Epilogue

Okay, I have been home for several days; the ride ended eight days ago, and here I am, better late than never, with the "epilogue," which will consist of mostly statistics, and a few recommendations.

Total Miles:  3,183
Average per cycling day:  55 (not including in and about mileage on days off)
Total Climbing:  81,309
Pedal Strokes:  981,167
Flat tires:  1
Worn tires replaced:  2
Broken spokes:  2
Tired legs:   2
Pounds lost:  15
Participants started:  13
Participants finished:  9 (two dropped early for health, two rode ahead to finish early, leaving the group)
Camping nights:  36
Hotel nights:  25
Private Homes:  3
Churches:   2

Recommendations:

• Carry spare spokes.  I chose to accept the risk, yet still had two broken spokes in Pensacola.  If I was out in the sticks, between towns, I may not have been able to proceed very far without vehicle support.
• Obtain a handlebar mount for your smartphone.  While the ACA maps are very good, there may be times when you are off route, and need to consult a GPS app, such as Google Maps.  This would have saved me 15 miles on a detour had I put more faith in Google Maps, rather than my Garmin Edge 800.
• Spend more money on quality rain gear.  I chose to spend less money, and found that my expensive yet "cheap" gear did not breath, so I was more wet on the inside than the outside.
• Water test your tent before your trip.  I did not, and had to replace my tent, as the rain fly more than leaked, it let the rain through entirely, so that it was raining in my tent!
• Maximize your sightseeing time, and if your are not on an organized group, take more time off to see the sights.  The people and the history are absolutely fantastic!
• Take time to journal about your trip, whether a blog, or paper journal.  It is well worth it to record your epic journey.

Although the trip was fantastic, I was ready for it to be finished during the last week.  I missed my family (my wife),  my grandson, my children, my extended family and my dog, although not necessarily in that order!  (Dianne comes first!)  My next adventure, in about two years, will be 30 days longer, so I will need to prepare myself for the absence, in addition to the endurance.   My plan is to do one of these epic adventures every two years, allowing Dianne and I to take an RV trip or other vacation during the alternate years.

Thank you to all who gave encouragement and support along the way, and upon my return.  I truly value your comments and inspiration.

May the wind be at your backs, and keep the rubber side down!

Day 66 - November 14, 2017 - 35.79 miles, 282 feet ascent, 289 feet descent

Palatka, FL to Saint Augustine, FL

Wow, what a finish!  Today, the last day of this epic adventure, we started and finished as a group, for the very first time.   We left the motel in Palatka together at about 0825, rode over the St. John's River bridge, along FL 207, and a very nice bike path, then more of FL 207.   Amazing that we stayed together, but it was planned that way.
It was very surreal as we pedaled our way to Saint Augustine, knowing that this was it - our physical challenge winding down with a short 35 mile ride and a dip of our wheels in the ocean.  This would be the last we see of our friends and riding partners, at least until our paths cross again, on the road some day.  Of course we will keep in touch!
Arriving in Saint Augustine, we passed by the "welcome" sign, and had to take the obligatory photos.  Then, just after crossing the Bridge of Lions in Saint Augustine, Tom R's daughter and son-in-law were cheering Tom and the group on from the center island.  They had driven down from Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, to surprise him.  It was a surprise for the entire group, and I was just a little choked up as we passed. They joined us for lunch at the Mellow Mushroom, a very nice pizza place on the way to the beach.   I learned during lunch that many other men in our group were also overcome with emotions at the sight of Tom's family greeting him.  What a bunch off softies!
Leaving the Mellow Mushroom, we continued our travel to Anastasia State Park beach, where we rode out the boardwalk, onto a long 4' wide rubber mat, to the high water line on the beach.   It was an overcast, windy day, our fourth consecutive day of headwinds, and the Atlantic Ocean was raging.  Once again, I had to choke back tears as this awesome experience neared the end.    I felt a sense of accomplishment, but more importantly, I was so very thankful to our Lord that he had delivered me and my riding partners safely to the end of this particular chapter of my overall journey, and for keeping my family safe during the last two months.
The photos of the "wheel dip" were even more obligatory than any welcome sign along the route, as this signifies the true end of the journey.   Of particular note is that there was no group photo taken where everyone looked at the camera simultaneously.  Hence the nickname "feral cats."   It is difficult enough to herd cats, but feral cats...?  I anticipate that our new jerseys commemorating this adventure will have something to say about that!
Having completed our journey, we headed back into town, again across the Bridge of Lions, to our abode for the evening, The Pirate Haus Inn, right in old towne Saint Augustine, the oldest continuously  city in America, even older than Jamestown.  (long story)
After checking in and cleaning up, I was out to explore the city, obtaining a massage at the Poseidon Spa, just what I needed for my legs.  We also looked up the Old Spanish Trail Milestone Zero, marking the beginning of the route from Saint Augustine to San Diego.  We were excited that his might be the first marker in ancient history of the ACA Southern Tier, but wow, were we misinformed!  Turns out that the Old Spanish Trail was developed in 1921, a highway linking the southern states.  The marker was not as historic as we thought, but it was great to learn about the history.  Speaking of history, we learned that Saint Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied city settled by the Europeans.  Good, bad, or indifferent, this is significant.  First settled by Spain, it was taken over by the British, ceded again to the Spanish, then to the United States.  Facinating history to read in the museums. 
Dinner was at Harry's Seafood Bar and Grill, on the same block as the Pirate Haus Inn.  We all enjoyed the jovial laughter and stories of this epic adventure, vowing to look each other up if we are in the same town, and knowing that our paths may cross someday on a similar journey.
Look for one more post, as an epilogue!

