April 14, 2017. Gainesville Florida to Saint Augustine Florida 87 miles. 2887 miles from the Pacific. I awake from a deep dreamy sleep and wonder where am I . Dan and I make breakfast and talk about the plan for the day. I will ride to Saint Augustine without my panniers and Dan will meet me at the beach tonight. Losing the cargo of 30 pounds should help my speed. I leave Gainesville with unsure feeling in my gut. I’m still feeling a little ill but I am excited about the possibility of reaching the Atlantic. The morning goes better than expected. It is cool and the road is smooth. I stop for a large breakfast in Melrose. On the way out of town I find a fruit stand selling fresh strawberries and blueberries. I fill my food bag and start munching on the delicious nectar. By late morning I am riding on a beautiful rails to trails bike path all the way to Palatka. It is smooth and well shaded from the hot Florida sun. Horse and I make good time and I am feeling much better then yesterday. In East Palatka I spot a McDonald’s and have my first Mac attack of this journey. I taste and re taste it for the next couple of hours. By mid afternoon the route turns north and east into strong headwind. I struggle to maintain 10 mph. After a couple hours at just over bug speed I sense the smell of salt in the air. It’s the Atlantic. I suddenly get a feeling of excitement and renewed energy. I scream at the top of my lungs “I am going to make it” and pedal onward toward Crescent Beach. Dan arrives a couple miles before the beach. We find the beach access and I dip my tire and then go for a swim in the Atlantic. I celebrate with laughter and tears. Dan, Nate, and Gina are there to share the moment. I feel all smiles inside and out.
Thank you so much for all the love and support that you have given me on this journey from San Diego to Saint Augustine.
Thanks for follow me.
With love
Freebird

April 12, 2017. Madison Florida to Ichetucknee Spring State Park Florida 73 smiling miles. 2753 miles from the Pacific. Sleeping in the big comfortable bed at the B&B was awesome and so was breakfast. I could get used to that lifestyle. I saddle up Horse and we head south east. We soon cross the historic Suwannee River. It is beautiful and I begin to sing “down by the Suwannee River far far away ” – that’s the only part of the song I know. By late morning I find myself in the little hamlet of Live Oak on a park bench taking a little siesta. It’s the hot part of the day so I use it wisely. Another ten miles down the road and my stomach is empty. In Wellborn I stumble upon a great little restaurant that serves up the best pulled pork and salads this side of the Mississippi. I buy an extra sandwich for later tonight and load it into my food bag. It’s another 20 miles to the park so I stop in the shade repeatedly to cool my motor. The traffic is light and the road is smooth. I get lulled into a day dream and miss my turn off. It was a mistake that cost me an additional 8 miles at the end of a long ride. I am angry at myself for the mistake. But all that is forgotten and forgiven when I get to the park and jump into the Big Blue Hole. It’s a natural spring that pumps out a river full of water every minute. I dive into the cold clear spring. It’s source is an underwater cave. It is beautiful and amazing. My day on the bike is quickly forgotten. I get a camp site and set up camp Happy. I am once again reminded of natures beauty and the magical power it has over us.
Cheers
Freebird

April 10, 2017. Chipley Florida to Quincy Florida 66 smooth and sunny miles. 2597 miles from the Pacific. Horse are on the road just before the sun pops over Eastern horizon. I am hoping to get some miles in before the heat of the day. It is cool again this morning in the mid 40s and Horse and I are loving it. By 9 AM the morning fog has lifted and my coat and legwarmers are put away for the day. There are purple flowers along the roadside, pine smell fills the air, and their cows in the fields. When I close my eyes I can easily imagine that I am in Wisconsin. Horse seems to sense that we are getting closer to the Atlantic and wants stay in Go Go gear. I hear a voice from my friend Paul’s spirit telling me “easy does it” and “this is not a race”. His spirit has often been with me on this trip. When things weren’t going well I would think of him and remember how he showed me what courage and commitment was all about. I will miss him on the beach in Saint Augustine. Then again he might already be there waiting for me. I ride 20 miles and then stop for breakfast in Marianna. I order the breakfast for two and finish it off with peach cobbler and ice cream. I roll down the big Valley and across the Chattahoochee River. I am now in the eastern time zone. By the time I climb out of the valley on the other side I’m hungry again and stop for lunch and a nap in the town Chattahoochee. It’s kind of fun to say Chattahoochee. I am so easily entertained these days. Any who – I find a elevated picnic table on a cement slab so I don’t have to worry about a fire ants, gators, or snakes. I sleep peacefully for a half hour and awake with renewed energy for the second half of my day. The afternoon sunshine and heat takes its toll and I stop often to cool off and water up. I heard from my friend Per (rider from Norway) today and it looks like we will be arriving in Saint Augustine about the same time. The last time I saw him was in Del Rio Texas more than a month ago. I am looking forward to the chance to connect with him again.
Cheers
Freebird

