My trip got cut a little short and I only had one day to ride in N.C. Unfortunately, that day required me leaving town at 1:30 AM, driving to "Mayberry" and attending one boring meeting until 5:30PM - I was beyond tired but pressed on. On my way out of the meeting I saw a woman on a Giant Sedona - she was staring at my bike, so I complimented her bike and she complimented mine. I saw nobody else with a bike the entire time.
The ride was unusual for me. There weren't nearly as many hills as I expected there to be. In fact, it was mostly flat farmlands. Despite being deathly tired and being on my hybrid, I managed an avg. MPH that was 2 full MPH's over my fastest time this year (which was on my road bike). It was beautiful country though and I wish I had more time to ride.
The finale to the trip was on the drive home and my boss decided to stop at a Hooters in a town that should have been renamed Overweight, N.C. Every customer in there was a practical roly-poly and it amazed me the number of people in this area that just let themselves go. Even the waitresses (ex-strippers?) had legs that looked like socks filled with cottage cheese. I thought I was disgusted at that point, but then they brought me a plate of "food" - er, buttered lard puffs rather - and suddenly I remembered why I don't go to Hooters. I ate about 3 bites of that drek before giving up. About 30 minutes after leaving the restaurant, my boss {who ate a full plate} began sweating, clutching the steering wheel and pinching his butt cheeks together about a foot off the seat and moaning "Oh God - Oh God - where's the exit - I'll NEVER eat at Hooters again!!".
I'd like to go back and try riding again. Beautiful scenery! Of course, I'll skip the Hooters.