Escape From Florida

Mileage: 66 yesterday, a mere 55 today.

Cumulative elevation gain: about 500 feet each day

Weather: 70, cloudy, rainy

It’s been a great couple of days of riding, mostly on back roads and residential areas. Yesterday we stayed on lovely Amelia Island. I’d never heard of this place, but it is just beautiful. We were on bike trails for 10 miles or so, and got to take a very short ferry ride across the St. Johns river.

I swear the same group of 5 pelicans played tag-team with me for about 30 miles up the coast. Unless pelicans just always fly in groups of five?

Today’s ride was the first one so far under 60 miles. Yesterday’s would've been under 60 but I added 2 miles to get to Starbucks and then was so energized I rode on a bit to explore the island. Amelia Island would be very high on my list of places in Florida to come back to.  Lots of wooded areas, lots of beach access. The village of Fernandina Beach is one of the prettiest I've seen on this trip, but I only got to see it on a drive-through in the dark.

Last night one of my old high school friends (Ronda Haggit Bokram) and her husband picked me up and took me for a home-cooked dinner. It was so great to catch up with her and meet her daughter,  and I've had a warm glow all day today thinking about it.

Today’s ride started in a deluge, and many sought shelter. But I actually think it’s fun to ride in rain when it’s warm. I overslept this morning and got a late start, the very last one to leave. Then found a Starbucks just 7 miles into the ride, which put me even more behind, but still was here by 1:30. Why do we have to leave so early on these short days? It’s a mystery to me. Our fastest rider was here before noon.

And “here” is not really a place that one would want to hang out. We are in the little town of Folkston Georgia… yes, we finally escaped Florida!....with our group spread between the only two hotels in town. And they are both, shall we say,somewhat the worse for wear. My room smells, quite literally, like a moldy ash tray; the towels are threadbare; the carpeting and upholstery is stained; the bathroom vanity is broken. Still, it’s a place to sleep and only for the night.

At one point today we were on a busy highway and the shoulder disappeared under a jersey barrier for several miles due to construction. I was doing my usual “please protect me, please protect me” chant under my breath, and what do I see behind me but our WomanTours van, which escorted me through the entire construction area. I remain a devout agnostic, but thank you god, anyway.

Then just after we entered Georgia the shoulder on the busy 4 lane highway turned to rumble strip, all rumble strip, and nothing but rumble strip. Trying to ride right on the white line, watching in the rear-view mirror to make sure cars were pulling over into the other lane, bouncing on the rumble when they didn't…..This was fairly terrifying and I would not willingly ride that 4 miles again. We have a half mile on the same road in the morning but it’s through the town and I will be on sidewalks or cutting through parking lots.

The reporter for the local town paper came and interviewed us at dinner tonight. Soon we’ll be famous!

Beach on Amelia Island

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St. Mary's river, going into Georgia. I think.

Egrets

Beautiful estuary near the St. John's River

On the ferry over the St. John's River

Escape from Florida at last!

Shoulder from Hell

The first hill we've seen on the entire trip

Lovely bike path on Amelia Island

I’ve been concentrating on keeping my shoulders down and relaxed,  not leaning on my hands so much, and taking ibuprofen at the first twinge of pain. Very little pain the last couple of days, much to my relief.