GTD '26 Day 1 - Fargo, GA to Lake City, FL
51.37 Miles
9.5 Avg. Spd

My 2026 Go The Distance Fundraising Bike Ride began at the Stephen Foster Memorial Monument in Fargo, GA.  Why?  Because I originally I was going to ride the Florida Divide Route but after looking at the Route I decided that I would ride some of the Route but deviate from the Route to visit family, friends of UFCCH and UFCCH Alumni.

 

My neighbor drove me to the Monument so I could begin my journey.  After snapping a few photos I began my ride to Lake City.  It was blue skies and mid 80's.  The first hours were in the countryside on decent roads.  My Route research indicated that I would transition from asphalt to dirt at some point.  When the transition it occurred it was on to a spongy dirt road.  

The road was slow going but the countryside was beautiful and peaceful.  I finally got back on to asphalt and into White Springs, my first resupply stop and stop for lunch.  Lunch was really good, I washed down some fried fish, mashed potatoes and mac n cheese with a Mtn. Dew Code Red.

During lunch I enjoyed chatting with Adrian who was out for his daily long walk as he prepared for an upcoming 72 mile Walking Event.  We chatted about my Ride, Campus Ministry and Church.  Very pleasant.  As we were finishing up he inquired about my Route to FCC Lake City.  I showed him the Route on the Google Maps Bike Map.  He suggested a different Route that would have a bike lane.  It was a good ride into Lake City and on to the Church's Guest House.  Seth said it would be open and after I got cleaned up we would go to dinner.

Dinner and visitation with Seth & Erin at Texas Roadhouse was awesome.  After dinner they gave me a tour of the Worship Center, very nice.  After the tour it was time to ready myself for the next day's ride to Gainesville (home)  and get some rest.  Good first day.

GTD '26 Day 2 - Lake City, FL to Gainesville, FL
53.42 Miles
9.8 Avg. Spd

Day 2 began with a stop at the Lake City Starbucks for breakfast.  Once finished I began a ride that I was very familiar with.  441 south can be a bit busy at times but the bike lane is more than adequate.  After a bit I turned off 441 and ventured out in the countryside heading to Providence.  

The countryside riding continued after Providence until I was approaching Alachua.  

Once in Alachua I decided to get back on 441 and work my way  home via 43rd St., 53rd Ave. and 39th Ave.  These are streets that I ride all the time in training or commuting.  It was great to pull into my neighborhood and see C waiting for me at the edge of the driveway.  In addition to cleaning up my body and my bike was I was able to unload my camping gear since it was decided that camping was a no go due to the warm temperatures at night.  Tomorrow I will once again ride a familiar Route to Palatka, FL.

GTD '26 Day 3 - Gainesville, FL to Palatka, FL
45.95 Miles
10.1 Avg. Spd

I knew today was going to be a shorter day so I didn't get started till just after 8:30am.  This allowed me to make sure everything was good at the house and my set up was dialed in for the next 20+ days.  I kissed C goodbye and set out on 222 to Putnam Hall where I would then jump on the Lake Butler Palatka Trail.  The ride out to Melrose was great as always and the Dollar General resupply stop was welcomed as it began to warm up.  Once I got to Putman Hall I stopped to get some Krunchy Krispy Chicken Strips at the Corner Store, they are so good!  No tables inside so I had to head to the Florahome Trailhead Rest Area to eat because the flies were terrible.  It's a nice rest area with a nice covered pavilion and nice restroom.  

After lunch I continued on the Trail just short of Palatka where it ends.  

From there I rode Hwy 100 to St. Johns Ave. in Downtown Palatka, this goes straight to the Hampton Inn plus you get to experience the Downtown Business District and its murals.  After settling in I walked across the street to Velchoff's Corner for dinner.  Tomorrow I will ride to Greg's house in Ormond Beach.  This will be my first chance to see the ocean!

GTD '26 Day 4 - Palatka, FL to Ormond Beach, FL
58.29 Miles
9.7 Avg. Spd.

I knew that this would be a long hot day so I set out just before 5am.  

After crossing the St. Johns River I got on the Palatka Lake Butler Trail and rode to Hastings.  There I stopped at the Kangaroo for breakfast and to top off my fluids.

After breakfast I hopped back on the Trail for a bit before turning east in Hwy 206, this is a straight shot to Crescent Beach which afforded me another Kangaroo stop before setting out down the coast.  

I checked my map and it showed just over 30 miles to Greg's house.  This seemed to be one of the longest 30 mile stretches I have ridden, I think heat, familiarity and road construction had a lot to do with it.  Fortunately the ocean view helped!  It was great to arrive at Greg's, he opened the garage so I could pull in and have room to unload.  After an awesome dinner I was able to do laundry, visit for a bit then fall off to sleep.  Tomorrow I will ride to Winter Springs, FL to meet my brother.

GTD '26 Day 5 - Ormond Beach, FL to Winter Springs, FL
50.3 Miles
10.4 Avg. Spd

After a quick breakfast with Greg I was treated to an awesome sunrise leaving his neighborhood and turning south on A1A.  I got into the Ormond Beach Business District and enjoyed my Go To Starbucks drink, an Iced Dubai Chocolate Matcha, before heading down US 1 to Port Orange.  

