Total distance: 1244.55 miles
Average speed: 11.3 miles/hr
Time on bike: 6 hrs and 11 min
We got our first flat tire today! Of course it was mine! It happened right after lunch, I got on my bike and I immediately knew something was wrong. I told Joe to pull over because I though I had a flat, and sure enough when we checked there was a small pice of metal sticking out of my back tire!
Luckily we were able to just patch it rather than installing a whole new tube! For those of you who don't cycle, we just put some glue over the hole and a patch on top! As a general rule of thumb you only patch a tube three times and then you replace it. Some cyclists just change tubes when they have a flat but we always try to patch first! It didn't take us long to fix and we were back on the road in no time!!
Today we were taking a detour to St. Louis to visit some of Joe's family! They actually live right outside St. Louis so we got in around 3pm. We were treated with a warm welcome, cold drinks, and excellent food! We are excited to take the next few days off, relax, and do some sight seeing in St. Louis!
For me today is kind-of a sad day! Every year my family takes a vacation to Nags Head North Carolina and today is when everyone should be arriving! I have been going since I was young and this is the first year I will be missing it! Its a great opportunity for me to spend a full week with my aunts, uncles, cousins, and family friends. I hope that my family has a great week and I miss everyone terribly! At least with me not there the chances of a hospital visit are slim to none! Don't forget to eat your veggies and have a gin and tonic for me!!
Mary and Joe
PS Mom, I'm still alive.
PPS. If you aren't Facebook friends with me you may not know, but I just officially accepted my first "big girl" job as a full time Chemistry teacher in Stafford, Virginia! Not sure when exactly I have to be there but chances are it may cut this trip short for me. I am still really excited and Joe and I will start apartment shopping online soon!