We left the Grady House B&B a little after 8 a.m. after eating a big and delicious breakfast. We were uncertain whether to take the 85 mile ACA route or the shorter 67 mile route mapped by Google bike maps and agreed that we’d make that decision once we got to Gainesville. But our tired legs after a 76 mile ride yesterday made the decision for us, and so the shorter 67 mile route was what we did. We made good time today and only stopped about four times, not counting the break we took while Matt changed another flat tire. Here are a few photos I took today.
Live Oaks at our first rest stop of the day, about 12 miles outside High Springs.
Beefcake shot of Tim at our 2nd rest stop outside Gainesville, where we shed some layers to help keep cool.
Sit-down lunch at Subway in Melrose. This was the only time this leg that we stopped for lunch at a fast food restaurant.
Mark on dedicated bike trail parallel to Rt 100 about 10 miles outside Palatka. Away from road traffic, we finally had a chance to play some trivia, inluding famous quotes, unsuccessful U.S. Vice-Presidential candidates, and more baseball trivia.
After making it to our Holiday Inn Express, we all went to the pool for a quick and cold dip, enjoying some cold beers that Beth had picked up for us on her way to the hotel. For dinner we did Italian, the first time this leg we ate at an Italian restaurant and it was good. Back at the hotel, Tim read aloud the last chapter of “Crossing the Borderlands,” after which we retired for the night.
It’s hard to believe there is only one more day of riding, but tomorrow our ride is to St. Augustine and the Atlantic Ocean, the end of the Southern Route across the United States.
Color print, ~30″ x 30″