I am now in Pensacola. I am taking a rest break here so that I can be around Mobile for thanksgiving. I am planning on taking the scenic route around Dauphin Island and camping just outside of Mobile for two nights. Nothing too interesting has happened lately, though I did decide to take a different route from Tallahassee. I decided to ride down to the coast and across. I stopped in Seaside, which is where they filmed the movie "The Truman Show". It is a very perfect community.
My legs are doing better and the rest of me seems to be fnctioning fairly normal, though I have been tired lately. Other than that it should be a couple weeks to Texas and probably not a lot of Internet.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
On The Road Again
I finally took off on Thursday. I wasn't sure how well I would do, but I needed to move and that was the day I planned on leaving Gainesville anyway. I ended up making it to Suwannee River State Park, 83 miles from Gainesville. My legs did hurt off and on, but I was able to overcome. Also, I had a pottassium pill, a one-a-day, and a pain pill, as well as some good stretches before I left. I was shocked to see as I made it to the park that the cost of camping was $25. I was here a couple years ago in February and it was less than $10. They did have a new bathhouse, though. I did some good stretching when I got in, took a short walk around the campground, then turned the shower into a sauna. At the end, my legs felt pretty good, though still sore.
Took off this morning for Tallahassee. Made it more than an hour sooner than I thought I would. My legs continued to hurt, but I did the same start up I did yesterday. All of this route from Gainesville to Louisianna is the same route I did a couple years ago, unless I decide to try a different road here or there. No major changes other than a few new houses and some road construction going on. I was nervous coming into Tallahassee because last time I was here my rear derailleur exploded, broke my chain, took some teeth out of my rear cluster, tacoed my rear tire, broke some spokes, and bent my frame; also nearly throwing me into oncoming traffic and making the traffic on my side of the road have to slow way down and work to miss me. I also had a good headwind that year. Thankfully I made it through with no major problems. I called Gene, my warm showers host, after I got into town. He said I was welcome to come over but suggested seeing the state capitol and the Florida History Museum. I did go to the capitol, though I didn't go up to the top. The new capitol looks like a sky-scraper with no major architecture other than a fountain out front. The old capitol looks more historic and dignified.
The weather continues to be great, though it was a little cool this morning in the 40's: relatively speaking, of course, for all you northerners. There is a possibility of rain tomorrow. But it should still be warm.
Took off this morning for Tallahassee. Made it more than an hour sooner than I thought I would. My legs continued to hurt, but I did the same start up I did yesterday. All of this route from Gainesville to Louisianna is the same route I did a couple years ago, unless I decide to try a different road here or there. No major changes other than a few new houses and some road construction going on. I was nervous coming into Tallahassee because last time I was here my rear derailleur exploded, broke my chain, took some teeth out of my rear cluster, tacoed my rear tire, broke some spokes, and bent my frame; also nearly throwing me into oncoming traffic and making the traffic on my side of the road have to slow way down and work to miss me. I also had a good headwind that year. Thankfully I made it through with no major problems. I called Gene, my warm showers host, after I got into town. He said I was welcome to come over but suggested seeing the state capitol and the Florida History Museum. I did go to the capitol, though I didn't go up to the top. The new capitol looks like a sky-scraper with no major architecture other than a fountain out front. The old capitol looks more historic and dignified.
The weather continues to be great, though it was a little cool this morning in the 40's: relatively speaking, of course, for all you northerners. There is a possibility of rain tomorrow. But it should still be warm.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Pain, Pain, Go Away
Still in Gainesville. I have been working on getting protein into my system, stretching, walking, and riding over the last couple of days. Sadly my legs are still cramping, though not as bad. Hopefully this goes away in the next day or two and I can continue on.
It has been fun hanging out in Gainesville, however. Jimi has given me a strong desire to start climbing again. He showed me a couple videos and has informed me of his feats and trips. I have always enjoyed climbing since I started, but it has been challenging to keep up in the places I have lived lately. Also all of my climbing buddies ended up getting married to their new climbing partners. Hopefully I will find a place to climb again soon. I will at least be able to do a bit in Texas.
