Southern Tier Section 7

via bicycle from Crestview, FL to St. Augustine, FL

April 24 - May 1, 2008

447 miles with 5,766 feet of elevation gain and 5,916 feet of elevation loss

(elevation data will change when the two incorrect charts are corrected)

Date	Location	Miles
Section 7
April 24	Marianna, FL	90
April 25	Quincy, FL	51
April 26	Wakulla Springs, FL	48
April 27	Wakulla Springs, FL - rest day	0
April 28	Perry, FL	52
April 29	Alachua, FL	83
April 30	Palatka, FL	73
May 1	St. Augustine, FL	47
May 2	Tour Ends; Shuttle to Jacksonville

Remember, the first map is the Adventure Cycling map and shows our actual route; and for the 2nd map I used the AAA online mapping service to print a map that shows their suggested highway route to each night's stop--of course these highways are not always the best highways for bicycle riders and are NOT indicative of our route, but it gives you another view of the area we are traveling.

Section 7

Day 50 Day 51 Day 52 Day 53 Day 54 Day 55 Day 56 Day 57 Day 58

Day 50 - April 24, 2008

Crestview to Marianna, FL 32446 - 90 miles

info (back to beginning of section 7) weather

Today was almost a 90 on US 90 day. We went one mile on SR 85 then wound our way through a hospital and residential area for 3.5 miles to avoid the busy city highways and joined US 90 as it was exiting Crestview. From then on it was a 2-lane road with a good shoulder and little traffic except in several cities it widened to 4 lanes, we lost the shoulder, and there was a lot more traffic. The reason the road has little traffic is because it parallels I10 which gets all the commercial and through traffic.

At mile 32 in the city of Defuniak we had a less than 2 mile scenic option to circle around Lake Defuniak. Even though it was a long day, I thought the lake was probably worth a short detour, and I was right it was VERY pretty and there were some very nice homes around the lake.

The day was very warm, but we had a slight head wind which turned out to be a positive as the breeze felt good. Whenever I would climb one of the big hills it would cut the breeze off and I would get hot, but when I got to the top I was rewarded with the cooling breeze again. So some times a small head wind can be an advantage.

Some of the hills were a little challenging, but they weren't bad--they just slow me down as I climb very slowly.

Crestview to Marianna map

Lake Defuniak

this is what much of the route looked like today

Day 51 - April 25, 2008

Marianna to Quincy, FL 32351 - 50.5 miles

info (back to beginning of section 7) weather

I did very well for the first 20 miles. Then I just didn't have any power in my legs and my speed dropped. I still finished and I felt OK, but I just couldn't get up the hills like I could yesterday and I couldn't get any speed. I'm glad we had only 50.5 miles to ride today. It was hot again, but we had the same 5-10 mph head wind and its cooling effect was once again very welcome.

We quickly left US 90 and rode on county roads until we approached Chattahoochee, FL then we rejoined US 90 for 11 miles. We crossed the LONG Victory Bridge over the Apalachicola River which is formed by the confluence of the Flint and Chattahoochee rivers. The actual confluence is submerged in the Lake Seminole reservoir formed by the Jim Woodruff Dam. The river provides the boundary between the Eastern and Central time zones in the United States. Then immediately after crossing the bridge we climbed a LONG, steep hill, and I did get into my lowest gear for this one. Then one block after the first stop light in Chattahoochee I turned left on Decatur Street to take a short 1/2 mile detour to Georgia. I met Genie at the state line and after taking some pictures we learned from some other riders that by going just a little farther we could see the beautiful Lake Seminole and Jim Woodruff Dam. Genie and I took the road to the administrative offices and went around behind the building to see the lake and dam. I strongly recommend this short side trip to future Southern Tier riders.

After returning to Chattahoochee I turned right at the very next stop light onto Main Street/CR 269, and we remained on county roads for the rest of the day.

Marianna to Quincy map

this mural is on the side of a building on Decatur Street where we turned to ride to Georgia

this statue of the Samaritan woman at the well is also on the corner of Decatur Street

me standing under the Decatur County, GA sign

me with one foot in FL and one foot in GA

the Jim Woodruff Dam & Lake Seminole

Lake Seminole

Day 52 - April 26 2008

Quincy to Wakulla Springs, FL 32327 - 48 miles

info (back to beginning of section 7) weather

Actually we went to Crawfordville today where the Inn at Wildwood that we are staying at for two nights is located. It is a beautiful, new inn and is within 5 miles of the Wakulla Springs State Park. I had my energy back today and did fine. It was another day like the last two--hot with a slight head wind and the route was pretty flat after the first 20 miles. We were in the Lake Talquin State Forest at first then starting at the first sag (approximately 20 miles) we were in the Apalachicola National Forest for about 12 miles so we saw a lot of trees today. We had the option of going to the park today, but I chose to wait until our off day to see the park and came straight on to the inn.

