BIKE FLORIDA 2004

Anne said "Let's do Bike Florida with the Nelsons, Frains and Bob Benhoff" so I agreed. Later Anne said "We have been invited to stay with the Jacksons on Lake Keowee and you should bring your kayak". Enough said.

On March 30 we drove through hours of rain to beautiful Lake Keowee in the South Carolina foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Roger and Carol's house is perched a few above the waters edge of 21 mile long Lake Keowee with it's multi-fingered 100+ mile shoreline. I spent several hours exploring every cove of one finger of the bucolic lake.

Then it was off to Gainesville, Florida for seven days of biking with about a thousand other riders from 35 states and 7 countries. We teamed up with our Maryland crowd and renewed acquaintances with many biking friends from past rides. We cycled 400 miles in a big loop back to Gainesville. We passed through some horse country with rolling hills but nothing of consequence. We visited many springs that boiled out of huge holes in the ground forming immediate rivers. We biked around many rivers including the famous Suwannee River. One day we biked to Cedar Key on the Gulf and got caught in the open in a rain squall with about 50 miles per hour winds and visibility of about 30 feet. Except for about a half hour of rain we had beautiful cool weather perfect for biking.

The last day we eight Marylanders raced about 46 miles averaging over 15 miles per hour back to Gainesville. After a quick shower and a hearty lunch Anne and I drove over 200 miles to spend the night just south of Atlanta. The next morning we drove to the Jackson's for another brief visit and to pick up my kayak. Then on Easter Sunday we drove 604 miles through some rain to Columbia and several days of cold and rainy Maryland weather.

March 30, 2004 Tuesday Drive Columbia, MD to Keowee Keys, SC

I had the car loaded with my carbon fiber Trek 2120 bike, Anne's 1995 cro-moly Performance bike, my Chesapeake Light Craft West River 164 sea kayak, an 11' x 11' tent and our luggage. At 5:15 we headed south on US-29 to west on the Washington Beltway I-495 then west on I-66. At Strasburg we headed south on I-81 onto I-77 and then I-85 where we exited at Greenville, South Carolina for Lake Keowee.

We stopped near Statesville, North Carolina for sustenance at a Cracker Barrel for $18.47 and gas for $24.25. We drove through a lot of rain and some fog in the mountains.

We arrived at Carol and Roger Jackson's house at precisely 4:00. We drove 606.7 miles from our house in Columbia in 8:45. The Jackson's house on over an acre of land has water on 3 sides with great views. It is located at 34^o 49.435 N by 82^o 56.412 W at 810' elevation. I have known Roger since 1964 and Carol since 1968. Carol greeted us since Roger wasn't home from softball yet. Roger returned shortly and we enjoyed a great Mexican meal prepared by Carol while we reminisced in the sun room overlooking the water.

March 31, 2004 Wednesday Visit with Jacksons

I slept well and didn't wake up until 7:00. I ran my usual from the Jackson's to the main marina and a short distance around the lake front trail and then back. It was a real challenge to finish as there are several very steep hills with grades in the 15-20% range.

I intended to kayak today but it was a little cool with some clouds and windy so I decided not to go. We visited and took a drive around the lake to see their building lot (an investment) across the water from their house. We looked at about a dozen other waterfront building lots for sale.

We went to the golf clubhouse for dinner that night which was very good.

April 1, 2004 Thursday Kayak & Visit with Jacksons

I got up and ran to the Marina and back again. I found it slightly easier as I knew what to expect.

It was sunny, warmer and less wind. I decided to kayak so I slipped in the water at 9:00. I circled the little peninsula the Jackson's house is located on passing in front of it headed north up a major finger of Lake Keowee. I was really enjoying my self being the first time in my kayak this year and the first time ever to kayak in this area. I soon ran out of houses as I passed under SC-130. The underside of the bridge was covered by hollow mud balls with an attached tube made by birds for nests, my guess some kind of Martins. I explored each cove as I went and was in total wilderness after passing under the bridge. I could see the Blue Ridge Mountains rising in front of me when there was any distance of open water.

I followed Cornhouse Creek which narrowed down to not much wider than my kayak to the end of the flat water. Here the water was tumbling down over rocks and had no depth. I had to back up for a distance before I could turn my kayak around. I flushed 3 wild turkeys as I entered the narrow part of the creek.

