After saying goodbye to the Bicycle House, we stopped for breakfast at a local coffee shop where we we met Glenn, his daughter and his dog. It seems like everyone we meet has been touched by Alzheimer’s.
We cycled through the FSU campus on our way to the Mission de San Luis Apalachee. When we got there, the entry looked like this: /. Almost straight up. This would be tough with unloaded bikes, but with an extra 60 pounds of gear...aye aye aye!
The mission was so worth the hill. The young women working there were charming and helpful. We toured the various buildings and watched someone preparing long needle pine needles for basket making.
Soon we were on our way. It was already blazing hot, and the hills seemed unending. We enjoyed scenic views of live oak covered spreads, that made the hills and heat bearable. We stopped for the Sunday seafood special at a diner in Chattahoochee, right on the Florida-Georgia border.
After dinner we enjoyed a picturesque downhill across the river, with views across to Georgia. We rose into darkness, first on a beautifully scenic road, then on a horrible road with no shoulder, and lots of honking traffic. We were so glad to finally make it to Marianna.
Total cycling mileage: 72
Total hiking mileage: 5
End of week 1