Nancy’s Travel Journal

This morning we were all anxious to get an early start because the Weather Channel promised a very hot day, with temperatures near 90 degrees.  It was just after daylight as we rode out of the hotel parking lot.  I was thinking of calling Barbara Christmas at the KOA Campground down the road, but felt she was probably still asleep.  After only 2 miles, we turned onto US 27, and stayed on that highway for 50 miles.  While it was a busy highway with log and dump trucks, there was a good shoulder. 

The traffic didn’t bother me as much as it used to before this trip.  We passed through the small town of Mayo, then Branford, where we crossed the Suwannee River.  I remember going there when Matt and I got our PADI certification years ago.  Just out of town, I looked to the right and saw a bicycle path.  Michelle had told us about it, but I had not remembered.  The path was a welcomed relief from the traffic for several miles.  At about mile 52, we left the bike path for country roads on the way to Ichetucknee Springs, where a picnic was waiting for us.  At one point, we passed a miniature horse farm.  Hille and Ramsey put on their Dr. Doolittle hats and talked to the animals.  I managed to get pictures of one horse, who looked that she may be a new momma soon, and another who acted like a young colt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

A couple of them attempted to get into Ramsey’s bike bag, leaning on the fence.  We weren’t quite sure what they were after in there!

After seeing a couple of places to rent rafts and kayaks, we entered Ichetucknee Springs at the North Entrance (http://www.floridastateparks.org/ichetuckneesprings/).  Ellee laid out a spread for us in the shade of some moss-covered oaks at the Springs.  Barb Kassel’s  friend, Mary Blake met us and supplemented the picnic goodies with some homemade treats. What a special surprise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Some of the riders who had arrived earlier, were already enjoying the swimming hole as we made out way down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I found the restrooms and changed into my swimsuit before joining them at the springs.  Note the tan line!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pasha wanted to jump in as well, but I managed to keep her on the rock, after telling her about a water moccasin that some of the folks had seen earlier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because the water was a bit chilly, it took us a while to get used to it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, Anne and Ellee braved the water to swim out to see a couple of turtles on a log.  Can you find them (the turtles) in the picture?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course we needed a photo shoot for our trip.  What a bunch of babes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a couple of hours in the cool of the trees and the springs, we reluctantly tore ourselves away knowing that we still had about 20 miles to ride in the heat.  For a short while we were again on country roads, then turned onto 441.  The heat reflected from the pavement and humidity made me feel a bit woozy.  As I slowed down, the other riders slowly pulled away from me.  I felt a bit better after slowing down and knowing I only had about 5 miles to ride before arriving in High Springs. 

We stayed at the High Springs Motel, a favorite of Bike Florida folks.  It is not 5- star, but I would stay there again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

The other attraction of High Springs is Floyd’s Diner (aka Pink Floyd).  We spotted Elvis there, but I didn’t have my camera!  You can see him on Anne Cowan’s site (see my links)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But the real highlight of the day was my evening!  When I realized how close we would be to Gainesville, I sent Patty (ASC ’66) and Randy Caton a post card earlier in the ride, letting them know I would be in the neighborhood.  Well, they invited me to dinner at their home.  Patty came out to pick me up and take me back to Gainesville for the evening.  While Randy prepared a gourmet meal of crab cakes, fresh asparagus, rice and salad, Patty and I caught up with our lives over a glass of white wine (or two!).  She even brought out her wedding album from all those years ago.  My, have we all changed!  Patty told me of running into my first ASC roommate, Sherry.  I now have her phone number and hope to reconnect soon.  What a glorious evening.  Thank you so much Randy and Patty.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This morning in Crawfordville was one of the most casual starts we have had on the trip.  Since we only had 52 miles to ride, some folks had plans for side trips.  About half of the group decided to go kayaking on the Wakulla River.  Since I have never tried it, I didn’t want this to be my maiden voyage, then ride 40 miles.  Some folks wanted to see St. Marks.  A few wanted to ride straight to the hotel in Perry.  I wanted to detour north about three miles on the St. Marks Trail for a second breakfast at Savannah’s.  So, Lorraine, Rebecca Stultz, and I were in no hurry to leave the hotel and get to the restaurant too early.  When we arrived at the river, the sailors were getting ready to launch.  We decided to stick around to see them start upstream.  The T n T Hide-a-Way folks were very helpful to our group.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annie looks like a real pro as she poses for the camera. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anne looks like she is ready for a cruise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the bridge I was able to bid adieu to most of the group as they set sail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our little group of three rode to the St. Marks Trail and headed north about three miles to Savannah’s.  What a beautiful ride through the canopy of trees, smelling the honey suckle early in the morning as we listened to the swish of our tires!  At Savannah’s I enjoyed homemade French toast, while the others had fried egg sandwiches, with hearty bacon.  As we were leaving, the staff was setting out a lunch buffet.  It looked so good that we were tempted to ride and few miles and return for lunch.  But, common sense prevailed. However, I hope to be back for lunch some day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We returned to US 98 via the bike trail, having ridden an extra 6 miles.  Lorraine opted to continue on the trail to see the fort at St. Marks.  Rebecca and I headed on down 98 toward Perry.  While the road had a large shoulder, the truck traffic was disconcerting.  Between the log trucks and dump trucks, it was not our best road.  At a service station, we learned that there were three rock quarries on this road, taking loads of sand, rock and dolomite to Thomasville and returning for another load.  One of the drivers told us that they had been passing the word on their radios to be cautious of the cyclists.  At the same service station, there was a taxidermy display of local animals.  I had never seen a display quite like this one. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Team Roadkill on BRAG should have an armadillo like this for their trailer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leaving that service station, there was nothing to see but pine trees, bayonet plants, and live oaks for 24+ miles.  Kay, the SAG driver stopped to give us water once.  Then we stopped a couple of times in the 90-degree heat to rest a bit when we found shade.  It is amazing how cool a bit of shade feels when you ride in the hot sun for miles.  After we passed the quarries, the endless procession of dump trucks disappeared, but not the log trucks.  They just kept on rolling, in both directions!  At least, they were very courteous and swung out around us as they passed.  We noticed that many of the ditches had dried up due to the drought in North Florida.  And, there was smoke from the wild fires near Waycross in Georgia.

