Originally Posted by
Newspaperguy
Instead of stopping at McDonalds, check out the coffee shops, bakeries and small restaurants along the way. Almost every small town has its own quirky coffee shop and some also do their own coffee roasting, which means you'll get an exceptionally good drink. I find the atmosphere in such places is relaxing, especially if I've put in some hard riding earlier.
For myself, I'd use that time not to plan out the next part of the route but to make some notes about where I've been and what I've seen.
Just a slight clarification as I understand it, bikenh uses the internet access at McDonalds to communicate to the rest of the world. He's not eating there.
I think he has to use his money wisely to eat high-energy foods at home, and his limited income means cafes and restaurants aren't necessarily on his list of places to visit... unless they provide free internet access.