Madison, Wisconsin
Miles: 0 ------------ Total Mileage 3,159.60
Theme: Wow - We Really Rode Across the Country!
It is hard to believe I have been home for 4 days already.
I am not sure how to even begin this last blog. The trip truly was an experience of a life time! One funny thing that occurred the first day back. Kate and I walked down to Trader Joe's to get some groceries in the house. While we were there I bumped into an acquaintance. He noted my "Life is Good" t-shirt which has a picture of a recumbent bike on the front. He said "Do you have a recumbent?" I hesitated in my reply because I was thinking yes I have a recumbent but it is in a bike shop in Florida right now getting boxed up so that it can be shipped back to Wisconsin. So I fumbled with my answer saying "Well no, I mean yes." He immediately replied "Well you haven't been riding it enough if you don't know if you have one or not." I looked at Kate and we both smiled and then I proceeded to tell him, "Well that's not really the case as I just rode it across the country some 3100 miles." When he picked his jaw up off the floor he said "That's amazing - wow, congratulations!"
Many people have asked what did I gained from this adventure. I don't know the full answer to that question but below are a few things I learned. I have a renewed faith in people. We met so many kind and generous people on this trip - people who wanted to hear our story, who wanted to help us (whether it be giving us water or a cool place to sit on hot and humid days, helping us get back on course when we made a wrong turn and did bonus miles, recommending places to eat and then leading us there in their car while we rode behind on our bikes, or making sure we could safely get through a construction site by letting us ride ahead while they blocked cars from passing us until we were safely past the road construction). The unexpected kindness from strangers was so refreshing - it truly did renew my faith in people.
I was also stunned by the beauty of this country. My photos don't begin to capture the beauty of the landscape such as the subtlety of the changes in the scenery around every corner, the dramatic desert landscape, the blue skies with wispy cloud formations, the trees which have stood for centuries which hold amazing stories in their bark, the beauty of a cotton field or pecan grove, the grandeur of looking out from the top of Emory Pass, the beautiful green water of Pecos River that appears out of nowhere, the arches of branches lining many roads we traveled down, the foot prints of shore birds on Dauphin Island, the rising sun as we started our last day of riding to St. Augustine. And this is just a partial list of the amazing scenery! I was awed by the enormity and beauty of the land.
This trip made me realize once again that I need to live in the moment - not worrying about what is ahead or what has passed. It doesn't matter what is around the corner, what matters is the hill I am climbing right now. As I started out on this trip across the country - it seemed impossible to ride over 3,100 mile in 8 weeks. We took it one day at a time. We would get up in the morning, gather what we needed for the day and then start out. We would ride, eat, drink, ride... until we got to our destination. Then it was time for dinner followed by a map meeting where we got our cue sheets for the next day and off to bed. And on we continued day after day. Before we knew it, we literally rode across the country. By focusing on the task at hand - all 16 riders fulfilled a lifetime dream. And of course I can't overemphasize the gift of new friendships that I have made that will go with me throughout my lifetime.
I realize that I am truly fortunate to have had the opportunity to go on this journey. Without the support of Kate and the rest of my family, friends and colleagues, and WomanTours - this would still be a dream in the back of my mind. I am truly grateful for the many things people did so I was able to take off for 8 weeks. Thanks for supporting and pushing me to follow my dreams! My life is different because of this --- and for that I give thanks. May each of you follow your own dreams - big and small.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
WE DID IT!!!!!!
Day 56: Palatka to St. Augustine,Florida
Miles: 47ish ------------ Total Mileage 3,159.60
Theme: WE DID IT!!!!!!
Oh my - what a day! Today was absolutely amazing, very emotional and I can honestly say - I think it will take some time for this accomplishment to truly sink in! I just wanted to let everyone know we made it. We had a 6 mile police escort down to the beach. Family and friends were there to cheer us in. Alice and I (my recumbent sister) lead the pack of riders in - Tex was right behind me. IT WAS AMAZING and tears were streaming down my face when I saw Kate. I am crying now as I type this! How can I put this experience into words. Certainly right now I can't
I will write more when I get home to Madison, but wanted to let you know we made it safe and sound. Banquet tonight and then Kate and I fly home tomorrow. It will be very strange not to get up, have breakfast, pack snacks and then get on the bike. I think it will take me sometime to adjust and let this all sink in.
I will post my last blog by Tuesday evening - I want to have time to reflect on this journey before I wrap this all up. Thanks again to all of you who have followed me on this journey. I have felt your support throughout!
Love,
Fiona
Miles: 47ish ------------ Total Mileage 3,159.60
Theme: WE DID IT!!!!!!
Oh my - what a day! Today was absolutely amazing, very emotional and I can honestly say - I think it will take some time for this accomplishment to truly sink in! I just wanted to let everyone know we made it. We had a 6 mile police escort down to the beach. Family and friends were there to cheer us in. Alice and I (my recumbent sister) lead the pack of riders in - Tex was right behind me. IT WAS AMAZING and tears were streaming down my face when I saw Kate. I am crying now as I type this! How can I put this experience into words. Certainly right now I can't
I will write more when I get home to Madison, but wanted to let you know we made it safe and sound. Banquet tonight and then Kate and I fly home tomorrow. It will be very strange not to get up, have breakfast, pack snacks and then get on the bike. I think it will take me sometime to adjust and let this all sink in.
I will post my last blog by Tuesday evening - I want to have time to reflect on this journey before I wrap this all up. Thanks again to all of you who have followed me on this journey. I have felt your support throughout!
Love,
Fiona
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Theme: Our Last Long Day
Day 55: High Springs to Palatka, Florida
Miles: 74.27 ------------ Total Mileage 3,112.60
Theme: Our Last Long Day
It really can't be, today was our last long day of riding. So many feelings are swirling around for everyone. But before I get into that, I need to say what happened last night. When Young Pup got in yesterday a woman came up to her and said you must be with the WomanTours group. Lisa said "Yes." The next thing you know the woman (named Marilyn) gives her a big hug and presents her with a bouquet of flowers. Turns out that Marilyn lives in High Springs and has seen the group come through the last few years. This year she was reading many of the blogs and was so excited about everyone coming - that she picked some gorgeous flowers from her yard, made a bouquet and brought it to us all. She hopes to do the ride some time in the future. It was so sweet. Of course we took some photos of the flowers and her amongst some of us. The flowers were a lovely addition to the table were we get our meal! Once again, the kindness of strangers leaves one speechless!
As I was mentioning, today was our last long day. Linda made breakfast as the hotel didn't serve a continental breakfast. Most everyone was unusually talkative this morning. A few weren't as they reflected on the trip ending soon. It is a funny time in the trip. Excitement because we have just about completed this goal -- Riding Across the United States. Excitement because we will be reunited with family and friends. And yet some sadness as this "family" that we have created over the last 50 some days will be splitting up - everyone going their own way... For many their emotions are right on the surface. And so we eat breakfast - aware that a change is just down the road!