I returned to the main lake before turning up Stamp Creek where I spooked 5 wild turkeys. I repeated my procedure like Cornhouse Creek. I saw many birds a lot of them a redheaded fishing bird with a crown. Back in the main body of water I turned up Whetstone Creek but was not navigable when it narrowed down.

Back again I turned up the broad Little River. I followed it for over a mile and each time I thought it would narrow down it turned and remained fairly large. I finally had to give up because I had been gone over 5 hours and had only a gorp bar with no water. I also was wearing down having paddled continuously the whole time. I got back to the Jackson's about 2:20 tired and hungry but contented.

We continued our enjoyable visit and Carol prepared another delectable meal as we watched the sun set on the water.

April 2, 2004 Friday Drive Keowee Keys, SC to Gainesville, FL

We got up about 5:45 and drove away at 6:15. We headed west on SC-183 then south on SC-11 to I-85. We continued south to I-285 the Atlanta Beltway and then I-675 to I-75. We followed I-75 into Florida to the outskirts of Gainesville where we exited onto FL-222 then right on Waldo Road to the Martin Luther King Center.

We arrived at 2:24 having driven 469.5 miles. We ran into Allan Segree from Maryland and he told us where to set up our tent. We went to register at 3:00 with Carol and Barry Nelson, Kathleen and Lew Frain and Bob Benhoff. Things were a bit confused and they couldn't find my meal card. I was told to return in an hour so after an 1:30 they still couldn't find it. They made up a ticket for me. We took our cars to the fairgrounds and parked them so we were without transportation. The bus back was screwed up so we were late getting back to the MLK Center. The Frains, Nelsons and us walked to Sonny's Pit Barbecue for supper for $30.66.

April 3, 2004 Saturday Bike Around Gainesville

The Frains, Nelsons, Bob Benhoff, Allan Segree and McQueens biked south out of Gainesville to the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail. We headed east on the trail to FL-234 where we turned right to the quaint town of Micanopy. It is very pretty with old southern homes and moss covered trees. We returned to the trail and continued on to Hawthorne at the end of the trail. We biked through town and to a Subway on US-301. Anne's and my lunch cost $9.52. We returned to Gainesville via the bike path as it was getting hot in the afternoon.

Back in camp we biked 53.8 miles averaging 12.3 miles per hour reaching a maximum speed of 22.0 miles per hour. It is quite warm with the barometer at 29.65" at 180' elevation. We are located at 29^o 39.740 N by 82^o 18.460 W.

The Frains loaned us a queen size 6" thick air mattress that went flat during the night. We rented an identical one from Bubba's Pampered Bicyclists for $20 for the week. We also rented towels for two for the week at $30.

We were continually running into people we knew from previous rides. I saw Bob and Marie Hertzler from many Wandering Wheels rides. Dan and Jenita Porfillio also from Wandering Wheels rides. Camped close by were Ross Rutherford and Dave Lewis both from Canada on WW's 2002 Fall Breakaway.

Supper started at 5:00 at Citizen's Field. Chef's Garden Catering served chicken marsala, eggplant rollatini, rice pilaf, country potatoes, saute'ed broccoli with garlic, rolls and butter, garden salad, apple cobbler and ice tea. A band was playing the song "Seminole Wind" popular a few years ago which names many Florida locations including Micanopy where we biked today.

At 7:30 we had the usual mandatory meeting in the gym. We couldn't have it in the stadium because there was a semi-pro football game which lasted until after we went to bed.

April 4, 2004 Sunday Bike Gainesville to High Springs

Got up about 6:00 and headed for breakfast. Chris Cakes served pancakes, sausage, cereals, fruit, orange juice and milk. Packed up and took down a wet tent. Loaded everything on the Gator truck. Everyone was slow getting organized being the first day we had to move.

The Frains, Nelsons and McQueens finally biked from the Center at 8:51. It is cool probably in the 50^os. We biked west on FL-222 and then Millhopper road to the first rest stop at the San Felasco Hammock Preserve at 13.8 miles. There were cookies, bananas, oranges, pretzels and gatorade. We walked down into a huge sink hole 272' deep.

