Author: Deb

From Tom:

Things that make me smile: As we were cycling on US 1 today between Daytona and New Smyrna, I got to thinking about our family vacations as a kid. Our family always went to Daytona Beach for vacation in August for ten days or so. Mom and Dad piled us into the Ford Station Wagon, Mom and Dad in front, my two sisters in the middle and my brother and I in the flip-up seats in back. We stayed in the same motel every year; La Hacienda. My Dad who had just picked up golf decided to play on a course in New Smyrna Beach and asked us to play. I am guessing I was maybe 9 years old.

We got up early in the dark and drove on US 1 to New Smyrna, the same road I was riding on today. Who would have thought some 50 years later I would be cycling here today? I am sure Dad was up in heaven smiling down on us today. And yes that was the beginning of my love to play golf.

Things that make me chuckle: Deb and I were coming off a trail near Gainesville a couple days ago and rolling into a gas station to grab a snack. We saw a man with his bike in the back of his pickup and he had an air hose in hand. He reached over the edge to pump up the tire and kaboom goes the tire!

I’m sure he was looking forward to riding his bike on the trail. I watched him throw the hose down, jump in his truck and immediately drive to the liquor store down the street. Nothing better than having a well deserved ice cold beer after a good ride, but sometimes that ice cold one will help with the frustration of not being able to have that ride. Lesson learned, do not use an air hose to pump up your bike tires that is designed for your car tires.

Things that make me grateful: With rain coming in this evening we were looking for a motel 50 or more miles down the road. I found what looked like a great place just south of Titusville and called to check on availability for one night. The young lady laughed at me since it’s spring break and there was a launch tonight. She said they were booked solid. She said everything is booked in this area.

I found another motel in the area with subpar google reviews but gave them a call anyway. A grumpy man answered with a gravelly voice “what?”. He said he has plenty of room. “There’s no one here since it is only March. Who would come here. It’ll cost ya $139 a night. No reservation needed.” Yes, we have stayed in some places during our trip that you just need a shower and bed. But tonight we were in need of a good bed, shower, and laundry. So our daughter set us up with a Marriott property near the Kennedy Space Center and it was perfect, but we kinda wish we were here last night to see the launch.

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#SD2KW, Day 57, St. Augustine to Port Orange, 58 Miles | Good Vibes

When we took off this morning we felt like we were starting a whole new ride. And we were! We got an early start to beat the spring break traffic and our efforts paid off.

Just before Palm Coast we met a local named Brian who took us on a quick trail ride out to an inter coastal. It was SO nice to be off road.

It’s St. Patrick’s Day and we were hungry as heck. Our friend Cathy C. gave us an excellent suggestion for lunch along Flagler Beach and lemme tell ya, Cathy was spot on. Flounder sammich and beach vibes. 💯

We didn’t plan it but this word behind us says it all. And I constantly want to check the map… because the let’s just say the old horse is smelling the barn. 😂

Just before Daytona Beach a local flagged us down and asked if he could take our pic. He also advised us there was a St. Patrick’s Day festival happening in Daytona. It took all our power not to stop and participate.

We scored a bare bones campsite in Port Orange and giggled at our neibs light source (a table lamp) God bless their big hearts they are out here enjoying the great outdoors just like us!

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#SD2KW, Day 56, Palatka to St. Augustine, 32 Miles | Southern Tier Complete

We made it! And what a lovely morning it was for the easy cruise into St. Augustine. We’re both beyond grateful to have completed this first (and longest) leg of our bike trip. Whew! Did we really peddle all that way?

Coast to coast, 3,144 miles… that’s a lot of peddle strokes.😂

Although the official Southern Tier bike route ends in the city of St. Augustine, we crossed the bridge to get to St. Augustine Beach where we dipped our front tires into the Atlantic Ocean as we dipped our back tires in the Pacific Ocean 56 days ago.

From there we peddled two blocks south on A1A to Salt Life restaurant and treated ourselves to a celebratory dinner. I mean tonight was not a night for peanut butter and Nutella wraps.

We talked of the towns we cycled through, the people we met, the hills, the wind, the struggles and the accomplishments and wouldn’t change a thing… well we mighta kept that extra set of gloves and socks we sent back with Troy as a cold and storm front moves in on Sunday. 😬 Good thing we kept our puffies.

After dinner, a campfire (our first of the trip) was the perfect way to end the day. We said goodbye to Gary, a cyclist we met back in Suwannee River State Park who finished his New Orleans to St. Augustine trip today and will head north tomorrow to Jacksonville and beyond.

Tomorrow we head south along the coast just 500 miles to our Key West destination. Once back in Indy we will wrap up the entire ride, but tomorrow we continue to keep calm and peddle on.

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#SD2KW, Day 55, Alachua to Palatka, 80 Miles | All Good Things

Our last full day on the Southern Tier Bike Route treated us to miles and miles of stunning bike trails. However first, there were donuts to enjoy. We waited until it got light at the breakfast bar in Dunkin’ and watched the spring breakers roll in, eager to start their vacation. That brought back so many great memories for us.

Today WAS all about the bike trails though, both the Gainesville to Hawthorn Trail and the Palatka Lake Butler State Trail. Soooo nice!

We even met a bike riding Macaw named Up Up.

