This morning I could not get organized. Felt like I was going in slow motion. It was 42 degrees this morning. It was cold, but my sleeping bag was nice and warm. Hated getting out :-). We were up at 6:30 and riding by 8:10 am.
Today was a very hard day on the bike. 50 miles isn’t much, but fighting head winds all the way really beat us down. But I’m not complaining. No way, it was a cake walk.
About 30 miles into our ride, we stopped at the top of a hill for some water and to catch our breath. As we were recuperating, a couple (husband & wife) coming from the other direction came across the road and stopped to chat a bit.
They had started from El Paso about 6 weeks earlier. The guy was a retired Army officer and asked how long I was in the Corps (he saw my USMC flag). We talked military stuff for a while, then we talked biking.
He is completing going around the perimeter of the whole United States. WOW! Plus, he had done the central route too. On this trip he had broken his chain and had fixed it, but it was too short and he couldn’t use his high gears.
We told him he probably wouldn’t find a bike shop until he got to Gainesville. We said our goodbyes and they headed east. As they rode off Bob said to me, “If I complain about anything on this trip, kick my butt.” I said that goes double for me.
The guy we had been talking to had his right artificial leg strapped to his center tube. This guy was riding with only his left leg.
Sometimes things happen for the right reasons. The whole time we spent at Suwannee Bicycle Association was like serendipity. We missed the rain. We met great people at SBA. We met Kevin & Josh, fellow cyclists completing the same route we are beginning.
Kevin & Josh about to get back on the road
And we learned the amazing history of the SBA from Jean, who helped start SBA 21 years ago.
SBA's Jean
Yesterday we had a good talk with Kevin and Josh – really great guys. They are super adventurous. They had a lot of good stories to tell us, including one about backpacking with skis for two weeks! They gave us good info on places to avoid and things to look out for on the rest of our trip.
Pumping the tires
Late last night, someone tried to get into SBA. It was Jean. She was coming in to be there early for some street marking the next morning for the Florida Bicycle Safari. We were all sleeping on the couches and Josh & Kevin were sleeping on the floor. Bob gave up his couch so Jean could sleep on it and he moved to the floor. Jean joked the next morning she better not tell her husband she slept with 5 guys!
We could have left earlier this morning, but we only planned to go 30 miles to Suwannee River State Park. We’re having to adjust our route based on campgrounds. There’s nothing between there and Tallahassee. With the strong winds (20-25 mph) today, 35 miles is like 50 miles.
After Suwannee River State Park, there’s a big strip of 110 miles to the next campground. We have info on two Warm Showers possibilities Wednesday night in Tallahassee. We’re trying to break down the mileage to manageable chunks.
The ride was cold. Having to wear long-johns, but having a good time!
Day 3: Ichetucknee Springs to White Springs, FL
30 miles
I know a few people will be a little disappointed when they see we have only gone 30 or 40 miles in a day. We are on this journey to ride our bikes across the country and see and experience the ride of a lifetime. It’s not a race. We want to share our experiences; the good, bad and the ugly.
Today has been a good day. Yes, we only went 30 miles, but we are staying the day/night in a dry and clean place.
Bob knew of the Suwannee Bicycle Association in White Springs. He is a member and he made some phone calls and they are letting us spend as much time as we need to ride out the rain that is now pouring outside. Cheryl gave us a heads up about the bad weather or we might have been caught in the open country. Thank you MBB.
We arrived here in White Springs about an hour before the rains came down. 🙂
Rain? What Rain? Bob & Harry with some cyclists about an hour before it rained.
Florida Bicycle Safari riders caught in the downpour.
The Suwannee Bicycle Association puts on a lot of rides and this weekend there were about 400 riders here taking advantage of their SAG stop for the Florida Bicycle Safari that started today.
Fellow Withlacoochee Bicycle Group cyclists, Colin & Evelyn and Mari & Jerry, have been here for their Suwannee Sweetheart Cycling Weekend in February. It is a nice place to ride and meet great bicycle people.
