Day 6 - into FL
We started early, with Bag Drag at 6:30 a.m. The hotel had no breakfast, but Buck Connally, our host last night, brought a bag of breakfast sandwiches from Hardees. These were very much appreciated. The weather at the start was 58 degrees with 6 mph winds from the north. We were wearing jackets or extra jerseys.
We were riding down and up hills again this morning. We coast downhill and let our speed get as high as is safe. We concentrate on the road ahead, watching for debris or potholes. We hear the rush of the air. At the bottom of a hill our speeds drop off and the noise of the passing air decreases. Then, as we ascend the next hill, we hear the sound of our own bicycles and others nearby as we change down into lower gears. Sometimes this is a smooth mechanical clicking, and sometimes it is an awful grinding noise as we struggle with the shifters. Rather than the rushing air, we hear the sound of labored breathing with the increased effort to get up the hill. At the top, we do it again.
Our first stop was at the First Baptist Church of Elba, Alabama. Here we met Bob Edmondson and his wife, Katy. Bob is a Navy veteran and a Mustang, retiring as a Lieutenant after 23 years of service. The church provided beverages and snacks. Perhaps because Bob is a Navy veteran, he knew to have coffee available: this has been lacking from many stops. We are gracious and make no comments about what is not offered. The head pastor of this church is a National Guard Chaplain and is currently away on Guard duty.
We have ridden past many farm animals, most of which have ignored us or perhaps stared disinterestedly at us. But at one farm, several mules saw us riding past and ran up to their wood fence, watching us go by. Their heads turned as we went by, and their large ears swiveled, listening to us. Clearly, these were not Army mules, as they were handsome and appeared to be very intelligent.
Today, we were divided into three groups to allow traffic to pass us more easily. Lunch was at another First Baptist Church, this one in Opp, Alabama. We were hosted by Pastor Cameron Crapps (yes, pronounced just like it is spelled), who heads the music ministry, and several other volunteers. We had sandwich rolls, cold cuts, cheese, potato chips, cookies, sweet tea, and unsweetened tea. Several of the volunteers were expecting us to arrive on motorcycles and were amazed that we rode as far as we did.
The temperature was 78 degrees at noon, and the winds were from the northeast at 10-18 mph. Opp, Alabama is noted for its rattlesnake rodeo where the snakes are caught and their venom collected, after which the snakes are released. Also, they are very proud of their High School Cheerleaders, who have won several national titles.
We enjoyed a tailwind for much of the afternoon. We were on some country roads with limited vehicles and often rode in parallel lines, with the pairs of riders chatting about various topics. Sometimes, we ride with old friends and talk about our days as Midshipmen, life together at different duty stations, or catch up on our families. Sometimes, we ride with new friends and learn about their lives and families. In the early afternoon, we stopped at our third First Baptist Church, this one in Florala, Alabama. Here, we enjoyed the air conditioning, beverages, and snacks.
We have found that southeast Alabama has a surplus of toilet paper, so some houses use it for exterior decorations. Some suggest that this use of toilet paper is important in teenage dating rituals or in high school football rivalries. We entered Florida and found this area to be very busy with people who had left central Florida to avoid the hurricane. We found that some county roads in Florida have asphalt paving that is very cracked and broken. Riding these is very uncomfortable. One rider's headlight vibrated off his handlebars on one of these roads. A following rider picked it up.
We had two late afternoon hydration stops in Florida before finishing after 105 miles in Crestview, Florida. This has been a very challenging day, with some rough roads and others full of traffic. On the other hand, the weather has been wonderful, with the temperature at 78 degrees at the end of the ride. We enjoyed blue skies and a tailwind. For many of us, these 105 miles have been a personal record for most miles in one day.
Dinner this evening was hosted by a new church supported by the Praetorium Project. The Pastor is Alex Chatman and with him this evening was his wife Kate. Other volunteers assisted, including Delarrion Milner, a 2018 graduate of the Air Force Academy. Dinner was from Sonny's Bar-be-que and dessert was ice cream from a Mister Softie truck.
Statistics:
105 miles; 3580 ft of climb; no flat tires; no falls.
Totals: 458 miles and 20,650 feet of climb.
Tomorrow's ride is the last day: 87 miles along the coast with only 1585 feet of vertical climb. Bag drag is at 7:30 a.m.
Darren Anderson