Day 9 Folkson,GA to Blackshear GA

Today's ride was 55 miles and pretty flat long roads into the wind. We had a few rollers,but it is mainly flat with a large forest on both sides of the road. Last night we had a local reporter come to our margarita party and interviewed a few of the women. The chef made a Greek dinner of pita bread, quinoa & vegetables, salad, and several yogurt sauces, with macaroons for dessert.

We are now in the land of loose dogs and Gail is wearing her whistle to scare the dogs. 

Today is my birthday and Gail gave me a card that she had been hiding, as it is signed by many friends from my bike club. Thank you so much and the card was designed by Dana, Jerry's wife from Trailhead shop. Gail told me it was my special day and so Gail and New Zealand Marilyn,grabbed my luggage, did my laundry, and took me out to lunch after our showers. Pretty special people. The chef had asked me yesterday what my favoriteake cake was and I told her yellow cake with chocolate frosting. That will be the dessert for tonight's dinner. Even though we just had lunch, we will be hungry for dinner     

We are burning between 4000-5000 calories a day. 

An update on dinner tonight. The menu was curry chicken, tabouli, salad, and the wonderful cake cooked in a Dutch oven for the first time as a birthday cake. 

The pictures show our Georgia crossing, beautiful wild daisies,  and dinner tonight. 

Happy Birthday, Wendy!

Have a good ride and enjoy your birthday cake!

Day 8 Fernandina, FL to Folkston, GA

Our first state crossing! We are now in GA and if you followed our 2013 blog you might remember   that State line crossings result in Margarita Parties! Our first one will be in about 15 mins. Yippee!

Today found us leaving Fernandina at around 7:30A trying to beat the rain. Well, we didn't beat it and wow did it rain! But since there wasn't any thunder or lightening on we went. We rode about 55 miles and are now at the Relax Inń! The rain lasted for about 10 miles so we were really wet. Finding a Burger King on the right side of the street brought about 8 of us in for coffee and relaxing. I'm hoping I can send on pics of some what we've seen.

What a pretty turkey!  Our Roseville ones don't look like this!

Just couldn't pass this up!

We made it to GA!!

This is how much of our 8th day looked!

Day 7 St Augustine to Fernandina Beach Florida

Today was a 58 mile ride and we again rode through a very exclusive area with mansions on both sides of the street. This area was called Ponte Vedra and it has exclusive tennis and golf clubs,and a surf club as well with valets for the cars. We had threats of rain all day with dark clouds above and forecasts for rain,but we all escaped getting wet. The temp was much cooler today,so I was very happy. The route keeps you away from big cities,so we skipped around Jacksonville and went through Atlantic Beach and at mile 38, we got on a ferry to cross the St John's River. It only took 10 minutes and we wanted it to last longer. The wind was getting stronger and not a tailwind and we were fighting it a lot on bridges as we crossed. We did take a beautiful bike path on Amelia Island and then lunch at a diner a few miles from the hotel. We had our customary grill cheese and tuna sandwiches. Gail went to a bike shop for work on her gearing and I headed to the hotel. The headwind was so strong that I could only go 9 miles an hour when a gust would hit. Tomorrow we get to cross into Georgia and that means Margarita time. 

St Augustine, First day of rest!

A wonderful rest day for both of us. Wendy went to the hotel breakfast and brought breakfast to me!! Great way to start the day. While Wendy cleaned her bike out by the van I caught up on rest. Then with Marilyn, many of you met her this summer, the three of took a taxi to the Outlets where we made a few purchases. We had a nice lunch right next door to the hotel. Then a trip to the bike shop, Wendy wanted a saddle adjustment and I needed work on gears. Denise, one of our guides, took us with 3 bikes to a really great shop where the adjustments were made. We are so ready for tomorrow!

It was great talking to Linda in Chico today! It sounds like all of you are having a wheely good time! I loved the pic of all out side the hotel, thank you so much for sending it on. It just so nice to see your happy faces.

Outside cleaning bikes

Interesting building in Old Town St. Augustine

Can you find Wendy?

Before dinner with new and old friends

A great dinner at Columbia in Old Town

Sun City Roseville Cycling Club says HI!!!

Today was a day of rest for Gail and Wendy so I had a chance to chat with them on FaceTime. They are happy for a day of rest and actually looked pretty chipper as you can see from this screen shot.

