Palatka to Jacksonville

Last day!  We started early because we needed to be at the 40 mile mark by 10:30, but we were so anxious that we arrived almost an hour early. The first part of the ride was thru farm country.  Lots of fields of potato plants.  I didn't know that they grow potatoes in Florida, but there was even a small town called Spuds. Then we turned north and traveled along the eastern shore of the St. John's River--beautiful views and nice homes. The river is very wide in this area and is part of the Intercoastal Waterway.  Finally we turned east to the St. Johns County firehouse where lots of picture taking went on while we waited for 10:30 to arrive.

The last 7 miles from the firehouse to the beach were under police escort.  A police car in front, followed by the riders 2 by 2 and the sag wagon, with another police car bringing up the rear. We were on parade.  People waved and cheered as we proceeded thru the center of St. Augustine to Anastasia Island State Park and the Atlantic Ocean.  At the park there was a big welcome from friends and family of some of the riders. We had to carry our bikes across a lot of sand to get to the ocean, but we got our front wheels into the surf.  Again there was a lot of picture taking. Then most of us began cavorting in the surf--more pictures with the waves knocking us about as we tried to pose as a group.  Great fun!  Then we had a pcinic together with family and friends.

In the evening, we had our final dinner, just for the tour group.  Kathy Tex read a poem she had written about the trip and each of the riders--lots of laughs and remembered moments.  Goodbyes and hugs, and it was over.

I still need to do a final tally, but I think I rode roughly 2800 of the 3100 miles and did things I never thought I could do.  That's what it's all about.  I plan to post my photos on Picasa, but am not sure when I will be able to get that done.  I have a lot of things to catch up with when I get home.