What. A. Day.

We left St. Augustine this morning prepared to be rained on.  But it never happened. We had cool, cloudy and breeeeezy weather as we moved 60 miles up the coast.  The ocean was much choppier than we had seen it anywhere else.

We rode along the coast, passed some HUUUUGE houses belonging to the obscenely rich and perhaps famous (or infamous). Wound through neighborhoods of the merely ridiculously rich.  A fascinating conservation/protection area for a totally different type of resident.

But the whales and turtles weren't home, so we left our calling cards and moseyed on down the road.   What all these neighborhoods had in common was that they protected us from crosswinds that were building throughout the morning.  When  we reached the spot  to cross to Amelia Island,   WE GOT TO RIDE THE FERRY!!!!  Not far, but still so fun.

After docking we started to run into stronger headwinds, relieved when we could get off the road and on to sheltered bike paths but pretty much constantly 12-15 mph.  The farther north we moved, the stronger they got. We also encountered a completely different kind of beach, fine white sand and a huge variety of birds.

As we traveled the last 10 miles or so the winds picked up into the 20-25mph range and the riding was slow and painful - no  fun at all.  But........ I'm including a happy picture to end this post.  I finally got a good picture of a manatee mailbox.

On to Georgia tomorrow - and our first border-crossing Margarita party!

Rest day in St. Augustine

And what a difference a couple of years makes!  Last time we were here the place was underwater because it rained 10 inches in about 18 hours.

Today was warm and overcast - not too hot.  I was able to get an appointment for a massage for my shoulders/neck.  Janelle is a woman with magic hands.  Previous massages have left me kind of "meh" but this woman was able to find every sore/tense spot and make it release and relax.  We'll see the ultimate outcome tomorrow if I can keep my shoulder where it belongs instead of up under my left ear.

After that I wandered around, bought the perfect purse,  visited with the lady in the stamp shop, enjoyed a trip  through the antique store , people watched in the old square and took a few pictures.

There's something about the first  rest stop that sort of marks the spot between getting ready to tour and settling into the routine of it.  It's also the point where I finally figure out how I need my bags arranged in order to live out of them for the next six weeks.

I've had great roommates thus far and expect that to continue.  Rotating roommates is one of the best parts of these tours - you get to spend one on one time with some very nice people on the tour and if there are some you don't mesh very well with, you don't have to share with them very often.

Assorted pictures of things I enjoyed looking at.

Yellow fever cemetery
for non-Catholics

Gate to early settlement

some variety of chamomile?

Not always sunny in Florida - minutes
after our latest innundation

 

 

Fort Lauderdale to Jupiter

Lost a post in here somewhere but now we are in Vero Beach.

Won't be riding across any drawbridges while in the "up" position

The tour has been spectacular, my riding not so much. I did 33 miles yesterday and 22 today but today I added in a walk over two big bridges.  Not because I didn't think I could do the climb (I could, probably 6%) but because I wanted to stretch the muscles that were tight (quads) and limber and strengthen the ones I don't use on the bike (glutes, calves, hips, back).  I think it worked pretty well but it was work.  I added in some complexity by alternating walking normally with walking pigeon-toed and walking like a duck.  Probably a good thing there was a barrier between the road and the sidewalk - wouldn't want to cause  too many accidents.  This bridge also featured a two lane bike path.

Florida does have some nice bike-friendly laws/policies.  We've been on bike lanes most of the time and it is a LAW here that drivers observe the 3-foot rule.  That occasionally means that they get in the way of traffic coming the other way, but they stay clear of us.

The weather has been alternating between hot, wet and hot plus wet.  We havn't been rained on too often, but it is constantly threatening.  I am loving the flowers, the blue skies, the new birds and animals.  I watched pelicans fishing today, taking off from the water together and then diving as if they were in a water ballet.  Didn't see them catch anything, but maybe they were waiting for tips and/or applause.  I have not seen a manatee (a good chance tomorrow though) but I have seen three manatee mailboxes.  Yeah I know,  hard concept to grasp, I'll try to post a picture.

My fantastic, supportive friends at home are taking beautiful care of my house and the cats, I wouldn't have been able to do this without them.  Thank you so much, Barb, Roger,  Erin, Chris and especially Kim.  You have no idea how much this means to me.



PORT ORANGE - Saturday, April 25

Have had some computer issues, thus the double post.  The bridge calisthenics seem  to have been helpful.  I managed 45 miles today mostly at 14-16 mph (there may have been a little tailwind).  I was able to keep up with the big girls and that was a nice feeling.


Still no manatee but we did see an Osprey nest up close and a farther away picture of some kind of something on Cape Canaveral.  I would have loved going on that tour but this is as close as we got.  Might have to come back.

