Periodic Progress Report Southern Tier Cross-Country Bicycle Tour

Date(s): Nov. 17, 1999
Day: Wednesday
From: Live Oak, FL
To: High Springs, FL
Lodging: O'Leno State Park
Segment Mileage: 57.1
Cumulative Mileage: 3388.6
Actual Riding Time: 4:30
Average Speed: 12.6
Weather: Very cold morning, warm mid day
Temp: 70's

We huddled around the fire this morning trying to warm up as it was nearly freezing when we awoke. It was almost a continuous fire from the night before when it was also cold and we wanted to stay up late. We heard that there would be a meteorite shower at 9pm, and a few of us were looking but we didn't see any shooting stars. This morning most of us took our time to get on the road, except for Spike who said it was too cold not to ride. He's a special case as he's the only one without a sleeping bag and he says it's usually warmer outside his tent than in. I left late and it was still freezing. Like others I was wearing most of my bike clothes: jacket, fleece, nylon vest, jersey, rain paints, tights, shorts, and two pair of glove liners with bike gloves. At one point I stopped to bask in the sun and warmed up enough to feel my fingers and toes and continued on. In Wellborn I stopped to check email and met up with Oliver and we rode together for the rest of the way. Once it warmed up it was a beautiful Fall day, a little cool but with a warm sun. We passed through farm country with lots of dairy and cattle farms, riding at an easy pace, side by side, discussing highlights of the trip and what our plans are for the future.

Just outside Ichetcknee Springs State Park we met Bruno and the three of us visited the park. There was a beautiful, crystal clear spring that fed a blue pond. Where the spring entered there was a large cave opening into which scuba divers often dive to explore the underwater caves. The water temperature is 73 degrees year round. We ate our lunch sitting in the sun, sharing a little with an orphan kitten that appeared to be living in the picnic area.

We're camped at another beautiful Florida state park, O'leno State Park, not far from Gainesville. We hauled groceries in from about 7 miles away, and Lynne, Janet, Cyndi and I had a brief paceline into camp, fighting the headwind all the way. Oliver had another mini disaster; one of his tent poles broke and now his tent is only half the size, with 2 poles instead of 3, despite Janet's best efforts to fix it. Later Oliver, Bruno, Cyndi and I went on an unsuccessful gator hunt along the Santa Fe river, said to be good alligator habitat. The river runs underground at the park and re-emerges several miles downstream. It is a beautiful spot with very clear water and a trail and several platforms overlooking the river. Just below the surface I spotted what I thought was a gar, a large fish with a long pointed snout.

After dinner we discussed the remaining days of the trip. We'll be eating in a few restaurants to splurge a little with our rainy day fund since we never had a rainy day. That's fine with me as tomorrow is my cooking day, a 60 mile ride to Micanopy.