Periodic Progress Report Southern Tier Cross-Country Bicycle Tour

Date(s): Nov. 11, 1999
Day: Thursday
From: Blackwater River State Park, FL
To: De Funiak Springs, FL
Lodging: Juniper Lake Campgrounds
Segment Mileage: 56
Cumulative Mileage:
Actual Riding Time:
Average Speed:
Weather: Warm, sunny
Temp: Mid 80's

It was warmer than ususal this morning, with a layer of fog everywhere. Wanting to get to camp early today, a short 56 mile day, I was one of the first to leave. Lynne and I got to the entrance to the park, and the gate was locked so we had to drag our bikes under it to get on the road. It makes me wonder what happens when a camper has an emergency in the middle of the night.(I later found out that we were given a code for the padlock on the gate in case of emergency or early departure)

Even though Lynne and I usually ride at different paces, we decided to stick together as Jim had suggested that we ride with someone due to some unruly motorists the day before, when someone threw a Coke at Spike. Although there wasn't much scenery on the route, it was a good ride with a smooth road and wind at our backs. We stopped once for a sandwich in Crestview, and again at about mile 30 for a drink, where Spike caught us and he wasn't happy. Apparently he had told Lynne he would meet her at the gate and he had waited for a long while and was getting worried. It's surprising that we don't have more miscommunication with all the meeting times and rendevous points.

While Spike got some food, Lynne and I continued into De Funiak Springs where she went to look for a new jacket, having lost hers from her pannier the day before. The town was once part of the Chautauqua movement and there is a large building in town that was used as the headquarters. The Chautauqua Institute was started in New York to encourage cultural, educational, and religous activites among the general public. The building is located on the nearly circular lake. There is a road around the lake lined with beautiful restored Victorian homes and a huge magnolia tree at one end. I checked a few web pages at the library, one of the oldest in Florida, rode around the lake, then headed to camp. It's situated on Juniper Lake and we're camped on the grassy shore, a very pretty spot despite the fact that the owner told us not to set up too close to the shore because of the snakes and alligators: "This is Florida you know!"