A Hard Day's Rain

Clearwater to Avola

After temperatures that were too hot to cycle over the last few days, we left Clearwater in the rain and the cold. Temperature was around freezing.  We had a 70km target to Avola and a lot of long hills ahead.  Whilst peddling up the hills kept us warm, on the downhill the hailstones hammered into our faces - it was like having dried peas shot at you. 

Our feet became quickly soaked through and we had to stop peddling the bike every half hour and walk.  We have found that lying recumbent whilst pedalling affects circulation to the toes and on some days we can get pins and needles after a while. A short stop and stand quickly remedies this.  However, on this day our feet became like frozen bricks because of the temperature and the wet. So we just walked and pushed the bike for ten minutes to get the circulation going again. 

By the time we reached Avola we were tired and cold and the Log Inn was a more pleasant sight than a Saint Bernard with malt whisky (yes I know it should be brandy but even St. Bernard's have to move with the times). 

Larry, the Harley biking owner, made us most welcome and found us a bed for the night.  His menu choice was burgers.  Nothing else.  Larry's view was if you don't like burgers then don't come to the Log Inn.  When one chap asked for fries he was told 'no fries here - these burgers don't need fries'.  And just in case I felt like complaining about my cold feet, there was a sign at the bar 'no snivelling'. 

So we ordered two hickory smoked beef burgers and they were wonderful.  As Larry says, they are the best in the world and I'm not going to argue.  Besides he was bigger than me and I still had cold feet! Even Susan absolutely loved the burger and she doesn't really like burgers!

In the morning, we had breakfast - bacon and eggs.  Now without doubt this was the best bacon I have ever tasted.  Smoked in the Rocky Mountains, thick cut and absolutely wonderful.  Bacon from Tesco will never be the same again.  I don't even think Tesco should be calling it bacon anymore. This was what bacon should be!