Soon people leave the hotel parking lot. One last long ride. We want to get on the road a.s.a.p. to get as many miles in, in the relative cool of the day. First order of business, make sure you check out with Lisa (our Sag driver today). We have the routine down pretty well. It seems like ages ago when we were newbies, just learning each others names and riding styles. We have come a long way. Most of us are on the road in no time. Unfortunately Lise had a flat tire when she woke up. She found the culprit in her tire - a tire shard, changed the inner tube, and started pumping. All of a sudden there was a Boom. Like I had done a week or so ago, she blew a tube - bummer, now she has to start again.
I was riding with Tex, Kathie, Dianne and Linda this morning. I find groups of more than three to be a bit bigger than I like. Usually when that happens I either take the lead or am the last person, that way I can give myself a bit more space - both figuratively and literally. I think all of us have grown to understand our own riding preference and habits so much better than when we started this journey. Kathie wasn't feeling too well this morning, so Tex and I stayed close by. We were mainly on country roads this morning. The scenery was nice - trees with Spanish Moss, wildflowers, horses and cows... And fortunately when we did see dogs they were tied up or behind fences! We also saw lots of orange and grapefruit stands at gas stations and convenience stores.
Our Sag stop was at mile 20. We got some food and water and then went to the gas station to us their restroom. As I was waiting outside a man came up and started looking at my bike. He was really interested in it and just kept staring and saying how cool it was. I told him "We've been riding from San Diego and are close to the end. Crazy aren't we!" He (Doby was his name) replied "Have you enjoyed it - if you have then it isn't crazy at all." I told him we definitely enjoyed it! He was a sport and let me take his photo!
And on we rode. To amuse myself through part of the ride I took photos of us riding - or of me and my shadow (literally). We were told at the Sag that when we turned on to State Route 100 that the road was pretty torn up and that is was like a washboard. Also there was a lot of road work being done. None of us were thrilled to hear that news. It is a busy road with lots of big trucks. We caught up to Victoria when we reached SR 100. Victoria and I noticed that there was a bike path that seemed to parallel SR 100. We would see it, then it would disappear. With the heavy traffic and the terrible road surface, a bike path sounded heavenly (if it was going in the right direction). Just then a road crew was ahead - putting in a new stop sign. We asked if they knew about the path. Unfortunately they didn't. Oh well. We rode on - and there was a big red truck coming out of a road on the other side of SR 100. I was just about to cross over when I noticed he had a pit bull in the back of the truck. Not such a good idea to ride up to that truck! I did stop and yelled to the guy. He was really nice and said yes go on the bike path. It will get you off the highway for about 7 miles and is much safer. We got directions from him and off Victoria, Tex, Kathie, Dianne and I went. Before we got on the bike path the guys putting in the stop sign drove up and said they called the office and where told the bike path was a good option. We didn't waste any time getting onto the bike path.
It was a godsend! No traffic, nice shaded path, and easy riding. We were all happy as could be. But then the bike path and the highway veered away from each other. Now Tex and I had done bonus miles yesterday - and really did not want to do anymore! We got a bit concerned. We all stopped and discussed the situation. Victoria thought they would come back together so we agreed to go on a mile or two more.
I was in the lead at this point and noticed a deer ahead. It saw me and started running down the path. Lo and behold there was a fawn with it. It was the smallest fawn I have ever seen. I can't imagine that it was more than a week old. We slowed down and the mom jumped off into the bushes with the fawn following. About 2 seconds later the fawn came out again and ran down the path some more. It was so cute. It was a highlight of the day. And to top it off, just a short ways later - we came to the end of the bike path and SR 100 was only about 30 yards away. Hooray - no bonus miles today.
We had to ride on SR100 now but only had about 10 or 12 miles left. It was doable! Without question the majority of the traffic was very considerate and gave us space. At one point a Trucker came roaring past Tex, Victoria and me. He was driving a semi for the Dollar General Store. He literally was only about 6 to 10 inches from us. I could have simply bent my arm out at the elbow and touched him. It was very scary and none of us were all too pleased. Fortunately none of us swerved or flinched - so we went unscathed. The frustrating part was that he had a totally clear lane next to him and did not need to be so close to us!
We quickly came into the town of Palatka. As we rode into town there were all sorts of police cars. A logging truck had over turned with a full load! Hopefully the driver didn't get hurt. The road crew and police had quite a mess to clean up. Once we got past that, we quickly came upon the hotel. There were many hugs all around - and then off to get something to eat (showers take second place over food!). We had a great lunch once again exchanging stories, giving each other a hard time - just enjoying our time together. Wow, we have completed another 70+ mile day - the last on our adventure. It is hard to believe this is quickly coming to an end. Tomorrow I will dip my front tire into the Atlantic Ocean. Kate will be there, I will get to met the real Tex (Tex's husband) and their daughter Kelly. Even as I type that out, I get tears in my eyes. It is going to be an emotional day tomorrow - and you know me, I wear my emotions on my sleeves.
We have appetizers in just a bit, then dinner. By the way Tex and I are rooming together (how appropriate is that!). We are having a pajama party after the dishes are done. We are bound and determined to make the most of every last minute of this trip!
PS: In case I can't write tomorrow as I will need to pack up my bike and we have a banquet tomorrow evening, please know I will write at least one more blog to sum things up. I have really enjoyed doing these blogs. To those of you who wrote comments, sent me emails, sent real mail, sent me tree mail... thank you so much. That really meant a lot to me. And thanks to everyone for keeping this entire group in your thoughts and prayers. We are almost at the finish line and we have made it safe and sound!
Miles: 74.27 ------------ Total Mileage 3,112.60
Theme: Our Last Long Day
It really can't be, today was our last long day of riding. So many feelings are swirling around for everyone. But before I get into that, I need to say what happened last night. When Young Pup got in yesterday a woman came up to her and said you must be with the WomanTours group. Lisa said "Yes." The next thing you know the woman (named Marilyn) gives her a big hug and presents her with a bouquet of flowers. Turns out that Marilyn lives in High Springs and has seen the group come through the last few years. This year she was reading many of the blogs and was so excited about everyone coming - that she picked some gorgeous flowers from her yard, made a bouquet and brought it to us all. She hopes to do the ride some time in the future. It was so sweet. Of course we took some photos of the flowers and her amongst some of us. The flowers were a lovely addition to the table were we get our meal! Once again, the kindness of strangers leaves one speechless!
As I was mentioning, today was our last long day. Linda made breakfast as the hotel didn't serve a continental breakfast. Most everyone was unusually talkative this morning. A few weren't as they reflected on the trip ending soon. It is a funny time in the trip. Excitement because we have just about completed this goal -- Riding Across the United States. Excitement because we will be reunited with family and friends. And yet some sadness as this "family" that we have created over the last 50 some days will be splitting up - everyone going their own way... For many their emotions are right on the surface. And so we eat breakfast - aware that a change is just down the road!