April 8, 2017.  Pensacola Florida to Crestview Florida 57 miles.  2463 miles from the Pacific.   A perfect day for biking with Cooler temperatures, low humidity, and a pretty smooth road.  I rode with Phil (from Maine) and John (from Vermont) all day.  It was nice to have company.  Phil is a biology teacher and John is a writer and editor.  It’s sure makes for some enjoyable and interesting conversations.  Pensacola is a beautiful town (sorry I mistakenly called at Tallahassee in my last blog – evidently I was a little sleepy and disorientated last night) and I got thinking – I could live here.  The downtown area is beautiful with big green spaces lined with huge oak trees and surrounded by delicious restaurants.   The morning route winds its way around Escambia Bay where the views are spectacular.  The traffic is a little heavy until we get to Milton where we stop for donuts.  This has become a morning tradition with Phil and John.  And who am I to say they are wrong.  I wolfed down two jelly filled rolls and some chocolate milk.    By early afternoon my energy is mostly gone. I haven’t taken a day off since Houston and it is starting take a toll on my body .  Phil and John on the other hand just had two days off at dolphin Island.  So I stop in Crestview and they continue.  I get a hotel room, a massage, and a nap.  We hope to run into each other before we get to Saint Augustine.  I will miss them, but I got a listen to my body or bad things are gonna happen.  I hope you had a chance to listen to your body today too .
Cheers
Freebird

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April 6, 2017.  Vancleave Mississippi to Dauphlin Island Alabama.  70 gorgeous miles, 2346 miles from the Pacific.  Cooler temperatures, low humidity, smooth roads, a beautiful route, and the wind from my back.  This day was biker bliss that I did not want to end.  What a difference a day can make.  Yesterday was sweat city and today I actually had goosebumps in the morning.  I will take the goosebumps.  Before reaching Alabama Horse and I ride through the Pascagoula River wildlife area.  This is a bayou flooded from the recent storms and it is beautiful.  There are floating river homes attached to the shore with a rope tied to a tree.  Gators and snakes are everywhere.  Beautiful big old Oak trees line the road as we approach the town of Grand Bay.  I always make it a point to celebrate entering a new State.   I make up some song about Alabama with a banjo on my knee and sing as loud and proud as possible.  California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi are behind me now.  In front of me is a little slice of Alabama and then Florida.  I am feeling healthy and strong until the end of the day when I am mostly just worn out.  I find a local lady in Bayou La  Batre and asked for recommendations for lunch.  Just so happens her friend runs a local seafood restaurant just up the road.  I gorge myself on crab-cakes, sweet potatoes and a slice of Key lime pie for dessert.  The dessert was on the house.   Nearby the Shrimp boats line the docks. It reminds me of Forrest Gump bubblegum shrimp Company.  On my way to the big bridge to the island I spot a large gator in the ditch.  I try to take a picture but he is gone in a second with the flick of a tail.  The 10 mile bridge to the island has incredible views of Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico beyond.
The sunsets on this beautiful day and I’m feeling grateful once again.  I am staying with a warm showers host near the Ferry that I will take tomorrow morning on my way to Gulf Shores and then Pensacola.
I hope there was a beautiful sunset in your day.
Cheers
Freebird

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