deCycles Southeast America 2014
Journal Entry
Day 11 ... Tuesday, July 1

Start: Brunswick, GA

End: Savannah, GA

Distance: 83-miles.

Terrain: Flat, inland riding.  Slight variable winds.

Climate: Mid-90s, humid, sunny, hot.

Many compliments were showered on the riders this morning.  That worries me!  Usually when the compliments are abound, a letdown can occur and the day can turn ugly.  Much of our drama today occurred in the last 10-miles before arriving in Savannah.   Gibson Oliver rubs tires with Katie Ellison.  Gibson goes down and takes out Madeleine Pelzel and Daylen Ramusack.  All three were OK except for some scrapes and roadrash.  Gibson had to obtain another helmet.  Madeleine took a hit to her left elbow which had been previously bothering her, resulting in further weakness and some tremors for unknown reasons.  We checked it out and determined a visit to the ER would help diagnose the root cause of her persistent left arm weakness. She is on her way back to our group as I write this.  It appears things are OK but we'll have to wait for all the tests to come back.  Also falling today was JD Night after a spoke popped and he lost control.  He is OK also.

The deCycles averaged 17.5-mph today covering 83-miles.  We were pushed by the draft of the traffic.  That was the good part.  But we ate a lot of auto pollution.  This can really make us tired and listless.  The sun is relentless.  No clouds in the sky and every day on this trip has been in the mid to upper 90s with high humidity.  We knew that's what it was going to be before the trip, but was difficult to train in colder climates.

The Aldergate Methodist Church here has been greatly accommodating.  They offered snacks, water, T-shirts, and several other things for the riders.  After hose showers, the riders were shuttled down to the famous riverwalk and had supper.  Everyone had a good time and enjoyed the time off the bike.  

Everyone is transforming before our very eyes.  Doug Dayhoff, Ripley, Russum, Sam Durnil and several others have really lost a lot of weight.  The 10th day is usually the turnaround time for significant body changes.  You will not recognize them when they return in Bloomington on July 13.

Tomorrow we stay overnight on an aircraft carrier.  We're in the Navy now!!

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