Day 167-172: St. Augustine, Ormond Beach

Day 167: Amelia Island to St. Augustine, 61 miles

Day 168: St. Augustine to Ormond Beach, 41 miles

Day 169-172: Ormond Beach

Day 167: 8/26/14

The storm raged on and off throughout the night with high winds and heavy and loud rainfall but, believe it or not, I did manage to get some sleep up on the picnic table.  I woke up at about 6:00 a.m. to one of the groundsmen raking up the courts right near my pavilion.  The sun wasn't up yet so he had a flash light as he made his way around the courts and then he eventually got close enough to me and the light came over in my direction and then away and then back again... A flashlight double-take and then it stayed.. I waved at the blinding light and the man behind it and saw the faint dark figure give a little wave back and that was that.  I figured I better start packing up.  So I did and hit the road as the sun was coming up.  The storm had blown over and the day turned out to be really nice.  I continued my relatively flat and easy ride down the historic A1A highway passing through Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, and eventually down to St. Augustine.  

Back to where it all started on Day 1 back in March!  It felt pretty weird getting back to the starting place again and again made me start realizing that this whole thing is coming to an end... Definitely a little bitter sweet.  But, on the up side it's not where this journey ends so no need to despair yet!  I still got some more riding and adventuring left!

Day 168: 8/27/14

I left St. Augustine after a little breakfast and rode straight down A1A to Ormond-By-The-Sea and got there a little after Noon on a beautiful and hot day!  41 miles and done for the day on my 17th day in row of riding (a record for the trip... Philadelphia to Ormond Beach without 1 day off...).  And boy did it feel nice to know that I was done for the day and would be able to enjoy a few days off here.  

I'm staying with my long time friend and childhood next door neighbor Sara (who only recently moved down here herself) and will be spending a few days off to enjoy the area and the Holiday weekend with her before my last push down to Key West!

After Sara got out of school (she's a teacher) we hung around her house catching up, I got to meet her Cousin Donna and her Cousin's husband Brian and we had a few drinks with them at their awesome outdoor bar which just so happens to be next door to Sara's (what luck!) and then Sara and I came back to her house and we cooked up some magically delicious flank steaks and cheese and spinach and grilled asparagus for dinner.  Definitely, a good first night in Ormond Beach with promises of an even more fun-filled holiday weekend to come!

Day 169: 8/28/14

Sara was out of the house early Thursday for work and I enjoyed a little extra sleep.  I felt it was somewhat deserved after all of those days riding in a row.  I finally rolled out of the bed around 8:00 a.m. and cooked up some coffee and hung around the house for a few hours with Sara's dog Trixie.  Then I headed down the short distance to the beach where I first got a massive slice of pizza from Tony's Pizzeria which wasn't so bad (from my New York pizza eating standards) and then made my way down to the beach.  I spent a few hours walking down along the beach, doing a little swimming, and then lounging out on the beach reading my book.  Quite an enjoyable afternoon...

Once Sara got home that night we headed out to Maria Bonita Mexican Restaurant for dinner and happy hour drinks.. The place didn't disaappoint! Margaritas, queso cheese and chips, enchaladas, chimichangas and deliciousness!  After dinner we stopped in at one other place called Billy's Taproom and Bar,  a cool down-home pub, for one more drink and to listen to a little live music and then we headed back to her house and called it a night.. Some of us still had work the next day!

170-172: 8/29/14-8/31/14

Sara made it through work and then her cousin Melanie got to her house to hang out for the weekend festivities and the rest of these days included a bunch more trips down to the beach for swimming, another home made taco feast, a breakfast of cinnamon swirl waffles and bacon, a lot of hanging out around the house and next door with family and friends, an unhealthy amount of coffee, a few beers, and sleep in between.

These were some much needed days rest and I had a blast hanging out with Sara and her family.  But, as with all good things they must come to an end at some point and so Sunday (8/31) marks my last days rest.  I've got a mission to complete and starting anew tomorrow, the first of September, I'll be back on the bike to finish what I started and get my butt down to Key West!

