It's another convenience store breakfast this morning. Just no cafes lately. As I'm downing a banana-nut muffin with some nasty black coffeelike liquid, a slender, middle-aged man walks over and we chat. Paul Evans, a wholesale jeweler from south Florida, is also an avid and active road cyclist, and has bike toured in the USA as well. He heads off in his van and I follow, into the southeasterly headwind. It's another slow creep at less than 10 mph again.
As I stop to photo some roadside flowers, I hear a bark and turn to see a white German Shepard coming at me 100' behind. Uh-oh! I jump on the bike and start cranking (more like sprinting!). Now he's snarling and gaining on me as we both fly at full tilt. He's 20 feet behind me and I'm fearing for Brindil and one of my ankles. I downshift and in a rush of adrenaline, barely pull away from the raging creature. Luckily, I was on a rare downhill section of road or, I fear, I would not have been able to outrace him. (Whitney, it's that Guardian Angel again. How many times does it work? Does it have a Taser or Hyperdrive switch?)
A bit further along, I meet Paul Evans again. He has parked ahead at Mobridge and cycled back (had his bike in his van) to ride with me. We descend to and cross the Missouri River into Central Timezone and have lunch in town before parting. Great to meet you Paul! Just out of Mobridge, I meet another road warrior cyclist, who asked not to IDed, going westbound (tho hard to tell with him, since he had been on the road for 22 months).
Today is a short cycling day, and I stop at Selby's Hilltop Motel after 51 miles.
The sun finally sets just before 10 pm on this the longest day of the year.
Best to get yourself some doggie-mace.
ReplyDeleteSecond bicyclist-- mysterioius! Did you get a picture?
ReplyDeleteThe Guardian Angel watches over you as long as you need her. There is no expiration date or number of saves she'll grant you.
ReplyDelete