ERIC'S MILES FOR MUSIC, DAY 3, 10/3/2023:
Day 3 of the 24th Annual Cycle North Carolina’s
annual Mountains to Coast bicycle tour: Winston-Salem to Mebane
In the last post, the North Carolina State Troopers received a special ‘shout out’ for their attention to our safety while en route to our daily destinations. Today, our troopers performed magnificently, yet again, over the course of the 79-mile route. I was fortunate to get a picture with them at the start of today’s journey (pictured below).
After two grueling days of cycling in the mountains, today ‘s route offered a brief respite from the climbs. We followed the Haw River from its beginnings as a trickle in Guilford County. Historically speaking, the hydro power drawn from the river powered the textile mills which sprang up along its banks and drove the economy in this region of North Carolina. Glencoe was one such town. The Textile Heritage Museum is definitely worth a visit; it tells the story of Glencoe and what life was like in the small town during its peak economic period (scene of the Textile Museum pictured below).
Like Glencoe, the small-town communities come out and greet us along the route or serve us snacks which aid in the cyclists replenishing much-needed nutrients for the journey. One of the featured rest stops was the Belews Creek Christian Church. The parishioners served delicious bakery items and exuded a sense of warmth as they greeted the cyclists (pictured below).
We finished today’s ride at Mebane and gear up in the morning for our ride 63-mile journey to Henderson.
Fun Facts from Eric’s Ride on Day 2:
Total Mileage: 79
Total Elevation Gain: 3,400 ft
Average MPH: 14.0
Workout Time: 5:47:00