I survived the stay at the Ranch (nicknamed the "Roach") Motel and Campground in Hawthorne. The group met up at Diane's for breakfast and then we were off to an 8:00 am start. It was overcast all day today but there were only a few sprinkles. RJ skipped breakfast and headed for Palatka. Dan left the rest of us shortly after we started off from Hawthorne. That left Gary, Adrian, Vicky, Ray and me to ride together. We did so at a very leisurely pace stopping for the first time in Melrose (10 miles). After a short break there we headed to Putnam Hall then on to Florahome (20 miles) where we stopped for a little longer break as we only had 15 miles to go and it was only a little ofter 10:00 am. A bit after Florahome a man in a small red pickup truck parked next to the road asked us if we were riding the Southern Tier. We shouted that we were. He then passed us and again was parked next to the road. This time we stopped to talk. He is an Adventure Cycling Association member and recommended a section of a brand new trail that paralleled FL100. We took his advice. While only a short section, the traffic on FL100 had been very heavy and it was nice to get off the road for a while. The trail brought us back to FL100 where we continued the remaining distance to the Sleep Inn & Suites in Palatka, FL arriving at about noon. Ray had booked each of us their own room. Especially compared to last night, the accommodations are terrific. After doing laundry, Ray, Dan, Gary, RJ and I walked across the street to a Sonny's BBQ restaurant for a late lunch. The group will go to dinner together later.
Tomorrow's ride is it! We should arrive in St. Augustine by early afternoon, do the Atlantic Ocean wheel dip then head for the hostel.
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| L-R: Vicky, Gary, Ray and Adrian riding the unnamed rail-to-trail near Florahome, FL. |
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