Final days of the ride into St . Augustine FL

Unfortunately we have run out of picture space so can't post the last photos.

It was with a great sense of accomplishment and disbelief that we arrived in St. Augustine on Saturday.

The final verses of the Happy Trails song by Cathy

Hi ho, hi ho St Augustine hello
2 months ago, with leader Joe
Loaded like beasts, we headed east,
From Pacific to Atlantic
While we still could,
or dreamt we would.
And we did it, oh what a feat!
Hi ho, hi ho

Hi ho, hi ho
Family, friends hello.
We've come these miles to see your smiles
But a warning, we come bringing
Stories galore, and then some more,
Stories galore, and then some more.
Hello, hello

Good bye, good bye
To all my friends good bye.
How far we've gone, look what we've done:
California, Arizona
Hotest salsa, enchilada,
New Mexico
Highest we'd go
Chip-sealed Texas
It hurt my... Lass
Louisiana
Jazz and okra
Mississippi
Quickly did see
Alabama
Slap Yo' Mama
And Florida...
Well Florida
Though days we'd count,
Friendships did mount
'Cause together, it was better...
So keep in touch, it'll mean so much.
Good bye, good bye


See you on the road, with wind at your back,

Cathy

Monticello, Spirit of Suwanee, Itcituknee to Gainesville, FL

We left Tallahassee and rode through very pretty country lanes to a quaint little town of Monticello where John had arranged for us to stay in a beautiful old Victorian B and B. The managers made us dinner and breakfast, which was a real treat.

We rode on through mostly flat, bucolic countryside to the Spirit of Suwanee campgrounds. This is on the magnificent Suwanee River made famous by the songs of Stephen Foster and George Gershwin- sung by Al Jolson.

The weather has been overcast and getting colder - definitely feeling like fall, if not winter.

It was my turn to cook with Greg on Wednesday and we had hoped to be able to go tubing once we got to Itchetucknee, so we were really moving along well - or so we thought. We ended up making a wrong turn and doing an extra 12 miles and getting in to camp to late for tubing. We did have a delicious second breakfast at the Dixie Grill in Live Oak , which we would have missed otherwise.

Greg and I made a chicken curry , which Errol had suggested and was a great success. We also finally had a bonfire and marshmallows at the same time and had s'mores.

Yesterday we left Ichetucknee - with it's beautiful, clear springs. Had it been warmer we would have swam in the springs. We had a fast ride into Gainesville- which looks like a fairly typical state college town. After a comedy of error around Neal and Kelly trying to organize dinner and others at the camp site deciding to move on to the next town due to bad conditions, we ended up here tonight in a Hilton Hotel right near UF campus. We have enjoyed the very comfortable bed and clean bathroom.

We are moving on to Palatka today- our second to last day of riding. Now when people ask where we have come from they can't believe how far we have come.

Gulf Shores AL to Milton, Defuniak Springs, Marianna and Tallahassee, FL

We had a very relaxing and enjoyable day in Gulf Shores State Park. We really enjoyed being in a cabin and being able to watch as the election results and celebrating with champagne and chocolates.

The nature center was very interesting and I got to hold a baby alligator and a diamond back terrapin- Go Terps!!

We left Gulf Shores and crossed into our last state-Florida. On the way we visited DeFuniak Springs which were beautiful. Joe and Kelly braved the waters while Errol, Olaf and I watched.

We went through some picturesque towns along the way. The live oaks covered in Spanish moss and the magnolia trees are really spectacular.

We have enjoyed a couple of good breakfasts and waffles at the Waffle House, which are all over this area

Last night we went to a great Vegan/vegetarian/ gluten free restaurant here in Tallahassee and enjoyed walking through the campus, which is very attractive. We were stopped by a group of sorority sisters who asked us to pose with them for a picture- I think some pledge activity.

To Gulf Shores

Today arrived in Gulf Shores AL after a ferry ride and 20 miles on the bike on a peninsula - staying in cabin on Lake Shelby

Vancleave MS to Dauphin Island AL

Today we rode through some beautiful farmland and bayous under a mostly clear fall sky. We rode another long day of 71 miles but mostly flat terrain.

We crossed over into Alabama and have now been through CA, AZ, NM, TX, LA, MS. We will soon be in FL which means we are close to the end of our ride. We have about 12 more riding days and one layover day. It is very hard to believe that we have come so far!!

Simmesport to St. Francisville, LA

We crossed the Mississippi into St. Francisville. From there we drove in to New Orleans for a rest day.

Into New Orleans

Had a fun evening after a day of rest-Halloween on Bourbon Street,one big party fueled by alcohol(ie others!),with names like grenades,hurricanes-etc, quite the experience.2 members of the group went missing and surfaced this morning no q and a's
We are seeing Louisiana countryside,farms,small towns,with much different culture evident, enjoying crawfish étouffée po boys gumbo jambalaya boudin sausage alligator frogs legs bread pudding beignets(repeatedly ) beans and rice chicory coffee...
We continue discussing exercise and mostly within the group exercise is very integral to all our well being mental and physical. The group actually are in general all very good athletes having all long histories of staying active. Arthur from england participated in sailing the west coast of England stopping intermittently to run up mountains in a race ?fun.
Berit a ER charge nurse too is very active, having grown up in Denmark cycling has always been part of her life.
She feels depressed without exercise and her husband encourages her to ride and do this trip --without him. He is a physician and wondered how I managed the time off