Monday, May 5, 2014
Kissell PAC (Pacific-Atlantic Crossing) is Done.
Day 1 at Dog Beach in San Diego and Day 58 in Anastasia State Park in St Augustine. 3100 miles.
Day 58. DONE
Monday May 5. Palatka to St Augustine. 50 miles. Trip total 3,100 miles
I knew May the 5th would get here. When I first signed up for this trip back in October though, it seemed worlds away. Even at the start of the trip in San Diego back on March 10, it was non-reality, a concrept, a destination but not for that point in time. There were too many places to see, too many miles to ride, stories to be discovered, told and then remembered, it was simply a consideration for another time. Today, May the 5th arrived and the final day of the trip is here and now the trip is over. Wow! It was something.
Last night was our celebration dinner. We were treated to a dinner served to us, not prepared by us. That was nice. After dinner, we went through each day of the trip, reminiscing about things that stuck out in our minds about a particular place, moment or day. It was great fun, a lot of laughs, a fitting end to the last night on the road. Pictures included.
The sun rose over the St Johns river, a beautiful view out of our window. Picture included. Routine morning preparations seemed a little strange as we were doing them for the final time and then we were off for St Augustine.
We crossed the river, enjoyed the sun again, even took a picture of my own shadow while riding. We certainly were not going to be without great scenery on our last day, we followed the river, saw huge fields of potatoes and just meandered towards the Atlantic.
At 1:00, all of us had arrived at Anastasia State Park, headed for the beach and began the awkward process of getting everyone together, getting all cameras front and center and finding friendly unsuspecting strangers to take our pictures. It all came together and other than getting our feet soaked, the tide showed no mercy on our time demands for picture taking, it went well.
Tonight, in a hostel again, lower bunk this time. Not bad.
At the beginning of our group coming together, we were asked to describe ourselves in 5 words. I chose Old. Slow. (Noted that those two went together, interchangeable but not inseparable!). Also, Curious. And Determined.
I left the fifth word open. I wanted to wait, to see how it went. I hoped it would not be a word involving the calling of the next if kin, it didn't. I now chose my fifth word, Done.
I knew May the 5th would get here. When I first signed up for this trip back in October though, it seemed worlds away. Even at the start of the trip in San Diego back on March 10, it was non-reality, a concrept, a destination but not for that point in time. There were too many places to see, too many miles to ride, stories to be discovered, told and then remembered, it was simply a consideration for another time. Today, May the 5th arrived and the final day of the trip is here and now the trip is over. Wow! It was something.
Last night was our celebration dinner. We were treated to a dinner served to us, not prepared by us. That was nice. After dinner, we went through each day of the trip, reminiscing about things that stuck out in our minds about a particular place, moment or day. It was great fun, a lot of laughs, a fitting end to the last night on the road. Pictures included.
The sun rose over the St Johns river, a beautiful view out of our window. Picture included. Routine morning preparations seemed a little strange as we were doing them for the final time and then we were off for St Augustine.
We crossed the river, enjoyed the sun again, even took a picture of my own shadow while riding. We certainly were not going to be without great scenery on our last day, we followed the river, saw huge fields of potatoes and just meandered towards the Atlantic.
At 1:00, all of us had arrived at Anastasia State Park, headed for the beach and began the awkward process of getting everyone together, getting all cameras front and center and finding friendly unsuspecting strangers to take our pictures. It all came together and other than getting our feet soaked, the tide showed no mercy on our time demands for picture taking, it went well.
Tonight, in a hostel again, lower bunk this time. Not bad.
At the beginning of our group coming together, we were asked to describe ourselves in 5 words. I chose Old. Slow. (Noted that those two went together, interchangeable but not inseparable!). Also, Curious. And Determined.
I left the fifth word open. I wanted to wait, to see how it went. I hoped it would not be a word involving the calling of the next if kin, it didn't. I now chose my fifth word, Done.
Day 57...Florida finally delivers something other than rain..Sunshine is back
Sunday May 4...Gainesville to Palatka. 55 miles. (One more day)
If you have read the blogs for the past few days, 5 of them to be exact, you have scene a recurring theme of rain...rain...and yes, more rain. You might have heard of the rains that hit Pensacola earlier this week, combined rain totals of 26 inches I was told. We were in Pensacola last Sunday, so in a bigger perspective, we didn't get hammered like that, but riding for four straight rainy days was not what we expected either. But there is always tomorrow and our 'tomorrow' was today!