Heading down US 1 I realized that I needed to double check my map and take care of a few messages that came in while I was riding.  That's when I discovered King Donut & Deli.  A very nice International family owned and ran King Donut, we had a great time chatting about my bike ride as I enjoyed a Mango Smoothie and an Apple Fritter (bakery tradition during my rides) plus extra donut holes that the husband threw in for free.  

I ate and finished my communications so on to Port Orange.  From there I zig zagged my way to the intersection of Tomoka Farms Rd. and Hwy 44 by New Smyrna Beach Speedway.  The Circle K had a Subway so I got lunch and took time to correspond with Seth and my brother.  Seth was hoping to meet up with me if it worked out, it didn't.  My brother and I made a plan for pick up in Winter Springs.  With that done I started south on 415.  As I was riding it was awesome to have a video chat with my EC friend Pourya, very welcomed interaction!  After the chat over the next    21/2 hours I encountered several strong rain storms that made things a bit dicey.  The road was 2 lane with minimal shoulder.  It was raining hard so it was difficult to watch the traffic coming from behind in my eyeglass mirror.  Fortunately there were no impatient drivers!  415 turned into East Lake Mary Blvd. and led me to the Wawa in Winter Springs where my brother would pick me up.  I arrived and had time to get a snack and drink before he arrived.  While I waited I was able to enjoy the planes leaving or arriving at the Sanford International Airport.  My brother arrived and we loaded up my bike on his new bike rack (only used once).  We had plenty of time before dinner so we headed to his house to drop off the bike and clean up.  Within miles of his house the bike rack malfunctioned and I could see in the rear view mirror that it had fallen off , the rack and was bouncing on the road.  My first thought was, ride over.  He stopped the car and we jumped out to retrieve the bike and the parts of the bike that had fallen off when it impacted the road.  Fortunately a big truck stopped to shield my bike from any other cars that might try to pass, awesome guy!  We gathered up the bike and parts and secured the bike to the rack and proceeded to his house to actually access the damage.  Fortunately there was not as much damage as I thought but some things would have to be replaced.  We cleaned up and headed out to dinner, as he drove I communicated with Bike Shops to see if they had what I needed.  The Trek Store in Clermont had exactly what I needed and could do the work in the morning, I was relieved but my brother more so.  We met Dave & Denise at Gary's Restaurant (Napolis) and enjoyed a great Salad & Pizza Dinner along with great conversastion.  Dave, Gary and I all grew up together in Pine Hills so its always fun to catch up when possible.  After dinner we returned to my brother's house and made a plan for the morning.  Fortunately the next day's Scheduled Ride was a short one to Chad & Jenni's house. 

GTD '26 Day 6 - Donald's House in Apopka to Chad & Jenni's House in South Orlando 
18.45 miles
9.7 Avg. Spd

GTD '24

 GTD '24 was originally set to take place in Michigan but after running the numbers ($) I decided that Tennessee was a better option since it is a days drive and I have contacts all across the state.

I loaded my bike and gear and set out for East Tennessee.  Steve and Gwen would be hosting me before I started pedaling.  It's always great to see them and an extra special treat was have Deb and Brad join us for a carbo loading pasta dinner at Olive Garden.

Day 1
Steve decided he would ride 15 miles out with me and then return home.  It was awesome to have that company at the start of the ride.  We stopped at a Dollar General for a snack and then said goodbye.

My destination for the day was Dandridge.  I rode through beautiful countryside all day and seemed to climb hill after hill all day except when in town.  I stopped in Greeneville for lunch, a slice of pizza is my go to if possible.  I also enjoy a Protein drink and an Electrolyte drink as well.

I had been in contact with Ron, a great friend from our Kingsport Youth Ministry Days.  I anticipated seeing him Day 2 but he had a meeting not too far from Dandridge so I would actually see him later this day.  

I had a photo op at a cool covered bridge deep in the coutryside, my East Tennessee friends hadn't been to that bridge so they were curious as to its whereabouts.  I wasn't exactly sure where I was but I provided enough info for them to figure it out.

At one point it was getting warm so I pulled over just past a country home, leaned my bike up against their tree and took off some of my cold weather gear.  I also snacked and took in more fluids.

When I got to Morristown I passed the Hampton Inn I originally planned to stay at but after some change of plans I decided on Dandridge instead, bad decision!  I was at 65 miles for the day and really tired due to all the climbing I had done.  I was in contact with Ron and he was on his way to find me.

After sharing my location with him several times we finally connected, it was great to see him.  He followed me in to Dandridge and up the hill to the hotel as I pushed my bike, my legs had had enough.  I cleaned up then he and Luke took me out for a Mexican dinner, it was awesome!  

It was so great to catch up with those two and then get settled in for the night.  This day was a little too big for Day 1, I am hoping for less elevation tomorrow so my legs can recover some.

Day 2
Before Ron left the night before he had shared with me what he thought would be the best route out of Dandridge.  It was early and overcast as I set out.  My legs were not happy as I had a slight upgrade leaving town then a very challenging uphill heading out into the countryside.  Once I got to the top of the climb the view was amazing and the road leveled out as I rode through some beautiful countryside.  

