Thanks!

May 4, 2014
I'm writing this back home in Ft Lauderdale two months to the day from when I flew to San Diego.

First and foremost:
I'd like to thank my wonderful family for their amazing support and encouragement before and during my trip. Unfortunately, since my return, my celebrity status has strangely and mysteriously diminished and I'm back to taking out the trash and washing dishes....  I guess that's ok. 52 DAYS is lots better than 15 MINUTES of fame...

Also, thanks to all of you who have read my blog and waited patiently for the occasional and usually late updates. To show my appreciation (and teach certain internet addicts I know a lesson) , I have compiled some really boring statistics for you!

BORING TRIP STATS
52  days total
45  riding days
7    rest days in Tucson AZ, Columbus NM, Marathon TX, Concan TX, Richards TX, Dauphin Island AL, High Springs FL.

OFFICIAL MILEAGE: (you may select only one of the following)
A. 2896.1   Organizer's "Official" Mileage totaled from the occasionally less than perfect Cue Sheets or
B. 2981.2   Organizer's "Official" Mileage by State total or
C. 2940.4   Douglas Peterson's QOGIM*
*Quazi-Official Guaranteed Inaccurate Mileage Defined (today only) as: one day lost to illness combined with my "actual" mileage that is calculated from a "Dead on Day 36" expensive Garmin Edge 800 cycling GPS and a, uh, not so expensive Wal-Mart cycling computer plus all the miles of riding around (like to various Wal-Marts)  that weren't on the "official" route = "Your mileage may vary"

Days     State          Mileage
4         California         188 miles
9          Arizona           490.1 miles
3      New Mexico        173.6 miles
19        Texas            1059.8 miles
5       Louisiana           281.9 miles
2      Mississippi          204.3 miles
2       Alabama             78.8 miles
8        Florida             504.7 miles

CLIMBING:
over the 3,000 miles from our start in San Diego we climbed a total of 109,995 feet.... (and since we made it to the water's edge in St Augustine Beach, the scientist in me is reasonably sure that we also probably descended 109,995 feet...)

Coldest day:
Day 38 - 33° F,  April 15th in Clinton, LA
Hottest day:
Day 51 - 88° F, April 27 in Palatka, FL

My Longest day:
Day 21- 101.6 miles - Rodeo NM to Columbus, NM
My Hardest day:
Day 23 - 81.5 miles - Sanderson, TX to Comstock, TX with 20 mph, increasing to 40 mph headwinds where only 11 riders finished ;-(

my advice to you all is to crank up some Queen and
GET ON YOUR BIKES AND RIDE!!!

Our Last Day

Monday, April 28th, 2014
Day 52
The last day's ride was a very short 43 mile run from Palatka to St Augustine. While trying to stay out of the traffic on FL 207 we rode through some lush farm country and past the beautiful old St. Ambrose Catholic Church. Since everyone rides at their own pace, we had a rendezvous set up for 1:30 on A1A over in St Augustine Beach so since I arrived about ten, I wandered around the old part of St Augustine remembering all the 4th grade Florida History trips we took here with the kids and Victoria's and my recent trip here with Maggie when she was a Senior at UF.

While sightseeing and walking around old town I found myself answering questions from total strangers who had read my jersey that says:

Coast 2 Coast

2014

San Diego to St Augustine

I guess they saw me in St Augustine walking around with that jersey on and a pretty dirty bike so were wondering if I had actually done what the jersey implied. It was interesting to see their reaction to telling them, yes, I had just ridden almost three thousand miles from California on the bicycle.... ;-)
Heck, I even got some compliments on my legs!

I was still reminiscing about the kids' field trips in this great little town when Victoria arrived from Ft Lauderdale and called so we met up at a coffee shop till it was time to ride to the beach en mass..

I left at 1 and rode to the rendezvous while V drove to the hotel to take pics of our arrival and the classic, end of the ride, touring cyclist's "wheel dipping ceremony" of putting the front wheel into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Not only was trying to get everyone organized for the photos like herding cats but it also it took forever to make all the necessary introductions! After 52 days with the group, I wanted Victoria to understand who the people were, especially the people I spent most of my time with.
The guys I rode with most (here with their real names for a change) were Roland Provost, "RO" Robert Loving, and "PW" Pete Wolter.  This was RO's third time doing this exact trip and he and Roland did it together in 2011. These guys were a great source of laughter, information, and help to me on the ride. I also spent a lot of time going very fast and laughing a ton with Scott Bridge (our token Canadian resident/Aussie), "Montana" Mike Owen, and "Chicago" Mike McCabe. Truly great guys all.

We finally got to our room and I got cleaned up for the banquet/dinner across the street at the Sunset Grille. We had a nice seafood dinner sitting with Roland, RO and PW then headed to the pool area for a final gathering and usual group foolishness.

Tuesday morning will be a zoo. Most folks are leaving by air and need to have their bikes boxed and shipped before they leave. Since Victoria drove up in our Highlander with my Thule 4 bike rack on it,  I have volunteered my services for any bike transport needed.  Assuming, of course, I can remember how to drive! ;-) Its been two months since I have driven a car!! Heck, I've only ridden in cars twice in two months since I left San Diego!
Since V has a week off, we will stay here on the beach for a few days then head home to the usual civilized chaos and confusion...
I think I like it better on the bike.....