I am again struggling with the desire to settle in someplace again. I realize this will pass but sometimes it makes the energy level to leave a bit low. I truly am anxious to get back on the road and see what God has in store for me. I am anxious for this whole trip but am continually looking forward to the end. Thanks to all for your support and continued encouragement and prayers.
It has been fun hanging out in Gainesville, however. Jimi has given me a strong desire to start climbing again. He showed me a couple videos and has informed me of his feats and trips. I have always enjoyed climbing since I started, but it has been challenging to keep up in the places I have lived lately. Also all of my climbing buddies ended up getting married to their new climbing partners. Hopefully I will find a place to climb again soon. I will at least be able to do a bit in Texas.
I am again struggling with the desire to settle in someplace again. I realize this will pass but sometimes it makes the energy level to leave a bit low. I truly am anxious to get back on the road and see what God has in store for me. I am anxious for this whole trip but am continually looking forward to the end. Thanks to all for your support and continued encouragement and prayers.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Knives in the Legs
Made it to Gainesville today. Ended up renting a car in Miami and driving today. Wasn't in the plan, but I was only able to ride 5 mph. Shortly after leaving the condo my legs locked up and I could barely deal with the pain. My quads felt like they had knives sticking into them. I could barely move them. I eventually made it to a car rental place and my parents got me a deal on a car. I decided it would be cheaper to rent a car than to get a motel in Miami for a couple more days. I have a friend in Gainesville I could stay with, which cut costs. Since I already rode all the roads I decided I was okay to do this. It wasn't my number one choice but it works out.
New Pictures 11/15/09
Delray Beach
Mom's visit
The route to date
Florida
The Atlantic Coast - Jekyll Island
Driftwood Beach - Jekyll Island
Driftwood Beach - Jekyll Island - Fishing
Georgia
First Roadside Camp
South Carolina
Fall in North Carolina
Restful Camping with Fall Foliage
North Carolina
Tennessee
View from the bike
East Tennessee Appalachians
Arkansas
Okahoma
Friday, November 13, 2009
Drivers, and Gators, and Hurricanes. OH MY!!
As I left St. Augustine, I was unsure where I was going to stay. I had found a campsite in Daytona, but I was hoping to get further. My WarmShowers host from Ft. Lauderdale had also informed me of a campground in Titusville and another host in Vero Beach. I ended up staying in Daytona and met a nice couple at the campground. Bev and Harry met me in the office and offered me free diet pepsi. I took my stuff to my site and then headed over to theirs and we talked for quite a while. I found that they had encountered tourers a number of years ago at their home in PA and I reminded them of that time. We chatted for quite a while, then I headed back to set stuff up and see what my next week's plans were going to be to get to Miami Beach in time to meet my mom.
I found a campground in Melbourne that I could not make reservations at, so I got up early and headed out. It was an enjoyable ride along the coast, except for the construction in Titusville. The rangers at the campground were very friendly and interested in what I was doing. They all had my name memorized shortly after I showed up. A couple of them were cyclists and one told me a story of some roadies who decided to block traffic when they road and ended up doing it to the wrong motorcyclists. End result: a bunch of bloodied cyclists laying on the street from four bikers. Perhaps they learned.
I couldn't find a campground around Stuart to West Palm Beach, so I booked a motel room online. It ended up being a long day at over 100 miles and winds quite strong blowing across my direction of travel. Those big flags that usually drape except in the strongest of winds were standing pretty much straight out. Made it in just before dark to Riviera Beach and checked in. I saw a suspicious car in the parking lot but since I had just arrived I decided to wait to do anything. I went and got something to eat, then came back and hung out. A little later I decided to look out the window and see if the car and riders were still there. They were...along with three police cars, one car member under arrest, and a full car and body search on all riders. Guess my gut told me right.
The following day I headed to Ft. Lauderdale to my Warmshowers host, Dennis', house. Warmshowers is a website for touring cyclists where other cyclists open up their house, yard, whatever they have, to other tourers and give them places to stay and whatever else they feel like offering. On the way there the winds were so strong I once got picked up and moved four feet to the side of where I was riding and set back down. That is quite and experience, flying on a loaded touring bike.