We’re staying the night here at the club, sleeping on their nice, big couches. Thank you SBA for the fantastic hospitality. We really appreciate it.
Inside SBA
Tomorrow we hope to reach Madison, or at least Live Oak. But with the weather forecast (more rain, winds 15-20 mph with gusts to 25 mph), we are going to have to play this one by what happens.
Day 3: Gainesville to Ichetucknee Springs, FL
50 miles
Thanks again to our Warm Showers host, Tom Harris. He’s really funny, interesting, and just a super guy! Below is a video of Tom and his talented cat, Leo. I think Leo thinks he’s a dog. He knows how to sit and jump through hoops! Not many cats do that.
Today was a rough day. We started off good, and rode on to Alachua again and stopped at our favorite Subway again. Bob got a flat tire five miles after Alachua. He changed it, then we rode on.
First flat (Bob)
Bob got a flat tire again. I gave him one of my tubes, but it wouldn’t hold air. We checked the tire again but saw nothing there. We kept looking and found a little piece of metal in the wheel. We filed it down and so far the tire is doing okay.
2nd flat tire (Bob)
It was a good ride. Not as hectic as yesterday. We only had problems twice, but it’s not a five minute tire change. You have to take stuff off. You have to take the trailer off so you can turn the bike over.
We only went about 50 miles today. We’re at Ichetucknee Springs. People at the campground are so friendly. I don’t have any phone signal, but do have free WiFi from the campground. Bob has a phone signal — of course his phone is Verizon. I’m going to have to get a Verizon phone someday. Thanks to Bob, he let me use it to give Cheryl a call tonight.
Our Ichetucknee Campsite
I’m really feeling good. I’m glad. The training really helped. The weather shows for rain tomorrow. I’ll get online later to check the weather reports and see what we’ll be doing. It may be a short day.
Cheryl updating again tonight for Chuck with info from his phone call.
Day 2: Keystone Heights to Gainesville, FL
53 miles
Chuck called tonight with news that they guys didn’t make it to their original destination of Alachua today due to rain and bike repairs. They had to take advantage of the accommodations provided by Warm Showers, a network of cyclists for reciprocal hospitality for touring bicyclists.
So tonight the guys are staying at the home of Tom Harris, who Chuck says is a really nice guy. He also has a cat, Leo, that can do tricks, including jumping through a hoop! Chuck emailed a picture of their host, but says he’ll have to send the rest of his pictures and video of Leo’s tricks later.
Our fantastic host: Tom and his cat, Leo.
Tom’s house and property is very nice are quite large, and it took the guys about 30 minutes of traveling through the woods from the bike trail just to get to it, but he said it was well worth it under the circumstances and they really appreciate Tom’s hospitality.
Bob on the trail to Tom's house
After starting out from Keystone Heights, Chuck and the guys rode part of the way today on the Gainesville-Hawthorne State Park Trail. Around lunch time they stopped in the town of Hampton and ate at Subway. There was a big, black cloud right on top of them, so they thought it was a good time for a break. Bob said, “Come on rain! Rain hard!” Chuck asked him why he was rooting for rain, especially a hard rain. Bob told him that if it rained hard and fast, it would probably rain itself out quicker and they wouldn’t have to worry about it again. Turns out, that’s exactly what happened.
The skies opened up and it poured while they guys ate lunch, staying dry in Subway. It was still raining some when they finished, so they walked over under the overhang in the shopping center to a grocery store and got something for tonight’s dinner.
Bob persuaded Chuck to buy a mircrowave version of Macaroni and Cheese and just use boiling water to prepare it. We tried that before to see how it might work on the road. We were less than impressed and it was barely edible. I’m surprised Chuck agreed. Turns out it worked out perfectly though, because Tom had a microwave and Chuck cooked it the way it’s supposed to be cooked. Again, from experience, Kraft microwavable Mac & Cheese is actually pretty good when cooked per the package instructions.
