Nancy's Travel Journal

We had a great breakfast in Quincy at the new Holiday Inn Express, with warm cinnamon rolls, cereal, eggs, and passion fruit juice.  As we pedaled out, it seemed a little strange to leave Quincy with about half the group leaving from Midway.  I rode out with Carol, Bobbie and Susan.  Carol soon turned back when she realized that she had left her calling card at the hotel.  It is not unusual for one of us to forget something at an overnight stay or restaurant.  Fortunately, most items have been retrieved.  
Bobbie and I were in the lead going up a hill when we looked up to see a car passing another one and headed straight for us.  There was a narrow shoulder and no place to go as the car passed within two feet of us!  I could feel its draft as it flew by us.  It shook both of us so much that we had to stop at the top of the hill to recover.  Accidents can happen so quickly.  And, it is so easy to forget about oncoming traffic when one is so vigilant about vehicles in the rear.
After that initial scare, our route took us onto a calmer, more scenic road toward Wakulla.  We crossed the Ochlockonee (meaning yellow waters) River, near the Corn Reservoir, which forms Lake Talquin. While Ochlockonee is a rather difficult word, the sign and what I found on the Internet disagree on the spelling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

The Ochlockonee actually originates near Sylvester, GA in Worth County. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The dam was actually built in 1929 and operated as a power plant until 1970, at which time it was turned over to the Florida Department of Natural Resources.  It did not operate again until the city of Tallahassee rebuilt and reopened it again as one of only two hydroelectric plants in Florida in 1985.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

The SAG met us at about mile 15, after which I took off by myself for the next 18 miles.  It was a quiet, smooth, flat road, with very little traffic through the Apalachicola National Forest.  Even Ellee was able to ride here.  (Note her modified handlebars to accommodate her broken arm.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Being alone on that type road lends itself to time for introspection.  Pegi had signed my guestbook with comments about Royce Smith’s dream of crossing the country on a bicycle.  During the ride today, I recalled many memories of Royce, especially the year he and I did Bike Florida.  He was a special person whose spirit continues to live on in the hearts of many folks, me included.  I also found one unknown (to me) plant to photograph.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At mile 35, as we met the SAG again, we had the choice of turning right and heading for the Inn at Wildwood, our home for two nights in Crawfordville, or continuing on down Highway 267 to Wakulla Springs State Park (http://www.wakullacounty.org/wakulla-5.htm).  Since it was still early, I chose the park. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

I rode in with Rebecca B., Annie, and Lorraine, who invited me to join them for lunch.  But, I had already made plans to join Judy, Anne and Barb.  We bought $6.00 tickets for the 12:30 PM guided riverboat trip.  While waiting I read about several old movies filmed in this location (1941-Tarzan’s Secret Treasure, 1942-Tarzan’s New York Adventure, and 1954-Creature from the Black Lagoon).  On the tour we learned that there were air hoses under water to allow “the creature” to breathe while swimming deep in the river.  What a treasure this boat tour was!  My camera would not do justice to all of the fauna and flora we saw.  But here are a few shots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Among the birds were the Little Blue Heron, Great Blue Heron, Osprey, Tri Color Heron, Anhinga, Wood Duck, Common Moorhen, Mississippi Kite, Double-crested Cormorant, and many others.  Of course, there were the usual animals, which included the alligator (estimated at 400 in the park at any given time), Florida Soft-shelled turtle, White-tail Deer, and striped mud turtle, and Florida red-bellied turtle.  Some of the trees in the park date back to the 1600s.  After the boat trip, Barb and I decided that we would brave the diving tower.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

After all, it didn’t look all that high! Someone told us it was about 32 feet. Well, it seemed much higher once we got up there.  And, to make it more difficult, there were all these young kids encouraging us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After standing there for what seemed like forever, I took the plunge!  When I surfaced after the jump, I knew I wanted to try it again.  Before going back up, I asked some young girls on the lower platform to sing Happy Birthday to Barb after she jumped.  I jumped again, and then Barb did it.  How special it was to hear the girls singing when she popped out of the water!  The tower is at the deepest part of the spring, 185 feet deep.  It flows from underground at 400,000 gallons per minute.  Despite many attempts to locate it, the source of the spring has yet to be found. 