Dennis gave me a bed, dinner, breakfast, and some good stories from the road. It turns out his sister lives just up the road from my family in Nebraska and that he stayed with a couple in Wyoming I knew through the church I attended in Douglas. In the morning he took me to breakfast at a local restaurant and then we hung out till around noon sharing stories. I decided I should head on to Miami, even though the winds were quite strong from tropical storm Ida moving in. I ended up only having 25 miles to go to the condo, so I made it there quite rapidly, even having to dodge all the traffic and walk my bike in places due to wind.
While in Miami, tropical storm Ida became a hurricane and the winds were quite strong for the first two days my mom and her friend were here. Thankfully, the storm stayed west and we only saw 25-50 mph winds.
On monday we decided to head down to the keys and see what they were like. We drove all the way down to Duck Key and then turned around and came back. During the trip we stopped at a tshirt shop and got some good shirts. We also stopped and took some pics. It was amazing how calm it was on the keys with the storm so close, but if you didn't know from the news, you wouldn't have known a storm was in the area. It was a fairly relaxing day. The next day I took my mom up the coast on A1A to see the mansions and castles near Palm Beach. The money in the area is crazy! Tens of thousands of square foot houses for private use only. When the rich men of the 18 and 1900's became rich, they often built public museums into their houses to spread their wealth for all. The Flagler Museum in Palm Beach is one such place. Now we don't do that.
My mom and her friend left on Wednesday and I took the day to relax and work on some projects. On Thursday I took a trip to the Everglades through our condo. A bus picked me up, then took a group out to the park. We were taken on an airboat ride, then given a demonstration with gators and turtles. It was pretty good while we were out there, but the tour company was horrible. I was told I would be picked up around 9-915. They showed up at 930. We then continued to pick people up for the next hour plus. Occassionally people would be asked to get off and we wouldn't see them again. We then headed to the port and dropped some people off, then took on some more. We finally arrived at the everglades at 1140. After the show we were all ready to head back but our driver didn't arrive for another 20 min or so. We then headed back and started dropping people off at their hotels in south beach. I was a little too far north so the bus driver offered me a free city tour with boat trip. I was tempted, but I was fighting a migraine, had to go to the bathroom, and had a few other things to do, so I declined. He then had me stand on the street for 15-20 min waiting for someone to show up in their own car and take me back to my place. Overall, though, it was a good time in the glades.
I am now working on planning my ride to Dallas and tuning up my bike. I am planning on leaving Sunday. I may be having Thanksgiving in Mobile with a friend from Wyoming, so hopefully that works out.
I found a campground in Melbourne that I could not make reservations at, so I got up early and headed out. It was an enjoyable ride along the coast, except for the construction in Titusville. The rangers at the campground were very friendly and interested in what I was doing. They all had my name memorized shortly after I showed up. A couple of them were cyclists and one told me a story of some roadies who decided to block traffic when they road and ended up doing it to the wrong motorcyclists. End result: a bunch of bloodied cyclists laying on the street from four bikers. Perhaps they learned.
I couldn't find a campground around Stuart to West Palm Beach, so I booked a motel room online. It ended up being a long day at over 100 miles and winds quite strong blowing across my direction of travel. Those big flags that usually drape except in the strongest of winds were standing pretty much straight out. Made it in just before dark to Riviera Beach and checked in. I saw a suspicious car in the parking lot but since I had just arrived I decided to wait to do anything. I went and got something to eat, then came back and hung out. A little later I decided to look out the window and see if the car and riders were still there. They were...along with three police cars, one car member under arrest, and a full car and body search on all riders. Guess my gut told me right.
The following day I headed to Ft. Lauderdale to my Warmshowers host, Dennis', house. Warmshowers is a website for touring cyclists where other cyclists open up their house, yard, whatever they have, to other tourers and give them places to stay and whatever else they feel like offering. On the way there the winds were so strong I once got picked up and moved four feet to the side of where I was riding and set back down. That is quite and experience, flying on a loaded touring bike.
