08/07/26: Drinking and driving

Traffic is heaviest along Hwy 55, where many tourists ride bikes along the side of the road as they follow the blue and white signs marking the Wine Route. Hot summer afternoons, however, can prove quite dangerous as the mixture of heat and alcohol make touring wineries by bike a death-defying pursuit. Amateur cyclists and wine connoisseurs, who ironically think the combination “would be fun!” and “good for our health!” can be seen wobbling along the gravel shoulders – enduring, more than enjoying, the day.