Quincy to Wakulla Springs map

the Apalachicola National Forest with Ann, Michele, & Jane cycling in the background

the Inn at Wildwood

Day 53 - April 27, 2008

Wakulla Springs, FL 32327 - rest day

info (back to beginning of section 7) weather

Today was a fun day, but not a restful one. I started the day by sleeping in a little and got up at 7 o'clock instead of 6:30. After eating a continental breakfast at the inn I cycled 8 miles to the T-n-T Hide-A-Way Rental to rent a kayak for a ride up the Wakulla River. I got there a little before they opened at 9 o'clock, but they outfitted me with a kayak, paddle, life preserver, and dry bag right away. They are located right on Highway 98 just across the Wakulla Bridge. The fee is $20 for a 4 hour rental. The usual trip is to go upriver to the 2nd bridge over the river which is about 3 miles one way. The river was quiet and serene. I saw a manatee, an anhinga, and an alligator. The manatee was swimming downstream, the anhinga was drying his feathers, and the alligator was lying hidden in some weeds not far from the bank and I didn't see him until my paddle hit the top of his head. He reared up then slid backwards in the water--I guess he was as scared as I was. Needless to say I didn't get his picture.

After I finished kayaking I rode on to the Wakulla Springs State Park--about 12 miles to the park and about 2 more miles inside the park. Wakulla Springs is a pre-Ice Age sinkhole connected to an underground cave. The Wakulla River originates in a massive aquatic cave system over 300 feet deep and extending beyond the park's boundaries. Humans have occupied Wakulla Springs for nearly 15,000 years and the skeletal remains of a mastodon, giant sloth, giant armadillos, camels, and other ancient animals have been recovered at the bottom of the spring bowl and on the floors of the underwater caverns.

I took a 40-minute narrated cruise on the river for $6 and saw alligators, turtles, snakes, many birds, and many jumping fish. Then I ate lunch and rode my bike back to the inn. I rode a total of 40.75 miles on my rest day and kayaked for 2.5 hours--whew!

T-n-T Hide-A-Way Rental Logo

view of the river

another view

an anhinga drying its wings

a manatee

frogs lying in the sun

Wukulla Springs State Park

archeological info

female anhinga

a cormorant

an alligator

more turtles

unknown bird

a great blue heron

a tri-colored heron

yellow crowned night heron

Day 54 - April 28, 2008

Wakulla Springs to Perry, FL 32348 - 52 miles

info (back to beginning of section 7) weather

When you look at the elevation profile below and notice that the scale only goes to 80 feet, you will realize that today's route was flat in spite of the wild ups and downs on the chart. But into every life a little rain must fall, and we had our second day of rain today. It was misting when we loaded luggage but had quit by the time we left. The rain held off until about mile 23 then it rained off and on for the rest of the ride--sometimes very hard. We were on US 90 for all but the last 1.6 miles, and it had a good shoulder. However, there was a lot of truck traffic and when they passed they sprayed me with water. We are staying at the Hampton Inn tonight; and when I checked in, they gave me a towel to wipe off with and got an old towel that I could wipe my bike off with. I hosed my bike off and wiped it dry with the towel then since the sun was now shining I walked the bike around to the trailer and cleaned the chain. I'm glad I didn't clean my bike on the rest day like I usually do.

From 5:30 to 8:30 Hampton Inn had free refreshments--chocolate chip and macadamia nut cookies, fresh strawberries, and fresh strawberries dipped in white and regular chocolate. They also served red and white wine, beer, and Old Bailey's. They also have coffee and tea 24 hours a day and will give you a bottle of cold water at the desk if you ask.

This is the second Hampton Inn we have stayed at and they have both been superb!!!!!!!!!

At dinner we had salmon, broccoli, pasta salad, and a green salad. Mary Kay bought some bicycle pasta and Linda included it in the pasta salad. Dawn made a beautiful design using the bicycle pasta and several other items from our dinner. See picture below.

Wakulla Springs to Perry map

Hampton Inn refreshments

Dawn's design

Day 55 - April 29, 2008

Perry to Alachua, FL 32646 - 83 miles

info (back to beginning of section 7) weather

Last night when Michelle handed out the route sheets for today most of us found out that we would be going to Alachua instead of High Springs. Alachua was listed on the itinerary we were given in San Diego, but the change wasn't mentioned and I don't think anyone noticed the different destination. Michelle explained that the two motels we were scheduled to stay in in High Springs didn't have enough rooms so we would be continuing on 7 more miles to the next city and would be staying in a Days Inn.

