April 11, 2017. Quincy Florida to Madison Florida 83 miles. 2680 miles from the Pacific. Another picture perfect day to be cycling through the panhandle of Florida. I watch the sunrise as I head east toward Tallahassee where I get a large breakfast. It’s a big city with lots of traffic. I time it so I miss rush-hour. I am surprised by all the hills. Maybe they should rename it Tallahilly. Part of the morning route is shaded from the hot Florida sun and I enjoy the cool fresh air of the forest. The smells and sounds from the Bayou are not so creepy to me anymore . Just before the town of Monticello I cross the Miccosukee River. Mother nature is alive and well here. Giant snakes, turtles, lizards, and some weird fish that looks like a hammerhead shark swim under the bridge beneath me. I don’t see any gators but they are here somewhere. I stopped for lunch in Monticello and take pictures of the beautifully restored mansions on Main Street. I load up on food in Greenville expecting to stealth camp somewhere before I get to Madison. But everywhere I look the roadside is flooded from the recent storms. I decide not to risk a snake bite or a gator encounter and pedal onward to Madison where I get a room at a beautiful old B&B with southern charm. I hope you had a chance to sit and watch mother nature today.
Cheers
Freebird
Category: 2017
April 10, 2017
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 9, 2017
April 9, 2017. Crestview Florida to Chipley Florida 68 wonderful miles. 2531 miles from the Pacific. The Florida weather has been really good to me these past couple days. It was 46° when horse and I hit the road at sun rise this morning. Burrr, I can almost see my breath. But I was not complaining. I had my leg warmers, arm warmers, and jacket to keep me comfortable until the mid morning sun warmed the day. I ride the 30 miles to the town of deFuniak springs for breakfast and then ride around beautiful lake deFuniak which is like a big sinkhole with a spring in the middle. There are beautifully restored Victorian homes lining the streets on the route around the lake. I go through the small bergs of Argyle, Ponce De Leon, Westville and Caryville. I stop for lunch in Bonifay at a diner full of Sunday churchgoers. My day ends trying to find a place to camp. I think about stealth camping for the night but then find a cheap rundown hotel. It has running water and a bed so it meets my tough criteria. This kind of travel helps lower my expectations to the point where I am mostly happy with whatever I get. Cheers
Freebird
April 8
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
April 7, 2017
April 7, 2017. Dauphin Island Alabama to Tallahassee Florida 60 beautiful miles. 2406 miles from the Pacific. In the early morning light Horse and I head east towards the ferry dock to jump the 8AM boat across Mobile Bay. As i wait to board I get a great surprise as Phil and John whom I rode with from El Paso to Del Rio show up. There are hugs and lots of talk about our travels over the last month. I was getting kind of lonely after not seeing any other riders since leaving Houston. I was starting to wonder if I was the only one out here. The short ferry ride to the other side of the bay puts us along the Emerald Coast of Alabama and Florida. We spent some time at the beach and then ride across the state line and into Florida. It’s a great feeling to have just one state left to cross. We traverse several large bridges over inlets to the Gulf of Mexico. There are spectacular views from the top of these bridges . By late afternoon we pull into Pensacola and are greeted by our warm showers Host at the Methodist Church. It’s an awesome facility that is a hostel for traveling bicyclists. As the sun sets Pensacola Bay I feel grateful to be alive on this wonderful day in which I finish with a slice of Key-lime pie. Cheers
Freebird
April 6
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
April 5
April 5, 2017, Poplarville Mississippi to Vancleave Mississippi 62 hot humid miles. 2272 miles from the Pacific. Camp happy got a good soaking last night from a passing thunderstorm but I stay fairly dry. It’s 7:30 AM and I’m packing up Horse when I noticed that sweat is pouring from me already and I’m not even on the road yet. The good news is that the road is fairly smooth with light traffic and I have an awesome tail wind most of the day. And for that I’m grateful. I was told by someone wiser than I that one cannot be miserable and grateful at the same time. I stop often to water up and I try to cool myself in the shade of some large oak trees. Some of the water is dumped over my head to try to cool my body from the intense Mississippi sun and sticky air as the temperature hits 95. I stop by a fire station and they have an ice machine. I fill my containers and put the rest down my bike shorts and jersey. I pull into town and see a sign that says “massage” and life is all better again. I am staying at a campground in a little rickety old cabin. Tomorrow promises to be lower humidity and temperature. I’m hoping to make it over the Alabama State line.