We biked on crossing I-75 before turning north on FL-241 and then FL-239 through Alachua County to another rest stop at Worthington Springs Park in Union County. They had the same fare as the first rest stop but no bread, peanut butter or jelly.

We cycled on now headed west on county road CR-18 and then southwest on CR-1491 which turned into FL-236 into High Springs. We encountered headwinds much of the day.

We arrived at the Spring Hill Middle and High Springs Elementary Schools at 2:10. We biked 51.5 miles in 5:19 averaging 13.9 miles per hour reaching a maximum speed of 25.0 mph. We are located at 29^o 50.025 N by 82^o 35.455 W at 81' elevation.

I set up the 11' x 11' tent by myself in the wind and didn't get it straight when I staked it down. It had a crooked awkward look but stood up to the wind. Showered in the shower truck. The truck has eight shower stalls for men on one end and eight for women on the other end. It works really well with hot water on demand.

We headed for supper at 5:00 which was served by Dixie Grill. They served a low country boil (shrimp, crawfish and mussels, red potatoes, cob corn), tossed salad, hush puppies, rolls, red rice, banana pudding, cake and ice tea. Very good. We took a bus to town for a street ice cream social of vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, walnuts, pecans and strawberries. It got chilly when the sun went down as we returned to camp on the bus.

April 5, 2004 Monday Bike Around High Springs

Got up at 6:00 and went to breakfast as the Dixie Grill served eggs, sausage, gravy, biscuits, hash browns, oatmeal, grits, cereal, milk and juice. It is a cool 39^o. Carol, Kathleen and Anne are taking the day off so Barry, Lew and I are biking together.

We biked from camp at 8:00 through High Springs headed north on US-41 past O'Leno State Park. We turned east on FL-18 into Union County and then north on FL-79 and FL-241 into Columbia County and a rest stop at 33 miles. Barry kept going.

Lew and I headed west on FL-240 before turning south on Old Ichetucknee Road into Ichetucknee Springs State Park at 49.2 miles. We refueled at the rest stop where we teamed up with Bob Benhoff who was talking to three women. Bob seems to know everybody on the ride especially the ladies.

We biked southeast on FL-238 to east on FL-18 before turning south on US-41 back into High Springs. Barry rejoined us in town and we stopped at Floyd's Diner for a couple of Bass Ales for $9.

Back at camp we biked 61.7 miles averaging 14.6 mph reaching a maximum 24.5 mph.

5:00 dinner by Dixie Grill serving jambalaya, fried okra, boiled corn, bread, banana pudding and ice tea.

April 6, 2004 Tuesday Bike High Springs to Branford

Got up at 6:00 and went to breakfast by Chris Cakes serving pancakes, sausage, cereals, fruit, milk & orange juice. It is 45^o as I pack up and take down the wet tent loading everything on the Crab truck. Kathleen, Carol and Anne are taking a shorter route so we are riding together again.

Allan, Lew, Barry and I bike from camp about 8:00. We head south on CR-45 then west on FL-232 then north on FL-337 to Poe Springs and the first rest stop at 20 miles. Leaving the rest stop we headed west on FL-340 for 5.5 miles before turning north on CR-47 to FL-238 and Ichetucknee Springs again at 39.9 miles.

Dixie Grill served us chicken pilau, green beans, cole slaw, fresh baked bread, ice cream sundae bar and ice tea. This is where we had lunch by Dixie Grill on Bike Florida in 2002. We waked down to the spring to take pictures. It is 78^o.

We continued on FL-238 before turning west on FL-240 to rest stop #3 at Beth Haven Baptist Church at 51.0 miles. This is fishing country and the sign in front of the church read, "You catch them, He'll clean them". A biker stopped me and called my name. It was Max Limbocker from Louisville, Kentucky who I biked with on Wandering Wheels Fall Breakaway in Ontario, Canada in 2002.

We left the rest stop and somehow missed a turn. We biked a long ways before we realized we were alone and seeing no Bike Florida signs. We stopped, studied the map and figured out how to recover. We turned around and met a sag wagon also lost, then a second sag wagon off course and then two bikers.

We biked into Branford High School located at 29^o 57.815 N by 82^o 55.411 W at 87' elevation. We biked 71.2 miles averaging 15.2 mph reaching a maximum 23.0 mph climbing 500' and descending 480' with no significant climbs.