Today was a great day! No rain, not too hot, north wind and we were going east and SE, no hills, good roads, beautiful flowers along the roads, and a beautiful spring in a state park!

The Ichetucknee Springs State Park was on our route, and we had the 3rd sag stop in the park. There were no hills at all until we left US 27 after 52 miles to go to the park. I shifted gears for the first time after that point. Florida contains more springs than any other place in the world, and there are 8 springs in this park that together produce over 230 million gallons a day under normal conditions.

Perry to High Springs

Dawn standing beside a sign in a field of flowers beside the road

the Suwanee River

Ichetucknee Springs State Park

info about springs in Florida

Ichetucknee main springs

clear, cool water

Day 56 - April 30, 2008

Alachua to Palatka, FL 32131 - 73 miles

info (back to beginning of section 7) weather

Only one more day to go--I am both happy and sad. Happy to complete the trip and reach my goal--the Atlantic Ocean. But sad that the marvelous journey is over and I will never see most of the 31 women that I traveled with for almost two months again. Today was an anti-climatic day as there was nothing special about it and we are all thinking about tomorrow.

The Best Western we are in is nice, and we are in another Best Western tomorrow night. Remember yesterday I told you that 7 miles was added to our route and we rode to Alachua instead of High Springs. However, today's route was only 2 miles shorter than originally stated so we gained 5 mysterious miles somewhere.

High Springs to Palatka map

field of flowers & moss hanging from trees

close up of a magnolia bloom

bridge over St. John's River in Palatka

view of river from bridge

congratulations cake baked by Michelle

Day 57 - May 1, 2008

Palatka to St. Augustine, FL 32084 - 47 miles

info (back to beginning of section 7) weather

We made it! None of us cycled all of the official 3,119 miles because road conditions prevented us from riding through the pass to Globe, AZ and because the Mississippi ferry to St. Francisville was closed and we had to be driven to Baton Rouge to find a bridge. However, we all rode extra miles on our rest days and sometimes on riding days. I rode 2,709 of the official route miles and 90 extra miles.

Today was marvelous. We rode approximately 40 miles from our motel to a St. Augustine fire station and from there six police cars led us to the beach. We were told to get to the fire station by 10:30 so I left early as I was afraid I might get a flat tire. I had no problems and was the 4th person to arrive at the station--I got there at 10 o'clock. We lined up in pairs behind one of the police cars. Jeanne and I went first because Michelle wanted the recumbents first, then the 2 Bike Fridays were next, then the rest followed roughly by age--oldest first. Three of the police cars went ahead and blocked the intersections as we approached and the SUV we were following went about 11-13 mph. The only time we had to stop was on the Bridge of Lions because the drawbridge was up. The police led us all the way to the beach. Then we walked or carried our bikes through the sand to the ocean so we could dip our front tire in the Atlantic. Some lifted their bicycle over their head, and Mary Kay ran into the water with her bike clothes on. After all the pictures were taken we returned to a small shelter and had a picnic catered by a restaurant on the beach. Family and friends could attend the picnic for $5 each and quite a few did.

After the picnic some went to the Island Bicycle Shop and some went to the Sprockets Bicycle Shop to arrange to have their bike boxed and shipped home. But there was a problem--neither shop had any boxes. People who had their own boxes were told by Island it would be 6 weeks before they would get their bikes as they were a small shop and their own customers came first and Sprockets said no arrangements had been made with them. So people who have their own boxes are boxing their own bikes and I think Michelle is going to take the other bikes to a bike shop in Jacksonville. One way or another it will all be worked out. All I did was call Avis to arrange to be picked up at the Best Western tomorrow morning and remind them that I need an SUV that has seats that will fold down. The owner is going to pick me up on his way in to work tomorrow morning at about 7:40.

Palatka to St. Augustine map

me in front of the fire station sign

Ann and I in front of one of the St. Augustine police cars

the line up of the riders

me at the beach

Clark raising her bike over her head

the drawbridge that we rode across

Day 58 - May 2, 2008

Shuttle to Jacksonville

info (back to beginning of section 7) weather

Michelle drove those who were flying out of Jacksonville to the airport leaving at 9:30 on Friday, May 2. However, I rented an Avis SUV at the St. Augustine airport and left at 9 o'clock for home. I drove straight through and about 1,000 miles later I was home and sleeping in my own bed. I didn't have any problems and I didn't have to box my bike up or wait for it to arrive. I listen to books on tape as I drive to keep me alert and use a Garmin Nuvi GPS to keep me on track.

Introduction

Section 1

I rode 363.4 miles

March 6 - March 14

San Diego to Phoenix, AZ

Section 2

I rode 416.67 miles

March 15 - March 23

Phoenix to El Paso, TX

Section 3

I rode 362.7 miles

March 24 - March 30