Dennis gave me a bed, dinner, breakfast, and some good stories from the road. It turns out his sister lives just up the road from my family in Nebraska and that he stayed with a couple in Wyoming I knew through the church I attended in Douglas. In the morning he took me to breakfast at a local restaurant and then we hung out till around noon sharing stories. I decided I should head on to Miami, even though the winds were quite strong from tropical storm Ida moving in. I ended up only having 25 miles to go to the condo, so I made it there quite rapidly, even having to dodge all the traffic and walk my bike in places due to wind.
While in Miami, tropical storm Ida became a hurricane and the winds were quite strong for the first two days my mom and her friend were here. Thankfully, the storm stayed west and we only saw 25-50 mph winds.
On monday we decided to head down to the keys and see what they were like. We drove all the way down to Duck Key and then turned around and came back. During the trip we stopped at a tshirt shop and got some good shirts. We also stopped and took some pics. It was amazing how calm it was on the keys with the storm so close, but if you didn't know from the news, you wouldn't have known a storm was in the area. It was a fairly relaxing day. The next day I took my mom up the coast on A1A to see the mansions and castles near Palm Beach. The money in the area is crazy! Tens of thousands of square foot houses for private use only. When the rich men of the 18 and 1900's became rich, they often built public museums into their houses to spread their wealth for all. The Flagler Museum in Palm Beach is one such place. Now we don't do that.
My mom and her friend left on Wednesday and I took the day to relax and work on some projects. On Thursday I took a trip to the Everglades through our condo. A bus picked me up, then took a group out to the park. We were taken on an airboat ride, then given a demonstration with gators and turtles. It was pretty good while we were out there, but the tour company was horrible. I was told I would be picked up around 9-915. They showed up at 930. We then continued to pick people up for the next hour plus. Occassionally people would be asked to get off and we wouldn't see them again. We then headed to the port and dropped some people off, then took on some more. We finally arrived at the everglades at 1140. After the show we were all ready to head back but our driver didn't arrive for another 20 min or so. We then headed back and started dropping people off at their hotels in south beach. I was a little too far north so the bus driver offered me a free city tour with boat trip. I was tempted, but I was fighting a migraine, had to go to the bathroom, and had a few other things to do, so I declined. He then had me stand on the street for 15-20 min waiting for someone to show up in their own car and take me back to my place. Overall, though, it was a good time in the glades.
I am now working on planning my ride to Dallas and tuning up my bike. I am planning on leaving Sunday. I may be having Thanksgiving in Mobile with a friend from Wyoming, so hopefully that works out.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Welcome to Miami!
So I made it to Miami Beach on Sunday. The winds were flying over the last couple days due to tropical storm/hurricane Ida moving through the area (25-40+ mph). I once actually got picked up off the ground and placed 4 ft from where I was, landed in the sandy shoulder and nearly took a spill due to the lack of control, but just pulled it off to send me back to the road. That was quite an experience. I made it to the condo before my mom and her friend Sandy arrived, so I waited outside for them. They showed up a few minutes later and we checked in. The winds continued to blow for the next few days, but today was pretty mild. I will go into details on all this later, but I am going to be losing internet connection in a few minutes.
I was unable to have time to upload pictures before my mom leaves with my computer, so my brother will do this as soon as she gets home and they should be up by the end of the week. These will go from Oklahoma to Florida. I have kept very busy since arriving here - a trip to the keys, a trip to Palm Beach, getting to a bike shop, touring the city, etc. Hopefully I will have some rest over the next couple of days. On thursday, however, I will be doing an Everglades tour.
Just thought I should let everyone know I was alive and survived the trip to southern Florida, even with all the crazy and dangerous drivers around here who look straight at me and then nearly run into me. It can be quite nerve-racking at times - trying to stay alive.
I was unable to have time to upload pictures before my mom leaves with my computer, so my brother will do this as soon as she gets home and they should be up by the end of the week. These will go from Oklahoma to Florida. I have kept very busy since arriving here - a trip to the keys, a trip to Palm Beach, getting to a bike shop, touring the city, etc. Hopefully I will have some rest over the next couple of days. On thursday, however, I will be doing an Everglades tour.
