BIKE TOUR

I spoke with Jimmy over a BBQ sandwitch and sweet tea. He was born and raised and again at 70 something living in Greenville. He claims that unlike neighboring towns, the quaint rural town is unsegregated. The K's are only active battling inscest. There was a big enough problem in the area that the circus's came and picked up their freaks there. But a while back the state came in and broke the whole scene up and spread incestual seeds around the country. He also believes that 90% of what causes Global Warming is methane from peet moss. He didn't really buy that I doubted the peat moss as the culprit but he did buy me lunch for my time. I made great time for the rest of the afternoon and when the Suwannee River State Park campground was closed, I was tempted to ride the last 120 miles before dawn. But I thought better of it and stopped in Live Oak to eat gas station fare for dinner. The warmshowers in Lake City just returned from some minor surgery, but is expecting me tomor...

I wasn't in a hurry to leave. I missed being around liberal twenty somethings. After I woke up I chatted with some guy whose name I'm sorry I can't remember, but I think it started with an R. We spoke of many things while I avoided packing and leaving, including a proposed trip from Tallahassee to Anchorage. He and some other Harry Potter following would load up a van and drive to Alaska while listening to the first 6 books. Timing arrival with the release of the final book, they would read the last of the saga over a few days in a cabin in the wild. He confessed that the trip probably wouldn't happen. Our lives get in the way of our hobbies. Eventually I moved the couple of blocks to the bike show where the mechanic who misses the Colorado air, investigated my clicking noise. He decided that it was actually from inside of the frame, that it wasn't hurting anything, and it might be cured with linseed oil, I'll deal with that later. Stopping then at Black Dog Cof...

In Chattahoochee, Mullet isn't a hairstyle, but it is on the menu. I didn't try the fish dish, but I stuck with a turkey club. As I sat chatting with some Georgians, I realized I lost an hour. 45 more miles to go and I projected an 8'o clock arrival at Justin's house where he warned his roommates's band would be practicing. Following my 11th flat tire (glass), I arrived a the house that could be easily detected by the pile of bikes outside. The area vegans were eating stuffed shells for dinner here. Most had a connection to the university and all were quite amusing, including the one they call chatterbox. Justin left for Night at the Museum and offered me a shower and the use of the computer, which no longer has internet connectivity. I could play minesweeper or freecell. I read the blurbs that came with the photos in Pedal while listening to the atmospheric tunes in the adjacent room. Justin did part of the Northern tier and we stayed up far too late chatting about...

I let Claudia and Snowball go. They are in a better place now. Claudia quickly scooted away, but Snowball lingered for a moment. They probably would have just gone the way of my gold fish and my hamster, Sherman. I too would have tired of the turtles. Uncle Billy's Restaurant proved to have a tasty Billy burger, smooth banana pudding, and classic sweet tea. I was stopped taking pictures of lichen on a fence and the owner drove up wondering what I was doing taking pictures of his property. He seemed to think I was crazy when I told him what I was photographing. Stopping in Grand Ridge at Providence Baptist Church for the night, I found the youth and music ministers preparing for youth service. There was much conversation and it turned to my tan. I raised up my shorts a smidgen to reveal the dramatic line while accidentally revealing my bite/wound. I explained, but John Micheal quipped, "It looks more like a bullet hole." Maybe I'll tell people that when they are tellin...

The decision to keep or not to keep the turtles is a difficult one. First there is the conscern for the health and the care of the turtles. I'm not sure if they're getting enough to eat. Then there are all the symbolic implications. If you have turtles are you actually going to live somewhere long enough that moving them isn't a hassle? If you keep the turtles why don't you get a bed, a mattress, kitchen appliances? They are all linked and sooner or later you are up to your elbows in potporri and you'll never travel extensively again. I got rid of a ton of stuff before leaving on this trip and I still have quilts, baskets, clothes, books, and outdoor gear in my parent's attic. The alternative is to rent a furnished apartment and keep it simple. To turtle or not to turtle... that is the question. Oh and while Florida is quite pleseant with a nice shoulder, nothing stands out. So I press on. I went to a Baptist revival tonight and the preacher was quite a strong p...

Today was eventful in an uneventful kind of way. I bought soap and replaced the dead red waterbottle. More pipe insulation was added to my handlebars and the bolt holding on my front rack was replaced on the right side. Yesterday it sheered off at the fork. I didn't take any pictures. I put in my miles and didn't talk to many people. I have 7 - 9 more days left. I called and asked Raven when the most convienient time for me to get picked up would be. 10.9 ave - 27 max - 2599.1 odo - 5:18:12 time

Happy Earth Day! Florida came with its condos and white sandy beaches without a welcome sign. I struggled to figure out when I finally made it. I felt like more than enough people stared at me awkwardly today. It was especially the teenage beach bums. Pensacola is nice enough on a Sunday evening. Tomorrow morning I get to replentish my Magic Soap at the natural food store down the street. Only 533 miles to go if I stay on route over ten riding days. But if I take a more direct route I can cut that down to 9. This is tempting. 9.1 ave - 22.8 max - 2541.0 odo - 6:14:41 time