96 BIKE RIDE ACROSS GEORGIA

Atlanta to Savannah

June 7, 1996 Friday Drive to Savannah, GA

Got up at 4:30. Barry and Carol Nelson arrived at 5:30. We loaded his Ford van in about 10 minutes and took off for the rest stop near Laurel on I-95 arriving a little before 6:00 am.

Jimmy and Pat Huelskamp were riding in Jack Bateman's Toyota Cressida with Jack's grandson 10 year old Ben Hiller. Don Bowie, Joe Wisnewski and Bill Sneeringer rode with Marcie Berchock in her Ford van. Walt Pleines and Pete Flaton rode in Walt's Dodge pickup. We stayed together all the way to Savannah stopping at several rest stops and at the Cracker Barrel in Lumberton, NC for lunch of chicken dumplings for $19.51.

We arrived at the Clubhouse Inn a little after 4:00 and were met by Bill Maupei and Bill Austin who came down in Austin's Honda Civic. We had free drinks until 7:00 when we went to the Mill, a brewpub for supper $31. Dave Greehan joined us for supper. We went to bed at 10:00.

June 8, 1996 Saturday Bus Savannah to Atlanta, GA

Got up at 5:08 and showered and shaved. Had breakfast in the hotel about 7:20 then drove about 3 miles to Daffin Park to meet the bus and leave the cars. Loaded our bikes onto a trailer truck and then boarded bus and were off by 8:35. Most of us were on the same bus. We stopped in Macon at a Burger King for lunch $11.25.

We continued on to Oglethorpe College in Atlanta arriving about 1:30. Set up tent on baseball outfield and waited until after 4:00 for the bicycles. Put them together and went to supper in the school cafeteria. Went to bed about 9:30.

June 9, 1996 Sunday Bike Atlanta to Oxford, GA

It started raining at 2:10 am. It rained very hard at times particularly when we went to breakfast at 6:00 am. Coming back from the cafeteria the sidewalks were like rivers with several inches of rushing water. It stopped raining as we packed up and loaded our gear on the truck.

All 17 of us started together through Atlanta about 7:20 and remained together for quite awhile. We made numerous turns and it was quite hilly. After about 25 miles we headed out of the city. We had a cloud cover and it was comfortable riding. Later we had broken clouds so we had periods of sun but with a nice breeze. There were rest stops about every 12 miles but they were very crowded and disorganized. We had lunch of pasta salad, raw vegetables, croissant brownie and ice tea at 2:30 after about 55 miles. Too late to be eating. We rode with Carol and Barry the whole day.

We got in to Emory University in Oxford, GA after 4:00 pm and set up tents. We had ridden 67.5 miles. Supper in the cafeteria was barbecue chicken, macaroni and cheese, vegetables brownie and ice tea. Went to bed about 9:45 pm.

June 10, 1996 Monday Bike Oxford to Madison, GA

Got up at 4:50. Packed up and got to breakfast of Chris cakes at 5:00 am. Got on the road at 6:42. Sky was overcast and it was cool but very pleasant. There were plenty of hills but they were not as steep or long as yesterday. We ended on a long flat stretch. The rest stops were better organized and supplied. We stopped in Bostwick for lunch of 2 hot dogs, cole slaw, chips and coke next to the old hotel where they filmed "My Cousin Vinnie". Stopped for ice cream in an old caboose in Rutledge.

Pulled into Madison High School about 2:00 pm after 59.4 miles. Set up tents and showered in the field house. Took the shuttle to town and stopped in the Tomato Rumba for 2 Killian Red draughts and hot cheese for $123 with the Huelskamps. Anne and I took a walking tour around Madison looking at the antebellum homes. One was owned by the owner of Appleby's restaurants. Took the shuttle back to the high school for spaghetti supper. Returned via the shuttle to the rock concert and a beer. Returned to the high school and went to bed at 9:30. It was warm so I took off my T-shirt and fell asleep on top of my sleeping bag.

June 11, 1996 Tuesday Bike Madison to Milledgeville, GA

Barry woke me up at 4:46 am packing up his tent. Got up and started packing up. Loaded our gear on the truck and went to breakfast of Chris cakes before 6:00 am.

Got underway at 6:25. There was a slight fog. Watched the sun come up. It was fairly hilly but not too bad. Nice back country roads with good scenery. Stopped for lunch at 9:00 am in Monticello. Ham sandwich, pasta salad, cookie and lemonade. Kept crossing paths of different parties in our group at the rest stops. Also saw Jim Stewart with 2 grandsons and son-in-law twice. Fog and all clouds disappeared and it got hot for the last hour or so of riding.

We arrived at Georgia College in Milledgeville about 1:00 pm after 58.4 miles. Set up sleeping bags in air conditioned gym. Took the shuttle to El Sombrero for a couple of Dos Equies and a chicken burrito for $12. Came back to campus for supper of chicken, ham, macaroni cheese, green beans, chocolate cake, milk and ice tea.

June 12, 1996 Wednesday Bike Milledgeville to Swainsboro. GA

Got up at 4:46, packed up and loaded onto truck. Rode bikes 2 blocks to cafeteria for breakfast of scrambled eggs, grits, sausage, biscuit with gravy, orange juice, milk and peaches at 5:45.

