04 May 2014
Gainesville to Palatka, FL
60 miles (Total Miles = 2,883)

I can see the St. John’s River from our room and by room I do NOT mean the vestibule of our tent but from an actual room at the Crystal Cove Resort. This last word is not one that I have typed yet on this trip nor will type again, making it all the more special. Nicole and Paul are definitely treating us to a final memorable night on the Southern Tier. I hope we don’t blow the budget before I’m able to make that one last peanut butter and jelly sandwich for tomorrow’s lunch.

I am happy to report that the heavens have been more cooperative and not a drop has fallen since yesterday afternoon. As scheduled, Candy’s tent went decisively and unceremoniously into the dumpster this morning. I have a suspicion there will be another $25 one in her future, this having been her second time across country and her third big cycling trip (she is a veteran of the TransAmerica and the Pacific Coast Route), in spite of her telling us that each time she does one, she says it’s her last. I think I know what we should send her for Christmas and it includes the letters “REI”.

Our route today consists of mile after mile of bike trail – nearly half of the ride – providing us a peace and quiet that can be hard to achieve on the shoulders of America’s highways. This state may not have delivered on the weather but the scenery and road surfaces have been quite good and throwing in all of the bike trail today along with a big dose of sunshine, a room at a resort, and our celebratory dinner and walk-down-memory-lane event with the entire group – brilliant.