After what seemed like forever, Rebecca and I arrived in Perry.  It was so comforting to have ridden with her.  Having someone along when riding forever on such an isolated road makes the situation seem so much better. 

The Hampton Inn is a very nice place.  In addition to having comfortable rooms, they had an evening reception for their guests.  We enjoyed this treat of wine, beer and chocolate-dipped strawberries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As we were enjoying the reception, a special guest arrived as a surprise to me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

What a treat it was to see Barbara.  She is on her way down the Gulf Coast after having bought herself an RV several weeks ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I introduced her (and Tootsie and Taco, her dogs) to the group at dinner.  Seems like the dogs were a big hit in our group.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I read the story, There Was An Old Cajun  (a take-off on There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly) to the group.  I had purchased it in St. Francisville.  Afterward, I said goodbye to Barbara, as she returned to a KOA campground just down the road.  Tomorrow we have a 74-mile day to High Springs.  With the anticipated heat, we plan to leave the hotel by 7:00 AM.  This was another good day!  Only three more days of riding.

We had a great breakfast in Quincy at the new Holiday Inn Express, with warm cinnamon rolls, cereal, eggs, and passion fruit juice.  As we pedaled out, it seemed a little strange to leave Quincy with about half the group leaving from Midway.  I rode out with Carol, Bobbie and Susan.  Carol soon turned back when she realized that she had left her calling card at the hotel.  It is not unusual for one of us to forget something at an overnight stay or restaurant.  Fortunately, most items have been retrieved.  
Bobbie and I were in the lead going up a hill when we looked up to see a car passing another one and headed straight for us.  There was a narrow shoulder and no place to go as the car passed within two feet of us!  I could feel its draft as it flew by us.  It shook both of us so much that we had to stop at the top of the hill to recover.  Accidents can happen so quickly.  And, it is so easy to forget about oncoming traffic when one is so vigilant about vehicles in the rear.
After that initial scare, our route took us onto a calmer, more scenic road toward Wakulla.  We crossed the Ochlockonee (meaning yellow waters) River, near the Corn Reservoir, which forms Lake Talquin. While Ochlockonee is a rather difficult word, the sign and what I found on the Internet disagree on the spelling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

The Ochlockonee actually originates near Sylvester, GA in Worth County. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The dam was actually built in 1929 and operated as a power plant until 1970, at which time it was turned over to the Florida Department of Natural Resources.  It did not operate again until the city of Tallahassee rebuilt and reopened it again as one of only two hydroelectric plants in Florida in 1985.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

The SAG met us at about mile 15, after which I took off by myself for the next 18 miles.  It was a quiet, smooth, flat road, with very little traffic through the Apalachicola National Forest.  Even Ellee was able to ride here.  (Note her modified handlebars to accommodate her broken arm.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Being alone on that type road lends itself to time for introspection.  Pegi had signed my guestbook with comments about Royce Smith’s dream of crossing the country on a bicycle.  During the ride today, I recalled many memories of Royce, especially the year he and I did Bike Florida.  He was a special person whose spirit continues to live on in the hearts of many folks, me included.  I also found one unknown (to me) plant to photograph.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At mile 35, as we met the SAG again, we had the choice of turning right and heading for the Inn at Wildwood, our home for two nights in Crawfordville, or continuing on down Highway 267 to Wakulla Springs State Park (http://www.wakullacounty.org/wakulla-5.htm).  Since it was still early, I chose the park. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