Just thought I should let everyone know I was alive and survived the trip to southern Florida, even with all the crazy and dangerous drivers around here who look straight at me and then nearly run into me. It can be quite nerve-racking at times - trying to stay alive.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
More Fun on the Water
Today, Dennis, one of the other guests at the Pirate Haus, asked me to go kayaking with him. I thought this sounded fun and he had two kayaks with him, so I decided to go. We headed to the put it and took off. It was a bit windy but the sun was shining and we figured it would warm up as we went. We decided to take off across Matanzas Bay and head to the inlet across the way. We kayaked over and then spent some time just watching the waves break into the bay. I then decided it would be neat to see a water view of the city and Castillo de San Marcos, so we headed that way. It was much easier paddling that way with the wind to our backs. We went over and had birds flying all around us. We sat and watched the city and talked a bit, then I decided I should call it a day, so we headed back to the put in. As we neared the cove we started to see dolphins. There were two groups of them and we paddled around and they would go by or come up to us as they willed. There was one time I was just sitting in my boat and Dennis was paddling around to get better views and a dolphin surfaced right next to my boat and actually tapped it just inches in front of the cockpit. It was amazing. Then we continued to watch them feed and surface all around us. After some time doing that we headed back to the Haus.
Upon coming back I took care of some last minute preparations for my departure tomorrow and started to pack up. I took it pretty easy this afternoon. I have been trying to find a route down to Miami without having to pay $15 for a map, but haven't had much luck. A few locals told me some of the basics on the A1A and a few blogs I have read have told me a bit, but for the most part I'm just going to wing it. I have a place to stay in Ft. Lauderdale on Saturday night, but don't know about the rest of the way down the coast. Hopefully I can find some things as I go. I also hope to see a few cyclists who can potentially let me know about local bike trails and/or the safest ways to head down the coast. I am planning on going mostly A1A and Hwy 1. Hopefully I arrive alive.
Upon coming back I took care of some last minute preparations for my departure tomorrow and started to pack up. I took it pretty easy this afternoon. I have been trying to find a route down to Miami without having to pay $15 for a map, but haven't had much luck. A few locals told me some of the basics on the A1A and a few blogs I have read have told me a bit, but for the most part I'm just going to wing it. I have a place to stay in Ft. Lauderdale on Saturday night, but don't know about the rest of the way down the coast. Hopefully I can find some things as I go. I also hope to see a few cyclists who can potentially let me know about local bike trails and/or the safest ways to head down the coast. I am planning on going mostly A1A and Hwy 1. Hopefully I arrive alive.
Monday, November 2, 2009
A step back in time
Yesterday I regretfully took off from my island oasis of Jekyll Island. It was a very peaceful place and restful even with the kayaking and riding my bike and walking everywhere. I ate a box of donut holes for breaskfast and took off into a headwind. It took a bit to get used to the load and riding and climbing with it, but I was soon back into the groove. I headed south on 17 and wasn't sure where I was going to spend the night, but I knew I could get into the hostel at St. Augustine if nowhere else appeared. Tent sites at all the places in Florida I checked were $30 a night for a tent! I found that once you hit northern Florida you hit Jacksonville and stay in it most of the way to St. Augustine. I ended up getting a flat in Jacksonville due to a two inch nail going through my tire, hitting the rim, then bending and proceeding all the way into the tire. I rode for another mile before it went flat and I had to change it. The tire I put on in Nashville proved to be so rigid that even with the air out of the tube it didn't collapse for the rim to touch the ground.
This ended up being my longest ride so far as I went all the way to St. Augustine. 121 miles. My body felt fine doing it but I didn't leave Jekyll till almost nine and didn't try and push until Jacksonville. I arrived as the sun went down, checked in, unpacked, showered, then went and ate. Conrad, the hostel owner, remembered me from two years ago when I came through on my first tour.
I am planning on spending a couple more days here before I head down the coast to Miami. I will leave here Wednesday and arrive there on Sunday.
This ended up being my longest ride so far as I went all the way to St. Augustine. 121 miles. My body felt fine doing it but I didn't leave Jekyll till almost nine and didn't try and push until Jacksonville. I arrived as the sun went down, checked in, unpacked, showered, then went and ate. Conrad, the hostel owner, remembered me from two years ago when I came through on my first tour.
I am planning on spending a couple more days here before I head down the coast to Miami. I will leave here Wednesday and arrive there on Sunday.
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