Ponte Vedra Beach en route to St. Augustine

Taking a break in the shade in St. Augustine

A fairly empty Ormond Beach pre-Labor Day Weekend

Just me, the sand and the ocean....

The gigantic slice of pizza I got at Tony's Pizza.. Wasn't as good as New York but, pretty close.

Bonding time with Trixie... Haha

Day 163-166: Charleston, Ridgeland, Townsend, Amelia Island

Day 163: Georgetown to Charleston, 63 miles

Day 164: Charleston to Ridgeland, 82 miles

Day 165: Ridgeland to Townsend, GA, 75 miles

Day 166: Townsend to Amelia Island, FL, 106 miles

Day 163: 8/22/14

Another really hot day!  Pushing up into the high 90's...  Rode most of the day on SR-17S which basically sucked!  4-lane divided highway, heavy traffic, little to no shoulder for most of the ride but, I got through it relatively fast and crossed over the Arthur Revenel Jr. Bridge into Charleston.  Charleston is hands down one of the coolest cities in the country.  I spend a few hours lazily riding down around through the historic downtown looking at all of the cool old buildings and houses and then I crossed over the Ashley River to my warmshowers hosts for the night Charles and Missee of Charlestowne Street in Charleston... Yikes!  I was told by Rob, the guy my dad and I met back in Monticello, FL that I had to stay with these guys, and so I did and they did not disappoint.  

Even with a very busy family weekend with lots of their extended family in town and lots of events they took me in, gave me a room in their wonderful house and recommended some local eateries for me to try out.  I ended up going to Yobo Cantina Fresca where I got some delicious buffalo chicken, bacon and blue cheese tacos and naturally a few Dos Equis and then got some FroYo at the joint next door and then retired back to the house for a nice sleep in a real bed where I didn't have to sweat all night... It was quite nice!

Day 164: 8/23/14

I rode out of Charleston a little before 10:00 a.m. and rode about 2 hours and stopped in at a gas station in Jacksonboro to eat lunch and avoid some of the midday heat... Temps were topping out at 100 and it damn sure felt like it.

After a long break I got back out and rode some pretty easy miles off of SR-17S which was really nice and then just outside of Yemassee (the town 13 miles out from where I was planning to stop for the night) a heard a little thunder and then out of nowhere it started to downpour!  Lightning, thunder, hail-like rain and wind pelting me and I pedaled as hard as I could towards the nearest place for some relief which just so happened to be a McDonald's! Lucky me!  I got down to the McDonald's completely soaked from head to toe and decided I might as well go inside to check it out... I'd never heard of this said establishment and figured why not??? I'll check this place out and see what it's got... Not bad.  Not bad at all I tell ya...  They sure do Diet Cokes well I'll tell ya that.

Finally, after the storm mostly broke I got back on the bike and rode the last 13 miles to Ridgeland... The rainstorm completely sapped me of my energy to stealth camp so I decided to treat myself to a hotel for the night.  Indoor pool, indoor bed, AC, continental breakfast, a bunch of soaps and shampoos I can steal!  Are you serious?!?!? Damn, Quality Inn has got it down too!

Day 165: 8/24/14

After my feast at the continental breakfast (strawberry waffle, two sausage links, two biscuits with two buckets of gravy, one bowl of cereal, a bagel (and two for the road), a banana (and two for the road) 2 orange juices, and a coffee!) I rode out... About 30 miles in I came to the South Carolina and Georgia State Lines and got my typical picture...  Just

South of Savannah I stopped for lunch and when I checked my email I'd gotten a response from a warmshowers host in Townsend, GA which was awesome because I didn't know where I was going to be staying yet.  Now that I did I hopped on the bike with a little extra pep in my step and got to Darlene and Ken's (my WS hosts) by 4:00 p.m.  They weren't home yet, but had informed me that I could make myself at home and get a shower in their sweet outdoor shower and hang out in their camper (outfitted with some nice AC) which I did until they got home.

They got home later with their daughter Joy and we all sat down for some pizza and wings in their awesome cabin home! After dinner and some conversation we all called it a night and went to sleep.

