Day 49

Madison to High Springs (O'Lean State Park) 77.7 miles

Another great ride! Beautiful weather and scenery.  We cycled over the Suwanne River early this morning.

We finally said "goodbye" to US-90.  Not sure how many miles we traveled on that road, some at the beginning,  middle, and in Florida.  Hundreds, if not over a thousand. 

Wild flowers lined the  roadway today.  No dogs, pleasant traffic, great roads.  

Eddy's brother, Tim, wife Rebecca and daughter Kate, came for supper tonight.  They live in Gainesville, about 45 minutes away. Great to see them!!

We are staying at O'Leno State Park in cabins for the next two nights.  Tomorrow is a rest day.  A much needed rest day, having cycled 6 days in a row. 

Madison to High Springs

A longer day today to High Springs and the DeLeno State Park.  Food roads and nice scenery are promised for today.  Excited to have Tim, Rebecca and Kate join us there.

Way down upon the Sewanee River.

Day 48

Tallahassee to Madison ~48 miles

Another beautiful riding day. Short, easy, and spirts are bittersweet. Only three more riding days left. 

Rest stops were in Monticello and Greenwood, home of Ray Charles.  

Today was our last laundry day (laundry is done twice a week).  Before we left the hotel this  morning we sorted our dirty laundry in bins,  bike shorts, jerseys, whites, etc.  When we got to our overnight, the gym at North Florida Community College, the clean clothes were  waiting for us.  Stacks and stacks. 

Sometimes it takes a couple of trips to find all your clothes. 

After supper, we had a inspirational speaker,  Mrs. Elesta Pritchett, Mayor Emeritus of Greenville, FL and childhood friend of Ray Charles.  Both she and Charles grew up poor in the segregated south.  A high school dropout,  she got married, had 5 children, went back to school and eventually got her Masters Degree. 

At almost 85 years old, she's sharp as a tack.

Tomorrow we have a long 77 mile ride to High Springs, north of Gainesville. Saturday is a rest day,  Sumday we ride 80ish miles to Palatka, then a short 43 miles to St Augustine on Monday. 

Madison, Fl

Today was a picture perfect day for riding. One of many homes along Hwy 90 is shown below.

It was nice to stop in Greenville and visit Ray Charles' Memorial Park.  Tonight we anticipate a speaker who knew Ray all of his life.

We arrives in Madison, FL and had lunch at a local pizza parlor.  It was nice, a small pizza with spinach and feta.

A long day tomorrow to High Springs and our last rest day.  I'm hopeful that my brothers can join us there, and perhaps ride with us on Sunday through Gainesville.

Tallahassee to Madison

A short 45 mile ride today to Madison, Florida.  We've been promised an excellent speaker tonight.  We pass through Greenville, FL, the childhood home of Ray Charles. 

Day 47

Marianna to Tallahassee 75 miles

Eastern Time Zone! And again a great cycling weather day! 

We had the opportunity to go to Georgia and we did.  Only .3 miles off the route at about Mile 23. 

I was dreading this day.  Lots of urban cycling through Tallahassee but we made it safely and with less anxiety than I thought.

The last 15 miles or so, bike lanes and neighborhoods through Tallahassee to our overnight at the Best Western at I-10.

 

Only 4 more cycling days. I will cherish all my new friendships and memories. 

Marianna to Tallahassee

A 75 mile ride today takes us into the Eastern time zone as we cross the Chattahoochee river.  Point of interest, I was born on the banks of the Chattahoochee a few miles upstream.  Well, actually in the hospital which is built there.

We took a very short excursion from the official route and rode into Georgia for a visit to out ninth state on the tour.

We had beautiful, sunny weather and a mix of head winds and tail winds.  We stopped at the Uptown Cafe and are 8 miles from the end of the route.  We are staying in a Best Western motel tonight.  Last night was our last night in tents for the duration of the tour.  This is good news for some and bad news for others.

While eating, Dean, Ron & Nancy, and Bruce rolled up to the light.  I got a chance to capture this photo of them, 8 miles from the finish.

The water is still a bit cool, but we're in Florida and sitting by the pool.