Osprey nest

Cape Canaveral

As with the Southern Tier, a great group of women.  This time learning names is easier because we only have a few that haven't been on other tours, so if you are wondering who someone is, someone near you probably knows.  A very strong group of riders, so I will have plenty of role models.

St. Augustine tomorrow and then a rest day.  It will be nice to actually SEE the town, last time we were here, it rained 10" in 18 hours.  I'm keeping the fenders on the bike because I think that is the magic talisman that is keeping the rain off our heads.

Ready to roll.

The tour is now officially underway.  

We've had our orientations, we've had our send off banquet, we've gotten our safety triangles and our compimentary water bottles.  We have gotten to know the guides/chefs we have had a chance to spend time with out 34 new best buddies and we have had solemn discussions regarding weather and traffic.

There are so many women that have been on previous tours together that there have been many happy reunions and the folks that are new to this have lots of support and lots of friendly hands to welcome them and show them the ropes.

However each tour is unique and now what we see is how all the people and circumstances combine to shape this one.  Again I am reminded of something I learned two years ago - there are 34 women here and each is on her own tour.  

We are united in our excitement and our love of cycling but each of us brings something different to the equation and each of us will take something different away.  We each have our own approach to this shared journey and we will each experience it in our own way. The one sure thing is that we will all grow and we will all learn.

Counting down...

Into the last week of preparations and I am finally realizing this trip is actually going to happen.

The pet, house and yard sitters are all engaged and ready to keep things managed while I am gone.  The bike shipped out yesterday and will be waiting for me when I get to Florida.  Conveniently, the bike shop is across the street from the hotel.

After the long , cold and difficult winter, it will be nice to relax in the sunshine and get reacquainted with old friends while looking forward to meeting a bunch of new ones.  I know I am not really prepared for the long days of riding but right now it doesn't really matter.  I will do the best I can, ride at my own pace, enjoy the scenery and the company and do what I need to do to take care of myself.  If that means days in the van or bump outs in the SAG,then that's what I will do. The tour is much more than the riding.

I don't anticipate any problems with cell or wi-fi access this time as we will not be traveling across hundreds of miles of lightly populated desert and mountains.  I am hoping to include pictures in these posts but I still haven't figured out the smoothest way to do that.

Back to my lists, there are still a few things to check off.

Lists, lists and more lists

NOW the excitement is starting to build - I can tell by all the lists I'm making.  Lists of people to call, lists of things to pack, lists of things to buy, lists for cat sitters, lists for stuff that happens when I'm gone, lists of lists I still need to make.

My lists give shape to what still needs to be done and as I cross them off, they provide me with at least the illusion that I have done all I need to do for the trip.  The getting ready is more complex this time because there will be no one here to make sure things get done while I'm gone -- and the thought is always in my mind that there will be no one but the cats to come home to.

Two years ago, the leaving was harder but the coming home was very sweet. This time the leaving is easy but the coming home will be rather sad.  I don't think realizing that ahead of time is going to make it any easier.  I miss my biggest fan and my staunchest supporter.

It's amazing to think that 30 women from all over the map and from all walks of life are now doing exactly what I am doing - getting ready for another trip of a lifetime.  The Southern Tier enriched my life beyond belief and I can't imagine that this tour will be any different. 

Because, epic ride aside, what makes the tour is the people on it and their stories - can't wait to hear them.

Starting over

It's been a long time since I've posted here, so it really is a new beginning.  Not just a restart on the blog, but also a restart on my life.

My husband of almost 47 years passed away not long ago and I must set about creating a new reality for myself.  It begins, of course, being based in everything I've experienced in the past but now I face a future that doesn't include my partner.

It does include the friends and family that are such a vital part of my existence. It includes the interests and hobbies that engage me and stretch my mind and body. And it most certainly will be rich with new experiences and new friends even as I grieve what I have lost.

The beginning has its roots in the past as I prepare for another big cycling adventure. The Atlantic Coast tour begins in little more than a month.  I don't know that I'm exactly ready for it, but I want to do it and I need to do it.  I will find myself in the company of some cherished friends that I met on the Southern Tier tour two years ago along with twenty new riding buddies that I can't wait to meet. As with the last tour, I expect that there will be many new experiences, some growth and probably some comfort found in unexpected places.

Just knowing what to expect in terms of logistics and patterns has reduced much of the anxiety and that certainly makes the preparations less stressful. I'm pretty sure I know what to pack and how to pack it. I am much more knowledgeable about my bike, bike handling, cue sheets, maps and even the more esoteric uses of a smart phone (excellent for locating the nearest Dairy Queen) - though I haven't been able to find an app that will carry my bike up the stairs.

Spring is finally here and tomorrow I will be back on my bike for the first time in many weeks.  

Forward, always forward.