That all came to stop when I hit the highway that would take me info Knoxville.  It was a four lane highway with a wide shoulder so traffic was not a big issue but trash was.  I was happy to be on my Salsa with larger tires that were not bothered by all the trash.  

As I was making my way to Knoxville I spotted a Dunkin so I stopped for an iced coffee and some food.  I got to chat with a young man who was very involved in his local church, he was excited for my ride and the funds I would raise for Outreach.  I finally got info Knoxville and though it was busy it was fun to ride downtown.  I searched for a Starbucks and located one at a downtown hotel.  I enjoyed relaxing for a bit outside with an iced coffee and a lunch sandwich.  As much as I enjoyed the downtime I knew I had to make time in order to make it to the far west side of Knoxville by late afternoon.

After tackling some hills in downtown I got onto one of their City Trails.  Just as I did it started to rain.  Fortunately there was a shelter so I pulled over and sat for a bit.  The rain let up so I continued on this very scenic trail that wasn't very far from the bustling downtown.  As I was riding I got a text from Ron asking where I was and that I should be aware that a bad storm was coming into Knoxville from the west.  I checked my weather app radar and saw that it was coming my way fast.  I quickly found a trail exit and it led me to a shopping center where I took refuge just before the heavens opened up.  It was a bad storm and I was stuck there for quite awhile.

Fortunately I was held up outside a bike shop so I was able to replenish my energy supplies.  All the climbing I did this day and the day before had used up my energy gels.  

It took awhile but the storm was finally passing me by.  By this time I knew that my original destination for this day was out of reach so I found a hotel not too far from where I was and I booked a room.  I had been in touch with CCH Alum Mike about meeting up for dinner, I let him know that I had a change of plans and was actually closer to where he lived.  This worked out great.  I checked in, cleaned up and then went to the lobby to meet Mike.  He treated me to an awesome dinner, it was great to see him and catch up.  It was fun to think back to his Campus House days and they guys/gals that he was close to.  

It was Mike who sold me the bike that I used ride across the US and down the east coast, it was a great bike and he made me an offer I couldn't refuse.  I rode that bike till one day the frame broke.  I wasn't too upset though after running the numbers and guesstimating that I had put approximately 40+ thousand miles on that bike.  Old Blue was a good ride for a long time.

After dinner I started to make a plan for the next day.  Since this day was cut short and I was on a tight schedule I knew I would have to make up some miles some how.  I decided to give Ron a call and see if he might be free in the morning to transport me 40 miles west of where I was.  It just so happened that his commitment for the next morning had been cancelled so he was free to help me out.  Knowing this I slept much better, what a blessing!

Day 3
After breakfast Ron arrived and we loaded up my bike and headed west to Crab Orchard on I 40.  It was raining but the radar showed that we would pass through the rain by the time we got to Crab Orchard.  The radar was spot on.  We got off on the Crab Orchard exit and pulled into a Convenience Store/Gas Station.  We unloaded my bike, chatted about the best Route for the ride to Cookeville and I set off.

It was damp and overcast so I stayed comfortable throughout the ride.  There were a lot of ups and downs once again and a lot of evidence that the storm from the day before came ripping through the area.  Lots of branches down and even some trees had come down.  I was pleasantly pleased to discover the Long Road Cafe in the small town of, it was awesome!  It provided the fuel needed to continue to conquer the hills.  

The road was a 2 lane road with a good shoulder so even though it was busy there were no issues.  Continued evidence of the severity of the storm the day before was the parade of  Power Company Trucks heading south to help repair power lines.

As I got into Monterey I saw a DQ so I treated me to an afternoon blizzard.  This was a much welcomed treat after climbing so many hills to get there.  I took some time to examine the Route from Monterey to Cookeville and I saw that most of my climbing was done for the day.  I actually had some good downhill heading into Cookeville!  In Cookeville the roads became busy and there were a few ups and downs on the way to my hotel.  The climb up to the hotel was quite the challenge, especially since they had spread some dirt on the surface due to damage caused by the storm.  Even so, I made it.  

Per routine I chatted with Celeste and my mom before cleaning up and heading to dinner across the street.  After dinner I popped into the Starbucks that was just down from my hotel to do some reading, catching up and scouting out the next day's Route.  After that it was time to call it a night.  This day was a good rebound day after the troubles of the day before created by the storm.

Day 4

Starbucks opened early so I was blessed to enjoy an iced coffee and a breakfast sandwich before setting my sights on Murfreesboro.  Once out of Cookeville I was back in the countryside all the way to Murfreesboro.  One great blessing was in Baxter.  I stopped to take some pictures in downtown and a young man began to ask about my ride.  I shared with him that I was raising funds for UFCCH Outreach.  He got excited about that because he was in the final stages of preparation and an Outreach right there in downtown Baxter.  He reached into his pocket and pulled out some cash and handed it to me.  He didn't even know how much it was and was not concerned about the amount.  I thanked him and pedaled off.  Awhile later when I stopped to refuel I was curious as to how much he had given me, it was $100!  What a blessing!

The day in the countryside was once again a lot of ups and downs with an elevation gain of over 3000 feet.  Murfreesboro was busy and offered a lot of services.  I was excited to find a Sports Nutrition shop, I needed to restock by Energy Gel supply.  The Gel I got in Knoxville was terrible so I longed for some chocolate GU.  I made sure to stock up for the hills ahead.