St Ambrose Catholic Church

hahahahahahaha... been here a few times

Together again after two months! 

headed over the Bridge of Lions to the beach
ALMOST DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

arriving at the beach

my other, far prettier, support crew

L-R Mike McCabe, Scott Bridge, Mike Owen and me

PW, me and Hans

me, Mike Owen and Scott Bridge

Everybody!

L-R  RO, Roland, me and PW
My all-time, anywhere, favorite ride group!

all cleaned up and ready to party...  well, ready for dinner at least

After everybody left

Saying goodbye at the Bridge of Lions

Gainesville

Day 51
Today was a long ride of 85 miles from High Springs to Palatka. Our route took us through Gainesville so in memory of our beloved Cita, Blake met me out on the Gainesville-Hawthorn Trail with three dozen pink roses .
It was a hard day for both of us and I am so glad Blake was there and we were together. I don't think I could have done it without him. I love you son.

We love you and miss you Cita

Blake comes to visit!!!!

Day 50
With only two days to go on the ride I have my second visit, Blake drove up from Gainesville during exam week at UF to spend time with his dad!
We decided, a bit late, to rent a canoe and take a short seven-mile paddle on the Santa Fe River. I had a great time. We hadn't paddled together since our trip on the Peace River many years ago. We laughed a lot and saw a gator (how appropriate, huh?) and approximately ten gazillion turtles.
After the river jaunt, we headed to the Great Outdoor Restaurant in High Springs for a wonderful late lunch. This is an area I'd happily return to.  Blake dropped me at the park and headed back to school. I'll see him tomorrow when I ride through Gainesville.

RO, Roland, Blake and PW

Tuna and Conch Fritters!!!

More North Florida

Day 49
Today took us on a lengthy 77-mile ride to High Springs from Madison. We crossed the Suwanee River and ended at the O'Leno State Park just north of High Springs. We're staying in "rustic" Cabins.. (HINT: no AC, ripped screens, bugs, and lots of good old Florida HEAT!). We have a rest day tomorrow, our last, which should be nice. and Blake is coming for a visit! Yahoo!
We have FIREFLIES!!!! Haven't seen them in ages! Cool!

The Suwanee River (in serious overcast)

heading into O'Leno State Park

Rustic Cabin

my suite

Day 48
Our ride from Tallahassee to Madison was only 48 miles but took us through some interesting towns like Monticello and Greenville. The courthouse in Monticello looked much like some of the turn of the century ones in Texas and Greenville was the childhood home of Ray Charles. While in town at our SAG stop we met a woman who had been friends with the famous musician. She came to Madison later that evening to entertain us with stories about both Ray Charles and herself.
We stayed at the North Florida Community College in the gym.. The school is a very nice campus with excellent facilities. The town of Madison caters to cyclists with long bike routes all around the county on little-traveled roads and many, many historic homes to see. Our route didn't take us along any of the 103 miles of surrounding roads so I'm planning to come back to ride here soon.

Courthouse in Monticello

another gym night...

Cities + Cycling = yech.....

Day 47
75.0 miles from Marianna to Tallahassee....
Today started as a nice ride with a lot of none too easy hills (who says Florida is flat???), crossing some rivers and passing through small towns and then deteriorated to a tedious and scary slog thru heavy urban traffic from the far northwest side of a busy Tallahassee to a Best Western on the far eastern edge.
Nothing to see here... Move along...
Tomorrow we will be very glad to be back on small country roads headed to Madison where we will stay at community college facilities.

an old bridge in the flood waters

Me and my friend The Weather Channel!

Best weather of the entire trip!

Day 46 was a wonderful day all around!
It was a 68.5 mile run from DeFuniak Springs to Marianna in the best weather a cyclist could ask for: 58deg to start and warmed only to about 70.
Our first order of business was to take a leisurely swing through DeFuniak Springs and I am very glad we did. First was a stop at the oldest Library in Florida, the Walton-DeFuniak Library, established in 1886. It's still there on the shore of the beautiful lake in town and while small it is an amazingly restful place. I went in to take some pics and found that the library offered something for everyone including a collection or antique swords, spears, lances, crossbows, muskets, and other weapons on most of the walls above the books. The view of the lake from the reading area is amazing and there is a "reading garden" next to the building. The HUGE Southern Oak in front was planted in front of the library over 100 years ago and they even have a picture of the planting of the tiny sapling way back when. My lovely daughter Margueritte would love this place!
Around the lake are some magnificent old homes.
DeFuniak Springs is a very beautiful place!

On the ride we had a slight tailwind, maybe 5 mph +-/-. Great roads with smooth shoulders and very little traffic. We FLEW to Marianna!
I had a great ride, hitting 30 to 37mph on the descents and keeping close to 20 for the day even on the slight climbs but even so, I was shocked when I found that I was the first guy in camp. I wasn't paying attention to who I was passing or who was stopped at the SAG stops. Fun, fun fun day!!!!!
On a sad note, the flooding we saw further west is still quite evident here in north Florida. As you can see from the pics below some roads just disappear under the fast-moving flood waters near the rivers and our campground was partially submerged near the banks and the tent area was very soggy, necessitating a "doormat"/walkway to some tents (including mine) made form an old, dead air mattress. The moment you stepped into the tent you could feel the water squishing in the mud under the tent floor.
Oh, and by the way,  this will be our last night in tents!!!!! Yahoooo!

Florida's oldest library

the Reading Garden

Old Defuniak Springs

the Lake in the middle of town

note the current over the flooded road

the river encroaching onto the campgound

my cozy tent in the mud...