Day 166: 8/25/14

In the morning I had some cereal and a cup of Joe and started on down the road and today the miles just seemed to melt away.  I had 45 miles under my belt by noon when I stopped for lunch.  Then by 3:30 p.m. I was up at 75 miles for the day and in the town that I had planned to stop in... But, it was still too nice out and too early so I kept riding and finally got to Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach and was over 100 miles.  By now it was close to 7:00 p.m. so I killed some time until it started to get dark and then started the search for a place to sleep the night.  I knew I had to try to get under some kind of roof for the night because it was supposed to storm so I was headed down the island towards a church that I'd checked out via google maps-satellite that had some kind of a pavilion-looking thing.  But, a little before I got there I saw a sign out of the corner of my eye "Bicyclists Welcome". Well, I'm a bicyclist Kraft Athletic Club.  Am I welcome?  I think so and don't mind if I do...  You say I can enjoy the river view? I think I'll just enjoy it all night long.  Thank you kindly!  I rode into the Tennis club lot and saw a nice covered pavilion with picnic tables and popped the tent up on the ground and walked over to use the bathroom that was also open.  As I opened the door I was greeted by a nice slithering snake but, he couldn't stay long so after a little chat and photo he made his exit.  

As I was walking back to the pavilion it started to rain and boy did it start coming down.. When I got to the tent I saw that the water had already overflowed onto the cement slab and was dangerously close to my tent so with cat-like reflexes I snatched up the tent and threw it onto high ground (a picnic table) and I'd escaped another catastrophe for the night.

So now I'm high and dry (literally) and about to attempt to sleep under this tin-roofed pavilion while it downpours outside... Should be an interesting nights rest....

Oh and also I'm in freaking Florida!  And tomorrow I will be back in St. Augustine where I started this whole thing back on March 14th... Yikes, this thing is coming to an end!  Good night.

Arthur Revenel Jr. Bridge, crossing into Charleston, SC

West Ashley Greenway leaving Charleston, SC

Old Jacksonboro Road en route to Ridgeland, SC

Random freak storm I got stuck in in Yemassee, SC... That little yellow patch was where I was...

My sanctuary in Yemassee as I waited out the storm...

Crossing into Georgia!

"Smallest Church in America", Townsend, GA

My warmshowers hosts Darlene and Ken's house in Townsend, GA

My digs at Darlene and Ken's

Posh living at Darlene and Ken's

Crossing into Florida!

Barely saw this sign hidden behind the bush...

Then this one a little further in...

Thank you, I will enjoy the river view.... All night long!

GHHHAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!!!!!!

Day 158-162: Plymouth, New Bern, Sneads Ferry, Shallotte, Georgetown

Day 158: Suffolk, VA to Plymouth, NC, 103 miles

Day 159: Plymouth to New Bern, 77 miles

Day 160: New Bern to Sneads Ferry, 58 miles

Day 161: Sneads Ferry to Shallotte, 116 miles

Day 162: Shallotte to Georgetown, SC, 87 miles

Day 158: 8/17/14

Rode out of Suffolk just before 10:00 a.m. into the hot and muggy southern air and about 15 minutes later came to the Virginia and North Carolina Border soaking wet from sweat.  Got my picture with the North Carolina State Line sign as per usual.  As I was taking the picture I looked across the street and saw a stone pillar directly across from where I was.  Upon further inspection it ended up being the state line marker from 1887.  It had the year 1887 engraved on the front and on either side of it the initials VA and NC were engraved.  Pretty cool stuff!

The rest of the day I rode back country roads through very rural North Carolina which consisted of lots of farmland and the occasional small rundown town.  I also was reintroduced to those damn Southern Dogs and their "Not-So-Southern" Hospitality.  I never had to spray any of the little buggers but, I almost pulled a few muscles trying to out sprint them down the road....

Thankfully, it was flat and their was little wind so besides the dogs it was nice riding and I just kept going without knowing exactly where I was going to stay for the night.  As I got closer and closer to Plymouth I started thinking that it was possible to get there and sure enough I ended up riding through Plymouth to the southern edge and got my first Century Ride on the East Coast!

