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.

Quincy, FL

52 miles today. Some days are just perfect. The temperature, the wind, the road surface, the shoulder, the traffic, the scenery, and the company - get the picture. Today was why I ride my bicycle. We started under a canopy of trees. The humidity was 100% and too many people rushing to work. After they got to work, the sun came out, the humidity dropped and the road was mine. Rolling short hills in the country. Still looking for an alligator, but I did see an anhinga as we ate our peanut butter and jelly at the side of the road.

Marianna, FL

90 miles to Marianna on Highway 90 with a 70% chance of rain with large hail and winds at 15 - 20mph. After the accident yesterday, and this gloomy forecast this morning, a few of us decided to sag. Of course, today there was a decent shoulder all the way, the rain was only an occasional mist, and sometimes the wind was a tail wind. Sometimes you just can’t win. The ride was a tree lined corridor interrupted with little towns and the Chipola River.

After the ride it was remarkable to see these gals cleaning their bikes — is that displaced housework? Do they miss this activity at home? I went shopping, and found the perfect food group: Coca Cola Plus made with vitamins and minerals! Wow, junk food heaven.

Crestview, FL

58 miles today, 2,678 miles down. The accident. About 10 miles outside of Pensacola this morning, a rider was entangled in some yellow construction tape. Somehow the free end of the blowing tape wrapped around her and her bike and she fell on her side and fractured her pelvis in two places. She is in the local hospital. Her husband is on the way to bring her home while she will be non-weight bearing for a while. It was an accident, a freak one at that. She was a very strong rider. We have formed our own community here and have gotten quite close to each other. Two months ago we never knew each other and now - what happens to one affects us all. Tomorrow is a 90 mile day on Highway 90 with a 40% chance of rain. I’m not sure I’m up to that.

We are inland in Florida. We will have to ride our way back to the ocean. There are only seven days left. The pictures are of our morning cue meeting and the view of all the bridges across the street from our motel.

Pensacola, FL

68 miles today, 2,622 miles down. Wow, we are in the last state. We are at the right ocean can we go home yet? We rode a ferry this morning. We saw an oil rig pretty close. We pedaled through Gulf Shores AL. More Katrina damage. Everywhere there is construction. It looks like rental condominiums are our future - the taller the better; it is very difficult to see the ocean.

Rest day on Dauphine Island

What a nice day on the beach. There was lots to see. Migrating birds in the spring and fall stop over here. There are several known birding spots here along with an Audobon preserve. The local alligator kept himself hidden this morning. I did see a rose breasted grosbeak, several green herons, brown pelicans, and a scarlet tanager.

Fort Garnier is at the very end of the island. It was spared from Hurricane Katrina. 600 homes were lost during that storm. Tourism is trying to rebuild here. There is a wonderful estuarium, a science center that focuses on the importance of estuaries to the environment.

Retta-mobile

I'm finishing a book and will work on making my tan even this afternoon. I'm going to call you with a message. "Carol" has a very very broken bike; I let her ride mine yesterday and she rode a little song "Riding along in my Ca--retta, mobile" She said she would sing it for you.--it's funny.

As mentioned, you can click here for this special audio blog.

Dauphine Bay, AL

Over a big windy bridge. We are at the ocean. Can we quit now? We are on a 17 mile barrier island. It was wonderful to walk on the beach. I don’t remember so many tattoos — it must have been a while since I have been on the beach. Little kids feeding the sea gulls — so sweet! I miss my grandkids. I lent my bike today to Carol who wanted to ride worse than me.

Her pedal and crank fell off yesterday — it needs a major fix. Carol wrote a song in praise of the “ca-retta” mobile. She promised she would sing it for the web site.

Pascagoula, MS

70 miles today, 2,438 miles down. Seagulls. We are on the Gulf Coast. I did see a remnant of the famous FEMA blue tarp roofs. It is hard to believe we are near the ocean again. It was windy on that bridge! The pines were constant on the route today.

We all were working on fixing our biker tans this afternoon. I had some Krystal Burgers this afternoon — the south’s version of White Castle — an ole’ St. Louis favorite.

I don’t know why “the squirrel went berserk” in the little county church in Pascagoula — but that song has been in my head all day long!

Wiggins, MS

Another 70 mile day to Wiggins MS — a new state. See the picture map showing the "you are here" spot.

I didn’t know the Mississippi flag was built on the Confederate flag.

The countryside has lots of rolling hills and pines. Here is a picture from the nearby National Forest, a blossoming tulip poplar and the black-eyed peas and collard greens we had for supper to recognize the “deep south” — we certainly are here.

The weather remains wonderful. I thought I would work on “softening” my biker’s tan at the pool this afternoon. A tough job but someone has to do it!

Franklinton, LA

107 miles today, 2,368 miles down. Gee that sounds like a lot — and it was. The countryside has changed again. There are rolling hills and pine trees. We will cross into Mississippi tomorrow. Once again we had great weather the humidity was about 35% and temp was close to 80. Near perfect. My visit with my sister and brother-in-law have gotten so much stronger than the first day when we struggled to complete 35 miles.

Rest day: St. Francisviile

Culture, History, Cajun food, family - does it get any better than this? Plantation tours and the Audubon museum were pretty wonderful. There was actually a cistern on the roof that after you pulled a rope would deliver a shower - and probably a big mess on the floor.

The best Cajun food was found at a gas station! The prison guards and other locals were getting take-out there. So sad my sister is leaving tomorrow - but not before she gives me a lift to get to town.

The time to pedal is finishing. Folks are starting to talk about re-entry into their regular lives.

St. Francesville, LA

52 miles today, and 2,261 miles down. Wow, what a day! Rode over 2 bridges and ferried across the Mississippi river. The ferry guy said we were lucky because tomorrow the ferry will be closed for new construction for a bridge. Now if the ferry is down it is a 60 mile drive to Baton Rouge.

Joy and Bob, my sister and brother-in-law, arrived this afternoon for a visit from home. I had a pit stop at a local cemetery; interesting to see the Confederate graves.

The Spring has turned into summer here, although the temperature remains wonderful for riding.

Simmesport, LA

Beautiful ride. NO traffic – at least after I left town. I had trouble riding: I had to stop too often to take pictures. Bald Cyprus trees, spider lilies, egrets and cattle together. Wonderful temperature with no wind. Considerate drivers. I like this state!

Folks are waiting to use my computer and it is time to go to bed.