Savannah and The Landings

Pics from bottom
1. The river front at Savannah with its remarkable early settler history.
2. Out of the 24 downtown squares designed and built by Ogelthorpe, 21 or so remain. This is one of them and a cool spot for lunch on a hot and humid day.
3. We biked the 13 or so miles from downtown to Alastair & Kristin's house at The Landings. This was a good ` catching up ` lunch close to A's office the next day.
4. The view from A & K' s house looking south and east to the Atlantic.
5. Drinking to Barbara's health on that `special event day` soon after arrival.
6. A & K with Rutherfurd and Annabel after a dinner out on our 2nd and last evening.
7.Making an early office visit to Alastair before setting off for Uhaul pick up and drive to Spartanburg , SC.

Callaghan to Savannah

A pity that of the 3 days cycling Martha and Dick had with us , two of them were the heaviest traffic days we had on the whole trip.

The highlight of the 52 mile trip to Folkston was the 4 mile detour into the Okefenokee State Park. We took the 90 minute boat trip right into the heart of the swamp . Fascinating. Saw dozens of sleepy alligators v close to the boat. An easy ride on to Folkston and a resonable motel.

Next day was always going to be long one. Fortunately wind in our favour for most part and we reveled in the dearth of traffic. A quite delightful day's cycling and plenty opp to ride in pairs and chat. Still a long 86 miles though with only the barest camping facilities at the end of it. Campsite had closed but the proprietor generously allowed us to set up our tents at no charge. The shower facilities were rough to put it mildly , but it was good of him to heat the water for us at all and we hugely appreciated it.

We left v early next morning and parted company with Martha and Dick after a disappointing breakfast in Odum M and D heading straight for Savannah and M and I continuing on the AC route via Reidsville and Statesboro where we found superb campsites in both. Two quite delightful days' cycling with wonderfully quiet roads and mostly favourable winds ( except where I overshot a crucial route change and we had a 2 plus mile retrace back into stiff wind - understandable huff from M ).

Today , yet another near perfect day' s riding , a lot cooler and wind nearly at our backs. Got to Port Wentworth - 13 miles from downtown Savannah in mid afternoon. Tomorrow 25 odd miles to my nephew Alastair Cairns and his wife Kristin and their two kids via tour of the historic downtown Savannah in am.

Both of us pleased to have made it . 1300 miles in 24 days including 2 rest days - one with Stu and Yiemei and one in St Augustine. We'd have liked more but time didn't permit.

M still riding high on comment from Scot in the bike shop in Gainesville when looking at her loaded bike " some men would kill to have a wife who carries that much ". So say I !

Pics from bottom and see also pics for previous blogentries now added

1.Martha and Dick join us at Little Talbot Island State Park. ( should be in previous blog - Jacksonville Beach to Callaghan )
2. A couple of bee keepers who gave us much needed energy between Callaghan and Folkston.
3. Martha giving us a botany lesson.
4. The object of her, and our attention - sarahceena ( sp ? ).
5. Our campsite at the beautiful Gordonia State Park , Reidsville.
6. Our tent and equipment dwarfed by our RV neighbour.
7 & 8. Our arrival in downtown Savannah and a much needed breakfast at the historic antebellum railway station.

Jacksonville Beach to Callaghan

Weaved our way through the residential side streets of Atlantic Beach to the ferry which took us back across St John's River. Had a delicious and substantial dinner at fresh fish restauraunt at the other side and had a 5 mile ride along coast line to Little Talbot Island State Park in the dusk. Set up camp amid ferocious mosquitos .

Our Atlanta friends Martha and Dick ( they were passengers on my bus a year ago and I discovered they had cycle toured in NW Scotland a few years ago in splendid weather - M didn't believe it ! - and I wanted to hear more thus starting a much valued friendship) joined us at the campsite this morning and wiil be with us for 3 days and nights.

