1325 Miles--Journey's End!!

Monday, the 27th, at 1700 and I am outside Tyler's apartment in Daytona Beach, Florida.  84 miles today from Jacksonville Beach.

Thank you Mary for your support and encouragement.  Thank you family and friends for your support and prayers.  

No flats.  No breakdowns.  Wonderful ride.  Now what?

Last Day's

St. Augustine Lighthouse and Marineland--two notables on the way down the Florida coast after spending the night just south of Jacksonville Beach.  Met a family at the picnic area at Marineland that want to ride in Vermont.  Hope they stop in to see us.

For Mary

I was steaming along a back road in SE Georgia when I passed, then backed up, and marveled at this quilt painting on the side of this very tidy shed.  

Last Ferry Ride!

Still can't post my photos. I will put them up when I get to Tyler's which is just 2 more days.

Got up early and went to St. Peter's Episcopal Church in the Old Town Fernandina Beach. "Holy Humor Sunday". Lots of costumes, music, jokes, and a wonderful homily. Ancient tradition that is being revived.

Headed south on A1A to the end of Amelia Island, across big and little bridges until I got to the St. Johns River ferry. $1 it cost. Stopped at the USCG Exchange store and bought a t-shirt. Then on to Mayport, down Ocean Blvd, right through all the beach towns where the Peach Parade had caused many streets to be closed except to bicycle traffic. It was wonderful for about 12 miles. 44 miles and I am in a motel a half mile from the beach and about 1/3 as expensive as a beach motel.

Talked to Tyler last night. Told him I hoped to see him around early afternoon Tuesday. Perfect he says--I can go to his 'Jets and Rockets' presentation at 1700.

I plan to get through St. Augusting and on to Flagler Beach tomorrow. Daytona on Tuesday!!!!!

About 1250 miles total to date! Some stats about the ride from looking incessantly at my bike computer:
Speeds: head wind 8 to 10, no wind 12 to 14, tail wind 15 to 17.
Gears: Except for a few hills and bridges, I am in middle chain ring and a narrow range of gears in the back. It has been mostly flat, flat, flat.
Heart rate: 120 to 142 except on a few hils then 175.
Cadence: 75 to 85, much higher then most riders I know.
Issues: getting a little sunburned; dogs occasionally but I stop and talk them into letting me pass; not being able to remember the words to songs which I sing out loud; and wearing the same clothes for 3 weeks.

Florida!

Yup! Crossed into Florida just east of St. George, Ga this morning. My "warm showers" host, Arthur the Caboose (his chosen handle because he is a train nut) came by the trailer, watched me pack up, then took me into Folkston to his favorite McDonalds which is full of train models and artifacts. Folkston is a railhead--Amtrak, frieght and the car train go through.

Rode past the entrance to the Okeefinokee Swamp, but saw no alligators or black bears.

In Florida, near Callahan, got into a 'ride for autism' and met some nice people, and made a donation.

A1A all the way in to Amelia Island. 67 miles today, but not as hot as yesterday. Stiff easterly. My room on 3rd floor overlooks the Atlantic--last time I saw the ocean was at the Outer Banks (except for a quick walk on the beach at Hilton Head).

Some sidebars----

Friday, stopped for a donut in Patterson, GA and met Don and Cam from Seattle who are bicycling from Daytona to Richmone. Have a great ride!

When I stayed in the motor home rental in the back of the campground in Odum, Ga, the local 4H archery team was practicing. I watched 25 middle and hs kids shooting hundreds of arrows getting ready for the state competition today. Their team has won nationals 3 or 4 times in the past 10 years. Hope they do well.

Time to clean up and get something to eat then start heading south on A1A, across the mouth of the St. John's at Mayport then St. Augustine.

April 24 - Friday night and Ed's in the "warm shower" host's camper, just north of Folkston, GA on the border with Florida.  He and his host, Arthur, probably went out for pizza and a look at the trains - apparently Amtrak runs through town.  So food and entertainment - he's a happy guy.  He'll cross into Florida in the morning and just hope the heat abates a bit - his bike thermometer read 100 at one point today, and Ed figures that without the road heat it was about 95.  Buggy, too, as they're near the edge of the swamp.    But he's having fun and feels good - I think he said it was about 75 miles today.   He'll check in "in person" when he finds some internet.  

Warm Showers

Hi from Reidsville, GA. Short one---44 miles (can't believe I am calling 40+ miles short). Another short one tomorrow to Jessup then a 70+ to Folkston.
I went to 'warm showers' yesterday and found one near Folkston and sent him an email. He just called me (I am in the Tatnall County Public Library) and we have made the connection. He will wrap surveyors tape around the stop sign at his entrance road one mile south of the prison just north of Folkston. I will get to use his camper for the night if I understood his Georgia drawl correctly. His handle is 'caboose' and his name is Arthur M.

Getting tired of all these carbon-copy motel rooms so this will be a nice change.
Once I am past Folkston I will be going right over to the ocean at Fernandina Beach which is just north of the Florida border. YIPPEE.