A final blessing was dinner with Josh and his wife.  It was an awesome meal and time of catching up.  Just lived in Gainesville and quite awhile before moving to Tennessee.  He would join us for various UFCCH Activities and Gator Games.  It was a great way to finish out Day 4!

GTD ‘22 Extra Time

GTD '22 Extra Time

DAY 1

After stopping GTD '22 short in south Florida it was decided that I would set a date to go to Ft. Myers, FL to catch the Key West Express to Key West then ride back to Ft. Myers.  That Plan had to be changed after a hurricane ravaged Ft. Myers and shut down the Key West Express.

Plan B was to go to Florida City, FL and ride 2 days to Key West and then return to Florida City via the same Route.  I called my friend Rolando in Miami and shared my new Plan with him.  He was excited and wanted to ride half of Day 1 with me.  

After finishing all the planning and preparations I loaded up my Trek and set out for Florida City.  I decided to switch to my Trek for the 4 day ride.  I added a 15L seat pack to my Trek so I could carry all that I needed.

Though the drive was long I was excited to get to Florida City and excited to ride a Route I had never ridden.  After a good nights rest I got up early to go to SB to get some egg bites and an iced coffee.  Before leaving the hotel I met a group of guys who were riding to Key West as well.  The only difference is that they were going to do it all in one day.  They had a SAG vehicle that would follow them and transport them back after finishing.  

After SB I checked out of my room and waited in the hotel parking lot for Rolando, he was right on time!  After a travel prayer we set for Key Largo to meet up with CCH Gon4th Kelly for a late Breakfast.  It was so awesome to see her and catch up on life and family and faith.  It was cool that her work intersected with Rolando's work so they had fun talking shop a bit.

After saying goodbye to Kelly we set out for Robbies at Islamorada, that would be our lunch spot and where Rolando's wife would pick him up.  Before our stop though Rolando's son would meet up with us to shoot some drone footage while we were riding, it was so cool to see what he produced in such a short time. 

We had a great time at lunch, Robbies is a great place on the water.  After lunch Rolando and family set out for Miami and I set out for Marathon.  The ride to the hotel was great.  Some road, some trail, lots of water.  

I am looking forward to riding the Seven Mile Bridge tomorrow on the way to Key West.  Of course I will have to ride to the Southern Most Point of the US and check out Key West.

GTD '22 The Ride

 THE TREK TO PENSACOLA

Sunday, May 15, 2022

Brad and I loaded up our bikes and gear, we were ready to head to Pensacola to begin GTD '22 The Ride.  Thiago are driver was excited about delivering us to Pensacola, eyeballing Pensacola Beach and returning home.  

The drive was uneventful till just outside of Pensacola when a terrible storm broke out.  Hard rain, wind, lightening, hail...it was very unnerving for Thiago as well as us.  We found a place off the Interstate to shelter from the hail for a bit.  After the hail ceased, we made our way into Pensacola to our hotel.  Thiago helped us unload and get to our room then he set out to spend the night with relatives.  

Brad and I made heads and tails of all our stuff and loaded up as much as possible so that we could set out after the sun woke up the next morning.  The night before the start of a Ride is a restless night because of everything that is running through your mind.  All in all it was a decent nights rest.

Monday, May 16, 2022

Day 1 of any GTD Ride is putting into practice everything that was practiced during training.  We woke up early and decided that the Starbucks next to the hotel would be our breakfast, THANKS to everyone who blesses my GTD Rides with Starbucks Cards!  We got a breakfast item and iced coffee.  We took a photo or two then headed south on 98 to Pensacola Beach.  The bridge from Pensacola to Gulf Breeze was awesome, I love riding bridges and along the water.  Another shorter bridge led us to Pensacola Beach where Thiago surprised us.  He was waiting in the Pensacola Beach Parking Lot as we approached, he wanted to see us before he headed back to Gainesville.  We chatted a bit then carried on with our journeys.

It was energizing riding along the Gulf on 399.  We went through the Gulf Islands National Seashore, there is nothing there except the ocean, dunes, birds....  Before crossing over the Santa Rosa Sound on 399 we stopped at Tom Thumb for some cold fluids.  We crossed the Sound and headed east on 98.

For lunch we decided to stop in Mary Esther to eat and enjoy a hydromassage at Planet Fitness.  The hydromassage was awesome, the lunch options at the Santa Rosa Mall Food Court were limited so we got a little something and continued our trek to Miramar Beach.

Riding through Destin is always exciting as the traffic picks up.  Fortunately, the bike lane is decent.  Brad decided he needed some gloves so we made our way to Robin's Bikes & Fitness, what a great shop with great people.  Brad bought some gloves then we headed to our hotel.  After checking in and cleaning up we went downstairs for dinner.  After dinner we looked at the Route for the next day and called it a night.  Day 1 went well PTL!

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

We were excited for Day 2 until I realized I had a flat tire.  I had the tools and tubes so no worries right?  I had never changed a flat on my Salsa, wow!  It was so difficult to get the tire off and on after inserting a new tube.  I began to inflate with a CO2 and I realized I hadn’t gotten the tube situated in the tire right.  It pinched and went flat.

