Greg & Camille Go Bike

Setting out to leave TopSail island, we enjoyed more good bike infrastructure. There was a nice dedicated biker/walker path crossing the bridge. Shortly after the bridge we waited for the post office to open and shipped out some post cards and goodies for friends/family. We stopped by the grocery store while waiting.

Continuing on, there was a pretty long stretch on US 17 that left both of us feeling very uncomfortable. Thankfully, the route eventually detoured off 17 and we followed lower traffic roads most of the way into Wilmington, NC. We stopped for rest and snacks at the library and played a not so quick game of checkers on the ~15 foot squared board on the ground outside. After almost an hour of battle, we decided to end in a draw. We took a quick ride down by the river before heading out of the city.

Just south of Wilmington didn't seem that terrible on the map, but there were a couple encounters with aggressive drivers that left us unsettled. We mostly followed the Cape Fear river down Cape Fear only turning onto a higher traffic road for a brief period to follow a bridge across Snow's Cut. Afterwards we turned off into a shopping center to pick up groceries and donuts at Wake N Bake Donuts. Camille picked up two absolutely delicious donuts (couch potato and strawberry cheesecake). They were probably two of the best donuts we've ever had so Greg went back for more. This proved to be a mistake. The ghost pepper & chocolate donut was way too spicy for either of us to handle.

We arrived at the state park near dusk, set up the tent and enjoyed a nice campfire before bed.