Quite simply, this was one of our best days. The sun was out, the air crisp but warming to start the day and then became almost toasty! Not wet, not chilly, no rain jackets, etc, but...toasty!
We left Gainesville after our last night of camping. We got on a beautiful bike trail, actually a converted railroad bed, ("rails to trails"), and rode for 16 miles. (With these miles and the additional miles we would do later in the day on another "rails to trails", we were on these bike paths for more than half of the miles for the day. Really nice.).
This trail went to Hawthorne. While there were some open areas, the majority if the ride was forested or swampy and simply beautiful. We stopped often, took a lot of pictures, went to an overlook of a lake to maybe see some alligators, (didn't), simply enjoying the ride. The change from the bad weather days just raised the spirits and relaxed the mood of the riding day.
The morning brought opportunity for a "second breakfast", the pancake special along with Nicole stopping us on the side of the road
forcing us to eat key lime pie. As we near the end if the ride, all good is considered surplus and in need of being eaten. I hope to do my share to help this cause.
In Hawthorne, we got on US 301, which at one time was a major road for getting to Florida along with US 1. Times change, but we were on this road for a little while before finding some good rural roads and the other bike trail.
The afternoon trail was more along open, water areas, pine forests and a winery that was offering free samples. Stopping...
Also met a 7 month old Golden Retriever named a Stone. Picture included.
Tonight, we are in the best accommodations yet, along he St John River, heading to St Augustine tomorrow on our last day. Hard to believe that after 2 months and over 3000 miles, the last day is here.
If you have read the blogs for the past few days, 5 of them to be exact, you have scene a recurring theme of rain...rain...and yes, more rain. You might have heard of the rains that hit Pensacola earlier this week, combined rain totals of 26 inches I was told. We were in Pensacola last Sunday, so in a bigger perspective, we didn't get hammered like that, but riding for four straight rainy days was not what we expected either. But there is always tomorrow and our 'tomorrow' was today!
Quite simply, this was one of our best days. The sun was out, the air crisp but warming to start the day and then became almost toasty! Not wet, not chilly, no rain jackets, etc, but...toasty!
We left Gainesville after our last night of camping. We got on a beautiful bike trail, actually a converted railroad bed, ("rails to trails"), and rode for 16 miles. (With these miles and the additional miles we would do later in the day on another "rails to trails", we were on these bike paths for more than half of the miles for the day. Really nice.).
This trail went to Hawthorne. While there were some open areas, the majority if the ride was forested or swampy and simply beautiful. We stopped often, took a lot of pictures, went to an overlook of a lake to maybe see some alligators, (didn't), simply enjoying the ride. The change from the bad weather days just raised the spirits and relaxed the mood of the riding day.
The morning brought opportunity for a "second breakfast", the pancake special along with Nicole stopping us on the side of the road
In Hawthorne, we got on US 301, which at one time was a major road for getting to Florida along with US 1. Times change, but we were on this road for a little while before finding some good rural roads and the other bike trail.
The afternoon trail was more along open, water areas, pine forests and a winery that was offering free samples. Stopping...
Also met a 7 month old Golden Retriever named a Stone. Picture included.
Tonight, we are in the best accommodations yet, along he St John River, heading to St Augustine tomorrow on our last day. Hard to believe that after 2 months and over 3000 miles, the last day is here.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Day 56. Loving this Liquid Sunshine.....not!
Saturday May 3. White Springs to Gainesville. 71 miles. (2 days left- last night of camping)
The last thing that one should rely upon without question is a weather forecast. Even in today's world of smart phones, iPads, instant access to radar and Weather Channel apps, the weather is it's own master, prone to confusing the experts.
For example yesterday, the weather was far less rainy than forecasted and today? Well today was a 10% chance of a morning shower! clearing and sunshine by late morning. Note: I had talked of my various pieces of rain gear and wanted to advise that my gloves, pants, head cover and booties were all perfectly dry the whole ride as I had believed the forecast and packed them away for the day! Bummer!
How lucky we were to be under that 10% chance the whole 70 miles from White Springs to Gainesville. This is 5 straight days of rain, 4 of those days that we have ridden the bikes, the other being the rest day in Tallahassee. The good news is that the clearing has come, 4:00 pm, the tents are up for our last night of camping and all is good.
Better than good in that I am having dinner tonight with Dusty and Hillary Holly. Dusty was my Ag guy on our staff, a great friend and I haven't seen him since last October when I attended their wedding here in Florida.
Interesting note. We crossed the Sante Fe River today, a nice size river that at some point simply disappears! It is tgpjhere and then it goes underground to resurface many miles later.