I rode in with Rebecca B., Annie, and Lorraine, who invited me to join them for lunch.  But, I had already made plans to join Judy, Anne and Barb.  We bought $6.00 tickets for the 12:30 PM guided riverboat trip.  While waiting I read about several old movies filmed in this location (1941-Tarzan’s Secret Treasure, 1942-Tarzan’s New York Adventure, and 1954-Creature from the Black Lagoon).  On the tour we learned that there were air hoses under water to allow “the creature” to breathe while swimming deep in the river.  What a treasure this boat tour was!  My camera would not do justice to all of the fauna and flora we saw.  But here are a few shots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Among the birds were the Little Blue Heron, Great Blue Heron, Osprey, Tri Color Heron, Anhinga, Wood Duck, Common Moorhen, Mississippi Kite, Double-crested Cormorant, and many others.  Of course, there were the usual animals, which included the alligator (estimated at 400 in the park at any given time), Florida Soft-shelled turtle, White-tail Deer, and striped mud turtle, and Florida red-bellied turtle.  Some of the trees in the park date back to the 1600s.  After the boat trip, Barb and I decided that we would brave the diving tower.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

After all, it didn’t look all that high! Someone told us it was about 32 feet. Well, it seemed much higher once we got up there.  And, to make it more difficult, there were all these young kids encouraging us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After standing there for what seemed like forever, I took the plunge!  When I surfaced after the jump, I knew I wanted to try it again.  Before going back up, I asked some young girls on the lower platform to sing Happy Birthday to Barb after she jumped.  I jumped again, and then Barb did it.  How special it was to hear the girls singing when she popped out of the water!  The tower is at the deepest part of the spring, 185 feet deep.  It flows from underground at 400,000 gallons per minute.  Despite many attempts to locate it, the source of the spring has yet to be found. 

After purchasing some post cards and ice cream, we started back toward our hotel.  As Anne started to pedal, she ran off the sidewalk and into some sand, then fell because she could not get her foot out of the clip.  She hit her head, but the helmet protected her.  The only real damage was a bent gear head, which she was able to fix later in the day.  

Dinner on that evening was a celebration.  We had never had the “cross the state line” Margaritas when we crossed into Florida.  This was the night!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, it was Barb’s birthday.  Her husband Leo sent a cake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday morning, our day of rest, dawned cool, with a promise of a beautiful day.  Anne, Hille, Ramsey and I had decided to ride to St. Marks, a small fishing village about 10 miles away.  As we pedaled toward the town, Anne and I spotted an American Swallow-tailed Kite.  What a beautiful bird!As we rode through St. Marks, we saw the Tallahassee/St. Marks Historic Railroad Trail (Florida’s first official state trail) and decided that it would be our route back to US 98.  On the dock of the St. Mark’s river, one of the locals entertained us with stories of the manatees that swim nearby.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pasha enjoyed watching boats and fish glide by the dock.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Exploring San Marcos de Apalache, an old fort dating back to 1528, was a real treat.  We found out that Andrew Jackson had occupied it in the early 1800s.  Very little has been restored here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After all of this exploration, it was time for lunch.  The Riverside Café hit the spot with oyster sandwiches and shrimp on a skewer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then it was time to hit the trail, which runs from St. Marks to Tallahassee.  After turning west on US 98 we spotted the T n T Hide-a –Way.  We stopped to inquire about kayaking tomorrow morning (Monday), since we have only 52 miles to ride tomorrow.  There I found another beautiful flower near the water.  Can anyone identify this plant.  We were told that the roots look like potatoes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Tonight we ate sandwiches at the Bistro, a restaurant attached to the Inn, before turning in for the night.  

The morning greeted us with cool weather after the rain last night.  Everyone seemed to be in a great mood, perhaps because we only had 50 miles to ride.  Well, at least some of us only had 50.  At last night’s cue sheet meeting, Michelle informed us that our reservations for Quincy had been deleted at the hotel by accident.  And, there are three college graduations in Tallahassee this weekend.  No rooms anywhere.  The hotel staff was able to book most of the folks, but the closest rooms after that were in Midway, 11 miles away.  I was assigned to Midway, but requested a change, when asked.  As luck would have it, one of the women wanted the extra miles.  So, she took my place.  For that I am so grateful, because I had things planned for Quincy.  Stay tuned for the rest of that story.
After most other folks had left, Hille, Ramsey, Barb, Ellen and I pedaled off from the not exactly 5-stary Ramada Inn.  
After a few miles getting out of town and negotiating a bit of traffic, we turned onto Blue Springs Road.  As we passed the entrance to Jackson Blue Springs, I realized that I had been there on the North Florida ride one year.  It is strange how the memory works when jogged by something like the entrance to a park.  For information and a picture of this park, see http://www.floridacaves.com/jackson.htm. Then, we turned down 164A.  Most often when there is a letter attached to a road number, it means less traffic.  And that is what we found.  The canopy of trees with sunlight filtering through made for an ideal cycling experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At Sneads, FL the SAG awaited us with the usual assortment of goodies.  Kay told us that a number of folks had missed turns on the cue sheet and had to turn around.  So they got in extra miles today.
We crossed the Apalachicola River at Chattahoochee Florida on US 90 via the Victory Bridge.  The old Victory Bridge is in the foreground of this picture. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

