Georgia Sunshine and Florida Peaches

Today was what I imagined autumn weather in the south might be: 71 degrees and mostly sunny for our 9:00 departure from Brunswick, GA and - 61 miles later - 82 degrees and mostly sunny for our 1:00 pm arrival in Fernandina Beach, FL.  Along the way we again and for the last time rode many miles on US Route 17 which has often offered heavy traffic, tooth-rattling rumble strips, and monotonous scenery.  Today the road was better, though there were still many log-carrying trucks speeding by us.  For scenic variety we saw a dead bobcat.  A friendly Georgia pick-up driver deliberately accelerated while passing us and so blew a cloud of black smoke on us.  Fortunately the breeze dissipated it quickly.  We crossed some railroad tracks so rough that they jolted the cover off my rear light, but I heard the plastic hit the pavement and soon retrieved it.  At 11:50 am, a half dozen of us rolled across the St. Mary's River bridge and into Florida.  So now the CrossRoads jerseys which say "Maine to Florida" are true for us.  In the final miles of today's ride, we passed a farm stand offering peaches.  So today we saw sunshine in the Peach State of Georgia and peaches in the Sunshine State of Florida.  A modest climb up and over the Amelia River bridge brought us to our hotel on Amelia Island just 0.1 mile from the Atlantic Beach.  Everyone is safe and we have just 111 miles to go over the next two days.  Life on a bike is good.

Comments

[Maureen]

Congratulations on getting to Florida. I know it's been a great trip. Enjoy the last two days.

Love,Maureen