But all good things must come to an end, apple fritters, bike trails and for us, the Southern Tier route which we will finish tomorrow with an easy cruise into St. Augustine. That’s the plan anyway and we know anything could happen as it often does when bike traveling.

When we reach the Atlantic Ocean tomorrow on St. Augustine Beach we adjust our sails from heading east and begin heading south. The journey continues!

We are giving so much thanks for the people, places and time together we have shared so far.

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#SD2KW, Day 54, Suwannee River State Park to Alachua, 78 Miles | Near Perfect

Today was one of those near perfect days of riding, right down to the soup and sammich lunch special served at Wellborn’s Country Charm Diner.

With blue bird skies and the light caress of a tailwind on our back we made it past our goal and into Alachua which sets us up for a Thursday or Friday arrival in St. Augustine before the big thunderstorms roll in on Saturday.

Today’s conversations were not nearly as thought provoking as yesterday’s with Earl nevertheless, they were worth the stop. (sound on below)

Not sure if any of our friends are Wordlers but I need to put this out there right now. The morning we started the ride, I broke a 98 day solve streak. 😳 Of all days. What bad mojo. I was so hoping to get to 100 straight Wordle solves, but no. I’m back at it and have a 54 day streak going… same as our bike ride. Gosh I hope I don’t mess it up.

Also a few people have been asking about the songs in the daily videos. The title and musicians are listed on the Google sheet (see the Accommodations link above). And I’ve also created a playlist on Spotify. Click here to have have a listen.

Thanks again for the prayers, encouragement and allowing us to share this time with you. Oh what a ride it’s been and it’s not over yet!

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#SD2KW, Day 53, Lloyd to Suwannee River State Park, 59 Miles | Your Attention Please

Today’s moment that gave me pause to reflect was meeting Earl. A gentle giant both in physical and spiritual stature, he started his walk across America on March 1st on Jacksonville Beach and is headed for the Pacific Ocean near San Francisco.

We asked him “why” and I’m sure he wanted to ask us the same. ☺️ He answered though and what he said got me thinking. He said it’s important what he “attends to”. His attention (time) is his most valuable asset. What he invests his time in forms his life. He felt he needed time for extended reflection. I know this. Tom knows this. It’s a good reminder. Would love to catch up with Earl at the end of us journey to see what else he can share. However, he gives no attention to social media so I can’t “follow” him. Now that gave ME something else to think about.

Tom wanted me to let you know he’s pretty sure he was standing in a hole next to Earl in the above pic . 😂

The sign before we crossed the Suwannee River said it was was “historic”. I know it’s mentioned in a song but what else?

The Suwannee River originates in the Okefenokee Swamp (the largest swamp in North America) and flows about 260 miles until it reaches the Gulf of Mexico. It’s darkish water runs through state parks, is fed by natural springs and flows by Civil War battlefields. And yep, in case you’re wondering, there’s ‘gaters in there.

The dogs are still out in rural Florida albeit most are chained up or fenced in. However once today, we met four loose dogs who wanted to welcome us to their county 😝 while the fifth dog sat on the hood of the car in the yard and watched the whole scenario unfold. I don’t give these dogs my attention anymore. Well let’s just say I don’t have a visceral fear of being chased and bitten. We just stop, holler and they run away. So thanks for the prayers, all.

In case you were wondering, Tallahassee was our fourth state capital. We also rode through Phoenix, Austin and Baton Rouge. 🚴🏼‍♂️🚴🏼‍♀️

Digs at the Suwannee River State Park tonight.

Flushers out of order but tent sites are 💯

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#SD2KW, Day 52, Chattahoochee to Lloyd, 65 Miles | The Fourth

Today we cycled through our fourth state capital: Tallahassee. If you’ve been following our journey, can you think of the other three state capitals we’ve ridden though? Hint for the geographically challenged… San Diego is not a state capital. 😂

It’s fairly uncommon for bike travelers to lose two hours overnight, but last night we did. Not only did we enter the Eastern Time Zone when we crossed the Apalachicola River, we “lost” an hour as it’s time to “spring forward.” Now daylight comes two hours later in the morning but we have two extra hours for riding in the afternoon.

In addition to challenging our brains around which way to turn the clocks when we got up, we had this little surprise in my bike tire: a shard of glass.

No problem. Tom pulled it out, it sealed, he added a little air and we were ready to ride.

That wasn’t the biggest challenge, however. We finally got a proper rain shower. And another tire puncture (Tom’s rear tire this time), in the rain, on a four lane highway. The tire was hissing; sealant was spraying so we stopped. Tom plugged the tire and we were off again in the pouring rain with just ten more miles to our day’s destination.

We’re grateful to be in a warm and dry EconoLodge tonight ($68 a night) where we can dry out, play cards and do a little route planning.

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#SD2KW, Day 51, De Funiak Springs to Chattahoochee, 85 Miles | Ride As You Feel

We didn’t plan on riding over 80 miles today. There was a whisper of a tailwind this afternoon, and a brewery in our sites but it was the Opening Day Little League Baseball parade in small town America that started the day off right. That got us reminiscing about the “old days.”

That and a gorgeous morning riding down the gauntlet of pine trees with scattered pine cones as big as my big head.

Tom scored a sweet camping spot less than a mile away from a brewery specializing in ribeye steaks. Yum!

It was the perfect night to cozy up in a tent under the stars.

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#SD2KW, Day 50, Milton to De Funiak Springs, 59 Miles | My Old School