Got dinner at Wendy's (Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger, 6-pc spicy chicken nugget, chilli cheese fries, and a chocolate shake) and then rode down the road to Lone Ridge Missionary Baptist Church where I tucked away behind the shed in the back yard.

Day 159: 8/18/14

It was a hot and muggy night out in the tent and I'm not sure I stopped sweating all night.  By 6:00 a.m. I was ready to get out of my swampy tent and packed up and got on the road.  I met a few more dogs on my ride up through Bath, NC to Bayview where I hopped on a ferry and crossed the Pamlico River to Aurora.

I stopped in at Lyle and Shirley's Restauramt for a little deep fries southern food which was delicious and then got back out on the road.  It was so hot and muggy and as the day progressed so did the dark clouds.  By about 2:00 p.m. I started to hear the rumble of thunder in the distance and it started to lightly rain.  I picked up the pace to try to beat the storm but it didn't take long for the storm to get right over top of me, rain and thunder and lightning.  I decided it'd be best for me to tuck under some cover for a while to let the storm passed so I stopped at a gas station.  As I was there I checked the radar and it didn't look good so I quickly shot out a text to a warmshowers host that was in the area and quite thankfully she responded and told me to come on over.  I had a dry place to sleep!  Now all I had to do was ride the last 8 miles to their house...

When I thought it had cleared enough I pushed out and crossed over from Bridgeton (where I was) to New Bern across the Neuse River on SR-55.  It was a white-knuckle ride (wind wiping, fast cars zooming by, and LOTS of lightning just north of me on the bridge). Once across the bridge I rode as fast as I could again but, the storm caught me again and it came down as hard as I've ever seen it.  I almost lost all sight and there were still quite a few cars on the road so I jumped off the road again and hid out at another gas station for the next 45 minutes as this part of the storm passed by.  Finally, it did break and I biked the last mile to Bambi and Allen's house in just enough time to get myself and the bike under cover before more rain came.  

As per usual Bambi and Allen were awesome!  I got a shower, some much needed laundry and we got takeout from Outback Steakhouse and oh was it so enjoyable to be inside and out of the stormy weather that raged all through the night.

Day 160: 8/19/14

Bambi and Allen both were out before 7:00 a.m. for work but, they let me stay and get some breakfast and pack up my things and leave at my leisure.  I was out of the house by 9:00 a.m. And it was only a few miles down the road after leaving their house that it happened.  Not in the hills of Washington, not in Montana, but here in little old North Carolina it happened.  Yes, that's right!  I saw a bear.  And I almost pooped my pants...  I was riding down the road and all of sudden I saw some movement from the woods up ahead about 20 yrds. to my right and then all of a sudden a dark moving mass came gingerly plodding out of the trees.  I naturally assumed dog and instinctually stood up on my pedals and yelled out, "HEY!!!" (My typical dog response protocol prior to trying to out sprint the beast).  However, as the thing came out to the road I realized that it was no dog.  It was a Black Bear and when I yelled out I think I scared it as much as myself.  When he heard me and then saw me he took off across the road at a full albeit awkward sprint.  I still can hear the thumping of his paws and the scrape of his nails as he ripped across the pavement and into the woods on the other side of the road.  And then he was gone just as quickly as he'd come.  Woah!  Just woah is all I can say!  Those guys are big and scary looking.. But, I'm still happy I finally got to see one.

The rest of the day, besides being extremely hot and muggy was pretty easy.  I finished my "shortish" day into Sneads Ferry with my warmshowers hosts Ray and Melinda.  The night included burgers and beers, a trip down to North Topsail Beach to see the ocean and the beginning of another night of lightning and storms (of which I got a pretty cool pic) and then pound cake and ice cream to end the night.

Day 161: 8/20/14

After some waffles and coffee in the morning Ray and I rode out together down to Topsail Beach and along the water to Surf City which ended up being about 15 miles.  From there I turned down towards Wilmington and Ray turned back towards his house.