I realized I would need to go to Robin’s and seek help.  Robin is amazing!  These tires are extremely difficult to deal with but he has great experience.  He put in a new tube and gave me some tips if this should happen again.

I let Brad know I was on my way back so he was ready to roll to Lynn Haven once I loaded up.

It was another day of riding along the Gulf.  As we entered popular areas for tourists the car and foot traffic picked up.  We stopped for lunch at a popular street market, it took awhile to get food.  Due the late start I was feeling some pressure because we had dinner plans w/ Marc, Luci & Andrea.

The ride through Seaside, Laguna Beach and Panama City Beach were nice but busy.  Once we crossed the bridge into Panama City on our way to Lynn Haven we were immersed in city traffic which was fine when we had a bike lane.  The last few miles to Marc’s we were without a bike lane, it was a bit tight at tines.  I finally could relax when we turned into his subdivision.  We timed it just right, we met Marc at the Gate.

We got to the house, got settled, got cleaned up and then headed out to dinner.  It was great to see Andrea again, Josh stayed home on kid duty.

After dinner we slept like babies!   

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

After a couple of days of good riding Brad decided to not only ride but drive Support.  After an awesome breakfast Marc took Brad to pick up a rental vehicle and I started pedaling toward Mexico Beach where we could connect with family for an early lunch.  The ride out of Lynn Haven was much nicer than the ride in, I will remember this route for future rides into Lynn Haven.

After a resupply stop I began the ride through Tyndall AFB, it was awesome!  I got to see all kinds of planes doing all kinds of maneuvers.  As much as I enjoy the airshow each time I ride through I know that no services are available till leaving the Base.  I entered Mexico Beach and found Larry & Sherry outside the Coffee Shop.  Brad had just arrived so it was perfect timing for coffee, muffins and fellowship.

After visiting for a bit and being spoiled by Larry & Sherry it was time to pedal toward Apalachicola.  Brad and I made a plan for the afternoon.  He would go ahead of me for a bit and then with about 20 miles to ride he would go park at the hotel and ride back to meet me and ride into Apalachicola.  The plan worked well and I was happy to have company the final 5-10 miles, I was feeling a bit tired.

After checking in and cleaning up we went out for an awesome dinner in the quaint Apalachicola downtown area.  Tomorrow we will leave the coast and head inland to Tallahassee.

Thursday, May 19, 2022

I knew today was going to be a long, challenging ride into Tallahassee so I started out around 5am.  The ride across the East Bay in the moonlight was spectacular.  Once in Eastpoint I found a convenience store and grabbed some breakfast.  This morning would be the last time I rode along the coast till Cocoa Beach so I soaked it in.  

As much as I missed riding along the coast the ride up 319 was nice, until 20 miles outside of Tallahassee.  It was getting hot and hilly.  I stopped for fluids and a shot of Protein before hitting the roller coaster into Tally.  Brad went on to park at the hotel and caught up with me at Dunkin in Tally, I was enjoying AC and a Refresher.  

The last 20 miles were brutal so I was so happy to see the long downhill on 90 that would take us right to the hotel.  I knew that after a rough afternoon I would be ready to get off the bike, clean up and find some awesome food to refuel for tomorrow's ride to Live Oak.  All tasks were accomplished and a good night's sleep was had by all.

Friday, May 20, 2022

Today's ride on 90 was a repeat of a couple of other GTD days so I knew what was to come.  Lots of countryside and small towns that included a climb up to the center point of each town.  The ride on 90 through Monticello, Greenville and Madison is one of my favorites in the state.  I knew that I would hit the McDonalds in Madison for lunch, it was where I sat out a bad thunder and lightening storm during GTD '08.

Brad caught up with me just after daylight so I let him know about the plan for lunch.  Before lunch though I made a Dollar General (DG) stop in Greenville.  It's so awesome to have so many DGs in small towns that I cycle through.  We met up at McDonalds for lunch then I began the push to Live Oak.  After Brad parked at the hotel and rode back to me we realized that a storm was brewing and we would need to push it to get to the hotel before it broke loose.  We made it just in time!  Shortly after checking in the heavens opened up, we were happy to be safe inside.

The storm passed so we checked out a Steakhouse that was new to me, it was awesome.  After dinner we chatted about the next day's Plan.  Brad would have to go on early to return the vehicle to the Rental Company in Gainesville.  Before doing so he would have to transition all of our stuff from the Rental to his truck.  

Saturday, May 21, 2022

Today's ride to Gainesville was also a GTD repeat ride.  I knew there wasn't much between Live Oak and Lake City other than a convenience store stop to resupply.  In Lake City I would use my Starbucks Card for food and drink.  After that I would ride 441 into Gainesville.  

Brad transitioned everything to his truck and returned the Rental.  When he met up with me on 441 I told him that I wanted to introduce him to Conestogas in Alachua, it would be an epic lunch stop.  Until then I would enjoy the countryside ride down 441 and through High Springs.  We met up in the parking lot across from Conestogas and enjoyed a great lunch.

My mileage was good so after lunch I decided to ride in the truck with Brad to my house.  Once there I greeted C and began the process of unloading my stuff from Brad's truck, he would be heading out to meet up with his family for some well deserved R&R in FL.  I would stay home for a few days to make sure C was taken care of and then set out for south Florida.  I was looking forward to the time with C, time off the bike and taking care of preparations for the next leg of the GTD '22 journey.