On the road at 6:23. Gray light. First 40 miles very hilly but not too steep. Passed first rest stop at 8.4 miles. Stopped at 23.3 miles. Very neat restored town of Toomsboro. Skipped the next rest stop and stopped at 46.5 mile rest stop. Stopped briefly at 55.3 miles and then on to Kite for lunch before 12:00 at 59.9 miles at the Pennysaver for hamburger, cheeseburger, fries and orange juice for $5.56.

Anne riding very well and we made it into E Georgia College in Swainsboro by 1:45 after 75.7 miles averaging 12.5 mph. After walking through the spray of a fire hose we set up our tent in a tree line above the lake. Showered and hung out in the air conditioned cafeteria. Very hot. 5:00 supper of Brunswick stew, barbecue pork, potato salad, peaches and cake and ice water. Very good food.

June 13, 1996 Thursday Bike Swainsboro to Statesboro, GA

Got up at $:53. Packed up and loaded it on the truck. Biked to dining hall at 6:50 for Chris cakes, orange juice, melons and strawberries. Anne was missing her cyclometer so we went back to camp site to look for it as everyone left.

Got underway at 6:53. Pretty warm but the terrain is very gentle. About 5 miles out a 17 year old in a paceline crossed the middle stripe near the crest of a hill and got hit by a woman in front of Jack Bateman and his grandson Ben. Breathing and heart had stopped but the EMT got them going again and he was medivacced to Savannah. Anne was doing well but seemed a little sluggish after yesterday.

We stopped at all rest stops and had lunch about 10:00 in Metter where Anne got into the fountain. Lunch was barbecue 1/2 chicken, potato salad and water. There was a great band and people were dancing so we hung around to listen and watch for awhile.

We rolled into Georgia Southern University in Statesboro about 1:45 after 62.5 miles. Set up tent in woods where Barry reserved space and took a dip in the indoor pool before showering. About 3:00 everyone except Bill Austin and Dave Greehan went to Boomers for several pitchers of beer and onion rings. We had supper of mushroom hamburgers, fries and salad for $31 for everything. Dave showed up with Joanie at Boomers. It rained very hard while at Boomers and some tents were left open. Several people had wet sleeping bags and other things. Walked to Baskins and Robbins for root beer float and cone for $4.75. Went to bed at 9:50.

June 14, 1996 Friday Bike Statesboro to Ft Stewart, GA

Got up at 4:50 and packed up. Rode to breakfast at the student union by the lake of Chris cakes, fruit and orange juice.

Got underway at 6:43 riding with Barry. Terrain really flattening out. waited at the first rest stop for Pete Flaton. We kept up a pretty fast pace into Pembroke for lunch of shrimp salad sandwich, chips, pickle and ice tea. After lunch we picked up the pace a bit. I set the pace the last 8 miles at 20-23 mph and we picked up additional tailers.

We rolled into Ft Stewart at 10:55 am after 53.2 miles. Set up the tent and showered. After Anne got in with Carol and cleaned up all of us biked to the bowling alley, club and then the Boars Head bar for soft drinks and the AC. The wind came up and it looked threatening so we closed up the tents and took in the laundry.

Went to dinner at 5:00 and got a light rain while in line. Dinner was chicken, potato salad, cole slaw and ice tea. It started coming down in buckets while we ate. During a lull Anne and I got back to our tent and then it came down again with wind and lightening. We had to hold the back wall of the tent to keep it from collapsing. It finally quit and we survived with a few small puddles near the corners of he tent. Barry's back wall had collapsed and everything in the tent got wet. Went to bed and it quit raining but a beer party in a trailer next to us kept me awake for some time until Dave talked to them and broke it up.

June 15, 1996 Saturday Bike Ft Stewart to Savannah, GA

Got up at 4:40 and packed up. Breakfast of Chris cakes, orange juice and fruit. Got on the road at 6:55 with Barry, Carol and Anne. Anne eventually became the pace setter and we clipped along at 16 to 20 mph which she maintained all the way into the city.

We arrived at Daffin Park at 10:10 and loaded our bikes into the van. Found our luggage immediately and loaded it into the van and then went to lunch of shrimp, cole slaw, potato salad, roll, watermelon, and ice tea. Waiting for the awards ceremony at 12:00 we had a beer. Ben got his medal medallion and we left.

We couldn't get into our room until 2:00 so we changed and went to the river walk. Came back after 4:00 and showered and shaved. Had cocktails in the lounge and drove to dinner of shrimp and scallop tortalini at Pearl's Elegant Pelican for $38. Came back and sat with Bill Maupei, Bill Austin, Walt Pleines and Pete Flaton in the lounge. Went to bed at 9:00 pm.

June 16, 1996 Sunday Drive Savannah, GA to Columbia, MD

Got up at 5:00 and got away at 6:05. Room 271 at the Clubhouse Inn $75. Stopped about 9:30 in Florence, SC for breakfast of bacon, sausage, pancakes, eggs, home fries, orange juice, and milk for $13 at Denny's. Stopped for lunch of chicken, dumplings, green beans, mashed potatoes, biscuits and ice tea with blackberry cobbler and ice cream at the Cracker Barrel north of Richmond for $22.50. Arrived home about 6:00 pm.