The river is formed here by the confluence of the Flint and Chattahoochee Rivers, the actual confluence being submerged in the Lake Seminole Reservoir formed by the Jim Woodruff Dam.  Georgia is on the other side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would like to have explored this area, but had miles yet to go.  And, the time changed to Eastern Daylight Time as we crossed the river.
Chattahoochee is also home to the Florida State Hospital. Originally a Federal Arsenal, it then served as the state’s first penitentiary. Two of the original buildings still remain on the premises. It was Florida’s only state mental institution until 1947 and remains as a treatment center for people with mental and physical disabilities.   We wound our way through Chattahoochee, leaving on a seldom-traveled road headed toward Quincy.  At the second SAG, a man and wife traveling cross-country had stopped to visit.  They had gone as far as Navasota last year and were finishing the route this year, self-contained.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I rode by myself the last 15 or so miles to Quincy.  Once there, I made my way to the town square. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lunch was at Treasures, a restaurant recommended by a couple of local folks.  It so happened that the town was having an ice cream social on the courthouse lawn sponsored by local government employees.  By the time I finished lunch, several riders had found the ice cream.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

We were greeted by the city manager, who told us he was originally from Trinidad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

The librarian was excited to share ice cream with Pasha.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Now back to the reason I wanted to stay in Quincy.  Since I wear cycling sandals in the summer and we are nearing St. Augustine, it was imperative that I find a place to get a pedicure!  A Metter Magnolia would not dream of arriving without having red toenails! While we were eating our ice cream, one of the riders told me where I could get the pedicure.  Barb was already there getting a haircut. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The women at The Mane Attraction (http://maneattraction.myarbonne.com/ were most accommodating in working us in on a busy Friday.  Vonda made my toenails look great!  Now I can arrive in style!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Finally it was time to make my way to the hotel.  When we arrived, I found that we were assigned to a new Holiday Inn Express.  It may be one of the most comfortable places yet!  When we met at the trailer for dinner, I saw Pasha sitting on the table.  Rebecca had found her sitting on the hood of a hotel employee’s car.  I can’t imagine when she hopped off the bicycle.  But I would have been devastated if she had gotten lost.  So, she may have to ride inside my bike bag until she learns how to stay on my bicycle. 

Tomorrow we only have 38 miles to ride, stopping off at Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park (http://www.floridastateparks.org/wakullasprings/), then staying at the Inn at Wildwood http://www.innatwildwood.com/).  It has been a great day.

This morning in Crestview, we enjoyed breakfast in the hotel.  It is always good to have more choices than oatmeal out of the trailer (as tasty as it really is) and to enjoy a second cup of coffee seated at a table.  It takes so little to excite us these days!  With clouds in the sky and a threatening storm, folks donned their rain gear and took off.  Except for a few turns on city streets getting out of town, the whole day was spent on US 90.  Again, it was much more bicycle-friendly with wide shoulders, smooth pavement and little traffic.  Quite ironically, at the first SAG stop, there was a rest room nearby, with a pair of water skis nailed to the door.  Wonder what the symbolism is?  Since it was behind a fence, we decided it was best to use the bushes, instead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Despite the fact that it was only 10:30 AM, we stopped at Sally’s in Ponce de Leon for lunch.  After all, we had eaten breakfast at 6:30, so it was time for some energy food.  I enjoyed their specialty, fresh, never frozen ground beef in the form of a hamburger!  Obviously my friends enjoyed their meals, as well! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

And, Pasha enjoyed her cake!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After that, it was just a matter of pedaling through some small towns on US 90.  I must say that I had never heard of Caryville, the worm-fiddling capital of the world.  Perhaps we should try to return one year to attend their festival and find out more about worm fiddling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

One church had an interesting message on their board out front, "Are you on fire for God, or are you just blowing smoke.”  We had a couple of rude folks who threw objects at us, but no one was hurt.  They must not have been members of that church!  As we pushed on to Marianna, in the bicycle mirror I could see threatening clouds, but we made it to the hotel before the rain began.We had some time before dinner to wash clothes and tell tales of the day.  Wonder what kind of story Ramsey is telling?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Tonight we had dinner in a closed restaurant connected to the hotel.  It was rather strange because it was as though the folks just closed the doors and walked out, leaving pictures on the wall, utensils in the kitchen and fake flowers on the tables.  Kay and Don Phillips drove here from Headland to have dinner and visit for a while.  It was great to see them, since we don’t get to see each other often.  It meant a lot to me that they took the time to drive over in threatening weather.  A storm moved through while we had dinner, but cleared out before bedtime.  We have certainly been lucky with the weather on this trip.  It is hard to believe that we only have 6 more riding days.  And, this time next week, we will be having our final dinner together.  Folks not on this trip have made comments to me and to others about this trip being a life-changing event.  Today, one of the women made the observation that we will not really know how life has changed until we return to the real world and have been there for a while.  Processing this whole trip will take me a long time.

