For the past month, on Sunday mornings, I have made bicycle rides to Folly Beach, South Carolina, from my mother’s home on James Island. Maybe it’s the quiet early mornings that Sunday brings that makes me jump up from bed, dress in my bicycle gear, check the tire pressure on Urik as well as the chain, and start to pedal to the beach, that is so amazing. Each Sunday I have ridden to Folly, I have pushed myself further each time. Yesterday, on a foggy Sunday morning, I decided I would ride 20 miles on my new road bike. The Sunday before I had reached 19 miles round trip, so I knew I could do it. Before Sunday, I mapped out a route that would take me from one end of Ashley Avenue on Folly, to the other, and then back home. What I hadn’t expected was the dense early Sunday morning fog that would cover me completely on my ride to the beach. At one moment, my sunglasses were so foggy that I could barely see where I was going. I decided to pedal slowly at this point and just enjoy the experience.
There is something so magical but riding Urik to Folly Beach. Just this past week I rode to Folly after work, and while the rush hour traffic heading home was a bit dicey, I had an amazing experience. Yesterday was just as memorable, and being the first day of Winter, really made my heart sing. Riding towards Folly, the fog was so dense, that it wrapped me up like a blanket. All around me was fog. The bike path I was riding on, only allowed a few feet of viewing distance, and the passing cars on my left were a blur. Lucky for me, I knew the bike path well, and felt comfortable the entire time. By the time I reached Folly Beach, I let out a yell of relief and turned right onto Ashley Avenue. Ashley Avenue was clear. Maybe being a block away from the beach reduced the fog but in the surrounding marsh, as I made my way to the end of Ashley, visibility was still poor. But I was happy. It was a truly amazing experience.
Crossing Center Street, and heading to the opposite end of Ashley Avenue, my helmet had so much moisture on it from the fog, water started to fall onto my sunglasses. But I kept pumping hard, passing The Washout, a legendary Folly Beach surf spot, and rode all the way to the gate to the Morris Island Lighthouse. I just knew I had to pass the gate and see the beach. Riding on the graffiti road to the Morris Island Lighthouse, I had a flashback to the time I lived in Los Angeles and saw the LA River for the first time. Somehow that memory came back to me as I followed the graffiti road to the sand dune. I stopped, took a sip of water from my water bottle, and said, next time I will follow the sandy beach trial over the sand dune to the Morris Island Lighthouse. I had a bigger goal….20 miles. Leaving Ashley Avenue, I stopped at Circle K, the only gas station on Folly Beach, and got myself a hot cup of coffee, a Gatorade, and a bottle water. My legs were starting to talk and I knew the next ten miles would be a test.
Sipping my coffee outside Circle K, sunlight broke out and the fog disappeared. Crossing the last bridge out of Folly, I looked over at the water and it was perfect. So glassy. I could only imagine how amazing the waves would be at the Wash Out. Descending the bridge I geared down and pumped my legs hard. Yet, with each pump of the pedal, my legs spoke back angrier. I knew my body was hitting the wall. It was important to keep Urik steady on the road as more traffic flew by me on Folly Road. I turned onto Battery Island Drive, let out a yell of relief and kept pumping my legs. Yet each push of pedal, my legs got tighter and tighter. Making my way onto Sessionville Road, I decided to push as hard as I could and while the effort was there, my speed was not. I decided to gear up and cruise home. No need hurt myself. Reaching my Mom’s driveway I was very happy. I parked Urik, made sure he was steady, and opened my riding app to check the mileage, 23 MILES! I opened the garage door and yelled out, “I DID IT”. My mom opened the kitchen door to the garage and said “I thought you were dead”. Funny, I hadn’t noticed my time traveled until I looked at the stove clock. Almost two hours!
It was a remarkable ride. From the early morning fog, riding all of Ashley Avenue, stopping for hot cup of coffee at Circle K, riding Urik this day will be a memory I will not forget. And to think, I only just bought Urik a month ago. So many great miles ahead.
Rolf