Soon people leave the hotel parking lot. One last long ride. We want to get on the road a.s.a.p. to get as many miles in, in the relative cool of the day. First order of business, make sure you check out with Lisa (our Sag driver today). We have the routine down pretty well. It seems like ages ago when we were newbies, just learning each others names and riding styles. We have come a long way. Most of us are on the road in no time. Unfortunately Lise had a flat tire when she woke up. She found the culprit in her tire - a tire shard, changed the inner tube, and started pumping. All of a sudden there was a Boom. Like I had done a week or so ago, she blew a tube - bummer, now she has to start again.
I was riding with Tex, Kathie, Dianne and Linda this morning. I find groups of more than three to be a bit bigger than I like. Usually when that happens I either take the lead or am the last person, that way I can give myself a bit more space - both figuratively and literally. I think all of us have grown to understand our own riding preference and habits so much better than when we started this journey. Kathie wasn't feeling too well this morning, so Tex and I stayed close by. We were mainly on country roads this morning. The scenery was nice - trees with Spanish Moss, wildflowers, horses and cows... And fortunately when we did see dogs they were tied up or behind fences! We also saw lots of orange and grapefruit stands at gas stations and convenience stores.
Our Sag stop was at mile 20. We got some food and water and then went to the gas station to us their restroom. As I was waiting outside a man came up and started looking at my bike. He was really interested in it and just kept staring and saying how cool it was. I told him "We've been riding from San Diego and are close to the end. Crazy aren't we!" He (Doby was his name) replied "Have you enjoyed it - if you have then it isn't crazy at all." I told him we definitely enjoyed it! He was a sport and let me take his photo!
And on we rode. To amuse myself through part of the ride I took photos of us riding - or of me and my shadow (literally). We were told at the Sag that when we turned on to State Route 100 that the road was pretty torn up and that is was like a washboard. Also there was a lot of road work being done. None of us were thrilled to hear that news. It is a busy road with lots of big trucks. We caught up to Victoria when we reached SR 100. Victoria and I noticed that there was a bike path that seemed to parallel SR 100. We would see it, then it would disappear. With the heavy traffic and the terrible road surface, a bike path sounded heavenly (if it was going in the right direction). Just then a road crew was ahead - putting in a new stop sign. We asked if they knew about the path. Unfortunately they didn't. Oh well. We rode on - and there was a big red truck coming out of a road on the other side of SR 100. I was just about to cross over when I noticed he had a pit bull in the back of the truck. Not such a good idea to ride up to that truck! I did stop and yelled to the guy. He was really nice and said yes go on the bike path. It will get you off the highway for about 7 miles and is much safer. We got directions from him and off Victoria, Tex, Kathie, Dianne and I went. Before we got on the bike path the guys putting in the stop sign drove up and said they called the office and where told the bike path was a good option. We didn't waste any time getting onto the bike path.
It was a godsend! No traffic, nice shaded path, and easy riding. We were all happy as could be. But then the bike path and the highway veered away from each other. Now Tex and I had done bonus miles yesterday - and really did not want to do anymore! We got a bit concerned. We all stopped and discussed the situation. Victoria thought they would come back together so we agreed to go on a mile or two more.
I was in the lead at this point and noticed a deer ahead. It saw me and started running down the path. Lo and behold there was a fawn with it. It was the smallest fawn I have ever seen. I can't imagine that it was more than a week old. We slowed down and the mom jumped off into the bushes with the fawn following. About 2 seconds later the fawn came out again and ran down the path some more. It was so cute. It was a highlight of the day. And to top it off, just a short ways later - we came to the end of the bike path and SR 100 was only about 30 yards away. Hooray - no bonus miles today.
We had to ride on SR100 now but only had about 10 or 12 miles left. It was doable! Without question the majority of the traffic was very considerate and gave us space. At one point a Trucker came roaring past Tex, Victoria and me. He was driving a semi for the Dollar General Store. He literally was only about 6 to 10 inches from us. I could have simply bent my arm out at the elbow and touched him. It was very scary and none of us were all too pleased. Fortunately none of us swerved or flinched - so we went unscathed. The frustrating part was that he had a totally clear lane next to him and did not need to be so close to us!
We quickly came into the town of Palatka. As we rode into town there were all sorts of police cars. A logging truck had over turned with a full load! Hopefully the driver didn't get hurt. The road crew and police had quite a mess to clean up. Once we got past that, we quickly came upon the hotel. There were many hugs all around - and then off to get something to eat (showers take second place over food!). We had a great lunch once again exchanging stories, giving each other a hard time - just enjoying our time together. Wow, we have completed another 70+ mile day - the last on our adventure. It is hard to believe this is quickly coming to an end. Tomorrow I will dip my front tire into the Atlantic Ocean. Kate will be there, I will get to met the real Tex (Tex's husband) and their daughter Kelly. Even as I type that out, I get tears in my eyes. It is going to be an emotional day tomorrow - and you know me, I wear my emotions on my sleeves.
We have appetizers in just a bit, then dinner. By the way Tex and I are rooming together (how appropriate is that!). We are having a pajama party after the dishes are done. We are bound and determined to make the most of every last minute of this trip!
PS: In case I can't write tomorrow as I will need to pack up my bike and we have a banquet tomorrow evening, please know I will write at least one more blog to sum things up. I have really enjoyed doing these blogs. To those of you who wrote comments, sent me emails, sent real mail, sent me tree mail... thank you so much. That really meant a lot to me. And thanks to everyone for keeping this entire group in your thoughts and prayers. We are almost at the finish line and we have made it safe and sound!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Day 54: Perry to High Springs, Florida
Day 54: Perry to High Springs, Florida
Miles: 88.32 ------------ Total Mileage 3,038.33
Theme: The Road Less Traveled, or Getting the Most Out of Every Mile
Given that we were on our own for dinner last night and that the Free Happy Hour at the Hampton Inn went from 5:30 to 8:00(which included free wine, beer, cookies and strawberries) Carol and Linda wisely decided to have the map meeting this morning at 7:00. Everybody was there - and fairly chipper! We got our directions to High Springs - and off we rode. I would have to say that while the riding in Florida has been fairly easy - the lack of terrain (ups and downs) and the long straight roads do get a bit monotonous.
I decided to ride nearer the back of the pack today. I wanted a bit more time to myself, time to think about some of the conversations last night around our pizza party. We were talking about what we had learned as a result of this journey - and what things we might do differently as a result. Kathie M said that one of the things she learned is that when you find that the riding is really difficult and you are feeling like your body just isn't responding how you thought it would - when you are feeling wiped, the problem might not be you. You might want to check to make sure your brakes aren't rubbing! Needless to say - that got a chuckle or two! People did share some of what they learned. I know there are some things I learned, but I also need to process a bit more. So leaving a little space when we rode today allowed me to do some of that.
The ride was typical Florida as we started out. There were some nice clouds in the sky - which helped to keep the heat down a bit. As we rode at some point I noticed an odor that wasn't very pleasant. Off in the distance I saw some very large white buildings with big fans on the side. Ah - now I knew what the odor was, the buildings were big chicken houses. We passed many of these today. I can say between the cattle farms and the chicken farms - as well as all the road kill - it almost makes me want to be a vegetarian. Unfortunately I just don't like tofu that much! I know, I know, there are lots of other options.