Coal fired power plant on the St. Johns River, outside of Palatka, FL, as seen from the bridge.

Day 65 - November 13, 2017 - 45.48 miles, 584 feet ascent, 715 feet descent

Gainesville, FL to Palatka, FL

Time to leave our wonderful hosts, after a wonderful dinner last night, and an equally fabulous breakfast this morning.  Tom and Martha led us out the back of their property, through other properties, and eventually to the main road.  This saved us valuable at least two miles from going around the front way.  Interesting riding over limestone and grass, and the occasional sand.  I had to walk through the sand, as it can grab your wheel and stop your bike in a nano-second, like it did yesterday when my wheel sank two inches into the sand.  Yes, I fell over because I could not unclip my pedals in time, but no injuries!

Tom R, Eileen, Ken, and I were the last to leave, and we decided to visit the Payne's Prairie Preserve and Alachua Sink, where we parked our bikes and walked 3/4 of a mile on a boardwalk.   This sink eventually feeds the Ichetucknee Springs, 40 miles away, through the underground aquifer.  I'm kind of glad for the boardwalk, as we did see one alligator basking in the shallow water.  Note the photo where the alligator is seriously camouflaged.  

On our way, we found ourselves on a very nice bicycle trail from Gainesville to Hawthorne.  The trail was built on an old railway bed, so it was slightly raised over the natural terrain.  We kept our eyes out for gators in the swampy areas, but did not see any.  Much of the water remains from hurricane Irma, and it is slow to drain.   

In Hawthorne, the four of us stopped at Dianne's Old Time Barbeque.  Had to stop there, as the love of my life spells her name the same.  Unfortunately, the quality did not live up to the name!  Ironically, we passed Fast Eddie's yesterday evening on the way in to our hosts' place, so the photos are adjacent.

We pulled into the Quality Inn in Palatka at around 3:00, right on the St. John's River.  After a shower and drying out my tent, I took a quick power nap, then off to the barber across the street, on foot.  Wow, did I get lucky, as a vehicle almost mowed me down in the crosswalk, while I had the green pedestrian cross signal.  While in the crosswalk, I heard a very close screech, and felt something brush my pants.  That "something" was the vehicle making a left turn, from behind me, so I didn't see it.  The driver claimed he had a left turn arrow, but that would have been impossible.  He apologized in his own way, and we both thanked the lord that nothing happened.  I was truly blessed, as this is the last night before the big finish!   I had visions of being in a hospital bed while everyone else was dipping their wheels in the Atlantic!

Day 64 - November 12, 2017 - 49.86 miles, 728 feet ascent, 686 feet descent

Ichetucknee Springs, FL to Gainesville, FL

Started the day with a kayaking journey from the Ichetucknee Springs down the river for a couple hours.  Beautiful ride, even under cloudy skies.  The water was crystal clear, and moving rapidly, although the surface was perfectly clear.  It was unlike our California rivers, with multiple rapids.  Just a meandering flat river, that one can not tell is flowing (mostly).  We did not see alligators, but multiple birds, and a sounder of wild hogs.  Multiple fish and turtles were seen in the river.  The kayak trip was originally planned for yesterday, paid for by our ride fees, but we got in too late.  Also, after a day of bicycling, the last thing we want to do is sit in a kayak for two hours. 

