It was 65 degrees and very foggy with no wind as we were loading our luggage. The guides deemed the fog had lifted enough for us to ride safely just before 8:00 and we were off for the 54-mile ride to Quincy. I had packed the PB&J for lunch and snacks for in between and filled the water bottles for the 5 hour ride and we bade good-bye to Marianna.
Immediately we were cycling in a breathtaking countryside bathed in the aromas of magnolia, freshly mown grass, pine forests, and honeysuckle. We passed fences laden with climbing roses, horse farms, large plantation homes surrounded by white fences, acres of well-managed pine trees, row after row of young tomato plants and fields plowed and ready for planting. We cycled under high canopies of trees on serene, untravelled roads.
We crossed the Chattahoochee River and cycled up a big hill as if it were a slight rise! My, how strong and accomplished we have become! Somewhere between Chattahoochee and Quincy, as we turned onto a new road, two handsome men in a spiffy Corvette appeared. It was Alvin Word, a CWOCN from Cleveland, TN, and his brother-in-law, Gary Smith. He had promised he would do his best to meet me on the route somewhere. Alvin drove 13 MPH beside me for 5 miles to the SAG stop, so we were able to have a good visit while I pedaled.
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| Alvin Word travel led from Gulfport, MS, where he had been on business, to catch up with me. More than a little out of his way back to Cleveland, TN |
At the SAG stop, he gave us some pink Coban and transparent film dressings to cover the various "owies" we have incurred and a case of bottled water. He has been a major donor to and fundraiser for Cycling for Scholarships, and it was such a compliment that he would drive so far out of his way to meet up. Shortly after they drove off to return to Tennessee, I saw the car coming back. One of our cyclists had told him about a big mean dog up the way. He had made a U-Turn and identified where it was and continued on back to warn Marge and me. Then he made another U-Turn to go back and run interference between us and that hateful hound. Dear Alvin.
The town of Quincy is lovely. We passed a unique variety of bayonet bush and went back to photograph it. The owners loved telling us that they had created it from styrofoam egg cartons. After we passed through town we were not sure we were on the right road, so we asked a man in a pickup truck. He assured us that we were but that the motel was "a far piece up the way, maybe 2 or 3 miles." He offered to put our bikes in the back of his truck and drive us out to the Hampton Inn. We thanked him but told him we needed to stop for lunch first!
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| I was startled by this unique version of a bayonet bush until I saw that the blossoms were made out of styrofoam egg cartons! |
We pedaled on and found a Chinese restaurant in the next block. I wolfed down a large plate of rice and vegetables and she had cashew chicken. We had several glasses of refreshing iced tea. A few hours after we got in and finished our laundry, it was time for Linda's delicious dinner of bean burritos and salad and the baklava Sean and Carol had brought us in Pensacola. No, siree, I didn't eat one! What a memorable day it was!
2809 miles behind us. 291 left to pedal. 6 days to go.
What a very cool, very fun day! And a knight in shining armor to boot!
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