Jul-14: Warrenton + Egypt Mtn 221-kms Perm

The temperatures had abated considerably since two weekends ago.
A couple, short, relatively high-cadence rides had helped me get some form back.
A couple weeks of reduced mileage likely also contributed on that score.

Biker Bob, continuing his search for 600k brevets,
To make up for the three he missed while nursing his right Achilles,
And also building up for the 2012 version of the Taste of Carolina 1200,
Was looking for early-month R-series insurance,
Lest the 600 on tap for the end of the month come to naught.

Karen, a cycling acquaintance of three years or more,
Claimed she was tired of fast-fast-fast all the time,
Became interested in the R-12 challenge.

So, 0700 on the 14th, the three of us set off for a rando adventure.
The Warrenton + Egypt Mtn "detoured" route.
The detour necessitated by the Sims Bridge over the Tar River being replaced.

One hour into the ride:  Pokomoke.
A bit faster than I usually ride the first hour.
When I'm setting the pace.
If I'm sucking the wheels of the fast-crew, then faster is easier and definitely okay.

Two hours into the ride:  re-grouping on Lynnbank Rd,
After having climbed the "Charlie Grissom" / "Ruin Wall".
Not sure it should really qualify as a "Wall",
But people refer to it as a "Wall".

Two-and-a-half hours:  Bearpond.
Info control there.

Less than three hours:  Epsom.
Store control there.

Four hours:  re-grouping at the info control in / at Drewry.

Five hours:  lunch at the Warrenton open control.
We chose the Hardees.
It is first and easiest to find.

Karen, new to RUSA,
And not having her usual complement of rides and distance in her legs this year,
Was starting to feel the effects of the constant rollers and heat and humidity.

A struggle to Epsom, for a second store control visit.
Karen decided the store was too cold,
So she refused to hang around inside to cool off.
I'm not sure that was the best decision.
But each must find their own way.

10-miles to the info control on Chavis Rd.
A STRUGGLE for Karen.
Bob and I offering encouragement.
Hoping Karen is only going through a low point,
And that she'll start to feel better.

Towards Kittrell.
The route doesn't go into Kittrell,
But there are stores there.
I always figured those gas stations / c'stores could be useful one day.

That day came on Jul-14-2012.
Bob and I rode with Karen into Kittrell,
Where she set up camp at the newer gas station / c'store.
It looked to have food options.
And there is a Dollar General (or Family Dollar) store next door.

Bob and I continued on.
Drifting downslope away from Kittrell,
Across US-1 and plunging down to the low elevation on Egypt Mtn Rd.
Then ... we had fun zipping across Egypt Mtn Rd.

A snack break at the corner.
Then checked out the info control just after the turn,
And on to cross the Tar River (not via the Sims Bridge).

A short steep to get away from the river,
Then three or four miles of (almost continuously) unremitting shallow upslope.
Irregulars might refer to that 4-mile slope as a "Martin slope".
(Sorry, randos, NC and especially those from elsewhere, some things have to be "inside".)

Bob didn't enjoy that upslope as much as I did.
One of his legs started a "conversation" about cramping.

Past the "Llama House".
Through Pokomoke and onto Bruce Garner and then New Light roads.

A break at the store approximately 1-mile south of Grissom.
I'd never stopped at that store, before.
It may be better stocked than the store at Grissom.
Bob certainly enjoyed the Gatoraid.

Past the Stony Hill Fire Station at the New Light / Purnell corner.
Down to and across Falls Lake.
One could be forgiven for thinking it's a river, instead of a lake.
Actually, it is a river -- the Neuse River, flooded, to make Falls Lake.

Up Ghoston, Peed, and MVC with panache to finish the ride at Bay Leaf.
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Figure out how to put my bike on Karen's bike rack.
Figure out where the ignition key is hidden and how to get it out of its container.
Bob figured out those things -- I was "defeated" on all counts.

Bob heads for home.
I drive Karen's car to Kittrell to collect her.
I got to Kittrell at just before 8:30 pm.
Karen was stretch out on a picnic table.
Having acquired non-cycling shorts and shirt at the aforementioned Dollar General store.
Better to pass the approx 4-hours in non-cycling clothes than to stay in her cycling kit.

Karen's bike loaded on the rack.
Karen drives us back to Raleigh.

A much longer day than anticipated.
But them's the breaks sometimes.

The above is my stream of consciousness typing.
Unedited.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
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[Edit, Jul-17: 
For a slightly different take on the ride, 
Check out Karen's report.]
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Jul-14:  

 --> Warrenton + Egypt Mtn 221-km Perm; 148.6 m.; 9h44 in-motion; 15.3 mph; EM rando elapsed time:  12h20. 

Q-1 tot: _22 rides; 1,610.3 m.; 108 h, 42 m; 14.8 mph. 

Q-2 tot: _29 rides; 2,711.5 m.; 182 h, 48 m; 14.8 mph. 

Ju1 tot: __5 rides; __404.2 m.; _27 h, 19 m; 14.8 mph. 

YTD tot: _56 rides; 4,726.0 m.; 318 h, 49 m; 14.8 mph. 

This ride made R-31 for Bob and R-24 for me.