The pictures for today? 3 from one stop where it was....you guessed it, raining. 3 are from yesterday that just downloaded.
The last thing that one should rely upon without question is a weather forecast. Even in today's world of smart phones, iPads, instant access to radar and Weather Channel apps, the weather is it's own master, prone to confusing the experts.
For example yesterday, the weather was far less rainy than forecasted and today? Well today was a 10% chance of a morning shower! clearing and sunshine by late morning. Note: I had talked of my various pieces of rain gear and wanted to advise that my gloves, pants, head cover and booties were all perfectly dry the whole ride as I had believed the forecast and packed them away for the day! Bummer!
How lucky we were to be under that 10% chance the whole 70 miles from White Springs to Gainesville. This is 5 straight days of rain, 4 of those days that we have ridden the bikes, the other being the rest day in Tallahassee. The good news is that the clearing has come, 4:00 pm, the tents are up for our last night of camping and all is good.
Better than good in that I am having dinner tonight with Dusty and Hillary Holly. Dusty was my Ag guy on our staff, a great friend and I haven't seen him since last October when I attended their wedding here in Florida.
Interesting note. We crossed the Sante Fe River today, a nice size river that at some point simply disappears! It is tgpjhere and then it goes underground to resurface many miles later.
The pictures for today? 3 from one stop where it was....you guessed it, raining. 3 are from yesterday that just downloaded.
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Day 55. Florida's motto...The WHAT State?
Thursday May 2. Monticello to White Springs. 75 miles. (3 days riding left)
We started the day with our 4th straight day of rain. Thus I questioned the motto of Florida being the Sunshine State. It was a drizzle, but the forecast called for light rain in the morning turning into more significant rains in the afternoon. The day was also forecasted to be cool, high of mid 60s.
So we put on full rain gear, which can be rather elaborate and if you have good equipment, works rather well. Rain jacket with ventilation, dry and allows for air to circulate, rain pants that fit over booties that cover your shoes which help keep the feet from being soaked, helmet cover to keep head drier but also really keeps heat in and outer gloves. The works, picture later.
We passed through Greenville, home of Ray Charles. Picture of water tower, yeah it's not much but it was raining.
One odd thing Gabe noticed, a freshly covered grave site in the Monticello town cemetery, still had the funeral home tent up, had a number of turkey vultures under the tent around the grave site. Odd. Of course the day before we passed a pasture with several horses and one pig. A cute pig . The horses didn't move, the pig ran with us as we rode by.
We actually found that the rain mostly stopped and by halfway through the ride we were out of the rain gear for the first time since Monday. It felt good.
We crossed the Suwannee River, flooding of course. Pictures. The scenery was beautiful. More live oaks with Spanish moss, fields and pastures, shaded lanes and a good number of wildflowers. Of course many places were under water, but it was a nice ride.
Gabe and myself had dinner tonight, fried chicken, beans and potato salad. Good eating. We are in a motel tonight and I actually have my own room.
We travel to Gainesville tomorrow.
We started the day with our 4th straight day of rain. Thus I questioned the motto of Florida being the Sunshine State. It was a drizzle, but the forecast called for light rain in the morning turning into more significant rains in the afternoon. The day was also forecasted to be cool, high of mid 60s.
So we put on full rain gear, which can be rather elaborate and if you have good equipment, works rather well. Rain jacket with ventilation, dry and allows for air to circulate, rain pants that fit over booties that cover your shoes which help keep the feet from being soaked, helmet cover to keep head drier but also really keeps heat in and outer gloves. The works, picture later.
We passed through Greenville, home of Ray Charles. Picture of water tower, yeah it's not much but it was raining.
One odd thing Gabe noticed, a freshly covered grave site in the Monticello town cemetery, still had the funeral home tent up, had a number of turkey vultures under the tent around the grave site. Odd. Of course the day before we passed a pasture with several horses and one pig. A cute pig . The horses didn't move, the pig ran with us as we rode by.
We actually found that the rain mostly stopped and by halfway through the ride we were out of the rain gear for the first time since Monday. It felt good.
We crossed the Suwannee River, flooding of course. Pictures. The scenery was beautiful. More live oaks with Spanish moss, fields and pastures, shaded lanes and a good number of wildflowers. Of course many places were under water, but it was a nice ride.
Gabe and myself had dinner tonight, fried chicken, beans and potato salad. Good eating. We are in a motel tonight and I actually have my own room.
We travel to Gainesville tomorrow.
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