Rise and Shine!

Another early start. I got up at quarter past five to avoid the construction workers at the school I slept at. I went back over to the picnic benches I found the night before and ate a package of pop tarts. I dug out my lights and was on the road by six o’clock.

Its really just too dark out to ride before 6:00 am. By the time its 6:30 you can put away your head lamp, and then by 7:00, your in the clear for some good riding without a tail light.

I rode about 20 miles to Folkston. I’m only about 3 or 4 miles from the boarder, but I parallel it for another 25 miles before crossing it. If you can think of what Florida looks like, I’m riding down into the notch on the northeast corner of the state. Once I cross over, I start heading for the coast. I’ll go through Jacksonville and
down to Ormond Beach, which is just a few miles north of Daytona Beach.

while in Folkston, I decided to treat myself to a victory breakfast. I’m not in florida yet, but its betterfor me to eat a big breakfast than a big dinner and there was a nice little resarant not far off of the trail here. I got three pieces of french toast, hash browns, bacon, and a glass of OJ. It tasted great, but then again so does everything that doesn’t have peanut butter on it!

Wrong Again.

But this time for the good. Turns out it did clear up, enough to ride another couple of miles at least.

I could have gone further, it was actually really nice riding weather, but with it getting dark, me leaving town, and not sure how far it is to the next town since I’m not using my maps, I decided to stop while I was ahead.

I found a school that had a nice roof over the walk ways between buildings with picnic tables under it and every thing. This part of the school was out of sight from the road and looked great but I figured I’d explore around a little more anyhow.

Behind that set of buildings was another. It had a large opening for a doorway, but was boarded up with plywood, which had a normal size door cut into it. I peaked in past the plastic sheet used as a doorway and knew this was it. I’ll be dry here in the heaviest of rains, there water and power. The bathrooms work and the AC is on. The only thing I don’t have here is cell phone reception. That’s more than easy to deal with and will ensure that I don’t stay up late talking to people.

If I have enough miles to do it, I think I’m going to try to do 600 miles in six days, starting two days ago. I already have two one hundred milers in there, today’s being my fifth ever, and if I can do 110 the next three I should be able to make it. This is just a loose idea flopping in my head which at the very least will keep me from being lazy and doing 70 mile days, which is all I have to do to make it to Orlando in time (although I’d have no time to hang out).

I think I’m the king of run on sentences. G’night.