So, the kayaking was great, but we did not venture into the water.  Although the temperature is a mild 72 degrees, it was a rather cool day, and we had 50 miles of cycling ahead of us.

Leaving the springs, the driver dropped Tom R, Eileen, and I at the campground, where we had already packed our bikes.  We merely needed to change into our bike shorts/shoes, and away we went.  After seven miles, we stopped in Fort White at Subway for lunch, as it was lunchtime, and it was unknown where we might find another spot for food.

Once again we found ourselves with a headwind, so we settled into the same routine as the day before, taking turns pulling for one mile each.  The flat terrain gave way to rolling hills, but not too bad - just enough to tell our legs that we were not yet finished.

We pushed the pedals all the way to Gainesville, then had to find our way to Tom Harris' and Martha Monroe's house on the east side of Gainesville.  They are ACA members, and host all of the ACA tour groups as they go east or west through Gainesville on the Southern Tier.  They are also registered on Warmshowers.org as hosts.  Their house is way out in the country, and would have been extremely difficult to find using GPS or Google Maps, but as our luck would have it, they sent an email out with detailed instructions, and also put out the ACA orange triangles marking the turns for the last two miles.  That was the first of many kind and generous deeds they performed.

After finding our hosts home (and falling off my bike in the deep sand prevalent throughout Florida), we settled in for appetizers and adult beverages, THEN set up our tents and showered.  Tom and Martha provided a delicious meal, and demonstrated how their cat is so well trained that it will jump through hoops, sit, and roll over.  We were asked very kindly, though, NOT to let the cat out of the house, as he has a propensity to bring Florida fauna back as presents.  They were also concerned about coyotes.  

Once again on this journey, we had extremely generous hosts, with lots of stories, and had a barrel of fun.  Some in the group elected to sleep on the covered porch, and did not set up their tents.  Others, like me, set up our tents in the vast acreage, and excused ourselves after dessert to crash for the night.   

Little did we know it would rain during the night, lightly, but just enough to get the tents wet.

Day 63 - November 11, 2017 - 56.74 miles, 121 feet ascent, 135 feet descent

Perry, FL to Ichetucknee Springs, FL

Wow, was it cold last night - it was only the second time during this entire epic adventure that I zipped up my down sleeping bag - most of the time I sleep on top of it, and I might just pull the cover over me.  Brrr - the cold was coming up through my Thermarest pad.  Makes it kind of difficult to sleep.

In any case, Tom R, Eileen, and I rode out this morning at about 0740.  We immediately ran into a headwind, so we started taking turns drafting, one mile each.  Not only did it help with the wind, as we took turns taking the load, but it also helped make the miles go by faster, seemingly.  Our first stop was just outside of Mayo, at a gas station convenience store.  I was just a bit hungry, so I had the biscuits and gravy, with a large spicy sausage link - all very good.   We rode a few more miles, and came into the town of Mayo, where we came across the famous Great Southern Biscuit Company.  This cafe was about five miles after our previous stop, but the rest of our group was already stopped there, so we stopped in as well (Ken had caught up with us, so the four of us joined the other five at the cafe.). 

I only ordered a muffin, but when I saw the ham and egg sandwiches on the famous biscuits, I had to have one of those as well.  We seem to be eating our way across Florida, or even across the USA, for that matter!

We caught up with Neal, so now there were five of us.  Neal typically rides by himself, and slower than the rest of us.  We convinced him to join in our our "paceline," and he did really well.  He had never done this before, and he seemed to enjoy it.  It sure beats fighting the wind by yourself.

Eventually, the five of us made it to Ichetucknee Springs Family Camp, set up camp, and cleaned up.  After a couple adult beverages, we went for a short walk into the Ichetucknee Springs State Park across the street, to the head spring of the Ichetucknee River.  Beautiful springs, 72 degrees year round, crystal clear.  For divers, it is a once in a lifetime experience, but I don't dive, so I can't speak to that.   Eileen convinced Tom and I to kayak with her tomorrow, so we made reservations, for which the cost was included in this trip.

While at the springs, we got the call to dinner over our group chat, so we quickly headed back.  Dinner was BBQ chicken and ribs, brought in from a local guy who does this for bicyclists and other campers.  After dinner, as always, it was early to bed!   The temperature was much more pleasant than the previous night, so sleeping wasn't so bad!