What I enjoyed most about the ride today was the wildflowers along the road. They were simply beautiful. So many reds, yellows, purples and whites - amongst the greenery. We crossed the Suwannee River today and also went to the Ichetucknee Springs. The water was incredibly clear at the springs. I was tempted to go swimming but riding in wet shorts the rest of the way in wasn't so appealing! Kathie, Tex and I rode most of the morning together. Kathie wanted to spend more time at the Springs so she suggested we go on, she would ride the last miles in on her own. Tex and I got some water, a few bites to eat and on we went.
This is where things got interesting. We got out of the Ichetucknee State Park and headed up the road. The street sign was on a bit of an angle - but we thought we were on the correct road. We went a ways but thought it would be smart to flag someone down to make sure we were headed toward County Road 131. The first person we tried to flag down didn't stop. This is the first time we have had that happen to us. We stopped the next car - and the man driving asked "Did you run out of gas?" We laughed and then proceeded to ask if he knew if CR 131 was ahead. He looked away sheepishly and said "I'm sorry, we are from Pennsylvania - I have no idea."
Well you know the saying, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." And so we did. This time we stopped a big truck - a work crew. We asked them and the guy said "Yup - continue down this road and at the first blinking light turn right, then the next blinking light you will turn left and that is 131." And so we went on relieved to be going in the right direction.
We rode for quite a while - longer than we would have expected, so at an intersection we saw a woman who was selling stuff from the trunk of her car. She was just packing up for the day. She said where are you trying to get to. We said "CR 131, then 18 to High Springs." She said, "Who told you to come this way?" She said "You can go this way but you sure went out of your way!" She gave us similar directions to the men in the truck - and so we continued on. It seemed like we were riding forever - so we stopped another person, just to confirm our route. The guy told "You could cut off a few miles if we took the dirt road just back yonder but it's a nice day and it's only about 12 or 14 more miles, so the way your going should be fine. Besides, it's so nice out." Tex came back across the road and muttered to me "Easy for him to say in his air conditioned car." She may have said a bit more, but I'll leave it at that! We laughed and continued on after we called Katherine who was the Sag driver today - to tell her we would be just a tad late!
We certainly were on the Road Less Traveled Today! We had to stop and ask an elder woman if we could get some water as we were bone dry. She had just walked up her driveway to get the mail. She was happy to let us get some water out of her hose and we were very grateful.
Eventually we got back on route. We were riding in the heat of the day and to add insult upon injury - a head wind came up. Oh well, we were safe, we knew we would make it and the clouds were absolutely gorgeous. I had to stop and take a photo of the wildflowers and clouds. That scene almost made all the extra riding in the heat of the day worth it. Well, maybe not.
Tex and I ride well together. We may not do so good on directions, but we enjoy each others company - what's a few extra miles between friends? We got in and went across the street to the diner to get a shake. We needed something to refresh us, but dinner wasn't that far off, so didn't want to get a meal. Victoria joined us and when the bill came she said, "No, this one's on me, you did extra maneuvers today."
It really was another good day. I guess Tex and I might be taking the idea of getting the most out of every mile a bit too far though! Lesson learned from today, when getting directions, ask how many miles to the place you want to ultimately get to. If it seems awfully far, back tracking may make a heck of a lot of sense!
Miles: 88.32 ------------ Total Mileage 3,038.33
Theme: The Road Less Traveled, or Getting the Most Out of Every Mile
Given that we were on our own for dinner last night and that the Free Happy Hour at the Hampton Inn went from 5:30 to 8:00(which included free wine, beer, cookies and strawberries) Carol and Linda wisely decided to have the map meeting this morning at 7:00. Everybody was there - and fairly chipper! We got our directions to High Springs - and off we rode. I would have to say that while the riding in Florida has been fairly easy - the lack of terrain (ups and downs) and the long straight roads do get a bit monotonous.
I decided to ride nearer the back of the pack today. I wanted a bit more time to myself, time to think about some of the conversations last night around our pizza party. We were talking about what we had learned as a result of this journey - and what things we might do differently as a result. Kathie M said that one of the things she learned is that when you find that the riding is really difficult and you are feeling like your body just isn't responding how you thought it would - when you are feeling wiped, the problem might not be you. You might want to check to make sure your brakes aren't rubbing! Needless to say - that got a chuckle or two! People did share some of what they learned. I know there are some things I learned, but I also need to process a bit more. So leaving a little space when we rode today allowed me to do some of that.
The ride was typical Florida as we started out. There were some nice clouds in the sky - which helped to keep the heat down a bit. As we rode at some point I noticed an odor that wasn't very pleasant. Off in the distance I saw some very large white buildings with big fans on the side. Ah - now I knew what the odor was, the buildings were big chicken houses. We passed many of these today. I can say between the cattle farms and the chicken farms - as well as all the road kill - it almost makes me want to be a vegetarian. Unfortunately I just don't like tofu that much! I know, I know, there are lots of other options.
What I enjoyed most about the ride today was the wildflowers along the road. They were simply beautiful. So many reds, yellows, purples and whites - amongst the greenery. We crossed the Suwannee River today and also went to the Ichetucknee Springs. The water was incredibly clear at the springs. I was tempted to go swimming but riding in wet shorts the rest of the way in wasn't so appealing! Kathie, Tex and I rode most of the morning together. Kathie wanted to spend more time at the Springs so she suggested we go on, she would ride the last miles in on her own. Tex and I got some water, a few bites to eat and on we went.
This is where things got interesting. We got out of the Ichetucknee State Park and headed up the road. The street sign was on a bit of an angle - but we thought we were on the correct road. We went a ways but thought it would be smart to flag someone down to make sure we were headed toward County Road 131. The first person we tried to flag down didn't stop. This is the first time we have had that happen to us. We stopped the next car - and the man driving asked "Did you run out of gas?" We laughed and then proceeded to ask if he knew if CR 131 was ahead. He looked away sheepishly and said "I'm sorry, we are from Pennsylvania - I have no idea."
Well you know the saying, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." And so we did. This time we stopped a big truck - a work crew. We asked them and the guy said "Yup - continue down this road and at the first blinking light turn right, then the next blinking light you will turn left and that is 131." And so we went on relieved to be going in the right direction.
We rode for quite a while - longer than we would have expected, so at an intersection we saw a woman who was selling stuff from the trunk of her car. She was just packing up for the day. She said where are you trying to get to. We said "CR 131, then 18 to High Springs." She said, "Who told you to come this way?" She said "You can go this way but you sure went out of your way!" She gave us similar directions to the men in the truck - and so we continued on. It seemed like we were riding forever - so we stopped another person, just to confirm our route. The guy told "You could cut off a few miles if we took the dirt road just back yonder but it's a nice day and it's only about 12 or 14 more miles, so the way your going should be fine. Besides, it's so nice out." Tex came back across the road and muttered to me "Easy for him to say in his air conditioned car." She may have said a bit more, but I'll leave it at that! We laughed and continued on after we called Katherine who was the Sag driver today - to tell her we would be just a tad late!