At the risk of repeated what I have said earlier, here is our morning ritual.  After arising, packing our clothes eating breakfast in the hotel or from the trailer and putting air in tires, we load our bags in the trailer and fix snacks for the ride.  Here are a few photos of the morning ritual.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was about 8:00 AM when we pulled out of Pensacola, headed for Crestview.  Leaving the city was as difficult as arriving yesterday.  Our hotel was located beside an I-10 exit, so traffic was bumper to bumper on the exit ramp.  We had to walk to a traffic light just to cross the street.  Then, there was a narrow shoulder for 4-5 miles on US 90, with cars in a hurry to get somewhere.  Finally, the shoulder broadened and the traffic thinned out, for a while.  At about mile 8 we arrived in the small town of Pace and found an increase in traffic and construction.

It was somewhere between Pace and Milton that we had our most serious accident of the trip.  While watching traffic behind me, debris on the road, and the shoulder in front of me, I spotted several riders stopped in the middle of some construction, with road barrels extending onto the shoulder.  As I passed by them, I realized that Elizabeth was on the ground, surrounded by riders.  I stopped just past the group, pulled out my phone and ran back to the group.  I offered the use of the phone, but they had already called for help.  Realizing that they had the situation under control and not wanting to create more confusion, several of us moved on down the road.  A few minutes later an ambulance met us headed in the direction of the accident.  We all wondered if it was for Elizabeth.  It turned out to be the case.  When we met Kay at the first SAG stop, she told us what she knew at that time.  As Elizabeth and two other riders when by the construction barrels, there was loose yellow tape lying on the ground.  Elizabeth rode over it as it got tangled in her spokes, chain or derailleur.  No one knows for sure.  At the hospital, doctors diagnosed a fractured pelvis.  She will need bed rest for several weeks.  Later in the day, Maggie, who had gone with her to the hospital, reported that Elizabeth’s husband was already on his way from Fayetteville, NC.  It was a somber evening as thoughts of Elizabeth were on all of our minds.  While we are so grateful that it was nothing more serious, we will miss her as we complete the ride and celebrate in St. Augustine.

In Milton, we stopped at the Truly Spokin Bicycle Shop, as the owner opened his door for the day’s business.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

After spending some time and money there, we pedaled onto the Blackwater Heritage State Trail, one of Florida’s many rails to trails bicycle paths.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Along the way, I spotted the White Top Pitcher plant, with its red bloom.  I had never seen one of these before. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

The 6 miles on the trail and subsequent 30+ miles on rural roads were a welcomed change from US 90.  Then, we tuned onto that road again.  To our delight, it was much smoother, had a wide shoulder and much less traffic for the next 15 miles to Crestview.  Several of us stopped at Julia’s in town for a sandwich.  Then, Anne, Barb and I stopped at Sonic, with Barb enjoying a sundae.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For dinner we enjoyed Michelle’s gourmet cooking again with teriyaki chicken and green beans with yellow squash and pecans.  Debbie and I watched American Idol, a favorite show of some of this group, before turning in for the night around 9:30 PM.

Today we had a bit of an unusual start to our ride.  After breakfast, we all rode 2.5 miles to the Mobile Bay Ferry, scheduled to depart at 8:00 AM.  Our spirits were upbeat as we all took pictures and joked around about the ride.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then it was time to go.  As it turned out, we had the ferry to ourselves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since the ride took about 30 minutes, we had time to check out our surroundings and take many more pictures.  Unfortunately, Elizabeth fell while walking down the steps and bruised her arm.  It must have been quite painful, but she was able to ride.  The Mobil-Exxon rig in the picture is drilling for natural gas.  According to what we read, it has a zero discharge policy, so operates in an environmentally friendly way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pasha and I enjoyed the wind in our hair.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

As we departed the ferry, we saw Fort Morgan at the tip of the land.  It is interesting how Ft. Gaines on Dauphin Island and Fort Morgan protected US interests in the bay in the 1800s.  The construction of the forts reminded me of Fort Pulaski.  For more information on Fort Gaines see http://www.dauphinisland.org/fort.htm .  Fort Morgan became known during the Civil War, when Admiral Farragut led a fleet close to Mobile Bay.  In the confusing of battle, the USS Tecumseh seemed to hesitate.  At that moment he shouted those famous words, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”  The fort operated until after World War II.At about mile 34 we entered Florida at Perdido Key. 