The women had taken a shorter route getting in early and set up our tents along a tree line next to the track around the football field. It is my 65th birthday so I also received some cards and Peanut M&Ms. Barry and Lew arrived with a six-pack of cold Michelob. We were walking around when I spotted Tom Snyder the Biking Comdian coming in with his fully loaded bike. We talked for about 45 minutes.

Sonny's Barbecue served supper of BBQ chicken, baked beans, pasta alfredo, cole slaw, rolls & butter, potato salad, banana pudding, and ice tea.

April 7, 2004 Wednesday Bike Branford to Chiefland

Got up at 6:00 to 47^o and went to breakfast. Dixie Grill served eggs, sausage, hash browns, grits, muffins, cereal, milk, and orange juice. Packed up and took down another wet tent loading everything on the Crab truck.

We biked through town across the Suwannee River into Lafayette County heading south on CR-349. We headed east on FL-340 recrossing the Suwannee River into Gilchrist County and the first rest stop in Rock Bluff Park at 15.6 miles. Now headed south on FL-341 to the second rest stop at Hart Springs at 26.9 miles. Zig zagging a bit we continued south crossing into Levy County before picking up the Old Fanning Road and trail into Chiefland High School in 80^o.

The school is located at 29^o 29.147 N by 82^o 51.714 W at 69' elevation. We biked 49.1 miles averaging 13.2 mph reaching a maximum 19.5 mph. After setting up the tents next to a covered breezeway, Lew and I got some Old Milwaukee with nuts and chips.

Bell's Catering served lasagna, spaghetti with meatballs, salad, rolls and butter, fruit cobbler and ice tea. At 7:30 we went to The Bike Comedian's slide show $5 of funny signs. Tom has been on the road 17 years biking over 140,000 miles.

April 8, 2004 Thursday Bike Around Chiefland

Got up at 6:00 and went to breakfast served by Bell's Catering. I had eggs, sausage, gravy, biscuits, hash browns, oatmeal, grits, cereal, milk and orange juice.

Everyone decided to go to Cedar Key in the Gulf. Cedar Key is like old Florida. Carol Nelson, Anne McQueen and Bob Benhoff with his bike decided to take the bus to Cedar Key. Kathleen and Lew Frain, Barry Nelson, Allan Segree and I decided to bike. We headed southwest out of Chiefland eventually getting on CR-347. We stopped at a rest stop in a park on the Suwannee River. Although cloudy we were dry.

We left the rest stop headed south on CR-347. As we neared the junction with FL-24 we got some sprinkles which turned into a light rain. We were 3-4 miles from Cedar Key so we picked up the pace to try to beat the rain. We were headed into a headwind all the way from Chiefland. Lew and Allan stopped momentarily so there was a gap of 200-300 yards between us.

Kathleen was leading with Barry right behind and then me. As we started across the causeway and bridges to Cedar Key we were hit by torrential rain with some sleet or hail and wind about 50 miles an hour. Kathleen got blown clear across the road and disappeared with visibility down to a few yards. Barry and I got blown half way across the road and had to dismount to keep from being blown over. I wanted to turn back to get out of the wind and I was also worried about a storm surge bringing water over the road. We knew Kathleen was in front of us so we had to press on to find her. We soon came to a man and woman at the end of a bridge. I talked briefly with the man and started to move forward to look for Kathleen. As I started to move forward again, Barry yelled "here she is". Kathleen had hunkered down behind a small 2 foot wide bridge abutment for protection and I didn't recognize her from 6-8 feet. The squall soon abated and we rode into Cedar Key through inch deep water.

We ran into Bob with his bike in town and the sun came out. After consulting with a local, who said "he catches them and she cooks them", we headed to the T & S Restaurant. Carol and Anne saw our bikes and joined us. We sat in the back garden and I had a bowl of crab bisque soup, grouper sandwich and ice tea that came to $40 with Anne's lunch and tip.

We headed out of town back across the causeway and bridges on FL-24 which we could now see for the first time. We had a nice tailwind so we moved along quite fast. We soon turned north on CR-345 headed directly to Chiefland in 69^o. We biked 66.2 miles averaging 15.4 mph reaching a maximum 168.5 mph. I suspect my maximum speed was wind assisted or maybe the rain boosted it a little.