We certainly were on the Road Less Traveled Today! We had to stop and ask an elder woman if we could get some water as we were bone dry. She had just walked up her driveway to get the mail. She was happy to let us get some water out of her hose and we were very grateful.
Eventually we got back on route. We were riding in the heat of the day and to add insult upon injury - a head wind came up. Oh well, we were safe, we knew we would make it and the clouds were absolutely gorgeous. I had to stop and take a photo of the wildflowers and clouds. That scene almost made all the extra riding in the heat of the day worth it. Well, maybe not.
Tex and I ride well together. We may not do so good on directions, but we enjoy each others company - what's a few extra miles between friends? We got in and went across the street to the diner to get a shake. We needed something to refresh us, but dinner wasn't that far off, so didn't want to get a meal. Victoria joined us and when the bill came she said, "No, this one's on me, you did extra maneuvers today."
It really was another good day. I guess Tex and I might be taking the idea of getting the most out of every mile a bit too far though! Lesson learned from today, when getting directions, ask how many miles to the place you want to ultimately get to. If it seems awfully far, back tracking may make a heck of a lot of sense!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Day 53: Crawfordville to Perry, Florida
Day 53: Crawfordville to Perry, Florida
Miles: 53.21 ------------ Total Mileage 2,950.01
Theme: Half a Rest Day?
It feels good to get back on the bikes - I feel like I missing something if I haven't ridden during the day. And yesterday - our rest day, I didn't ride Ms. B (my bike) at all. So getting on the saddle and starting down the road was a good thing.
At breakfast Marge said "On 4 more days until rests days." It will be weird to get back to normal life. No longer will my bike be allowed to be next to my bed each night. No longer can I sit in the driveway in a plastic chair and wait for a fabulous dinner to be served up. Well I guess I could try waiting in the plastic chair in the driveway - but I have a sneaking suspicion that I will be sadly disappointed! And certainly I can't eat whatever I want during the day and not gain a pound! Ah - there is much I will miss when this trip ends, but it will be good to get back to my regular life too. I think we are all starting to wrap our minds around getting back home and out of the "Biking Bubble." As Kathie, Tex and I rode today we shared some of the highlights and lowest points we experienced on the trip. It was fun to share what stuck out for each of us.
We rode just over 53 miles today. Tex lead off from the hotel and she was like a cannon ball shot from a cannon. Nothing was holding her back. She must have eaten something different than I did this morning -- or she could be doping. I hope she does get caught when they do the random urine test! The riding was flat and straight - and it seemed like a very short day! We did see a snake on the side of the road. It was quite colorful and reminded me of a coral snake. On further reading on snakes in Florida it very well could have been a Scarlet Snake. In either case it was dead and wasn't going anywhere. We also saw a turtle - it was crossing the road. Sure hope he made it to the other side okay.
It was humid out, but fortunately it wasn't too hot when we started. There were some magnificent thunder clouds in the sky. I loved seeing the sun peaking through or backlighting the clouds. According to the news there is a chance of scattered thunder showers, but we have been lucky with weather so far, so I am holding my hat on that. Young Pup (Lisa) was doing Sag today. She had the Easter Bonnets in the Sag wagon and assured us she would wear one of them at the Sag stops. Unfortunately Kathie, Tex and I didn't get to see her in the bonnet as we were first there and she always put it on after the 1st group went through) but others took photos of her.
Just like the other day when we rode, we didn't spend much time at the Sag stop due to the bugs. We got in, refilled our water bottles and headed out again. Shortly after the first Sag we were riding along and a big bird crossed right in front of us. I was going to ride on but I noticed it stopped in the trees. I warned Kathie and Tex that I was going to turn around and look at it. I found it sitting in a tree. It wasn't a hawk like I first thought but rather it was a beautiful Barred Owl. I called Tex and Kathie back to look at it, but just when Tex got there a logging truck came by and scared the owl away. I did get a decent photo of it though. Seeing the bird was simply a beautiful gift that the day brought.
It made my day!
We stopped down the road a bit to use the restroom at a gas station. The woman working in the store was very friendly. I always like to ask if they mind if I use the restroom before using it - especially if I don't plan on buying anything. She said yes and I thanked her and warned her that more bikers might be stopping in. She was happy to have as many come in as wanted! The bathroom didn't have your normal men/women sign on the door. Instead it had a painting of a doe and a buck. Tex had to think a minute before she knew which door to open. She got it right thankfully - but come to think of it, maybe she knew because she saw which one I came out of!
As I waited outside for Tex and Kathie I got into a conversation with a fellow outside. He told me that he used to work for the antenna company - and he was up on a 60 foot antenna when his safety line broke and he fell off (and the antenna came down too). He said he shattered his arm and is now on disability. He lifted his arm up and you could see the scars and the disfigurement. He lives off of his disability but doesn't get much so the convenience type stores in the area save their aluminum cans for him and he comes and collects them every week - and then gets the money from that. Between that and fishing, he gets by.
We pushed off once again and quickly came to the 2nd (and last) Sag stop for the day. As we were just about heading out, Carol (our guide) came into the Sag. Due to people having issues with their bikes - and Carol giving parts of her bike so others could keep riding, she hadn't had an opportunity to ride in a week. Kathy, Tex and I pushed off - and then realized - that was rude to just leave Carol there. I turned around and asked her to join us. And so she did. Now as I mentioned earlier, the ride was very straight and flat today. Turns out Carol has a boom box type thing on the back of her bike. She had that going so the 4 of us were cranking to the likes of Carol King. I don't think I will ever be able to hear the song "Where you Lead" and not think of riding the straight flat roads of Florida.
We quickly got to our destination city - Perry Florida. It was about 11:15. Heck it feels like we are getting a bonus of a half a rest day today! Linda had told us about several of the dining options as we have dinner on our own this evening. Kathie, Tex, and I had decided on Mama's Italian - and Young Pup was going to join us as soon as she was done with Sag duties. Greta decided to join us as well and Alice rode in just as we were leaving, so she joined us a few minutes later as well. Later Liz and Eva came in, then Linda and Carol, followed by Katherine and Marge. Katherine shared that when they got to the Hampton Inn the woman behind the desk told her that their room wasn't ready yet - but she could get them a different room if they liked. Katherine and Marge immediately replied "No." They were thrilled that they made it in early enough for the first time that their room wasn't ready. They weren't going to let that pleasure be taken away from them!
Mama's Italian had fabulous food. I had the lasagna. All of us liked what we had so much that we decided to order pizza for the evening. Turns out that the Hampton Inn where we are staying has a Happy Hour from 5:30 to 8:00 and they serve wine, beer and other drinks, along with fresh strawberries with chocolate to dip them in. They also have cookies. So we will order our pizza and have that with the wine or beer - with the strawberries and cookies for dessert. Should be a fun night tonight!
Miles: 53.21 ------------ Total Mileage 2,950.01
Theme: Half a Rest Day?
