260 miles down- we have arrived

Last night we walked around the old town and heard lovely love music over yet another delicious seafood dinner.

The sun was out and the wind was at our backs today. We spent the morning exploring St. Augustine, visiting the Castillo de San Marcos

and the Mission.

We were struck how the leaders and victories in Florida during the Spanish rule is claimed as belonging to the U.S.

Then we hit highway 1A1 and breathed in the ocean air.

For much of the ride the ocean was only a few feet away. I loved hearing the waves crash as we peddled.

We arrived at our destination- Dayton Beach- 53 miles down the road in record time. 

Tomorrow we head to the greyhound station to pick up our bike suitcases and then breakdown and pack up the bike. I fly home to denver (the 9 hour 3 flight route) and Jim to iowa to pickup ms. Lily who has been having a ball with her Abuelitos. 

It has been a beautiful tour!

Today 58 miles from Amelia Island to St. Augustine, FL

Yesterday when we left highway 17 and turned onto hwy A1A, we left southern Georgian poverty and entered into northern Florida beaches and encountered extreme opulence. Peddling miles along old highways expose the extremes of this country. The nostalgic use of plantation names for estates is disturbing along with the lack discussion of how the early wealth of the area was built on the backs of slaves in museums we visited. However, photos I posted yesterday of the Gullah Geechee museum represents a local family reclaiming the history that is left out of the textbooks and state funded museums. 

Last night's weather made us doubt our ability to arrive in St. Augustine dry. But dry we did arrive, albeit me dressed in 4 layers.

We went through beach towns, a nature  reserve with the beach hugging us as the road traveled through the barrier island. My least favorite biking is when the road follows strip malls with heavy traffic, but we peddle through those areas with my shouts from back saying, "I'm not sure the car turning sees us" so we can enjoy the return to a two lane road with birds, trees and the ocean accompanying us as we take it all in.

A few mechanical challenges along the way

Yesterday we had lunch in Kingsland, GA on highway 17. We had a low tire and had to change it. This then led to a few other mechanical challenges, but two hours later we were back in the road. 

Two sets of folks stopped to make sure we were ok. One was concerned we'd wrecked with Jim working under the bike.

We hit the road this am, at Amelia Island in Ferandino Beach and stopped at a gas station to top off the tire and tore the tube- Jim is replacing the tube.

Four wonderful days of biking

We left Savannah late on the January 30th and since then have gotten to know well highway 17 as we headed south into Florida.

We started on the upper 70s and are now encountering rain and 50s weather.  I am loving being on the bike with my jimmy and exploring our surroundings and history together.

For now I'll post some pics and hope to catch you up later as we need to hit the road as there is a break in the rain.

These pics are from our afternoon from Savannah to Richmond Hill and then Our first full day of biking from Richmond hill to Darien.