deCycles Southeast America 2014
Journal Entry
Day 10 ... Monday, June 30

Start: St. Augustine, FL

End: Brunswick, GA

Distance: 124-miles.

Terrain: Flat, coastline.

Climate: Mid-90s, humid, sunny, hot.  Moderate to stiff headwinds.

Have you ever done a 12-hour workout in a gym?  That's half a day!!  Yep, that's what these courageous riders did today.  On the road at 6:00am and off the road at 6:00pm.  It was mentioned they would burn around 8000-calories.  My computer calculated 7900-calories and I didn't pull out front.  So those riders in front of the group burnt even more calories.  Several riders are showing significant weightloss.  They look great.  And they are riding strong.  Today was a stellar day.  Everything worked well on the road.  There was a minor spill for one rider and another spent time in the SAG wagon due to being unable to keep up with the pace.  But all the other riders are transforming into powerful people.  The road support crew also had their best day.  Maybe it's because everyone had to put on their gameface to cover 124-miles in headwinds.  We were well rested and focused on doing what needed to be done.  

We left Florida behind.  It's still hot, but not the blistering heat we've had all the way from Key West.  Our route south of Jacksonville and on Amelia Island was breathtaking.  Large trees covered in spanish moss dominated the landscape.  Despite the distance, we had a charming ride.  Our big challenge of the day was climbing the bridge just south of Brunswick.  It was our highest climb on the trip so far at 227-ft.  Upon arrival at the Methodist Church here in downtown Brunswick, several members were waiting to feed us a spaghetti meal and shuttle us to showers at the local YMCA.  The student and adult riders are bewildered at the pure generosity of the church communities along the way.  And today is no exception.  

Norm & Cricket went on a $400 food run at a super Walmart and got lost when trying to return to the church.  The phone died and the GPS blipped.  So we ping-ponged around the city for about an hour before finding our way back.  That was the only glitch of the day. Everything worked like clockwork and you can be proud of these riders.  All the group leaders are doing a bang up job.  The police escort on I-95 for 2-miles was a first.  A bridge was under construction, so we had no other alternative route.  So a county sheriff and four Florida state police  squad cars blocked the right northbound lane on I-95 across the state line.  They really helped us in a pinch.  They seemed eager to help after understanding what these kids were all about.  The deCycles have had to take interstates in the past for short distances, but this was the first police escort on one of the busiest interstate highways in the United States.  The officers were greatly impressed with the student-riders and their behavior and discipline.

It's late ... time for bed.  Pedaling 124-miles is called a "super-century and is always a challenge for anyone.....especially with a headwind and temps in the mid-90s.   The riders are so excited for only having to ride 80-miles tomorrow.  80-miles 2-months ago would have been unthinkable.  Look how things have changed.  An 80-mile day seems like easy stuff. Perceptions can be changed.

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