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

After a few days of making sure C was set and I was prepared for the second half of my Ride I set out for The Villages.  After a Starbucks stop I continued down 13th St. which is 441.  After passing UF there are a mix of businesses and mostly local hotels before Paynes Prairie.  Paynes Prairie is a really nice ride now that road construction is complete.  The new asphalt is awesome as is the extended bike lane.  I always enjoy spotting gators, birds, wild horses....  After Paynes Prairie it's a mix of countryside and small towns until The Villages.  This allows for resupply as needed.  

I arrived at the hotel and contacted the Jenkins from Fairway CC to see what plans were in place for the evening.  Dinner at a Mexican Restaurant and visitation was on the Agenda.  Morgan is an avid bike rider so she was interested in the Ride and I was interested in their upcoming RV Trip West.  We had a great dinner and time of visitation before returning back to the hotel.  Tomorrow I will continue down 441 to Apopka and stay at my mom's house.

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

I rested well so I was ready to hit the road early.  I stopped at the Starbucks on the way out of The Villages for breakfast.  I knew the Route well so I had in mind where I would stop for lunch and what Starbucks were along the way so I could enjoy some iced coffee.

Passing through Lady Lake and Fruitland Park seems to take no time at all but Leesburg seems to take forever!  The upside to Leesburg is the abundance of everything.  The Starbucks just past the College is always a good caffein refueling spot.  There are some decent ups and downs going past Mount Dora before the final mostly flat stretch through Zellwood which leads into Apopka.   Zellwood always brings to mind the Sweet Corn Festival we attended years back, great food and entertainment.

Once in Downtown Apopka it's not much further to mom's.  She is always relieved when I arrive safely, which I did.  We grabbed some dinner after I cleaned up and then spent some time on the Route to Cocoa Beach, it looks as though I will be off road some.  Looking forward to that!

Thursday, May 26, 2022

I enjoyed my time at mon's but I departed early in order to avoid some of the downtown Orlando traffic.  I hit up a Dunkin' Donuts in College Park before weaving my way through neighborhoods that led me to an awesome Greenway that led me to East Orlando.    I haven't spent a lot of time in East Orlando so I was pleasantly pleased to be introduced to a new self contained community before heading out into the countryside.

Before the countryside though my Google Maps Route led me off road on a powerline trail.  I had to navigate a fence or two before returning to the road.  I was on paved and gravel roads cutting through farmlands and then I came upon road construction that shut down the road.  The workers indicated that they could help me negotiate a path around and continue on.  One of the workers asked why I was riding on a Private Road.  I showed him my Google Maps Bike Route and he said Google Maps shouldn't have directed me down that road.  The other workers waved me through so I hurried along and rode the last 3 miles to Hwy. 50.  It was getting warm so I was so excited to see a convenience store shortly after getting on 50.  I was craving some ice cold root beer so I loaded up my insulated mugs and set out for Cocoa Beach.  

I have ridden this stretch of road before, nothing too exciting.  I did enjoy an iced coffee at Starbucks before checking into my hotel and letting Marvin and Pam know that I had arrived, they were going to pick me up for dinner.

Dinner with Marvin & Pam was great, they have been so supportive of all my GTD Rides.  I have enjoyed riding with Marvin a time or two throughout the years.  After dinner I made sure all that needed charging was plugged in and I drifted off to sleep.  Tomorrow I will make my way down the coast just past Vero Beach.

Friday, May 27th, 2022

Overnight I was getting reports of tropical storm weather moving into south Florida.  I also double checked my Route and saw that it would be a 92 mile ride to Port St. Lucie.  Because of that I decided on early to bed early to rise.  

I departed Cocoa Beach around 2:30am and began my trek down the Atlantic Coast in the dark.  After about an hour I stopped at Circle K for a donut and a Monster Loca Moca.  After about another I hour I stopped at Planet Fitness for a hydromassage.  Neither stop energized me like I had hoped so I knew a 92 mile day on my loaded gravel bike would be quite the challenge.  I had alerted a friend in Vero Beach that I might need to call on him for some help, I did.  He was able to assist me in getting to my hotel in Port St. Lucie.

As Mama C and I  monitored the storm we decided it best to not ride into it and make a plan for GTD '22 Extra Time sometime in the Fall or Winter.  It was a bummer to stop at this point but it was the best decision.  In the next day or two friends from south Florida were writing saying that they missed seeing me but glad that we had made the decision to play it safe.

GTD '22 had some awesome aspects to the ride.  Riding with Brad from Pensacola to Gainesville was cool.  Visiting CCH Alumni in Lynn Haven and then family in Mexico Beach was awesome.  Seeing my family in Orlando and then time with Marvin & Pam was awesome.  My Trail Angel in Vero Beach was quite the blessing!

Now it's time to begin thinking about GTD '22 Extra Time and GTD '24 which is tentatively set for Michigan.

Thanks to everyone who Supported my Ride financially and prayerfully.  Thanks to everyone who took care of me along the way and encouraged me day by day.  Lord willing there is more to come.

