Day 51: Sunday, 4/26/15 High Springs, FL (73º at 6:00 am with dew point of 71) to Palatka, FL (87º at 3:30 pm with a dew point of 71º) 85 miles, elevation changes: +1517/-1450.

Theme for the day:  The second to the last day of the ride with three types of weather today:

1. 1^st 30 miles, cloudy with occasional sun, humid and light tail wind ridden on pretty back country roads
2. Late morning 25 miles with scattered thunderstorms and some heavy rain showers ridden on a beautiful bike path through and around Gainesville
3. After lunch, last 30 miles ridden on FL Rt 20 East, clear with a few clouds, a strong tail wind, 10 – 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph, and hot with a few pretty views.

ONLY ONE DAY LEFT ON THE TRIP and 44 miles to ride to finish this cross country adventure.  I have loved the entire trip, all aspects of it. I am ready for it to come to an end tomorrow after 52 days. It’s time to go back home and to truly establish retirement patterns.

Bike stats: 84.6 miles ridden in 5 hours and 18 minutes of actual biking averaging 15.9 mph with a maximum speed of 32.3 mph.

Highlights of the day:

• Finishing the last high mileage day of 85 miles. I am in great shape to ride this type of day. I have grown to love these long days because of the satisfaction I feel when I complete them in a reasonable time. I rode the fastest today of the entire trip. The strong afternoon tail wind really helped.
• Biking in all the weather offered to our group today.
• Yesterday going canoeing on the Sante Fe River paddling 7 miles with Sam Hawkes. We saw lots of turtles out sunning on logs.
• The anticipation of the last day tomorrow. It is hard to believe that I am only 44 miles from completing this journey across country.

The beautiful canopied road that we rode on this morning before getting to greater Gainesville.

The beautiful bike path that we rode on through and around Gainesville before the thundershowers started.

A field of black eyed susans along FL Rt. 20 East after lunch and the thunderstorms were over.

FL 20 East the last 10 miles going into Palatka, FL.

At the canoe launch site with Sam Hawkes who paddled bow of our canoe just before starting our paddle of 7 miles along the Sante Fe River.

Here’s our group paddling on the river.

We saw MANY turtles out sunning on the logs in the river.

Make it a great day!

John