Update 21 - 4/6/01
We spent the last few days of March visiting relatives here in Jacksonville. In addition to hosting us for our visit here, George's Aunt Ruth has been our official "Tour Guide" for the area. We've seen lots of historic sights, including Fort Caroline, an attempt by the French to colonize the Americas that eventually failed.
On March 27th, we joined riders from the local Jacksonville bike club for a ride along the St. Johns River, mostly on scenic SR 13. We paused at Molasses Junction for a cool drink and stopped at an old church cemetery to see grave sites of relatives of one of the riders. His family has a very interesting history, going back to early Florida when they were held hostage and forced to work for farmers near Sarasota. Eventually they were able to win their freedom by walking to St. Augustine and getting help from the Governor.
As planned, we flew to Washington, DC to spend a few days with our daughter and grand daughters during their Spring Break. The city was just coming into bloom with cherry blossoms, and clearing weather gave our visit a real Spring feeling. We attended the Cherry Festival Parade and then made a valiant effort to see as much of the Smithsonian as possible in the time we had. It was a great visit and we look forward to our second trip through in late April as we head north along the East coast.
Sharon had to fly home again, to care for business and I returned to Jacksonville to spend a few more days with relatives before we continue our trip. I was honored to join local Jacksonville riders on their first "Thursday Night Ride" of the season. The route is on a rails-to-trails conversion that is absolutely beautiful, with arching trees and hanging moss creating a green tunnel for most of the route. Thanks to Jeanne for the loan of a bike to make the ride. Local riders here are preparing for the week long Bike Florida ride that starts in Titusville this weekend.
We will be saying good-bye to Florida in a few days. It has been a visit that we will never forget. We've ridden over 2500 miles in Florida, completing the entire Gulf Shore of the state and most of the Atlantic coast as well as crossing the state three times. We leave with a list of wonderful people and incredible places to visit again. Plans to get back here to enjoy this unique part of our great Country are already in the works.
We look forward to continuing our tour and hope you enjoy traveling along with us.
George and Sharon Miner
Vancouver Bicycle Club, Vancouver, Washington
2000 da Vinci Global Venture towing Bob Trailer
Free as the Wind - Our one year self-supported tandem tour of the USA, Mexico and Canada
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