Once back out on the road, they headed towards Alachua, but when they got into Gainesville they had a mechanical problem.
The guys were stopped at a traffic signal and the road was clear and the light was in their favor, however the crossing signal was red. Chuck slowed to stop, but Bob did not and he tried to stop, but his brake cable was broken. Bob didn’t fall, but they needed to get the brake cable fixed. It wasn’t repairable with their tools and supplies, so they rode around Gainesville in search of a bike shop. They found one on University Avenue and got the cable replaced, but it took a while, putting them behind schedule.
Knowing that they wouldn’t make their destination that night, they checked the Warm Showers network to see if there were any nearby participants. Finding Tom, they had to backtrack to the trail to get to his house — a few extra miles, but necessary under the circumstances.
Everyone is safe and dry and resting up to start again tomorrow morning from Gainesville, FL to (hopefully) Ichetucknee Springs.
Day 1: St. Augustine to Keystone Heights, FL
80 miles
Bob got up early and started getting his gear prepared. Chuck got up soon after and did the same.
Did someone put weights in this bag when I was sleeping?
O-Dark-Thirty - Early Morning Final Preparations
We had breakfast and checked the map again…
Where are we going again?
Then there was more food to get ready…
Nothing like PB&J
Final packing of gear…
We really taking all this?
Got the microwave?
Tightening the straps
Looks good!
Attaching Bob's B.O.B.
And they’re off from the campsite…
Leaving the campsite
Dipping their wheels into the Atlantic…
Atlantic
Final pictures with Cheryl & Shadow…
Chuck and Shadow
Me, Cheryl, and Shadow
Of course, the start this morning couldn’t be without a harried moment or two. As Chuck and Bob rode up to the campground gates, Chuck came to halt and frantically told me he forgot his SPOT GPS tracker. As he unpacked his B.O.B. bag to see if he had packed it away, I drove back to the campsite to see if I could find it there.
Where is SPOT?
Fortunately I found it at the RV and brought it back. Chuck was VERY relieved. Luckily he noticed it was missing before we got too far from the campground.
Once everything was re-packed and everyone was sure they had what they needed for the next two months on the road, I took a ‘starting line’ picture of Bob and Chuck, hugged and kissed Chuck goodbye, and the guys were off and riding their bikes through St. Augustine.
Saying goodbye and so happy to finally get going!
I followed in the car and took some more pictures and videos until they crossed Lion Bridge.
First intersection of many to come.
As they waited for the light to change at the intersection, they were already getting questions from interested strangers. “Where are you headed? How long will it take you?” I’m sure it won’t be the last time they hear that!
So excited
Chuck called this evening to say everyone arrived safely at their first stop. Chuck sounded good and said he felt tired, but not bad. His first call (at around 7pm) he cut short, saying that they had just gotten to the campground and were feeling sprinkles, so they wanted to get their tents up in case it rained. He called back about an hour-and-a-half later to give more details.
The guys are camping overnight at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park, where they had made reservations by phone yesterday. They didn’t realize that the park would be an extra ten miles from the destination for the first day of cycling on the Adventure Cycling map, which was Keystone Heights. Turns out the entire day’s mileage was higher than they anticipated and they cycled about 80 miles when they thought they’d be doing about 60.
I asked Chuck where the miscalculation came from. Was it bad mapping; taking a wrong turn; detours? He said they really weren’t sure but they didn’t get lost and that the map, GPS, and actual mileage was all different. Bottom line was, it was a very long day of cycling, and the longest Chuck has done in a very long while. In training, Bob and Chuck’s longest ride was around 60 miles, so they increased they’re mileage by about 35% in one day. Not ideal, but they all seem to be handling it well.
I took a lot of videos today and they are now uploaded on YouTube. Here is one of Bob & Chuck dipping their wheels in the Atlantic to start the ride:
You can see the rest of the videos anytime by clicking the link above or the VIDEOS link in the menu at the top of the blog. I’ll add more videos as I get them.
