Cyclewhitney: 2021 Southern Transcon Day 26: Metter GA

Dawn in Cordele GA

Today's ride is 126 miles with 4,200 feet of climbing. Again the climbing will be of the short roller variety we have seen the last few days. Today will also be the last long ride of the tour. Tomorrow will be under 90 miles with only a few rollers out of the start at Metter, then pancake flat as we approach the Atlantic.

Jeff's fiance (Lori) and Wes' wife (Elizabeth) will be at the finish line so we have some incentive to get this one done. We have been riding at a conservative pace for the whole tour, so today we decided to dial it up.

Jeff and Wes take a pull

We rolled out at our normal conservative warm-up pace and attracted quite the train as we left town. After 30 minutes we slowly dialed it up and soon it was just 4. Doug L. was riding 4th wheel with us and was doing great. He has ridden many PacTours, but had double knee replacements earlier this year. He normally rode alone, but we were happy to have him join the party.

Wilcox County Courthouse

We rolled in together to the first SAG at 22 miles at a sports complex just as the crew was setting up. We reloaded quickly and were leaving as other riders rolled in. Soon we arrived in Abbyville and stopped for a courthouse photo!

Morning train, Jeff, Wes, and Doug L.

Our group stayed together for the first 50 miles. A few miles from the second SAG, the rollers got steeper and longer and Doug wisely dropped off to ride at his own pace.

Second SAG near some abandoned buildings

Again, we arrived just as the SAG was setting up. Jeff's fiance Lori was there waiting for us to cheer us on. We again did a quick reload and got right back on the road. The temperature was cool and we were eager to get as miles in as possible before it started to get hot!

Open roads toward the Lunch SAG

Hog dog? Yes Please

We arrived at the lunch SAG just as the first dogs came off the grill. We again chowed down, reloaded and got on with the ride.

New pines growing

It was pretty much a head-down day to get this one in the books, as evidenced by the dearth of photos in the camera at the end of the ride!

Heading for Metter

The last SAG was 15 miles from Metter. Again we popped in and out quickly as the staff was setting up.

Nice shade for much of the afternoon

That horse has been workin'

It really didn't get as hot as we expected, with some cloud cover and shade from the tall pines along the way, so we continued to work hard together until we got about 5 miles from town. Dropping back as we cooled down, I noticed all the salt stains on Jeff's jersey!

Candler County Courthouse, Metter GA

Another residential approach to the hotel

We again rolled past a county courthouse and routed through a nice residential area as we closed in on the finish. We rolled in at 8 hours and 11 minutes for 126 miles. With 4,200 feet of climbing, that was not nothin'!