It feels good to get back on the bikes - I feel like I missing something if I haven't ridden during the day. And yesterday - our rest day, I didn't ride Ms. B (my bike) at all. So getting on the saddle and starting down the road was a good thing.
At breakfast Marge said "On 4 more days until rests days." It will be weird to get back to normal life. No longer will my bike be allowed to be next to my bed each night. No longer can I sit in the driveway in a plastic chair and wait for a fabulous dinner to be served up. Well I guess I could try waiting in the plastic chair in the driveway - but I have a sneaking suspicion that I will be sadly disappointed! And certainly I can't eat whatever I want during the day and not gain a pound! Ah - there is much I will miss when this trip ends, but it will be good to get back to my regular life too. I think we are all starting to wrap our minds around getting back home and out of the "Biking Bubble." As Kathie, Tex and I rode today we shared some of the highlights and lowest points we experienced on the trip. It was fun to share what stuck out for each of us.
We rode just over 53 miles today. Tex lead off from the hotel and she was like a cannon ball shot from a cannon. Nothing was holding her back. She must have eaten something different than I did this morning -- or she could be doping. I hope she does get caught when they do the random urine test! The riding was flat and straight - and it seemed like a very short day! We did see a snake on the side of the road. It was quite colorful and reminded me of a coral snake. On further reading on snakes in Florida it very well could have been a Scarlet Snake. In either case it was dead and wasn't going anywhere. We also saw a turtle - it was crossing the road. Sure hope he made it to the other side okay.
It was humid out, but fortunately it wasn't too hot when we started. There were some magnificent thunder clouds in the sky. I loved seeing the sun peaking through or backlighting the clouds. According to the news there is a chance of scattered thunder showers, but we have been lucky with weather so far, so I am holding my hat on that. Young Pup (Lisa) was doing Sag today. She had the Easter Bonnets in the Sag wagon and assured us she would wear one of them at the Sag stops. Unfortunately Kathie, Tex and I didn't get to see her in the bonnet as we were first there and she always put it on after the 1st group went through) but others took photos of her.
Just like the other day when we rode, we didn't spend much time at the Sag stop due to the bugs. We got in, refilled our water bottles and headed out again. Shortly after the first Sag we were riding along and a big bird crossed right in front of us. I was going to ride on but I noticed it stopped in the trees. I warned Kathie and Tex that I was going to turn around and look at it. I found it sitting in a tree. It wasn't a hawk like I first thought but rather it was a beautiful Barred Owl. I called Tex and Kathie back to look at it, but just when Tex got there a logging truck came by and scared the owl away. I did get a decent photo of it though. Seeing the bird was simply a beautiful gift that the day brought.
It made my day!
We stopped down the road a bit to use the restroom at a gas station. The woman working in the store was very friendly. I always like to ask if they mind if I use the restroom before using it - especially if I don't plan on buying anything. She said yes and I thanked her and warned her that more bikers might be stopping in. She was happy to have as many come in as wanted! The bathroom didn't have your normal men/women sign on the door. Instead it had a painting of a doe and a buck. Tex had to think a minute before she knew which door to open. She got it right thankfully - but come to think of it, maybe she knew because she saw which one I came out of!
As I waited outside for Tex and Kathie I got into a conversation with a fellow outside. He told me that he used to work for the antenna company - and he was up on a 60 foot antenna when his safety line broke and he fell off (and the antenna came down too). He said he shattered his arm and is now on disability. He lifted his arm up and you could see the scars and the disfigurement. He lives off of his disability but doesn't get much so the convenience type stores in the area save their aluminum cans for him and he comes and collects them every week - and then gets the money from that. Between that and fishing, he gets by.
We pushed off once again and quickly came to the 2nd (and last) Sag stop for the day. As we were just about heading out, Carol (our guide) came into the Sag. Due to people having issues with their bikes - and Carol giving parts of her bike so others could keep riding, she hadn't had an opportunity to ride in a week. Kathy, Tex and I pushed off - and then realized - that was rude to just leave Carol there. I turned around and asked her to join us. And so she did. Now as I mentioned earlier, the ride was very straight and flat today. Turns out Carol has a boom box type thing on the back of her bike. She had that going so the 4 of us were cranking to the likes of Carol King. I don't think I will ever be able to hear the song "Where you Lead" and not think of riding the straight flat roads of Florida.
We quickly got to our destination city - Perry Florida. It was about 11:15. Heck it feels like we are getting a bonus of a half a rest day today! Linda had told us about several of the dining options as we have dinner on our own this evening. Kathie, Tex, and I had decided on Mama's Italian - and Young Pup was going to join us as soon as she was done with Sag duties. Greta decided to join us as well and Alice rode in just as we were leaving, so she joined us a few minutes later as well. Later Liz and Eva came in, then Linda and Carol, followed by Katherine and Marge. Katherine shared that when they got to the Hampton Inn the woman behind the desk told her that their room wasn't ready yet - but she could get them a different room if they liked. Katherine and Marge immediately replied "No." They were thrilled that they made it in early enough for the first time that their room wasn't ready. They weren't going to let that pleasure be taken away from them!
Mama's Italian had fabulous food. I had the lasagna. All of us liked what we had so much that we decided to order pizza for the evening. Turns out that the Hampton Inn where we are staying has a Happy Hour from 5:30 to 8:00 and they serve wine, beer and other drinks, along with fresh strawberries with chocolate to dip them in. They also have cookies. So we will order our pizza and have that with the wine or beer - with the strawberries and cookies for dessert. Should be a fun night tonight!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Day 52: Crawfordville, Florida LAST REST DAY OF THE TRIP
Day 52: Crawfordville, Florida LAST REST DAY OF THE TRIP
Miles: BIG FAT ZERO ------------ Total Mileage 2,896.80
Theme: What Color is Your Bonnet?
Happy Easter. A number of people are going to an Easter Service this morning. When in the South, do like the Southerns. I figure it's all part of the experience, so decided to go. Besides, there was a brunch afterwards that we were invited to attend! So Carol, Lise, Linda T., Tex, Katherine, Marge, Kathy and I were picked up at 8:10 to go to an 8:30 service. Now none of us brought "church clothes" with us, so we put on the best slacks we had and all wore our WomanTour Riding Jerseys. Tex and I also felt it was important to wear an Easter Bonnet, so last night we created our bonnets.
Tex came up with the idea when several days earlier she was in a Dollar General store and saw some plastic flowers. We bought some paper plates at Walmart yesterday and started designing our bonnets. We were in hysterics last night making them. Nancy (my roommate) took several photos during the process as we created our masterpieces. I turned to Tex and in a straight face said "You know, I think the Rose Parade is going to be calling us to make a float." Nancy and Tex were howling with laughter!
So in the morning, we came down in our Sunday going to church clothes along with our Easter Bonnets. We were quite the sight and made quite the stir. The two women from the congregation - politely said how nice our hats were. Our group was in total hysterics. Many photos were taken. Carol came up to me and said "You aren't really going to wear those are you?" Before we left we asked Dave (the clerk at the hotel desk) if we could leave our bonnets with him and get them back when we returned. I told him he could wear them while we were away if he liked! He smiled and said that he just might!