After purchasing some post cards and ice cream, we started back toward our hotel.  As Anne started to pedal, she ran off the sidewalk and into some sand, then fell because she could not get her foot out of the clip.  She hit her head, but the helmet protected her.  The only real damage was a bent gear head, which she was able to fix later in the day.  

Dinner on that evening was a celebration.  We had never had the “cross the state line” Margaritas when we crossed into Florida.  This was the night!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, it was Barb’s birthday.  Her husband Leo sent a cake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday morning, our day of rest, dawned cool, with a promise of a beautiful day.  Anne, Hille, Ramsey and I had decided to ride to St. Marks, a small fishing village about 10 miles away.  As we pedaled toward the town, Anne and I spotted an American Swallow-tailed Kite.  What a beautiful bird!As we rode through St. Marks, we saw the Tallahassee/St. Marks Historic Railroad Trail (Florida’s first official state trail) and decided that it would be our route back to US 98.  On the dock of the St. Mark’s river, one of the locals entertained us with stories of the manatees that swim nearby.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pasha enjoyed watching boats and fish glide by the dock.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Exploring San Marcos de Apalache, an old fort dating back to 1528, was a real treat.  We found out that Andrew Jackson had occupied it in the early 1800s.  Very little has been restored here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After all of this exploration, it was time for lunch.  The Riverside Café hit the spot with oyster sandwiches and shrimp on a skewer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then it was time to hit the trail, which runs from St. Marks to Tallahassee.  After turning west on US 98 we spotted the T n T Hide-a –Way.  We stopped to inquire about kayaking tomorrow morning (Monday), since we have only 52 miles to ride tomorrow.  There I found another beautiful flower near the water.  Can anyone identify this plant.  We were told that the roots look like potatoes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Tonight we ate sandwiches at the Bistro, a restaurant attached to the Inn, before turning in for the night.  

The morning greeted us with cool weather after the rain last night.  Everyone seemed to be in a great mood, perhaps because we only had 50 miles to ride.  Well, at least some of us only had 50.  At last night’s cue sheet meeting, Michelle informed us that our reservations for Quincy had been deleted at the hotel by accident.  And, there are three college graduations in Tallahassee this weekend.  No rooms anywhere.  The hotel staff was able to book most of the folks, but the closest rooms after that were in Midway, 11 miles away.  I was assigned to Midway, but requested a change, when asked.  As luck would have it, one of the women wanted the extra miles.  So, she took my place.  For that I am so grateful, because I had things planned for Quincy.  Stay tuned for the rest of that story.
After most other folks had left, Hille, Ramsey, Barb, Ellen and I pedaled off from the not exactly 5-stary Ramada Inn.  
After a few miles getting out of town and negotiating a bit of traffic, we turned onto Blue Springs Road.  As we passed the entrance to Jackson Blue Springs, I realized that I had been there on the North Florida ride one year.  It is strange how the memory works when jogged by something like the entrance to a park.  For information and a picture of this park, see http://www.floridacaves.com/jackson.htm. Then, we turned down 164A.  Most often when there is a letter attached to a road number, it means less traffic.  And that is what we found.  The canopy of trees with sunlight filtering through made for an ideal cycling experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At Sneads, FL the SAG awaited us with the usual assortment of goodies.  Kay told us that a number of folks had missed turns on the cue sheet and had to turn around.  So they got in extra miles today.
We crossed the Apalachicola River at Chattahoochee Florida on US 90 via the Victory Bridge.  The old Victory Bridge is in the foreground of this picture. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

