Bike Across the U.S. Day 3

Camping was fun but I did not sleep well and sleep I need. Camping also made for a later, 8:30 start with all the packing. The heavy fog made for a nice cool start and the day turned to sunny and hot. My goal for the day was to get to Tallahassee but came up one town short and am in Monticello. The roads were good with some small rolling hills which gave me some coasting down hill. Very rural route and poor. I am staying at a great Bed and Breakfast: the 1872 John Denham House, very comfortable. I am trying to get an early start so I will miss Pat's fabulous breakfast; she uses all local products. Since this is Sunday, I have to say that for the last three days I have been amazed at the number of churches there are in this part of Florida, mostly very small. When you ride at a blazing 10 -14 miles per hour there is much more opportunity to see things around you. So some observations from the road: people in rural Florida just park their cars on their lawns. Well this carries over to the rural churches: there are no parking lots, they just park on the grass. The second for the day, snakes should never try to cross the road! So hoping for smooth roads and winds on my back.

Bike Across the U.S. Day 2

Well, it was a much better day. I got a decent start at 7:30; it is really not light enough until about 7. The more miles I can do before lunch the better I will be. Leaving Macclenny on route 90 I was worried that it would be as miserable as the 9 miles yesterday coming into town: lots of traffic, no shoulders and trucks. A great surprise was it was new road with wide shoulders and quiet Saturday morning traffic, for 30 miles to Lake City, with no wind. My goal was to get to the Suwannee River State park at about 80 miles. Well at 63 miles I called and they were full. So I am camping from where I called, the Suwannee Music Park, a large RV park. Short of the goal but there were no other options, and no motels for many miles, but lots of people to talk with. I'm sure I will use this phrase often: "On my last cross country ride", I purchased a new saddle. The brochure and salesman say that this is the "most comfortable one made". So by now the saddle and my "seat" have a 5000 mile relationship. However they now seem to be having a disagreement and the saddle is winning. But with hot soaks, riding shorts' cream (butt butter), motrin and loud agonizing screams they will eventually make a truce. Hopefully soon! I discovered today that there are many prisons in Fl, at least along my route, and that few people get rid of anything, it is just put in the yard. Tomorrow the goal is Tallahassee: 80 plus miles. Today I connected to the Adventure Cycling Southern Tier Trail so I am now with their well marked maps. Makes things a lot easier. Hoping for good winds, smooth roads and nice people.

Ride Across the U.S.--Day 1

The weather report for the first day was right on: 80 degrees and winds 20 gusting to 35 right on my nose. So the day was pleasant but the wind difficult. Needless to say that wind took several miles off the days planned total mileage. The route given to me by the North Florida Bike Club got me out of Jaxs and heading west. It will be 80 miles of this route to get me to the Adventure Cycling Southern Tier Route near White Springs. So at 3 PM with Friday night traffic building, wind continuing, and a somewhat difficult road, I stopped for the night in Macclenny. The next stop, a campsite, was another 20 miles, too far at this time of day. So the first day mileage was a low 43 and the day ended a little early. OK for the start. So while I'm peddling here, the Swift House Inn and Middlebury received another snow storm with 10 inches of snow.

Bike Across the US-Day 0

Being an Innkeeper is a busy and consuming life, with seldom a chance to leave the Inn. This is particularly true owning the Swift House Inn here in Middlebury VT. But I have a great partner and wife who is supportive of my second biking adventure, a solo bike ride across the country from Jacksonville FL to San Diego. Just so happens that our son who will soon return from the Mid East lives in San Diego. I always have said that the hardest part of a trip or adventure is getting started. Sometimes that is due to all the logistics and sometimes due to just the follow through to do it. Well today is the start of my trip, Day 0. I have flown to Jacksonville with my bike and gear spent several hours getting all put together and will start the ride tomorrow early morning. The first day of the ride is always a challenge, the start. I plan to camp and stay in accommodations. I particularly will be looking for Bed and Breakfasts and Inns. I serve on the board of the Professional Association of Innkeepers (PAII) and am supportive of the new ad campaign called a "Better Way to Stay". The campaign designed to educate travelers on staying at B&Bs and Inns. So I will stop at many B&Bs along the 2800 route and help inform Innkeepers about PAII and the Better Way to Stay (BWTS).
I will start my ride here at the airport and after 80 miles join the Adventure Cycling Southern Tier Route to San Diego. So it's up early and enjoy the 80 degree day tomorrow. Big change from the minus 5 yesterday in Vermont!