While they are resting, the SCR Cycling Club is riding around Chico. Yesterday, several rode the Chico Wildflower. Today we rode through Bidwell Park. Tomorrow is another adventure or two or three.  Having a fun day and we hope Gail & Wendy are doing the same!

Day 5 Port Orange to St. Augustine

Today was a 65 mile day that started nice enough,through fancy waterway homes and reached the first sag stop at 20 miles. Before that I have to tell about the policeman and the turtle crossing the road. We had just started our ride and the policeman stopped his car with lights on and picked up the turtle and took it over to the side of the street. The riders wanted him to let them take a picture of this high risk duty,but he was enroute to another call and to hurry. 

After the 20 mile mark,the skies began to darken and we stopped for a moment to put phones into our water proof bags. Then all hell broke loose and the thunder,lightening,and then the torrential downpour began. We had to keep going and went many miles before we could get under a building with some other riders. The skies did clear and we continued north on A1A towards St Augustine. Then the heat started and it got as high as 102 degrees and high humidity. Gail and I stop a lot to regroup,drink fluids,and off course eat. I really don't like heat and it was very hard ride today for both of us. Consequently we don't have any pictures today and we have a day off tomorrow. I am doing laundry as I write this blog and Gail finished cleaning her bike. Tomorrow I am shopping for a new rolling duffel bag as the bag I brought is too cumbersome to carry. Last night's dinner was fish taco's,coleslaw,chips,and numerous toppings for your tacos and then homemade chocolate chip cookies. Yum

Apr 25 Cocoa to Port Orange

What a beautiful start to our 66 mile ride. We started by the riverside of lovely homes to our left and yes thankfully the ocean still to our right. Finally a tailwind!! We just flew along our route, what fun. We stopped for lunch in Edgewater, a little town along our way. Funky little place called Subs and Suds. We took our bikes insides since we couldn't see them from our seats. 3 other riders joined and all enjoyed our much deserved meal, I had a grilled cheese and Wendy had a BLT. Then 16 miles to our very nice hotel in Port Orange. After a sort of confusing check- in with 34 tired and dirty ladies plus one  little league baseball team with families we are all cleaned and ready for dinner, I'm starving! The pix are from yesterday. Oh, I forgot wanted to mention we saw 3 Osprey nests with chicks and a pair of Sand Hill cranes just walking around. They have bright red heads and no I didn't get their pic:(.

Day 1,2,3 food

It has been requested that I explained the food we eat. Emily is a new cook for Womantours,but has extensive cooking experience. The first night's dinner was a chicken rice enchilada,salad,strawberry shortcake. Second night dinner was spaghetti,salad,chocolate lava cake and ice cream. Tonight was chicken stir fry,Asian slaw salad,and key lime pie. Breakfast is oatmeal,eggs,fruit,yogurt,cereal. The snack table is put out every morning and has protein bars ,peanut butter, bread,nuts,almond m&m's,and bananas. The sag veh carries water,Gatorade,and more snacks. We eat lunch on the road and it is different everyday. Well that's for now. 

Day 3 Vero Beach to Cocoa,FL

Today's ride was 63 miles and long straight stretches of flat road and a bit mind numbing with a headwind thrown in. The humidity was high,so I took a bump forward at mile 40 and waited for Gail in this beautiful mansion development called Rutledge. Gail hooked up with Dolly and they rode together,looking at the old homes,and I found another group to finish the last 7 miles to the hotel. 

We were going to meet Gail's cousins that live in Melbourne Beach for an early lunch. But that didn't work out as we would have to go off course 9 miles,so the cousins came to the hotel to visit Gail at 4:00pm. We didn't get in until 3:00 pm,so it was a push to shower and look presentable for the relatives. I am relaxing in the room writing this blog while they visit. No rain today. 

Day 2 From Jupiter to Vero Beach

Today was a 64 miler with about 909 ft of total ascent, yes, FL really is flat! This is making for very good riding to get us doing those long rides we didn't quite get to before leaving. It wasn't as warm and virtually no rain making for a good ride day. Wendy did much better in the leg cramp area by carefully hydrating and using products meant to keep that from happening. We started off going through Jupiter Island, and no we didn't see Tiger. But was it ever beautiful! Huge Banyon Trees and the most magnificent mansions. The driveways themselves were a work of art. We went over many draw bridges that have those metal grates, be careful! I'm really glad we went to larger tires giving a better feel while riding over. If there has been rain prior to our arriving to this type of bridge is to be walked over. Our lunch was great fun! We ate at mile 45 at Arches in Port Pierce. It was decorated in a pirate decor and we were seated at a sea breeze patio. I shared a piece of homemade Key Lime pie with a new friend, yumm! We got to the hotel at around 2P and ran to get our laundry done. Another success for a really good day.

