn't helped by temperatures of 94 F. over most of the 160 + miles.
Most of the way there are sad looking settlements with closed shops and factories. People are living in real poverty - tumble down shacks right next to colonial style mansions and spreading acres of green.
We got to Augusta to look for somewhere to stay and rode out after searching for 30 minutes in the sweltering heat. Most of the town consists of ropy tinselly shopping malls and strips with the exception of one downtown area of really lovely old style housing. But even that's a bit faded. Shame. So we rode another 25 miles (in the boiling heat) to
Waynesboro, Georgia and checked into a motel.
When I got my riding jacket off I twisted the back of my base layer top, and water ran out of it. That's how hot we get. Not much to do or see here either and we are about a mile from the town centre (cannot stand to gear up and ride again) so we have had to make do with trail mix, grapes and water - still no pics due to no USB 2 on this computer grrrrr. However we are now researching a tasty B&B in downtown
Savanna where we will spend two days. Everyone including our guide book promises us it's the most attractive city in the US. It had better be after this tortuous journey.
UPDATED 31st August- If you refer to the picture of the Truck Stop - against our better judgement we pulled into a Truck Stop for breakfast - there was nothing else apart from dead straight roads and desolate villages with nothing or Macs and other fast food chains in the towns we went through. As we entered the cafe we were
Passing through South Carolina & Georgia
And they drawf 'normal' family compact cars in size and engine capacity (how will 6 litres do you sir? - That will do nicely - fuel cost? WHo gives a **** greeted with the American equivalent of a greasy spoon, a room full of rough looking chunky truckers, toothless old timers and trailer trash waitresses. In my imagination the looks we got with our weird European riding suits might have come from a scene in
Southern Comfort. I thought "if the natives didn't see us off the salmonella would". I was wrong again.
Although the food was basic fare - pancake and local ham (bacon to us) the waitresses were really nice to us. One of the younger waitresses looked astonished when I asked for some milk on the side with my tea. (She'd offered sweet or unsweetened tea - "Odd" - I thought) When it arrived I found out why - they were serving iced tea not hot. Carol and I both laughed when it arrived. Later whilst paying, I apologised to the waitress for my mistake and for laughing. "No, no" she said in her southern twang "my fault I should have realised what you wanted - but what do I know - you're from England and I'm just a dumb southern gal".
Carol avoided the food and just had coffee. My stomach survived the experience.
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Millsy
non-member comment
wow!!
hi guys, sounds like you are have an amazing time and seeing so much. i am thinking that some of the scenery is hard to put into words, but it all sounds fantastic. enjoy the rest of your trip and remember do something that scares you every day!!! love millsy