We went to the Methodist Church in Crawfordville. The people were very nice and the pastor mentioned that we were joining them for the service. I am sure no one could miss us though! At the brunch afterwards many people came up and talked to us, told us how much they admired what we were doing, asked how far we rode each day, and whether we knew each other before the trip... It was a very friendly congregation.
When we got back it was time to do laundry. Key signs that we are coming to the end of the trip:
1) I will not do any more laundry in a hotel
2) I only have about 5 Q-tips left
3) I am having to squeeze toothpaste out of the tube
4) and my biking shorts are wearing thin!
Tex, Kathie, Alice and I went to lunch today at the golf course again today. Before I went I was sorting through photos from the earlier part of the trip. I was reviewing photos from the first days when we hardly knew one another. As we ate our meal we shared stories about the early days of the trip. We had some great laughs about funny moments on the trip, about our first impressions of each other... Part way through the trip someone described the trip as you get up, eat, ride, eat and repeat. It is hard to believe we only have 4 more riding days. My how far we have come and how close we have grown. What a group of women!
Tex and I will wear our bonnets to dinner tonight - want to get as much mileage out of them as possible as I don't think we can wear them under our helmets tomorrow! Until then I am going to get my things in order, listen to some music and rest. Another great day --- and an Easter that I won't forget!
Miles: BIG FAT ZERO ------------ Total Mileage 2,896.80
Theme: What Color is Your Bonnet?
Happy Easter. A number of people are going to an Easter Service this morning. When in the South, do like the Southerns. I figure it's all part of the experience, so decided to go. Besides, there was a brunch afterwards that we were invited to attend! So Carol, Lise, Linda T., Tex, Katherine, Marge, Kathy and I were picked up at 8:10 to go to an 8:30 service. Now none of us brought "church clothes" with us, so we put on the best slacks we had and all wore our WomanTour Riding Jerseys. Tex and I also felt it was important to wear an Easter Bonnet, so last night we created our bonnets.
Tex came up with the idea when several days earlier she was in a Dollar General store and saw some plastic flowers. We bought some paper plates at Walmart yesterday and started designing our bonnets. We were in hysterics last night making them. Nancy (my roommate) took several photos during the process as we created our masterpieces. I turned to Tex and in a straight face said "You know, I think the Rose Parade is going to be calling us to make a float." Nancy and Tex were howling with laughter!
So in the morning, we came down in our Sunday going to church clothes along with our Easter Bonnets. We were quite the sight and made quite the stir. The two women from the congregation - politely said how nice our hats were. Our group was in total hysterics. Many photos were taken. Carol came up to me and said "You aren't really going to wear those are you?" Before we left we asked Dave (the clerk at the hotel desk) if we could leave our bonnets with him and get them back when we returned. I told him he could wear them while we were away if he liked! He smiled and said that he just might!
We went to the Methodist Church in Crawfordville. The people were very nice and the pastor mentioned that we were joining them for the service. I am sure no one could miss us though! At the brunch afterwards many people came up and talked to us, told us how much they admired what we were doing, asked how far we rode each day, and whether we knew each other before the trip... It was a very friendly congregation.
When we got back it was time to do laundry. Key signs that we are coming to the end of the trip:
1) I will not do any more laundry in a hotel
2) I only have about 5 Q-tips left
3) I am having to squeeze toothpaste out of the tube
4) and my biking shorts are wearing thin!
Tex, Kathie, Alice and I went to lunch today at the golf course again today. Before I went I was sorting through photos from the earlier part of the trip. I was reviewing photos from the first days when we hardly knew one another. As we ate our meal we shared stories about the early days of the trip. We had some great laughs about funny moments on the trip, about our first impressions of each other... Part way through the trip someone described the trip as you get up, eat, ride, eat and repeat. It is hard to believe we only have 4 more riding days. My how far we have come and how close we have grown. What a group of women!
Tex and I will wear our bonnets to dinner tonight - want to get as much mileage out of them as possible as I don't think we can wear them under our helmets tomorrow! Until then I am going to get my things in order, listen to some music and rest. Another great day --- and an Easter that I won't forget!
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Day 51: Quincy to Crawfordville, Florida
Day 51: Quincy to Crawfordville, Florida
Miles: 49.03 ------------ Total Mileage 2,896.80
Theme: 3 F's -- Fog, Flats and "Fore"
Today was a short day of riding and then we get a rest day tomorrow. Kathie, Tex and I rode off together. There was a little fog when we started, but not too much. That quickly changed however as the fog got thicker and thicker as we rode on. It wasn't that warm, but the humidity must have been over 95%. Between the fog and the humidity the air was so thick out it felt like a warm rain! We stopped at one point and I pulled out my blinking light - so that we were more visible. Fortunately Kathie and Tex both had very bright jackets on so that helped the visibility issue. One of the good things about the fog was that you really didn't know the terrain ahead until you got to it. No need to worry about hills, you came upon the hills and then past them before you knew what was happening!
We rode at a good pace this morning. As always people turned and stared at me on my bike as we went through towns. I had a new comment this morning. A guy said "You should hook up a tv to that bike as you are all stretched out and comfortable." We continued riding at a pace of between 16 and 20 miles an hour. We were mainly on country roads but it was hard to see much of the scenery due to the fog. We were focused on making the most of our off day - and the sooner we could start it, the better. It didn't take us long to get to the first sag stop (around mile 17 today). Katherine was there. As soon as we rode in, it seemed that the mosquitos and other bugs just started attacking. Needless to say we did not waste any time at the sag - we were like an Indianapolis 500 pit crew - in and out of pit row ASAP! We couldn't have been there more than 90 seconds.
We continued on down the road. At mile 34 Kathie broke off to go to Wakulla Springs State Park. Tex and I continued on to Crawfordville. We had to stop and get a few things at the Walmart. Before we got there however I had a flat tire. The road we were on was fairly busy and didn't have much of a shoulder, so I rode on for another mile (as there was still some air in the tire) until we got to a small strip mall where it was much safer to change the tire. It didn't take too long especially using the air cartridge. I love those, once you have the new tube in rather than pumping it up with a small hand pump, you use a pressurized cartridge. It fills the tire with air in seconds - literally, and it has much more pressure in the tire than you could get with a small hand pump.
We got back on the bikes and rode for another mile - and arrived at the Walmart. We talked to the Walmart Greeter to see if it would be okay to leave our bikes inside where she was greeting customers. She was interested in our ride and was happy to make sure no one touched our bikes. Tex and I went in the store with our biking garb on helmets and all. At one point Tex looked over at me and noted that everyone was smiling at us. I informed her that they were laughing at us! Here were these two older women in biking shorts and shirts, biking shoes, and topped of with biking helmets. Tex's helmet also has a mirror attached to it!. I think my assessment that they were laughing at us was much closer to reality. We didn't worry about whether they were laughing, we just smiled back! We paid for our purchases and headed to our final destination - The Inn at Wildwood.