Bell's Catering served supper of baked chicken, mashed potatoes & gravy, carrots, green beans, rolls & butter, banana pudding and ice tea.

April 9, 2004 Friday Bike Chiefland to Gainesville

Got up at 6:00 and went to breakfast. Chris Cakes served pancakes, sausage, cereals, fruit, milk & orange juice. Packed up and took down another wet tent for the last time. Again we loaded on the crab (for Maryland) truck. We were undecided on what route to take back to Gainesville. The official route was 71 miles and we didn't think we could make it until late afternoon. We decided to follow the official route to Bronson and then decide how to proceed based on traffic, weather and time.

At 7:00 Carol and Barry Nelson, Lew and Kathleen Frain, Dan and Anne McQueen, Bob Benhoff and Allan Segree biked east out of Chiefland on CR-320. We set up a paceline with the women in the middle running at a moderate 17-18 mph. We ran onto CR-333 and then left on CR-32 to FL-24.

When the official route turned off FL-24 we pulled over and consulted. FL-24 was the shortest distance to Gainesville, we had only about 4 miles to go without a good shoulder and the traffic wasn't bad. We biked non-stop into Gainesville maintaining our pace and line. As we entered Gainesville we pulled off in a very used car lot. The salesman came out to make a deal and found out that some of our bikes were worth more than his cars. We made such good time and the route was shorter than we expected so we were arriving too early. Allan graduated from the University of Florida and since we were biking past the university, we decided to kill some time and take a guided tour of campus.

We arrived at the Alachua Fairgrounds at 10:20 some of the first to arrive. We biked 46.5 miles averaging 14.5 mph (despite our tour) reaching a maximum 23.0 mph. I loaded Anne's and my bike in the car. Soon the luggage trucks were arriving and we had the distinct pleasure of unloading old Crab since our luggage was at the very front and therefore the last off. My car was blocked but I finally got a way out to load our luggage by the truck. Took a quick shower and change of clothes before lunch.

Bell's Catering served BBQ pork sandwiches, potato salad, cole slaw, cookies and ice tea.

We said good-bye and drove off at 12:37. We headed out of Gainesville on FL-222 to I-75 north into Georgia. We drove 301 miles to Locust Grove about 30 miles south of Atlanta stopping at 5:05.

We checked into room 124 at the Super 8 for $48.10. The motel recommended the A & A Steakhouse where I had a steak, baked potato, salad, ice tea and peach cobbler with ice cream for $49.94 including Anne's meal and tip. Everyone in the restaurant was real friendly and everybody including the other customers said good-bye to us when we left.

April 10, 2004 Saturday Drive to Keowee Keys, SC

We got up about 6:15 and had a sweet roll, milk and orange juice in the motel. We drove away at 6:56 headed north on I-75. We took the I-675 cut off to I-285 the Atlanta Beltway to I-85 north. We exited at the South Carolina border onto SC-11 north to SC-183 east to Keowee Keys at 11:15 driving 264 miles.

We started visiting with Carol and Roger Jackson and Carol made sandwiches for lunch. I was feeling a little bedraggled so I decided not to kayak. It was a good thing as we got some light rain later. We decided to drive around and look at houses for sale. Time slipped by quickly so we decided to go to Mum's Italia for dinner. I had a great seafood linguini Alfredo, salad, garlic bread and a local draft beer. No room for dessert. The bill for four including tip came to $84.94. It was a very good restaurant and everyone enjoyed their meal.

April 11, 2004 Saturday Drive Keowee Keys, SC to Columbia, MD

We drove away in the dark at 5:56. We headed east towards Greenville to I-85 north into North Carolina to I-77 north into Virginia to I-81. We continued north to Winchester, Virginia then east on VA-7 to east on US-340 through West Virginia into Maryland. We took I-70 east at Frederick to MD-32 to Columbia and home at 4:42 driving 601 miles.

We had rain much on the way but nothing too heavy or bad. We stopped at the Cracker Barrel in Gaffney, SC for breakfast at $16.63 and the Petro Express for gas at $15.50. We stopped for gas at an Amoco in Verona, VA at $17.51 (bad reflexes).