Saturday, October 13, 2012

Saturday October 13,2012


Kingsland GA to St Augustine FL 132km 146 m Vertical Climb

We got a late start today due to booking a flight back to Montreal.   We will stop the ride in Miami instead of Key West and call it Montreal to Miami.    The flight back will cost $ 200 for me and the bike will cost $150.  I imagine I will be sitting beside my bike.   
The route bypassed Jacksonville and used a small ferry across the St. John River.  The ride cost us $1 each.  On the ferry we met a group of bike riders who were out for a one-day ride.   We spent the whole ride chatting and they strongly recommended we visit St Augustine.  We had an easy day planned – 90km to Ponte Vedra.   But we missed the hotels in Ponte Vedra and decided to keep on riding to St. Augustine.  The extra 26km turned into 42 km and we were tired when we arrived in St. Augustine.  We checked in at 18:40 and it was getting dark, but we’ll have more time for St Augustine tomorrow.   We are now riding next to the Atlantic Ocean.  Florida has a road, the A1A, that goes along the coast from top to bottom.

The Jacksonville riders

The Atlantic Coastline near Ponte Vedra

TimG contemplating the large Atlantic
   

 

Friday, October 12, 2012

Friday October 12, 2012


Broadfield Plantation

Darien to Kingsland; 94km 117m vertical climb

The home of Boiled Peanuts
 Today was our last stage in Georgia under another cloudless sky and a bit warmer than yesterday. We were running close to the coast and had to cross a number of wide coastal inlets and rivers and about half involved sizeable bridges to climb over. It’s the only way we will get to do any hill climbing because the land is as flat as anything we have ever seen. Swampland, forested swampland and more swampland. There are not many places to stop at but we did find a petrol station/Mini Mart at a crossroads around midday and were able to sit down to a bit of lunch. Before we got up to leave the owner introduced himself and gave us a free sample of a typical southern snack, boiled peanuts done classic and Cajun style. They didn’t exactly knock our socks off but we think that, together with a beer, they have the potential to grow on us.    
A few miles later we arrived in Woodbine and saw an unusual For Sale sign. Probably not a business model that would last long in Europe, or would it?


Woodbine Main Street
     

Thursday October 11, 2012



Savannah to Darien; 101km 129m vertical climb

Harbour in Darien
After rolling around a few streets until we found an ATM for TimB, we took a right turn then a left and we were already on our way out of town. We were on a quiet road and it was the easiest exit from a large town that we have experienced so far. We stopped for a leg break after 20km and, because we had had to roll through an area covered with broken windscreen glass shortly before we stopped, I checked both tyres for any splinters stuck in the rubber. They were fine and so we set off again. Three kilometres later we were riding through a lot of debris on the hard shoulder and doing our best to miss the big bits when, bang, my back tyre went flat instantly so I new it was not good. The damage was a slit in the sidewall of the tyre, probably caused by a screw we found on the ground a few yards back. The slit is too big for a tyre patch to hold together under full pressure so I am now running with 20psi less. It gives me a softer ride but may not be enough pressure to withstand potholes and occasional ridges in the asphalt. We will just have to wait and see if the patch lasts until Miami.                 
Leaving Savannah
Thereafter, the day remained uneventful. We had a cloudless sky and 25-27C. It really is great weather and the forecast is for more of the same.      

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Wednesday October 10, 2012


Hilton Head to Savannah; 59km 90m vertical climb

Leaving Hilton Head

After a delicious home cooked breakfast we left Hilton Head for Savannah.  Because we had consulted with Linda (hostess and travel planner) we had a short cut through back roads all the way to Savannah.  The approach to Savannah was impressive with the bridge over the Savannah River coming into view 4km away.  When we started to climb the bridge approach the Bicycles Prohibited signs stopped us.  However Linda had given us a backup plan and we ended up on a free ferry across the Savannah River.  Since the ferry was not marked on any maps, or signposted on any roads, we considered ourselves lucky to have insider info to cross the river.  We toured the city on the tourist trolley in the afternoon and reviewed the beers at the Moon River Brewery in the evening.  

Ferry across the Savannah

Savannah City Hall


 

 

Savannah River Bridge

 

 

Tuesday October 9, 2012


Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

The Atlantic Ocean with a shrimper in the background
 We saw the ocean this morning.  After 23 days and 2200 km we are staying on the beach front at Hilton Head and walked on the beach of the Atlantic Ocean to start our day.  For the first time the end is really in sight.  









Don and Linda (our hosts) took us around Hilton Head and Beaufort today.  Hilton Head lived up to the reputation as a rich man’s playground.  Nice cars, nice boats, nice shopping.  The highlight of the day was a horse-drawn carriage trip around Beaufort.  The town has a storied history as British port, a civil war prize, and a high-class resort town.  The town has starred in “Forest Gump” and several other movies and the Mansions are 200 years old.  The carriage driver was a 5foot 1-inch 14-year-old girl (she claimed she was 26) and the horse was Cisco, a huge (22 hands) 12-year-old dray horse who was blind in one eye.  The story telling was well done, but Cisco was just barely under control. 
Don Linda Tim

 Cisco doesn’t like stop signs, red lights or motorcycles.  He ran most of the stop signs, he kept moving forwards and backwards at red lights and the driver fell off her stool when the motorcycle went by and Cisco hit top gear.   The cars must know Cisco and they gave us a wide berth, but the whole wagon load of tourists were nervous every time we approached a red light and the driver was turned around telling us a story.  We all survived and it was a memorable tour.  Beaufort is a gem of southern architecture and well worth a visit.  
Cisco  and driver
                                    
A mansion in Beaufort

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Monday October 8, 2012


Walterboro SC to Hilton Head Island SC; 120km 239m vertical climb

We got another early start this morning and the route was flat and fast.  Another sign of the south is the Spanish Moss on the trees.  Our first stop was near a cemetery with Spanish moss covering all the trees.  As we headed towards Hilton Head, the landscape became swampy with tidal inlets and large grassy areas.  We saw several White Ibis and Great Blue Herons take flight as we rode past.  


We have been riding the back-roads and scenic byways through most of our trip, but as we neared Hilton Head we encountered more traffic in two hours than in the last 2 days.   Things are booming in Hilton Head. We are staying the night with friends we first met in Germany 35 years ago.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Sunday October 7, 2012


Causeway and Bridge Lake Marion


Sumter SC to Walterboro SC; 132km 160m vertical climb

Today was a big day for us with 135km planned. We had an early start and stuck to a disciplined approach to the day.  We took a break every 20 km and alternated the lead regularly.  After 40km and a short coffee break at the gas station in Summerton we rode through St Paul (Gibbins) and a few miles later crossed Lake Marion (Gibbins). To do this our road, Route 15, joined up with Interstate 95 to cross the more than mile wide lake. No shoulder in places and fast traffic made it a hair-raising experience so EuroTim put his camera on a handlebar mount and videoed it.
Lizard near St. George
Roadside Cactus
Overall, the terrain was favourable – it has been the flattest day so far and the weather was nice and cool this morning and but heated up to 33°C in the afternoon.  The afternoon proved a challenge as several towns seemed closed up and we ran low on Gatorade.  We arrived at our hotel before 4 pm and re-hydrated with tea and lemonade.  The motel receptionist told us that Walterboro is dry on Sundays so there will be more tea  tonight.