Pensacola FL

 No rain, nice night, no critter reports. Leisurely breakfast as Chuck and Matt made scrambled eggs, pancakes, and sausage. No hurry to do 16 miles. Another lovely morning, not hot, flat, mostly shouldered roads, not even that much traffic considering we're riding into a city. To the First United Methodist Church, which lets cycling groups stay inside, right downtown, with multiple bike shops and brew pubs nearby. I take bike around corner to check for chain stretch (still ok) and to buy a replacement shifter cable to replenish Chuck's stock. The church is also the town hub for homeless services, offering meals, etc. Right at home. They even let us use their laundry, for small donation. "Champing" (church camping) once again. Might have showers this afternoon and overnight, so nice to be inside. Then clear weather for a week. All is good.

Walked around town seeking beer and food. Found beer at least. Midnight (ok, 8:30, but midnight for us) raid with Matt and Monte of trailer for snacks.


Busy with Veterans day folks clutching little flags, cigar bar, several craft breweries.





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

St Augustine finale

Image
  Cloudy and a little windy but a fine day to hit the beach. Just 32 miles, fortunately much of it on a bike path, before the last stretch of highway and then a few hectic city miles. Group of noisy conservative demonstrators at the last bridge blessed us as we rode past trying to ignore their signs. To the beach, a front end dip, some champagne and some family greetings. No one went swimming, surf was definitely up. Today definitely reinforced my convictions: I really enjoy bike paths and am really, really, really tired of busy highways and crappy roads with no shoulders. Don't get me started on RV parks. Glad this trip is finished. The hotel hot tub awaits. Unfortunately it's broken. And this area is Florida's potato capital, according to this barn sign. Some quick notes on cyclo-touring after 70. 1. Aches and pains: inevitable and widespread. Most concerning are knees and neck, which seem to be both "normal" wear and tear but increasingly proportionate to stres...
Read more

SGI Christian Retreat Center, St. George Island

Image
A beautiful short day, so a late leisurely start at the Airbnb since only going 42 miles and it was just 45 degrees at 9am. Chuck made pancakes and eggs again, and there were leftovers from last night's feast plus the usual breakfast spread. We're marching on our stomachs for sure lately, this last week of the trek. Leave a bit after 10:30. After Port St Joe comes Florida's "forgotten coast" -- undeveloped stretch for 30 miles or so until Apalachicola, nice small historic town where Chuck and I stop for coffee/hot chocolate and lunch two hours later, sitting in the bright sunshine outside cafe. Then cross two long bridges and causeways over to St George Island (thus the "SGI") where we are staying at this Baptist church retreat. Nice little beach and lawn. Option is to tent outside with access to two cabins for the bathrooms, or individually pay an extra $15 to actually sleep in bunk inside. No seeums and another cold, windy and dewey night make a convin...
Read more

Payne's Prairie Preserve State Park, Micanopy FL

Image
 Not sure if swamp qualifies as prairie, but that's what we rode through to get here. We are south and east of Gainesville, which we had to traverse. Some bike paths, but mostly narrow lane or narrower shoulder. Not even that many bike paths around the University, busy streets and lots of pedestrians. 58 miles no wind, just overcast and muggy, and some nice slightly rolling terrain for a change. Campsite is lush and buggy, with a chance of rain tonight. This is our last outside night, motel tomorrow to look forward to. Then short Saturday ride into St. Augustine and dip front wheel into Atlantic and done. I was hoping for beach weather for my  decompression day (a do nothing Sunday to start the readjustment process, of being off bike and no particular place to go). Weather forecast not cooperating. Trusting that my return flight Monday night isn't impacted by potential storm. Intense mosquito activity made eating dinner a pain. And an armadillo strolled underfoot, fearless and...
Read more