The river is formed here by the confluence of the Flint and Chattahoochee Rivers, the actual confluence being submerged in the Lake Seminole Reservoir formed by the Jim Woodruff Dam.  Georgia is on the other side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would like to have explored this area, but had miles yet to go.  And, the time changed to Eastern Daylight Time as we crossed the river.
Chattahoochee is also home to the Florida State Hospital. Originally a Federal Arsenal, it then served as the state’s first penitentiary. Two of the original buildings still remain on the premises. It was Florida’s only state mental institution until 1947 and remains as a treatment center for people with mental and physical disabilities.   We wound our way through Chattahoochee, leaving on a seldom-traveled road headed toward Quincy.  At the second SAG, a man and wife traveling cross-country had stopped to visit.  They had gone as far as Navasota last year and were finishing the route this year, self-contained.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I rode by myself the last 15 or so miles to Quincy.  Once there, I made my way to the town square. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lunch was at Treasures, a restaurant recommended by a couple of local folks.  It so happened that the town was having an ice cream social on the courthouse lawn sponsored by local government employees.  By the time I finished lunch, several riders had found the ice cream.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

We were greeted by the city manager, who told us he was originally from Trinidad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

The librarian was excited to share ice cream with Pasha.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Now back to the reason I wanted to stay in Quincy.  Since I wear cycling sandals in the summer and we are nearing St. Augustine, it was imperative that I find a place to get a pedicure!  A Metter Magnolia would not dream of arriving without having red toenails! While we were eating our ice cream, one of the riders told me where I could get the pedicure.  Barb was already there getting a haircut. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The women at The Mane Attraction (http://maneattraction.myarbonne.com/ were most accommodating in working us in on a busy Friday.  Vonda made my toenails look great!  Now I can arrive in style!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Finally it was time to make my way to the hotel.  When we arrived, I found that we were assigned to a new Holiday Inn Express.  It may be one of the most comfortable places yet!  When we met at the trailer for dinner, I saw Pasha sitting on the table.  Rebecca had found her sitting on the hood of a hotel employee’s car.  I can’t imagine when she hopped off the bicycle.  But I would have been devastated if she had gotten lost.  So, she may have to ride inside my bike bag until she learns how to stay on my bicycle. 

Tomorrow we only have 38 miles to ride, stopping off at Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park (http://www.floridastateparks.org/wakullasprings/), then staying at the Inn at Wildwood http://www.innatwildwood.com/).  It has been a great day.

This morning in Crestview, we enjoyed breakfast in the hotel.  It is always good to have more choices than oatmeal out of the trailer (as tasty as it really is) and to enjoy a second cup of coffee seated at a table.  It takes so little to excite us these days!  With clouds in the sky and a threatening storm, folks donned their rain gear and took off.  Except for a few turns on city streets getting out of town, the whole day was spent on US 90.  Again, it was much more bicycle-friendly with wide shoulders, smooth pavement and little traffic.  Quite ironically, at the first SAG stop, there was a rest room nearby, with a pair of water skis nailed to the door.  Wonder what the symbolism is?  Since it was behind a fence, we decided it was best to use the bushes, instead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Despite the fact that it was only 10:30 AM, we stopped at Sally’s in Ponce de Leon for lunch.  After all, we had eaten breakfast at 6:30, so it was time for some energy food.  I enjoyed their specialty, fresh, never frozen ground beef in the form of a hamburger!  Obviously my friends enjoyed their meals, as well! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

And, Pasha enjoyed her cake!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After that, it was just a matter of pedaling through some small towns on US 90.  I must say that I had never heard of Caryville, the worm-fiddling capital of the world.  Perhaps we should try to return one year to attend their festival and find out more about worm fiddling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