It was another hot and muggy day and just after passing a sign that said 20 miles to Wilmington the road was closed off and I had to go on a detour that took me over 10 miles out of the way and when I finally got back on the route from the detour I was 18 miles from Wilmington... Not cool!

After a lunch break I rode into Wilmington and as I turned down one of the streets going towards downtown I was stopped by a police officer who was blocking off the street ahead.  It ended up being filming of a new TV show called Secrets and Lies starring Ryan Phillippe and I actually saw him!  I got to watch a scene where he walked out of his house, got in his SUV and drove off! So exciting!  Then I was let through and I rode right passed him sitting in the front seat of the SUV.  I asked a crew member if they needed any biker extras to which he replied in the negatory and like that my dreams of becoming a Hollywood star were dashed...

Just outside of Wilmington it started to rain and I continued to ride down through beach town after beach town, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and then to Fort Fisher where I rode right onto the departing ferry that crossed Cape Fear and got off in Southport.  

At this point I was about 75 miles in and it was about 5:30 p.m. and so began the process of looking for places to stay for the night.  Long story short, 4 hours later and 41 miles later I finally found a "suitable" place to stop and curled up into a side entryway of a Baptist Church in Shallotte, NC...

Day 162: 8/21/14

For the first time all trip I set my alarm to make sure I was up and out of that spot before anyone came and saw me there.  So at 5:30 a.m. the alarm went off and I quickly broke down the tent and got everything back on the bike and moved away from the entrance to a sidewalk bench.  And sure enough just after I'd moved at about 6:00 a.m. a man pulled into the church lot right where I had been sleeping and walked into the very door that I would have been blocking had I still been in there... 

I left Shallotte after that and rode out into the foggy morning.  I rode down passed Ocean Isle Beach, then through Seaside and Sunset Beach.  In Sunset Beach I saw my first gator!  From there I rode through Calabash and then across the state line and into South Carolina.

Then I got a nice ride down through North Myrtle and Myrtle Beach that brought back some fond memories from college (and also made my liver hurt for some reason....)  In Myrtle Beach I stopped in at one of the resorts that had a pool and got a swim in which was a necessity in the 90+ temps for the day.  After my little break in Myrtle I continued on and ended the night outside of a church just South of Georgetown.  

North Carolina-Virginia State Line

VA-NC Stateline Marker from 1887

Roanoke River en route to Plymouth, NC

Slept behind this shed at the Lone Ridge Missionary Baptist Church in Plymouth, NC

Nice view off the back porch at Ray and Melinda's in Sneads Ferry, NC

Little lightning storm at North Topsail Beach.

On the Ferry from Fort Fisher to Southport.

Views off the ferry...

Calvary Baptist Church, Shallotte, NC

Early morning fog leaving Shallotte.

First gator!  Sunset Beach, NC

Sunset Beach, NC

Sunset Beach, NC

State Line South Carolina!

Pit stop in Myrtle Beach for a quick rest and a dip in the pool.  Just act like you belong there...

Cool church in Georgetown.. Didn't sleep at this one though.

Day 154-157: Arlington, Fredericksburg, Charles City, Suffolk

Day 154: Baltimore to Arlington, VA, 53 miles

Day 155: Arlington to Fredericksburg, 88 miles

Day 156: Fredericksburg to Charles City, 95 miles

Day 157: Charles City to Suffolk, 72 miles

Day 154: 8/13/14

Beautiful day after the day from hell yesterday!  Had a slow and easy morning.  Walked down to Light Street Cafe for some coffee and monster burritos with G and then got on the bike by 10:00 a.m.  Had a scenic ride out of Baltimore and then down through the Anacostia Tributary Trail System into downtown Washington D.C.  Believe it or not navigating my way into the city wasn't that bad and I went right towards the Capitol building first so that I can take the ride down the National Mall.  I got to snap a few pretty cool pics of the State Capitol, the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial and then rode down across the Arlington Memorial Bridge and did the last 5 miles to my friends Jason and LaBarge's apartment.

