We rode into Florida yesterday, and traversed a whole bunch of bridges along the Pensacola highway and Santa Rosa Island, then moved inland to Fort Walton Beach. The view of the gulf from the island was spectacular. The water was both blue and green, and the sand was soft and white. We really gave serious thought to putting our bikes aside and just hanging out at the beach!
Today we headed away from the water and made our way north to Chipley. The day was an 88 mile day, with the option to turn it into a century. Needless to say, Rob and I did not take that option. There were a few riders that did, and they still finished the day almost in the same time frame that we did! We did have another paceline today. Same timing as the other day — after the second water stop, a group of riders went out and Rob jumped on the end and stayed with them for 20 miles. Just behind them, Jeff and John rode along, and they are a paceline unto themselves. i got into line behind John, and virtually coasted my way to lunch. (Well, not quite — but we were moving at 16 MPH, and that was fine by me). It’s such a different experience than when you’re out there on your own fighting the headwinds.
Tomorrow, we continue eastward to Midway, which is just outside Tallahassee. We ride over the weekend, and Monday is the final day, an easy 34 miles to the pier in St. Augustine. Already our leader is starting to warn us about the things we’ll have to give up (eating 3,000 calories a day, and, for the men, peeing wherever they want to!). It will indeed be an adjustment, but I’m sure we’ll manage.
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