GTD '22 Training Week

 Early March Thiago (Brazil) and I set out for East Tennessee & Virginia to see family and friends and do some GTD '22 Training on the Virgina Section of the Trans America Bike Route.

Saturday some friends treated us to a Firetower Hike at Bays Mtn. State Park, very challenging and beautiful.

After Sunday worship at Boones Creek CC we visited friends at Grace CC in Kingsport before I began a short ride (36 miles) from Kingsport, TN to Abingdon, VA.  I ride and Thiago supports me in the vehicle.  After departing Kingsport we met up in Bristol, TN to "talk Route" before entering Virginia and proceeding to Abingdon.  It was a nice ride and ended up in the Hampton Inn Parking Lot.  After settling in and cleaning up we headed out to enjoy hydromassage at Planet Fitness and dinner.  It was a good start to the GTD '22 Week of

Mornings come early during any multi day Bike Ride or Training Week.  Breakfast 5:30am or 6am.  Load up and then begin riding or driving to where the ride will begin.  Day 2 began in Damascus, VA and it was chilly which was okay with me.  I knew after leaving Damascus there would a lot of climbing up to Mt. Rogers then after that there it would be downhill with occasional bumps all the way to Ft. Chiswell.  The ride was beautiful and challenging.  Riding along the river was great.  No real problem with traffic but I was without cell service for several hours so Mama C got concerned.  Once back in range I debriefed her the previous hours.  I shared with her about the Trail spottings and crossings I encountered.  For awhile the Virginia Creeper Trail was alongside me and I crossed over the Appalachian Trail at least once.

After riding through Rural Retreat I found an awesome lunch spot on the corner of Main St. and Lee Highway, The Dutch Pantry.  I had an awesome sandwich and root beer.  Thiago found me but wasn't hungry because he had been snacking as he was driving.  The ride through Wytheville brought back memories of my East Coast Bike Ride when I passed through, riding south, on my way to Kingsport, TN.

Between Wytheville and Ft. Chiswell there was nice countryside but a nasty long climb after Max Meadows.  I was happy to reach the top and then cruise in to the Hampton Inn just past I 81.  No sooner did I get settled under cover in the entryway when the heavens opened up and it began to rain hard.  Thiago pulled up shortly thereafter and we moved in once the rain lightened up.  We got cleaned up, went out for dinner and then called it a night.  It was a good day on the Trans Am Bike Route.

Day 3 started off with a temperature of 29F.  Cold but no problem because my cold weather gear is awesome.  I was excited about today because we would be meeting up with Phil Parker and family for lunch in Christiansburg.  The ride to Christiansburg was really nice and included a fair amount of ups and downs.  It was about 10 miles outside of Christiansburg when I encountered Evergreen Rd., the first stretch of road where I had to dismount and push because it was so steep.  After pushing for about 20 yards or so I was able to start riding again.  Phil and I were texting so that he would know when to arrive at the Restaurant.  After Evergreen Rd. there were quite a few hills on the way to the Restaurant but that didn't set our lunch time back too much.

Lunch with Phil and family was awesome, always great to have time with Phil.  I have known Phil since he was an Elementary School Camper at the Christian Camp in East Tennessee.  Phil and family served in Thailand for many years and I had the great opportunity to visit them twice there.  Now Phil is serving International Students at Virginia Tech so catching up and sharing about ministry is always something I look forward to.

Phil gave me a preview of what the Route looked like between Christiansburg and Catawba, it sounded challenging but really nice countryside.  It was challenging but in a different way than the day before.  The day before there were long ascents and descents.  This day it was a lot of short steep climbs followed by short descents so there never was a lot of recovery time.  Finally, about 5 miles outside of Catawba Thiago and I met up, loaded up and drove over the mountain to Salem.  

Salem is home to many family on my wife's side.  Thiago and I met up with Uncle Tom for dinner, it was great fun!

The next morning was wet.  We hit Planet Fitness for a hydromassage then drove to Catawba to begin the ride to Lexington.  The day was overcast but no rain at this time.  That all changes as I approached Troutville.  It was more like a hard mist instead of a hard rain.  I met Thiago at Sheetz for something hot to drink and a snack.  After Sheetz I missed a left turn and rode an extra few miles.  Once I saw I 81 ahead of me I turned back and found the turn I missed.  

There was some really nice countryside riding on the way to Buchanan.  There I made a plan with Thiago to meet him in Natural Bridge where we would turn off the busy Lee Highway and head out to the countryside.  

The countryside was nice but I was excited to be approaching Lexington, the home of VMI.  The city of Lexington looked very much like a college town, it was a cool surprise.  The city led me right through the heart of VMI, really cool!  I rejected back to the time Celeste and I were at VMI to share in her cousin Kevin’s wedding, good times.  By now the sky was looking angry and the traffic was picking up.  I climbed a hill and crossed over the Interstate and found Euby Tuesdays, this would be our dinner and stopping spot for the day.  Thiago caught up with me and I introduced him to the Ruby Tuesdays Garden Bar, it was great.  After dinner we made our way to our hotel for a good night’s rest because tomorrow is the climb up Mount Vesuvius!