We arrived at the Inn shortly after noon (even though we had a flat and stopped to do some shopping). Unfortunately our luggage wasn't there yet as Linda and Carol had to go to Tallahassee to get some groceries and they had to get Lisa's bike fixed. She had a broken spoke and had been riding Carol's bike for the last day and a half. When I checked in at the desk, the woman said "Oh, you have some mail." I had another Tree Mail package from my friend Kelle. As soon as I got to my room I ripped it open to find super cool Easter socks (Susan D you would be jealous of these!), pink marshmallow Peep Bunnies and some Gummy Bunnies! Too much fun. (Kelle - I have so looked forward to getting your little surprises on my rest days. Thanks so much!!!!)
There is a golf course connected with the Inn, so Tex and I went to the club house to get some lunch. We meet up with Lisa, Greta, Eva and Liz who arrived shortly before us. Later Alice and Victoria joined us as well. Not only was the food good but we had plenty of laughs as well! After lunch Victoria and I decided that we would go play golf once we could take a shower and put on clean clothes. Around 2:00 the van and trailer showed up - so we cleaned up and went and played - using rented clubs. We had a great time, didn't take it too seriously, and hit a few good shots (enough to not give up the game totally). There were signs to be careful as there were snakes and alligators so if (I mean when) I hit the ball into the rough, it stayed there! We had a great time. We got back to the Inn, took another shower and then went down to a surprise Margarita party before dinner. Linda and Carol gave us a Margarita party simply to say well done. They noted that the next few days will get busy as we prepare for the end and they just wanted to let us know what a great group we were and to say cheers for a great accomplishment.
Tomorrow is Easter. Some of us are going to church, some going kayaking... Tex and I had some work to do before the morning. I'll tell you about that tomorrow - don't want to spoil the surprise!
And so tomorrow is our last rest day of this trip. We are all talking more about what the trip has meant to us, what we have learned, what we will take back with us. Hard to believe that we have almost completed this journey across the country. I think it will take some time for me to truly grasp all the lessons learned. It has been an amazing journey. Well I better send this off - so I can get some sleep! Have a Happy Easter everyone -
Miles: 49.03 ------------ Total Mileage 2,896.80
Theme: 3 F's -- Fog, Flats and "Fore"
Today was a short day of riding and then we get a rest day tomorrow. Kathie, Tex and I rode off together. There was a little fog when we started, but not too much. That quickly changed however as the fog got thicker and thicker as we rode on. It wasn't that warm, but the humidity must have been over 95%. Between the fog and the humidity the air was so thick out it felt like a warm rain! We stopped at one point and I pulled out my blinking light - so that we were more visible. Fortunately Kathie and Tex both had very bright jackets on so that helped the visibility issue. One of the good things about the fog was that you really didn't know the terrain ahead until you got to it. No need to worry about hills, you came upon the hills and then past them before you knew what was happening!
We rode at a good pace this morning. As always people turned and stared at me on my bike as we went through towns. I had a new comment this morning. A guy said "You should hook up a tv to that bike as you are all stretched out and comfortable." We continued riding at a pace of between 16 and 20 miles an hour. We were mainly on country roads but it was hard to see much of the scenery due to the fog. We were focused on making the most of our off day - and the sooner we could start it, the better. It didn't take us long to get to the first sag stop (around mile 17 today). Katherine was there. As soon as we rode in, it seemed that the mosquitos and other bugs just started attacking. Needless to say we did not waste any time at the sag - we were like an Indianapolis 500 pit crew - in and out of pit row ASAP! We couldn't have been there more than 90 seconds.
We continued on down the road. At mile 34 Kathie broke off to go to Wakulla Springs State Park. Tex and I continued on to Crawfordville. We had to stop and get a few things at the Walmart. Before we got there however I had a flat tire. The road we were on was fairly busy and didn't have much of a shoulder, so I rode on for another mile (as there was still some air in the tire) until we got to a small strip mall where it was much safer to change the tire. It didn't take too long especially using the air cartridge. I love those, once you have the new tube in rather than pumping it up with a small hand pump, you use a pressurized cartridge. It fills the tire with air in seconds - literally, and it has much more pressure in the tire than you could get with a small hand pump.
We got back on the bikes and rode for another mile - and arrived at the Walmart. We talked to the Walmart Greeter to see if it would be okay to leave our bikes inside where she was greeting customers. She was interested in our ride and was happy to make sure no one touched our bikes. Tex and I went in the store with our biking garb on helmets and all. At one point Tex looked over at me and noted that everyone was smiling at us. I informed her that they were laughing at us! Here were these two older women in biking shorts and shirts, biking shoes, and topped of with biking helmets. Tex's helmet also has a mirror attached to it!. I think my assessment that they were laughing at us was much closer to reality. We didn't worry about whether they were laughing, we just smiled back! We paid for our purchases and headed to our final destination - The Inn at Wildwood.
We arrived at the Inn shortly after noon (even though we had a flat and stopped to do some shopping). Unfortunately our luggage wasn't there yet as Linda and Carol had to go to Tallahassee to get some groceries and they had to get Lisa's bike fixed. She had a broken spoke and had been riding Carol's bike for the last day and a half. When I checked in at the desk, the woman said "Oh, you have some mail." I had another Tree Mail package from my friend Kelle. As soon as I got to my room I ripped it open to find super cool Easter socks (Susan D you would be jealous of these!), pink marshmallow Peep Bunnies and some Gummy Bunnies! Too much fun. (Kelle - I have so looked forward to getting your little surprises on my rest days. Thanks so much!!!!)
There is a golf course connected with the Inn, so Tex and I went to the club house to get some lunch. We meet up with Lisa, Greta, Eva and Liz who arrived shortly before us. Later Alice and Victoria joined us as well. Not only was the food good but we had plenty of laughs as well! After lunch Victoria and I decided that we would go play golf once we could take a shower and put on clean clothes. Around 2:00 the van and trailer showed up - so we cleaned up and went and played - using rented clubs. We had a great time, didn't take it too seriously, and hit a few good shots (enough to not give up the game totally). There were signs to be careful as there were snakes and alligators so if (I mean when) I hit the ball into the rough, it stayed there! We had a great time. We got back to the Inn, took another shower and then went down to a surprise Margarita party before dinner. Linda and Carol gave us a Margarita party simply to say well done. They noted that the next few days will get busy as we prepare for the end and they just wanted to let us know what a great group we were and to say cheers for a great accomplishment.
Tomorrow is Easter. Some of us are going to church, some going kayaking... Tex and I had some work to do before the morning. I'll tell you about that tomorrow - don't want to spoil the surprise!
And so tomorrow is our last rest day of this trip. We are all talking more about what the trip has meant to us, what we have learned, what we will take back with us. Hard to believe that we have almost completed this journey across the country. I think it will take some time for me to truly grasp all the lessons learned. It has been an amazing journey. Well I better send this off - so I can get some sleep! Have a Happy Easter everyone -
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