Back Home

My sister brought me home Saturday. It was certainly nice to be back. I had a surprise birthday/welcome back dinner with a nifty cake. I managed to unpack my suitcase and this morning I put on my lab jacket and walked to work. I was anxious to get to work, but I had this need to be outside. For two months I have been outside all day long, and that is hard for me to give up.

Everyone at work was happy to see me. The bicycle trip seems sweeter already. Tonight I seem overwhelmingly tired. I have to wait for the weekend to see my new grandbaby and the rest of my grandchildren. I am going to bring my “jumpy house” and sleep in a tent with the bigger grandkids.

I’ll keep this blog site going for a while until I make my re-entry into my world of 50 hour work weeks plus a second job.

Goin' Home

Sayin’ goodbyes were hard again. Only six of us needed a lift to the airport. What we didn’t know was the forest fires and the morning fog closed the airport for three hours. Why did we hurry to get there? There were bicycles in the airport, but they belonged to the police. The weather changed my flying schedule and rearranged my getting home - I haven’t made it there yet. The land shuttle didn’t run that late at night to pick me up from St. Louis. I only had three flights to get to St. Louis last night. My dear sister and brother-in-law volunteered to pick me up and take me home tomorrow.

My good news is that I found my picture of Doug and Marg from the beach.

Over, Done. Now what?

47 miles today to St. Augustine, Florida, 3,115 miles down. We had wonderful fresh papaya at our sag stop — they don’t come that fresh in Missouri. We pedaled by the St. John’s River for a good part of the morning. We got to the fire station at 11:00 and took a bunch of photos. We took them by age groups: 70’s, 60’s (of which I am now a member) 50’s and our sag drivers. Then we had a police escort the last 6mi of the way to the Anastasia Beach were we were meet by a crowd of family and friends. It was almost more than I could take in.

The most serendipitous experience happened. My parents dear friends, who live part-time in southern Florida and drive home to Ontario, started driving north yesterday and decided to camp at Anastasia Park last night. This morning they walked to the beach and heard there were female bike riders from San Diego coming at lunch. They knew I could be one of them and stayed to see. I hadn’t seen them in five years. I was shocked and still am. It was so good to see them. My regret - I didn’t take their picture. So Doug and Marg thanks so much for the ride to the hotel!

My 60th Birthday

73 miles today - almost there.

Gee, my birthday and the day before the end of the trip. I suppose it is time to say something profound.

I went to London a few years ago and took a side trip to Greenwich. The Royal Observatory, home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian line, is one of the most important historic scientific sites in the world. It was founded by Charles II in 1675 and is, by international decree, the official starting point for each new day, year and millennium (at the stroke of midnight GMT as measured from the Prime Meridian). I had my picture made near it. This time line is just that — a marking — a line.

I don’t feel any older than yesterday. There are two riders here who are 70, and my goal has been to keep up with them. Watching them on this trip has eased my mind about getting “older.” Mostly, I feel grateful that I was able to physically participate in the ride.

I have been sung to many times today. I got to wear one of the birthday socks, because I share the day with Barb who also has turned 60 today. I have had birthday sprinkles, and someone bought me lunch. Then there was a birthday cake and a shared birthday. Last night I stood next to Elvis — what else can a girl ask for??

High Springs, FL

76 miles today, 2,695 miles down. It is getting real close to bein’ done. Two more days. We are so strong now we can plan to go swimming in the middle of a 76 mile day. We got here soon enough to have an ice cream soda at Floyd’s Diner - with Elvis Presley in the lobby.

I had a little trouble with all the truck traffic this morning - actually I have traffic jitters frequently. The sag is always accommodating to “lift” me through the trouble spots. There was a bike path for part of the way, that is always nice.

We saw wild phlox today. We haven’t seen wild flowers in a while. The fresh water spring was beautiful and perfect to cool us down.

Maybe I took a picture of the last flat tire today; it is a nice thought. Some riders have had as many as 10 flats, and some have had none. I’m not sayin’ because I don’t want to jinx myself!

Sunday, April 29

Our last rest day. We seem to be grouping up and talking about returning to our lives. It actually was a quiet day. There is a church next door - how convenient since today was Sunday. It was a spirit filled church, a little different for this traditionalist, but in the spirit of being on an adventure it was an eye opener.

No pictures, just visiting, eating, and reading. I have actually read four books: Ordinary Heroes (very good), The Measure of a Man (disappointing), Women of the Silk (excellent) and now, The Memory Keeper’s Daughter (awesome). Soon I will be going back to reading Wound journals - nice and informative - and there is a stack of them waiting for me.

Quincy/Wakulla, FL

54 miles today, 2,819 down so far. Wakulla Springs is one of the world’s deepest fresh water springs: 130 feet deep. When conditions are right you can see to the bottom. Today of course wasn’t the day, so the glass bottom boat didn’t run.

Old Tarzan movies were filmed here - I didn’t see him. I did take a 3 mile boat ride and finally saw the alligators. Of course they were always on the left side of the boat whichever way the boat was headed. The springs were 10 miles out of the way — anymore “that ain’t a big deal.” I did get a picture through the crowd of an Anhinga drying himself on a log. Anhingas are diving birds and have to “dry out” so their feathers don’t get waterlogged.

An update on the rider in the hospital. Three breaks in her pelvis, a crushed tail bone, and pain management remains an issue. She lives in North Carolina and is hospitalized in Florida. It sounds like she will remain here for a while longer.

The cheerleaders were tonight’s supper entertainment; the riders seem to compose songs while riding and share them at supper.