All along this route, we were both amazed and dismayed at the number of high-rise condos going up along the shore.  As in so many other places, soon there will be few beaches that the common folk can enjoy.  And, I would what would happen there if another Katrina hit the area.  It was rather challenging at times navigating around dump trucks, forklifts, construction barricades, etc.On the outskirts of Pensacola, our cue sheet indicated that we could turn right off our route to see the National Museum of Naval Aviation at the Pensacola Naval Air Station.  I had made up my mind early in the day that I would go there, since my dad, Howard Bland, had been stationed there during World War II teaching pilots to fly.  I was hoping to find some record of his having been there.  Alas, the database was under repair.  As I told the riders with me that I was going, one of them said she would go, too.  So, Barb and I entered the Pensacola Naval Air Station, and rode three miles to the museum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

The museum was awesome with so many planes from different eras of naval air history. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This bronze depiction shows aviators from four eras, reliving a flight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was in 1911 that the Navy ordered its first airplanes and its first naval aviator, Lt. Theodore Ellyson reported for flight training.  Quite ironically, a John Henry Towers, a graduate of the US Naval Academy, was taught to fly by Ellyson and qualified as Naval Aviator Number 3 in September 1911.  He was the first commander of the naval aviation station at Pensacola that eventually became the flight training school for Navy pilots.  Hmmm, wonder if Matt might have a family connection there on his dad’s side?  Maybe his love of flying comes from both sides of the family.  After walking through exhibits for a while, we decided to see The Magic of Flight at the Imax Theater, featuring the Blue Angels.  Another irony was that a Blue Angel pilot was killed in Beaufort just last weekend.  The Pensacola Naval Air Station is the home of the Blue Angels.  Signs and flowers on the right are in memory of Kevin Davis, the downed Blue Angel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After having visited the Udvar-Hazy Museum in Virginia, I have a greater appreciation for aviation history.  There was so much to see.  I hope to visit this place again and spend more time, hopefully with Bill, Polly and Matt.  Leaving the museum, we still had 20 miles to ride.  While there was a lot of traffic, thankfully, we rode in a bicycle lane.  The final 5 miles were on Scenic Highway US 90, that follows a bluff along the Gulf.  It would have been a beautiful ride had it not been for rush hour traffic, unexpected hills and a small shoulder for riding.  We finally pulled into the hotel about 5:00, exhausted.  But, it had been a rewarding day.  Even though the detour had caused us to get in late, I was glad we went.

Sunday, April 22, dawned cool and beautiful in Pascagoula. Since we only had a 42-mile ride to Dauphin Island, leaving time was delayed until about 8:30 AM.  Barb Larsen, who was my roommate for the night, and I decided to eat breakfast in the restaurant.  Sometimes it is a luxury just to sit at a table and have someone bring you pancakes and hot coffee, as opposed to standing in a parking lot, eating oatmeal.  The restaurant was not crowded so we began to talk with the waitress, a customer and the hostess.  As we told them that we had started the ride on March 9, the customer asked, “What year”.  
Donna and I started the ride together.  We had been told that the “Gator Ranch” was at mile 8.  I didn’t plan to stop, since alligators are so common in South Georgia.  Well, we never saw the attraction, but just down the road, we did spot a small one sunning himself in a pond.  At mile 10 we entered Alabama and began to feel a slight head wind (a forecast of things to come).  In the small town of Grand Bay, we left US 90 and turned directly into the wind, headed for Dauphin Island.  The SAG was a welcomed site at mile 20.  Even my puppy enjoyed a special treat, as everyone complained about the wind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

For another 15 miles we fought a steadily increasing headwind, with nothing but pine trees and old mobile homes as scenery.  Because of the wind, the SAG made an unplanned stop just before we turned onto the highway leading to the Dauphin Island Bridge.For a brief time the headwind became a crosswind.  So we were granted a short reprieve before hitting the three-mile bridge.  Then the wind became brutal, gusting over 20 miles per hour.  As the bridge arch crossing the gulf intercoastal waterway drew near, its grade looked almost impossible to climb.  However, once we got there, it was steep, but not as bad as it had looked earlier.  Reaching the top was difficult with wind gusts threatening to blow me over at any minute.  And, going down the other side was not any easier.  I never reached more than 10 mph on the way down, with the wind in my face.  Finally, the bridge came to an end, and with it, the strong wind.  Several of the women said it was a great ride.  Looking back on it, I feel it was one of the most difficult short rides I have ever done.  But, this trip has changed my perspective on tackling tough situations on my bike.  Had this experience been early in the ride, I might easily have jumped into the SAG.  But, now I feel so much stronger and willing to take on more challenges. We are staying at the Dauphin Island Beach Club, in a condo-type arrangement.  I was assigned my own room, which is a luxury.  This is a beautiful place with a pool and the ocean right over the dunes.  Katrina damage is hardly evident here.  Our condo is the one on the bottom right side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