After a good night’s rest it was time to tackle Mount Vesuvius!  We drove to the church at the base of Vesuvius and I got everything together and mounted my trusty steed.  Before the trip I considered changing out my rear cassette for a 11x30 but didn’t.  Not sure if a 30 would made a huge difference but the 11x28 I was running was truly insufficient.  

I rode the first mile and thought to myself, “this is ok”. Just after that thought I hit the wall.  What a grade, what a climb.  I soon was off the bike pushing.  Thiago came alongside me and I let him know I needed to change to my running shoes.  After the shoe switch I pushed until I could ride again which was toward the top.  I was elated to see the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) Bridge, I made it!  It took me 1 hour and 15 minutes to cover approximately 3 1/2 miles.

I started on the BRP and pulled off at the first Overlook to switch back to cycling shoes.  Thiago was loving the beauty and amazed that I pushed up most of Vesuvius instead of hitching a ride.  I told him TABR riders had to do it so I had no choice but to get to the top no matter how long it took or how difficult it was.

I loved the ride on the BRP!  It was tough but fair.  Challenging climbs and awesome descents.  I had been in touch with the Bike House in Afton and scheduled a visit so we could immerse ourself in TABR history, it was awesome to see room after room of notes and memorabilia from TABR Racers and Riders from all over the world.  

After soaking in the history and chatting with the Bike House Caretaker we determined it was time to get riding again.  I wanted to get to Charlottesville by 4 or 5pm so we could load up and head off route to my brother’s house in Powhatan.  After leaving the Bike House I chose the wrong fork in the road and went down past some trailers and barking dogs before I realized my mistake.  I turned around and rode back up past the trailers and barking dogs to the correct fork in the road.

After a screaming downhill descent past the Afton PO that many TABR racers have slept in, the Route  leveled out a bit before starting the continuous climb to White Hall.  I didn’t stop at the White Hall Store but as soon as I spotted it I was taken back to the scene in “Inspired to Ride” where TABR ‘14 Winner Mike Hall stopped in to refuel and chat with the locals.  RIP Mike!

After a lot of ups and downs and a missed turn just before tge Charlottesville City Limit I met up with Thiago and we loaded up and headed toward my brother’s house.  All in all it was a good day despite a couple of missed turns.  The ride on the BRP and the visit to the Bike House offset the missed turns frustration.

After a great dinner with my brother and his family we called it a night so we could get up extra early to drive to Kents Store to begin the ride to Mechanicsville.

After stopping for petrol and a drive thru breakfast we made our way to Kents Store which is in the countryside.  We arrived and found a gravel lot to park in while I got everything together to begin my next to the last days ride.

I set out and enjoyed the scenery on this cool morning.  After a brief encounter with a few small dogs I saw the next city ahead of me.  Something didn’t seem right and that was confirmed when I saw Welcome to Palmyra, I had ridden west instead of east!  Not sure how I got turned around but I did.  I immediately called Thiago and let him know I had messed up and needed him to come get me.  While waiting for him at a store I restocked my snacks and studied the map.

Thiago arrived and I loaded my bike on the rack and we headed back to Kents Store.  We returned to the same gravel lot and I unloaded my bike and began pedaling east. After a bit I crossed under I 64 and enjoyed a scenic ride through Mineral, VA, to my lunch stop at the Elk Creek country Store.  Lunch was awesome!  I addressed some saddle sore issues after lunch and began the push to Mechanicsville where we would meet up with my uncle and nephew.  

Right away I was riding through some fingers of Lake Anna, it was beautiful.  As the ride went on I was starting to feel the effects of the extra miles I rode to Palmyra.  As the day went on and I arrived in Ashland I decided to stop at a Starbucks for a boost and call it a day so we could get to my uncle’s house at dinner time.

Shortly after arriving and unloading we got cleaned up and waited a few minutes on my nephew who was riding up from the Yorktown area.  He was going to ride with me to the Victory Monument in Yorktown the next day.  It was long before he arrived and was ready to head out to dinner.  We had an awesome Mexican meal!  

We awoke the next morning to rain, wind, lightening and to a temperature that was falling, snow was in the forecast.  As much as we hated ti we decided just to drive the Route to the Monument. It wasn’t all bad, we had a great visit.  We arrived at the Monument, parked and walked over to see it up close.  It was cold, windy & freezing!  We viewed the Monument for a few minutes and rushed back to the warmth of the car.

We took my nephew to his vehicle and then we went out to lunch.  After lunch and saying goodbye Thiago set out for a hotel that was just off the Interstate.  On the way the snow started falling and Thiago got excited.  After checking into the hotel he took some time to enjoy the snow while I settled in for the night and processing the week of riding the Trans America Bike Route through much of Virginia.

After a week of riding the drive home had a different rhythm.  Pedaling had been replaced with driving. Covering 68 miles a day was replace with covering lots of ground through several states.  The drive home was was broken up with an early dinner date with CCH Alumni.  It was a great dinner and time of visitation.  We didn’t visit too too long because we had another 3 hours to drive.  It was great to get back to Gainesville, drop Thiago off, get home, unload and see Celeste.  We chatted a bit about the week’s journey and faded off for a good nights rest.

The week of riding was challenging but awesome.  It was great to see family and friends along the way. Thiago was a rockstar as he supported me the entire way.  Overall it was a great journey for the both of us.

Looking forward to the next one!