Year 3 - Day 4 Fayetteville NC to Elizabethtown NC

We departed Fayetteville late this morning, 8:50 a.m. cause we only had 54 miles to ride today and could not get into our cabin in Elizabethtown until 3 p.m. The first 10 miles or so were on the Cape Fear River Trail. It was a gorgeous windy trail along, you guessed it, the Cape Fear River. Lots of windy trail sections with multiple curved wooden walkway/bikeway structures. It was enjoyable to ride. A little cold as we left when it was about 54 degrees and we dressed for mid 60’s because it would soon be there. Within an hour we were in the sun and warm.

As we traveled through Fayetteville, Gary snapped a photo of a structure in the center of a roundabout. Not sure if this was ever used, probably just for show. See below.


It was an uneventful ride as this area of NC flattens out and we spent many miles on high speed (55 mph) highways with no berms. Most of the traffic was very courteous. Trucks always used the oncoming lane to pass. Only one little blue car decided that they could not cross the centerline to pass and passed me within a foot or two.  All in all, not a bad day of riding. 

We were about an hour and a half out of Elizabethtown and stopped for a break to stretch and rest. We noted that there was a grill back about a quarter mile. We turned around and ate at this 4.8 star grill. Who would have stopped here if you were just passing by? It was very good and the prices were from the 80’s. I had a cheeseburger and a sweet tea for about $6.50.




And the local gentleman sitting on the picnic bench was engaging about our travels!

Stopped before leaving E-town proper at about 2 p.m. and bought some adult refreshments knowing that we could not get into our cabins until 3 pm.

The cabins are excellent and the site includes a winery, distillery, restaurant, and cabins. The cabins are very nice, new and clean. A small porch with rocking chairs on the rear facing a small lake. I highly recommend that if you are in this area, stop in and spend a night at Cape Fear Winery and cabins.



Gary enjoying the cabin porch!


Your author blogging before dinner!


When we arrived, we had two cabins reserved. I was provided a code to get into the cabins. Dan and Gary’s cabin opened first try, but mine did not.  I thought that I would wait till 3 p.m. and then call the cabin reservation person as there is no check in desk! As we were enjoying our adult beverage on the rear porch of Dan’s cabin, I noted a young gentleman coming by. He stopped by my cabin and somehow knew that my combo did not work. He reset my combo and was very pleasant and accommodating! As we were waiting, Bob’s bike fell over. A large pine cone attached itself to his front  wheel spokes! Could not have done that if we tried!


 

Today’s ride was a short 54 miles and included a small amount of climbing, 854 feet.



All in all so far we have traveled 1,820.4 miles and climbed 67,612 feet on the East Coast Greenway.

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