After a bath, nap and laundry time, John and Mary White called to let me know they had arrived.  It was wonderful to see them.  They were my guests for dinner with the group.  I guess John enjoyed being the only man with 27+ women!  After dinner, we visited for a while, and then parted ways with plans for a sightseeing trip the next day.  After they left, I walked out toward the beach for a while and saw the rigs that looked like small ships lined dotting the horizon.Monday morning the six of us sharing the condo had a delicious breakfast of eggs, English muffins, yogurt, coffee and orange juice, while enjoying the ocean breeze.  John and Mary picked me up for a day of sight seeing.  We went by their bed and breakfast on the inlet side, a quaint little place owned originally by the Dubarrys(early copy machine founder).  Driving to the east end of the island, we were surprised to see a rig rather near the shore. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then we headed for Bellingrath Gardens, a place I first heard about from Ione Murphy years ago.  Bellingrath Gardens, covering 65 acres, was the dream of Walter and Bessie Bellingrath.  Walter was a native of Atlanta, who bought the franchise to sell the new bottled Coca Cola in southern Alabama in 1903. The Mobile Coca Cola Bottling Company became one of the most successful in the United States, and brought “Mr. Bell” great wealth.  In 1917, Mr. Bell consulted his doctor about a series of ailments.  The doctor diagnosed the ailments as being a direct result of his being a work-a-holic.  To combat his disease, the doctor suggested that he “learn how to play”.  So he bought some land with a fishing shack on the Fowl River.  In the meantime, Bessie developed a love for plants, creating a showplace of their home.  Later, lack of space inspired Bessie to expand her gardens to the land on the river.  The couple engaged one of Mobile’s leading architects to design the garden.  Upon completion, the couple invited the public to view the masterpiece.  The event was so successful; they continued the practice throughout their lives.  The couple finally decided to build a 1,000+ square foot home on the grounds in 1935.  After the deaths of the Bellingraths, the home and gardens were turned over to the Bellingrath-Morse Foundation.  For more information on Bellingrath Gardens see the website at http://www.bellingrath.org/home/ After spending time at the Gardens, we enjoyed sandwiches on the grounds before departing. I have included a sampling of the photos taken there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then we headed up to the road for a bit of shopping.  One of the new energy drinks I have learned about is a combination of Ensure and Frappicino.  Think about the ingredients, lots of protein and caffeine!  So, I wanted to pick up some of each to get me through the final 9 days of cycling. We came back to the island to regroup before going to dinner. 

On the way in, we spotted the Dauphin Island Elementary School.  It has 75 students, K-5, with most of the staff wearing many hats.  I met the principal, Paula Loper, who is retiring this year.  She is full of energy and reminds me so much of Charlotte Coursey.  The school has one class each of kindergarten, first, second, third, and a 4-5 multiage classroom. Imagine teaching in a school like this, with the beach as your backyard yard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

As it tuned out, the only restaurants on the island were closed on Monday.  So John, Mary and I made our way back to Bayou Le Batre to the Lighthouse Restaurant in search of good seafood. We were not disappointed. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I brought some of my grouper and potato salad back, intending to put it in the SAG cooler and enjoy it for lunch tomorrow.  I bid farewell to John and Mary before turning in for the night.  It was great to have them here and share the experience of Bellingrath Gardens.

This morning I awoke feeling so much better than the day before.  I had slept so well, even though we turned our light after 10:00.  I got on the road about 7:20 AM, heading out on a busy highway that had a very wide shoulder.  We rode only about 7 miles before turning on to a quieter, yet smooth road. It was a beautiful morning with a temperature of about 65, the fragrance of honeysuckle in the air, a few azaleas still blooming and birds singing all along the way.  I wished Sam Chapman were there to identify those sounds.

At about mile 15 we entered the Desoto National Forest.  The pine trees still showed evidence of Katrina as they were bent over like old men.  And, some had broken off about 10 feet up.  It seemed that the hardwoods were spared so much damage.
Our first SAG was at mile 20. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To remind non-cyclists, the SAG is there to support riders with food, water, pain relievers, and minor bike repairs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our SAG usually meets us every 20 miles, or sooner if the ride is especially difficult.  On this ride, the SAG driver checks off each cyclist as she stops.  This is to make sure no one gets lost.  If someone does not show up in a reasonable time, the driver will go looking.  If a rider is ill, tired or has a serious bicycle problem, the SAG driver will take her to the hotel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After about mile 30, we turned onto a road with pine trees and ditches holding water, called wet pine savannas. This soil is highly acidic, with low nutrient content. Plants that grow in these areas make up for the lack of nutrients by killing and devouring insects.  Thus, they are called carnivorous plants.  I looked to my right and saw a group of pitcher plants.  Thinking I would stop the next time I saw some, I looked ahead and saw about 6-8 bicycles lying beside the road and women with cameras in the woods.  There were pitcher plants, sundews, small orchids, and other plants I have yet to identify.