One church had an interesting message on their board out front, "Are you on fire for God, or are you just blowing smoke.”  We had a couple of rude folks who threw objects at us, but no one was hurt.  They must not have been members of that church!  As we pushed on to Marianna, in the bicycle mirror I could see threatening clouds, but we made it to the hotel before the rain began.We had some time before dinner to wash clothes and tell tales of the day.  Wonder what kind of story Ramsey is telling?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Tonight we had dinner in a closed restaurant connected to the hotel.  It was rather strange because it was as though the folks just closed the doors and walked out, leaving pictures on the wall, utensils in the kitchen and fake flowers on the tables.  Kay and Don Phillips drove here from Headland to have dinner and visit for a while.  It was great to see them, since we don’t get to see each other often.  It meant a lot to me that they took the time to drive over in threatening weather.  A storm moved through while we had dinner, but cleared out before bedtime.  We have certainly been lucky with the weather on this trip.  It is hard to believe that we only have 6 more riding days.  And, this time next week, we will be having our final dinner together.  Folks not on this trip have made comments to me and to others about this trip being a life-changing event.  Today, one of the women made the observation that we will not really know how life has changed until we return to the real world and have been there for a while.  Processing this whole trip will take me a long time.

At the risk of repeated what I have said earlier, here is our morning ritual.  After arising, packing our clothes eating breakfast in the hotel or from the trailer and putting air in tires, we load our bags in the trailer and fix snacks for the ride.  Here are a few photos of the morning ritual.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was about 8:00 AM when we pulled out of Pensacola, headed for Crestview.  Leaving the city was as difficult as arriving yesterday.  Our hotel was located beside an I-10 exit, so traffic was bumper to bumper on the exit ramp.  We had to walk to a traffic light just to cross the street.  Then, there was a narrow shoulder for 4-5 miles on US 90, with cars in a hurry to get somewhere.  Finally, the shoulder broadened and the traffic thinned out, for a while.  At about mile 8 we arrived in the small town of Pace and found an increase in traffic and construction.

It was somewhere between Pace and Milton that we had our most serious accident of the trip.  While watching traffic behind me, debris on the road, and the shoulder in front of me, I spotted several riders stopped in the middle of some construction, with road barrels extending onto the shoulder.  As I passed by them, I realized that Elizabeth was on the ground, surrounded by riders.  I stopped just past the group, pulled out my phone and ran back to the group.  I offered the use of the phone, but they had already called for help.  Realizing that they had the situation under control and not wanting to create more confusion, several of us moved on down the road.  A few minutes later an ambulance met us headed in the direction of the accident.  We all wondered if it was for Elizabeth.  It turned out to be the case.  When we met Kay at the first SAG stop, she told us what she knew at that time.  As Elizabeth and two other riders when by the construction barrels, there was loose yellow tape lying on the ground.  Elizabeth rode over it as it got tangled in her spokes, chain or derailleur.  No one knows for sure.  At the hospital, doctors diagnosed a fractured pelvis.  She will need bed rest for several weeks.  Later in the day, Maggie, who had gone with her to the hospital, reported that Elizabeth’s husband was already on his way from Fayetteville, NC.  It was a somber evening as thoughts of Elizabeth were on all of our minds.  While we are so grateful that it was nothing more serious, we will miss her as we complete the ride and celebrate in St. Augustine.

In Milton, we stopped at the Truly Spokin Bicycle Shop, as the owner opened his door for the day’s business.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

After spending some time and money there, we pedaled onto the Blackwater Heritage State Trail, one of Florida’s many rails to trails bicycle paths.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Along the way, I spotted the White Top Pitcher plant, with its red bloom.  I had never seen one of these before. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

The 6 miles on the trail and subsequent 30+ miles on rural roads were a welcomed change from US 90.  Then, we tuned onto that road again.  To our delight, it was much smoother, had a wide shoulder and much less traffic for the next 15 miles to Crestview.  Several of us stopped at Julia’s in town for a sandwich.  Then, Anne, Barb and I stopped at Sonic, with Barb enjoying a sundae.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For dinner we enjoyed Michelle’s gourmet cooking again with teriyaki chicken and green beans with yellow squash and pecans.  Debbie and I watched American Idol, a favorite show of some of this group, before turning in for the night around 9:30 PM.