April 22, 2023: Live Oak to High Springs, FL (Oleno State Park) – 56 miles and 820 feet of elevation

Today’s ride went fast, over country roads and into some forest before emptying us out into a state park. Since it was Saturday, there were more cars on the road around Ichetucknee Springs State Park, where the locals, armed with canoes, inner tubes, and kayaks had descended to take advantage of the bright spring like temperatures and clear skies. Apparently I was just a little too focused today on finishing the ride, so instead of enjoying the sink holes, springs, and eating places, I pressed on, only to find myself first at the camp, which is without a doubt a first for me. I’ve been accused of being a little too intense before, and I suppose that’s a pretty accurate statement. Some of the time it works in my favor, but other times, like today, I found myself wandering around a vacant campsite. I thought I might take up chasing squirrels or tracking bears, but a hiker told me to watch out for poison ivy, and be careful since the woods here are loaded with tics. (For some reason, I don’t think he works for the Park Service, but I do appreciate his honesty!).

A quick note about last night. If you will remember, we stayed in a barn-like structure in the county fairgrounds. In the middle of the night, I woke up to use the restroom. I returned back to the pitch dark room where everyone was sleeping and, winding my way around sleeping souls, attempted to find my sleeping bag. It was then that I noticed something strange. At the foot of my sleeping bag, I noticed a strange green light emanating from inside my gear bag. Naturally, I assumed that someone was planning an assassination attempt on my life, and had planted a bomb in my luggage, which was probably set to go off at any minute. (A natural assumption, right?). So, trying to avoid making too much noise to wake the other riders, I began digging through clothes to find the source of the light, hoping to save myself and the other riders from sudden catastrophe. In the dark, I felt for and found the usual things in the bag, such as socks, bike jerseys, etc…. It was then that I felt something that felt strangely like….a ladies bra! About that time, one of the female riders asked if she could help me find something from HER bag that I was presently rooting around in. Thinking quickly, I told her that I had always wanted to wear a bra, and since she looked to be about my size…..

Needless to say, I was extremely embarrassed, and slinking back to my own sleeping bag, (which was ONLY three spaces prior to her’s), I attempted to go back to sleep, but sleep would not come for several hours. Though I felt a little safer in learning that no assassination was planned, I practiced my apology for the rest of the night, until morning came. Dressing quickly, I found the lady and profusely apologized, explaining what had happened. Being ever so gracious, she told me not to worry. She explained that she had been awake when I approached, and when I began to dig, she assumed that I was walking in my sleep. She didn’t want to wake me, until she saw that I was intent on finding something, (I don’t think she knows what I found, so that can be just our little secret, OK?). I explained that I was, in fact, awake, but was simply disoriented in the dark. She laughed it off, but secretly I’m sure she’s keeping a closer eye on me for the rest of the trip. I’m going to make sure she stays well ahead of me for the remaining two rides, (which shouldn’t be too difficult for me, anyway!).

So, when I say the ride today was uneventful, keep in mind that it is all relative to what happened last night. I’m sure I will sleep better tonight, however if I do begin to wander outside of the tent, I’m sure I’ll be shot on the spot, no questions asked!

Tomorrow, we will have our last full, long ride of the tour. It will be an 80 mile adventure, taking us from the state park here to old Palatka. We will overnight there before moving on Monday morning to our final stopping place and the coast, in St. Augustine. Just say a prayer that all goes well! I’ll add a few more photos of the riders, posing at the statue of Ray Charles in Greenville, FL.