 

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It is hard for me to understand how people can just ride by without looking at the beauty of God’s earth.  But, we are all on this ride for different reasons. 

As we made a turn onto Old Fort Bayou Road, there was a convenience store with more than just candy and chips.  Almost everyone stopped for lunch here.  But, they did have rules for entering the store! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just after I ordered, the electricity in the store went off.  But, the clerk was able to serve me the best roast beef sandwich I have had in a long time!  We spent some time talking with a couple of local citizens about all of the construction going on as a result of Katrina.  They told us that we were about 15 miles from the coast at that location.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

The sandwich, along with a V-8 and a Yoohoo gave me the energy I needed to push on to the next turn.  Our last SAG was at the entrance to the Mississippi Sandhill Crane Wildlife Refuge.  Unfortunately, it is closed until September 2007 for construction of a new visitors’ center.  Sandhill cranes are on the endangered species list, with only 100 individuals and 20 breeding pairs left, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Shortly after the SAG, we crossed under I-10 and entered the town of Gautier.  From that point until the end of today’s ride there was a lot of traffic.  But, the road was 4-laned so it wasn’t so bad.  We turned on to US 90 at about mile 62.  Not long after that, we crossed the Singing River and the Pascagoula River.  The view from the bridge over the Pascagoula was breathtaking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our home for the night in Pascagoula is the La Font Inn.  It looks like it might have been built in the 1970s, but is very well kept, with an Olympic sized swimming pool.  We all enjoyed an afternoon relaxing by that pool.  (Note the tan lines, a true sign of a cyclist)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For trivia experts, Pascagoula is the home of Trent Lott and the birthplace of Jimmy Buffet (two ends of the spectrum!)Tomorrow is a 42-mile easy day to Dauphin Island, AL, where we will spend two nights.  I am looking forward to seeing John and Mary White there.  It is hard to believe that the trip is almost over.  The feeling seems to be that the long days are over, except for one more 90-mile day.  We all seem to be in a mellow mood tonight.

Today dawned cool and beautiful.  For the first time in weeks, I didn’t have to wear my jacket at the start.  The first 18 miles were very difficult for me, up and down hills (yes there are hills in Louisiana).  For some unexplained reason, I had not slept well, even though I was exhausted.  I had a hard time turning off the riding and finding some relaxation.  This is happened several times during the trip.  Just can’t figure out what keeps me awake.  Anyway, it was a hard start with lots of traffic (but, wide shoulders). After struggling for those 18 miles, we passed through Bogalusa and crossed the Pearl River into Mississippi.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shortly after crossing into Mississippi, we turned onto a quieter road, but not so smooth.   After only a few miles, the route had us turn every few miles, and every turn brought different road surfaces.  Some were almost worse than South Georgia dirt roads!  At one point we saw a ‘road closed” sign, recently moved from the center of the road.  As we rode a few miles, we found the reason for the sign.  The bridge had washed out and was repaired with dirt.  Since it looked a bit difficult for skinny tires, most folks got off and walked.  It was during this part of the ride that we saw some of the devastation from Katrina and some FEMA trailers still being used.
Our cue sheet gave us two options for the last 10-20 miles of today’s route, the long, scenic route and the shorter highway option.  A number of folks chose the scenic route because they wanted the longer ride or because they feared traffic on the highway.  I chose the highway option, along with about half of the group.  It turned out to be a good choice for us.  The traffic was not really bad and the road was smooth.  And, the log trucks in Georgia could learn a lesson from those here.  All of them went way around us, some even sounding their horns in greeting.  Of course, the longer option folks thought their choice was the best.  The last 4-5 miles had some big rolling hills, but knowing we were almost done helped me climb them without too much effort.
Tonight’s dinner was a bittersweet time for the group.  The good news was that we had chicken and dumplings and collard greens for dinner.  The group seemed to enjoy the dishes. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

On a more somber note, one of the guides who joined us after Ellee broke her arm, left tonight.  Patty did a great job and fit right into the group.  Now she is going on to lead another tour.  We had collected money as a gift for her.  Since I was the organizer of the gift giving, it was my job to present it to Patty.  She was a bit emotional as she thanked us and made a special request for us to be safe.  The last picture is of Michelle, our main cook and guide, Barb, the sous chef, Patty, and Ellee.Tomorrow is a 68- mile day.  I hope it will be a good one.