Andy & Kerry's Greenway Trip

So, please ignore the locator map (I can't upload the new image there or on the pictures page until I get a wireless connection). We have made it to the end. I can't believe I haven't posted since Savannah, GA. I my defense, we've been doing A LOT more camping on this part of the trip. Plus, longer days, so I've been pretty beat even when we did have access.

So, from Savannah we made our way through Georgia at a pretty fast clip. We only spent two more nights, one at a campground in the rural, approximate center of the state and another in the rural south of the state. There was one stretch during this part where I'm pretty sure the ECG people took one too many hits off the crack pipe. Just after Woodbine, GA, we were routed about 3 miles off Highway 17 onto "Old Jefferson Highway." This was the dumbest possible place to attempt to ride any kind of bike, much less heavily loaded, thin-wheeled touring bikes and a trailer. So, after walking our bikes for three miles through an unmaintained dirt (NOT gravel, dirt) road and saying some very bad things about the mothers of those who chose that route, I can honestly say I would recommend skipping that part of the route.

After that, we dropped into Florida (our last state line) and took a rest day in Jacksonville. We may have been bordering on heat stroke that day because both of us were feeling very nauseous and run down. The next day, in St. Augustine, was the beginning of what felt like a whole new trip.

Florida was, without question, the state that was kindest to us. People took an interest in our trip, offered host stays, helped us pick up supplies, fed us, plied us with liquor, etc. etc. What a great state to bike through. It all started with a couple, Bob and Bonnie, in St. Augustine who are great ECG - and bicycle touring in general - enthusiasts. They showed us around their town with the enthusiasm of people who truly love where they live (an enviable trait). Not to mention feeding us and sending us away with a bottle of homemade grapefruit wine which, I'm sure, will be delicious (we were told to age it a few months). This is also the stop where we discovered Patch loves playing in the ocean. Too bad it's probably the last time he'll see an ocean. We met so many kind people, it will be hard to remember them all, but standouts include: John & Bev; Marianne, Anton & Min; Marta, James, Tracy & Mark; Maritsa & Carlos (intrepid dogsitters in a pinch); and our newest addition, Rebecca, who saw us on the street in Key West and donated to our cause.

Kindness didn't always work out for us, though, and sometimes put us into weird situations. One couple, who won't be named, offered us a place to stay, which we gladly accepted. We arrived, though, only to find ourselves caught in the middle of some kind of bizarre, alcohol and codependence fueled mating ritual involving plenty of yelling a recriminations (and, apparently, about two quarts of vodka) well into the wee hours. Don't get me wrong, they were very kind to us, but the weird awkwardness is something we could have done without.

On to happier subjects ...

The riding in Florida was also among the best we'd had. As advertised, we were on side paths or bike lanes for significant periods - more than any other state. We also saw some of the most beautiful beaches and even camped on a couple (see the photos, when I get them uploaded, of Long Key State Park: Florida's hidden gem).

We did some snorkeling off Key Largo in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, which was amazing. We saw Moray eels, tarpon and tons of colorful reef fish. We also did a snorkeling trip off Key West last night. Two stops and some beautiful reefs. We even saw a couple of sharks, which was very exciting. Sadly, we're starting to contemplate leaving (tomorrow, YIKES) and getting back to the real world. It looks like I'm going to have to return to Connecticut to retrieve our stuff (I was misled by Pack Rat, their shipping rates are exorbitant). So, I hope you nutmeggers will pencil me in for a drink. I'll let you know about dates as soon as we get stuff figured out. For now, we'll be doing the long drive to Oklahoma. Ahh, goodbye sweet vacation.

I'm not sure when I'll be posting again, but keep an eye out for my book, which I'll hopefully write soon ...