Tonight we got safely to a motel in Callaghan before heavens opened - v satisfying. Shortish day ( 40 miles ) again tomorror to Folkston before crossing the state line to GA with v long day to campsite near Odum. Hoping for better wind and less traffic than we had today. Road construction added to the difficulties. All in good spirits though and about to eat more fresh seafood .

pics

1 Drawbridge crossing the river from Anastasia state park to St A on our way north.
2 Ferry crossing over to Little Talbot Is on way to capmpsite where we met up with Martha and Dick.

Palatka to Jacksonville via St Augustine

We had a shortish day from Palatka to St Augustine and checked in to the campsite at the state park at Anastasia for 2 days. Met Ruth and Mary Jo there who had just completed San Diego to St A and had had a celebratory swim in the Atlantic ocean.

Had a brilliant day yesterday, Sunday, in the historic and quaint town of St. Augustine. Enjoyed the alligator farm ( a zoological park really and no ` farming` as such - it's called the Alligator Farm for historical reasons it being one of the oldest tourist attractions in Florida) , especially observing the wild birds that fly into the farm and nest there, under the gaping jaws of the alligators!

Today, had a most helpful south wind blowing us up to Jacksonville beach and now about to cross ferry to Little Talbot Island State Park. We are meeting Dick and Martha Stobbs there, who will join us for the next few days on our way to Savannah.

1.Ruth and mary Jo having been met by their husbands and dipped their front bike tires in the Atlantic.
2 A beach wedding that reminded of us Bateau Bay, but not in the same league !
3 St Augustine back street - note - no luggage - bliss.
4 Ditto - some beuatiful old buildings in St A
5 Aligator Park close to Anastasia State Park where we camped 2 nights.

Greenville to Palatka

Now within 40 miles of St Augustine and the Atlantic Ocean. Did 60 miles on we'd
one of the best campsites we've ever stayed in near White Springs. Immaculately clean and everything we required from Wi-fi to laundryd V long day on Thursday to Gainesville - 73 miles and a motel near Univ of Florida. 57 miles today to Palatka on St John's River. Spoiling ourselves with another motel, but no campsites. Will have rest day in St A seeing the historic town and spending 2 nights at Anastasia State Park right on Ocean we hope.

1st blog entry from ITouch and got bit carried away. Can't do pics and can' t even download from my camera yet. Pathetic. Kids - we need you!

Pics added
1 Down , down by the Suwannee .......
2 picnic lunch at state park near same spot.
3 Meeting Ruth and Mary Jo on their unsupported trans am trip from San Diego.
4 the annual ` Mud Race ` starting besided the bridge over the St John's river at Palatka.

Destin , FL to Greenville, FL

First an apology to Tina and Chris at Perkinston. The photos I had hoped to attach with last entry did not get printed. I'll do so when next downloading pics.

Now in Greenville , FL having completed 5 good biking days since leaving Stu and Yie Mae in Destin.

The 1st day was tough after getting a tail wind 30 odd miles up to join the AC route at Mossy Head on SR90. Have been on SR90 more than we would have wished and when moderately heavy traffic is combined with a head ( or neutral ) wind for long stretches at a time , fatigue kicks in ! Got to Ponce De Leon ( Kellys please note ) where we clocked in to the only motel at $29 for a room. Rained during night and following morning departure delayed till after 8. As storm warnings forecast ( same storms that produced tornadoes that wiped out towns in Louisiana and Mississippi ) we were keen though to get going. Minor disagreement on strategy to avoid getting wet ! Amicably resolved .

63 miles later we got to Mariana, FL , checked in to motel & splashed out at $40 for room and had time to get guided tour into Florida State Park Caverns 3 miles away . 40 million years of cave evolution - remarkable. Superb Mexican meal and into motel room before the heavens opened . Quite a storm .

