Thanks to the generous hearts of two of my kind friends, I now have a new bicycle under me and some hot fried chicken in my belly. My retired bicycle all but fell apart to get me here, so it was high time I had a new one. The fried chicken was a pleasant surprise though - just about knocked my hat off! After working almost two hours on getting the new bike set up, I found I wasn't tired enough yet to sleep. At 2 am, off I went, 12 miles in the wrong direction, on the wrong highway. After crossing a bridge and heading into an intersection, I saw a country store - it was about 5 am and like out of a movie of the 30's era, there in old rocking chairs sat a dozen cowboy elders - I had crossed into the twilight zone! "Hey feller, come sit a spell, they won't open till a minute after 6." That's a direct quote, no embellishment needed! Well, the old men were talking about the women folk, the crops, the coyotes (of which I came across 3 on this part of the ride) and the deer, and how they're ruining some of these crops and how they can't wait till season so as they can cull the heard. Then their attention turned to me. I told them what I was doing and they told me I was crazy, of course, and to be careful. They also informed me that I had just climbed about 15 true miles up the wrong hills the wrong way. I was exhausted and that news only exhausted me further. But these kindly cowboys tempered this information by all pitching in to buy me a much-needed steaming mug of coffee and a hot breakfast. One feller by the name of Mr. Bill told me he had a little place just over the railroad tracks. I was given the key to the gate and told to leave it in the barn on his desk in his office where I was welcome to sleep all day long before restarting my journey tonight. Mr. Bill had business to attend to back in Perry all day. I had trouble keeping a signal out there since apparently nobody has much use for the internet in those parts. They all use landlines still. I guess the Lord decided I needed to rest ALL DAY LONG. Now I am heading out of the very small town called Shady Grove, on Highway 14 W, heading back to 19. Then I can work the 40 miles to Tallahassee, including some of what I already covered. I can be such a goof. End of the Shady Grove Story.

In other news, thank you kindly to all of you who have so generously donated to my Cause so far. The gals at Change the World of One sent over what we've collected so far into the trustworthy hands of Imoro Adams of Mumslove Orphanage in Duayaw Nkwanta, Ghana. Next week they will hold their Goat Husbandry workshop because of our combined efforts! They'll be able to buy at least a couple of goat kids as well. No kidding. Thanks again, everyone. Good luck and Goodnight - I'm pedaling off into the darkness again tonight while you sleep.