They were all still at work when I arrived but, Jason left me the keys so I was able to get inside to shower, do some laundry and relax before they got home.  Once Jason got back we made a quick run to the Whole Foods Market for some corn on the cob, chicken kabobs and the largest steak we have ever seen to do some grilling and chilling back at his place.

The rest of the night we spent devouring the food, drinking some beers and talking about space and time, and the absurdity of an infinite universe and damn even how wifi works... Seriously, it's just like there at all times right around us.  What the H???? We even got a little lesson from LaBarge on writing code later in the night which didn't help to clear anything up in our minds.  But, we tried.  It's all about those 1's and 0's, 1's and 0's.... But, not too long after and those 1's and 0's turned into Zzz's.. ( <--- see what I did there? #clever #cornyandilikeit)

Day 155-156: 8/14/14-8/15/14

I left Jason's apartment just before 10:00 a.m. on Thursday morning and began making my way out of the muck and congestion that was my days ride.  The route I was on had me on a lot of country roads which normally is good however these country roads had a TON of traffic of people trying to avoid the interstates and it was complete hell riding.  I think I got yelled at, cursed at, honked at, and screamed, "F YOU!!!!!!!" more times on this day than I have the entire rest of the trip... And that really is not an exaggeration.  It was a rough go.  Finally, when I was about 10 miles outside of Fredericksburg the congestion died down and I had a slightly nicer end of the day.  

I ended Thursday night in a "stealth" camp spot behind the softball field at Mary Washington University and slept wonderfully.  

Friday morning I was up early and riding by 6:30 a.m. I rode about 20 miles before stopping for breakfast and then rode another 40 to Richmond by 1:30 p.m.  It was a really good day of riding and then out of no where just as I was riding into Richmond I got a migraine!  The first migraine I've gotten in a very long time.  The vision in my right eye was getting pretty bad but, thankfully I was able to navigate my way into the city and found sanctuary at a Subway Restaurant.  I spend the next 2 hours rehydrating, getting food, and working through the migraine... I may or may not have looked like a mumbling homeless bum in the subway with my sunglasses on... Oh well.  By about 3:30-4:00 p.m. the migraine had passed so I got back on the bike and rode another 30 miles or so to Charles City.

I stopped in at Cul's Courthouse Grille for dinner and was pleasantly surprised with the food and ambiance of the place.  I even struck up a conversation with the woman sitting next to me and her husband about our travels and how much we both liked Seattle.  It turned out that she was the owner of the place!  Very cool lady, and a very cool place.

Ended the night behind the high school football field and had another nice and free nights sleep.

Day 157: 8/16/14

Another really nice day... Rode out of Charles City on the Capital Bike Trail to Jamestown and then hopped on a Ferry from there across the James River to Scotland.  From Scotland I rode country roads that were actually nice and empty and finished into Suffolk, VA just 15 miles north of North Carolina.  After a few nights of no showers and sleeping for free I decided to splurge and get a cheap hotel so I could clean myself up... To be fair I didn't order food and instead opted for peanut butter and honey and banana sandwiches... Delicious!  Into North Carolina tomorrow!

Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD

Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD

Riding along the Anacostia Tributary Trail into D.C.

Riding along the Anacostia Tributary Trail into D.C.

Union Station, Washington D.C.

U.S. Capitol Building, Washington D.C.

U.S. Capitol Building, Washington D.C.

Washington Monument, Washington D.C.

Reflecting Pool and Washington Monument in the distance, Washington D.C.

Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.

Camp spot at Mary Washington University softball field...

Virginia State Capitol Building, Richmond, VA

One of many historical markers I rode by marking battles and important places during the Civil War.

Cul's Courthouse Grille, Charles City, VA

Cul's Courthouse Grille, Charles City, VA

Cul's Courthouse Grille, Charles City, VA

Camping at Charles City High School.

Chicahominy River

Capital Trail en route to Jamestown

Jamestown-Scotland Ferry

En route to Suffolk, VA

Cool abandoned house in Central Hill, VA

Different angle...