Woke up to clear blue skies and with a short day only to Chatahoochee ( 35 miles ) we were leisurely - spoke to kids on Skype and breakfast at Waffle House . At $6 for a full works sausage and eggs breakfast including trademark blueberry waffles, no complaints on bang for buck . Can prices go lower ? Can't help still but compare with similar fare in any eating establishment in UK . Waffle House not everyone's cup of tea but it fitted the bill that morning and tasted pretty good to me.

Lovely day biking with quiet roads, sun and perfect temp. Got to Lake Seminole COE ( Corps of Engineers ) campground just out of Chattahoochee. Campsite right on lake. Sunday night though and only place to eat was Hardees mile and half away . No alternative - grinned and beared and all that. We 've been lucky by and large and have mostly managed to avoid to date.

V early start next morning and covered the 52 miles to Tallahassee by mid afternoon. Got great assistance from Scot Benton ( the Bike House )with my bike gears and 2 of his mates guided us to the the bike trail ( for early following morning departure ) and got us to another cheapie motel nearby . Adequate , but after returning from an `all you can eat` pizza , salad and desert place ( $6 each ! ) , we were mildly alarmed that fron desk asked a security guy to accompany us to our room .

Another early start today and now in Greenville , FL - 63 miles on . A B & B tonight as no campsites close . V comfortable though .

Will attach pics at next public library I hope.

Pics added belatedly
1 & 2. M putting up clothes line after pitching tent on a very hot evening at a COE Lake Seminole campsite and sunset at same spot.
3. Scot at Bike Shop , Tallahassee who was so good to us.
4 Leaving Tallassee on bike trail.
5 Coffee stop at Ponticello , FL at Starducks - M showing a leg with `Mrs Starduck `. A hugely enjoyable interludeon a hard morning's riding into a stiff east wind.
6 & 7. Grace Manor a real refuge from rain for us at Greenville , FL and the v.hospitable Brenda, owner of this lovely B & B .

St Francisville, LS to Destin , FL

A memorable first week covering over 36o miles at an average speed of around 10.5 mph - much of it against an east wind. 4 nights in our tent at combination of state parks and private RV sites . All of them more than adequate. One v comfortable night on the floor of Tina & Chris Roberts house at Silver Run Lake outside Perkinston, MS. We were looking for a marked campsite there and met Tina & Chris ( see top pic above ) by chance. They told us it had ceased to be a campsite many years ago and offered ( nay insisted ) that we stay in their house half a mile away. Southern hospitality personified . The house they live in is next door and we had this one to ourselves . They also gave us a wonderful barbecue dinner with neighbours.

Other two nights at Campsites at Vancleave,MS, Dauphin Is, AL and Big lagoon State Park , Gulf beach , FL

Food stops often a major issue , but we were lucky I think. M's home made granola ( started off with 11 pounds of it in front panniers - fast disappearing ) helps us greatly with first 20 or so miles of the day especially when we usually hope to be cycling by 7 am !Good fish restauraunts all along the way. As pic shows, carbo loading also an essential and hugely enjoyable part of the process.

Now with Stu and Yie Mei ( our friends from Colorado from whom we bought 270 Meadow Ranch ) and who live half year here in Destin , FL - just south of Pensacola. The 20 odd mile stretch along Pensacola beach with tail wind was epic - stopping for a picnic lunch on beach on the way. The pic before shows us crossing over to P Beach.

The 4th and 5th pic from bottom show the approach to Dauphin Is , AL from the west ( bridge just visible in distance ) and the departure by ferry from east end of the island over to Fort Morgan, Orange Beach , Pensacola , etc. Fort Gaines at eastern end of island and where we camped was arguably where the Civil war was decided with the capture of the Confederacy Fleet - " damn the torpedoes - full steam ahead "

Top pic shows Tina ( of Chris & Tina who were so hospitable to total strangers at Silver Run Lake outside Perkinston) . 2nd top pic - M and Yie Mei .

On tomorrow ( and back on Adventure Cycling route ) to start crossing of FL Panhandle and to St Augustine FL where we hope to join up with Dick and Martha Stobbs from Atlanta and before heading north to Savannah , GA