From Fast to Slow to All Alone

Yesterday I rode with Candice, Dawn and Sandra. They are the meanderers. They take their time, smell (and photograph) the flowers, and are often the last riders in. It was a GRAND day. 84 miles felt like nothing - really, truly. The weather was sunny and warm, but not too warm. The wind was at our backs. The roads were flat and silky smooth. Wild flowers were in bloom by the roadsides. Huge swathes of intense yellow bending in the gentle breeze, magenta, light purple and red.

Sandra and I both got flats and holes in our tires and Candice repaired them with dollar bills (all without ever taking the wheel off the bike, no less). She has got to be one of the most cheerful people I have ever met. We visited Itchy-something springs and got milk shakes at Floyds. It was a perfect day.

By the way, when I rode with the fast pace line my average was 15.5 but that was because I was lolligagging by myself before I joined up with them. When riding with them we were doing 18-19.

Tomorrow is the last day of the trip - we ride into St. Augustine, but today was my last real day of cycling because tomorrow I sag. I will get to ride the last few miles to the beach where we will dip our front tires into the Atlantic Ocean. I rode with the fast people, I rode with the slow people, so today I decided to ride alone. I focused on the motion of my body moving on my bike. I paid attention to how I felt, how comfortable I've become on my bike, and how strong.

For the last 20 miles I rode with Arda and Jan which was nice because I rode with them during the last part of the 107 mile day and they really helped get me through it.

So here I am, almost done! We have cycled on interstate highways with giant Walmart Trucks whose passing whoosh tugs at your bike and on deserted winding back roads. We have climbed hills topping out at 17% grade and cruised miles of flat. We have ridden into head winds so strong they nearly defied forward progress and have been buffeted by frighteningly powerful gusts. We have been nudged along by friendly tail winds. We survived hot, humid, days in the high nineties, sweat stinging our eyes, and freezing rain that turned our hands and feet numb.

I have seen thousands of cans by the side of the road. Invest in Bud Light. I have cycled by levees, and farms, and falling down houses with expensive cars parked out front. I have seen thousands of horses but only once have I seen somebody riding one. I have seen the "Southern Tier" of this country in a way you never could from a car.

Tomorrow we ride to St. Augustine and have our final banquet- stand by!