Sorry about my blog pictures not showing up. I also heard there’s problems sending comments to me. These are not just rumors. The server is old and will be fixed once I return. Thanks for your patience and support.
Cheers
Freebird
April 4, 2017
April 4, 2017. Franklinton Louisiana to Poplarville Mississippi 69 miles. 2210 miles from the Pacific. A great day to be on the bike pedaling my way through Eastern Louisiana and Southern Mississippi. From Franklinton the route takes me Southeast through Springhill, Plainview, and Bogalusa. I dare you to try to find them on a map. I stop in Poplarville for lunch followed by a root beer float. I fill my food bag for my evening and morning meals since I will be camping between towns. The roadsides are covered with purple, yellow, red, and orange flowers. The winds are light and so is the traffic. The route wines up-and-down and all around this forested area. there are pretty Estates along the way with ponds horses and cows. I could live here. By afternoon the Mississippi sunshine brings the temperature 90°
. It is less humid today and the roads have many shady spots that feel like air-conditioning when I ride through. Well not real air-conditioning but at least it’s cooler in the shade. Camp happy to set up next to a beautiful little lake. The owner of the property is 91 and she loves to host bicyclists. She has had people from all over the world visit her beautiful little camping park. She is my inspiration for the day . I pay her the five dollars for the campsite which includes a shower and access to the bathroom. I think these are 1970 prices here. I hope you found someone that inspired you today.
Cheers,
Freebird
April 3
April 3, 2017. Clinton Louisiana to Franklinton Louisiana 60 bikers bliss miles. 2141 miles from the Pacific. My little detour off route yesterday to stay at the Wildflower Inn B&B turned out to be a good decision. It stormed all night long and a tornado touched down in the area. All this while I was sound asleep in my nice comfy bed. I awake about 6 AM and it’s still raining, so I went back to bed for another couple hours of sleep. The rain moves off to the north and Horse and I hit the road by mid morning. It’s sprinkles on and off for the first couple hours. The sun pops out and drier air moves in after the storm. Every river, ditch, and parking lot is flooded. Frogs, snakes, and cute little lizards are on the roads trying to escape the fast-moving floodwaters. Many of them don’t escape the fast moving cars. There are beautiful old plantation homes and pretty county courthouses along the way. The road meanders through this beautiful Louisiana Hillcountry. The highway is like a giant roller coaster with fast-moving stream in every valley. I keep busy shifting through the gears as we climb and descend repeatedly. I thoroughly enjoy this day with relatively smooth roads and a pretty good tailwind. And I am grateful for the lower humidity. About 3 PM horse and I pull into Franklinton and start looking for a place to stay for the night. I look on the warm showers app and find out the local police department Hosts bicyclists. So I’m camped in the back yard at the police department. They have a nice shower and a full kitchen and are close to a couple restaurants. Life is good in Louisiana. One of the blessings of this type of travel is that you never know where you’re going to end up. And I am reminded once again about the blessings of uncertainty. I hope your life is good wherever you end up tonight – planned or unplanned.
Cheers
Freebird
April 2, 2017
April 2, 2017. Morganza Louisiana to Clinton Louisiana 48 stormy miles. 2081 miles from the Pacific. I packed up camp happy in the misty morning Mississippi River Delta. I ride 10 miles to New Roads for breakfast. During breakfast I hear thunder in the distance. I checked radar and it looks like I’ll be here a while. By 11 AM the thunderstorm moves north and Horse and I giddyup across the Mississippi River bridge. OMG what a view from the top. It even had room for a bike lane. I pedal hard against strong headwind. The humidity is unbearable. I sweat from every pore of my body. It’s an up-and-down ride through a pretty forest area near the Audubon historic site. I get to Jackson and have some lunch. I checked radar and it looks like I’m good for an hour or two. Horse and I get about halfway to Clinton when thunder and lightning show up in my mirror. I put him in the storm running gear and we arrive in Clinton just before the storm hits. I am soaked with sweat and exhausted but the nice innkeeper at the B&B lets me in anyways. The Wildflower Inn is a huge old Louisiana house complete with swimming pool. The owner lives off site and there are no other guest tonight, so I have the place to myself. Horse even has a spot in the garage. This is some good living. I am doing my laundry and listening to the rumble of thunder outside. The storm is expected to last all night. I hope you are safe, warm, and loved wherever you are tonight.
Cheers, Freebird
