In Transition

We are in transition here in Defuniak Springs, FL. This morning we convened at the Waffle House at 7 AM, forcing waffles and other fried foods down our gullets while bidding adieu to the intrepid week 6 crew of Liz, Walter, Chris and Curt. They have been a joy to have with us; we shall certainly miss their smiling faces and gung ho spirit. I then trundled them off to the spanking new Panama City Airport for their flight home.

Whatever prompted Carl and me to tell folks that it did not matter if they joined us in Panama City or Pensacola is a mystery. The two airports are 110 miles apart. So, having dropped off the week 6 crowd, Vanna and I sped off to pick up the week 7 crowd who were arriving in Pensacola. Bill Conway, Gina Tippit, Warren Morris and Jeff Fallon are riding with us this week to shepherd us across the state of Florida until we are able, next Saturday, to dip our front tires into the Atlantic Ocean. It is hard to believe that we only have one week left in our peripatetic peregrination.

The final ride for week six was a peaceful one which included a section of rail trail, a bucolic ride through quiet back roads and thru sleepy little hamlets with names like Holt, Milligan and Mossy Head. On the rail trail we met a new group of Southern Tier trekkers – Cleon, Paul and Kathy from Fort Collins, CO. The three retirees are in the final stages of a multi-year quest to ride all the perimeters of the USA. The have done the East Coast, the West Coast, the Canadian Border, and now are finishing up the Southern Tier. We rode with them for most of the day and they joined us for dinner in DeFuniak Springs.

Cleon rides a recumbent bike WITH A MOTOR ATTACHED! He had the motor installed this spring when he was rehabilitating from knee surgery and could not pedal very much. Nine months later he is pedaling just fine, but the motor stays on his bike. “The rehabilitation is going much more slowly than I had imagined” he says with a wink. With his electric motor, Cleon reminds me of the road runner in the old cartoons. You will be riding beside him, both pedaling away. Then he will see a car, push a button and rocket forward leaving you in a cloud of dust. Is a motor what the future holds in store for the rest of us?

We had a wonderful group dinner in the historic section of DeFuniak Springs at “ Bogeys “, an elegant yet reasonably priced establishment with images of the great Humphrey adorning the walls. In addition to our new friends, Carl’s sister Chris drove up from Panama City with her friend David. We got a little local color from them on DeFuniak Springs. It is known for its spring fed lake, purportedly one of only two perfectly round natural lakes in the world. It also has a Chautauqua Institute, based on the original in New York State and part of a national movement in the early years of the 20th century. Unfortunately for DeFuniak, the main building was destroyed by a Hurricane in 1975 and although some of the buildings remain, the Institute is only a fond memory.

All too soon, our trip will only be a fond memory. We have just one week and 425 miles left. That’s hard to believe. Then again, that we have been blessed with the opportunity to do this at all is hard to believe. So for one last rendition, we will let the good times roll. On to the Atlantic!

To see the progress of our ride up until November 13th, here is the link:
http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/ca/san%20diego/622128965175312017