East Coast Greenway Ride

Beth, Sandy, and Randy are checking the map twice.  Sandy and Beth ride the first 20 miles, then Randy and I take on the next 20.  Sarah spent the day with Jeff and Lauren. East Coast Greenway roads have narrow shoulders or no shoulders in places.  This road has an ECG sign right under the pedestrian sign.  We all chose our magic sleds for this section. The roads got better on the way to the ferry across the St. John's river and we all loaded up for the 5-minute crossing The pelicans were not that impressed but we were! Randy and I continued on trails that were a delight to ride.   One day perhaps the whole route will be this kind of trail.  Right now only about 35% of the Greenway is a trail. The views of the Atlantic were mesmerizing. Randy and I finished our ride on Amelia Island and soon we were on the road, leaving Florida and headed to our campsite in Brunswick, Ga.

As we proceeded northward in Florida, my birthday coincided with our arrival at the Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth discovered centuries ago.  It is still providing refreshment and that dream (fantasy?) of reclaiming our youth.  I was pumped! I imbibed the magic elixir and waited impatiently for my youth to return.  Then I was informed that it would take 24 hours.   It has been a long 24 hours.  Three streams were gushing from the fountain, and I chose the middle one.  I think it was the placebo. Canopied streets draped with Spanish Moss (neither Spanish nor moss) ringed the area around the 500-year-old site.   Peacocks strolled the grounds and were quite vocal about our trespassing. A demonstration of the cross-bow showed how the Spanish dominated their lands.  Explorers used older weaponry during their travels since funds were scarce and these weapons were cheap.  They had few cannon and a few powder muskets that were more finic...

  The sunrise was worth bowing to from our campsite in Melbourne on the Atlantic.  However, as sailors note, "Red sky in the morning...sailor take warning!"   As we started out in the morning in the magic sleds, the sky revealed its plans.  We were glad to be driving, and what could be better than a lighthouse tour in St. Augustine! It was a thousand steps to the top ( or maybe it was 100!), but the views of St. Augustine and nearby homes were awesome. The lighthouse museum was loaded with a history of sailing and boat models from earlier times. Here is a shop on site where boat building was performed.  Overall, a good rainy day excursion.

  We awoke to a quiet foggy morning hoping to find some breakfast.  As it turns out we weren't the only ones looking for breakfast. On the road again, it was slightly comforting to see that the road crews were thinking of us and reminding drivers that we were also on the road.  Road work ahead seemed to force the cars to share the bicycle lane so that was slightly uncomforting. And we all had to share the road with the land crabs.  They must have been taking a break because we didn't see any.  Some of us rode 20 miles and others 30 + miles. When we reached the Melbourne RV park right on the beach, Sarah and Randy immediately got chased by rogue waves.  The water temp was perfect and everyone was enjoying the Atlantic. Sarah, Randy, and Beth stock a Sandhill crane that soon had enough of the game and took flight. We all continued a mile walk on the beach to rendezvous with the Ocean 321 restaurant for dinner. We had a fine dinner including octopus prepared b...

 One of the great things about RVing is meeting new neighbors every day.  Here Sandy is sharing with John and Vivian, the plans of the day as were are about to embark on Palm Beach, Fl. Palm Beach lake trail led us through manicured hedges and views of the harbor. Shade was abundant and we took it all in. US 1 lured us further north over the Palm Beach port. A late lunch brought us to the Loggerhead beach grill for a tasty mahi-mahi salad and great times. After a 67 mile ride along a busy US 1, we ended at the Fort Prince RV resort.  As the sun headed over the horizon, the gator hunters started their stroll.