Day 1 Ft. Lauderdale to Jupiter Florida

Today's ride was 62 miles and pretty flat except for 4 bridges that were all different heights and somewhat dangerous because of the metal grates. The day began with weighing every piece of luggage, as you must only have 50 pounds between 2 bags.

Then the mass picture taking in front of the hotel and we were off at approximately 7:45am.

We passed so many beach towns and then lots of mansions before and after Palm Beach. We have a chase car that meets the riders every 20 miles and the second stop was Palm Beach.  Parked behind our support car was a beautiful Bentley.






After leaving Palm Beach at approx 42 miles,I began to cramp and had to stop to some take some electrolytes on a bridge. I lost sight of Gail and then everyone got a little lost as their was road construction that disturbed our route.

We finally were able to meet back up with phone calls. I kept cramping and The lovely Gail waited for me to reach her and we made it to a Starbucks for fuel. At this point we were at mile 53 and it was 96 degrees and high humidity.

Several of the riders were there, along with the ride leaders, and we made it in on the last 9 miles. Gail is very strong and the heat doesn't bother, but I on the other hand, kind of wilt away.

Tomorrow is a 65 mile ride to Vero Beach.

We Have Arrived!

Somehow we never thought the adventure would begin at the SF airport! But that is where it all started on Sunday nite. We finally got out late around 12 mid nite. Good news was that we were 2 in the 3 seats across. We got to the Ft Lauderdale Hotel at approx 9A, about 12 hrs late. But we made it! It was fun from walking through the front hotel doors. Friends old and new were there wandering around all happy to see each other. After checking in we walked directly across the street and picked up our properly put together bikes!  

The big delay

Well the adventure has already begun,and we haven't even left the San Francisco Airport as we speak.

We arrived 2 1/2 hours early for our 12:23pm and the flight was cancelled around 12:00pm. Gail was next next in line with customer service ,with a massive group of passengers behind her,when United made an announcement to walk over to another customer service counter. This was on the other side of the airport and the herd of passengers begins walking fast to get there to change flights and we lost our place in line. Everybody was on electronic devices to find flights and the line wasn't going anywhere. Gail tells me she was going to find another customer service counter,and after an eternity of time,she returned with 2 tickets on the only red eye flight tonight,leaving at 10:00 pm and arriving nonstop to Ft. Lauderdale at 7:00am. Yeaaaaaa. The passengers waiting in line just look forlornly at us as we fled the area and ran to the bar. 

We are currently waiting in the United Club as I have 2 passes to get in the door and this will be our home away from home until 10:00pm tonite. 

They Were Almost on Their Way!

Check out the smiles when they were about to depart Roseville.  Check out Wendy's post to see why those smiles may have turned to frowns.  On the other hand, they may be smiling again.  At least they will be able to enjoy the wait!

The Big Sendoff

Gail & Wendy are ready to go.  Their bikes have already arrived in Florida and they will be joining them soon.  In the meantime, we need to keep them busy.  I can't think of a better way to do that than have a party.  The big party was over the weekend, but the ladies also had a smaller get together at the local California Pizza Kitchen.  Fun was the key word! Have a safe ride!  We wish you all the best!

Wendy

Here's Wendy at work.

Wendy Embraces Technology

Did you see the pigs flying last night?  We did!

Larry & Wendy--check out the handlebars

For the past several years my husband, Larry, and I (Linda) have been kidded about all the tech equipment on our bikes.  Wendy would just smile and shake her head when she saw us (Ok, maybe she added a few comments).  Most of our cycling friends, including Wendy, are into sleek, no extra weight bicycles.  They wouldn't carry all that stuff on their bike until pigs flew!

We never thought it would happen, but the pigs flew for Wendy yesterday as she moved into the tech world.  We received a call from Wendy.  She needed help getting her phone attached to her bike so we went to the rescue.  Now is a perfect time for a "how many cyclists does it take to attach a phone to a bike" joke, but it will be up to you to provide the answer.  We already know!  Now she just needs to add the battery pack to make sure everything stays charged

Success!  Wendy is on her way to her Atlantic Coast ride and to being a techie.  I certainly hope her bike isn't too heavy ;-)