Day #8 Fernandina Beach, FL to Folkston,GA 55.4 miles

Second State…..ten to go!

Best of Day:  Crossing into new state; Peach cobbler for lunch; Watchingtrains in Folkston
Worst of Day: Torrential rain as we were leaving Fernandina Beach and logging trucks   
Quote of Day:  “So what’s your gasmileage?” (Gentleman at diner in Folkston)

Day #7 St. Augustine toFernandina Beach, FL 58.04 miles

On the Mayport Ferry, crossing the St. John’s River.
The five K’s (Kathy Q.from TX, Kathy D. from Canada, Katie, Kathy M. from Australia and Kathy Kirbyfrom Chicago)

Best of Day:  Cloud cover; No rain; Temperature in the 60’s
Worst of Day: Head winds (someone, somewhere close by was getting rain)  
Quote of Day:  I wore all my rain gear today so it wouldn’t rain on us – peoplewere happy it worked!

Day #6 Recovery Day in St. Augustine No miles

Plaque in massage therapist reception area (we must have filled most of their appointments today)!

 

Best of Day:  Dinner with Mary D. in small restaurant in historic district serving only the catch of the day (which was flounder today!) 
Worst of Day:  Remembering how to clean our bikes!  
Quote of Day:  “Don’t carry much bike gear here because the only bikers we normally see are on beach cruisers with shorts and no shirt!”  (bike shop owner)

 

Day #5 Port Orange to St. Augustine FL 63.5 miles

Sally's Ice Cream is featured on our cue sheet as a place to stop!  After a 30 minute torrential rain we finally made it (reason for all the yellow covers on my bike).  Our van is in the background and further behind you can see the beach....miles of beach today!

Best of Day:  Riding into St. Augustine and remembering when we were here last! 
Worst of Day:  Rain followed by 100 degree heat with 35 more miles to go on busy U.S. 1  
Quote of Day:  Signs that read "Hurricaine Resistant Construction"

Day #4 Cocoa to Port Orange FL 66.9 miles

The Day #4 biking buddies at lunch on the pier in New Smyrna Beach, FL.
L to R: Kirby (Chicago), Kathy (Canada), Patricia (Colorado), Kathy (Australia) and Katie.  

Best of Day:  Tail winds and no rain (in that order)! 
Worst of Day:  Patricia's flat tire (we are now remembering how to change a flat!)
Quote of Day: "Isn't it amazing how much stronger we feel today?!"

4//2015 Day 3 Vero Beach to Cocoa FL 62.4 miles

Kathy (from Canada) at a quick stop!

Best of day:  No rain and spectacular views.

Worst of day: Head winds  

Quote of day:  General consensus....Wind made for a tough and long day!

Day #2 Jupiter FL to Vero Beach FL 63.9 miles

Hmmm, does this look familiar?  Hotel parking lot, white plastic chairs, dinner cooked in "parking lot" ovens, women with bikes, map meeting, cue sheets.....!

Best of Day:  Cloud cover until noon, wide bike lanes and swimming in the ocean.
Worst of Day: Many grated bridges and not being as acclimated to the heat as we thought!
Quote of Day: "The highest risk of this ride will be getting hit with a golf ball!" 

Day #1: Fort Lauderdale to Jupiter FL (62.72 miles)

The "formal" East Coast 2015 picture before departing from Fort Lauderdale this morning. 
Best of Day:  Cloud cover with light rain off and on until noon!
Worst of Day:  Mary's flat tire at 1.2 mile!
Quote of Day:  Kirby and I were told we lost our "sweeps" status (to others) but have graduated to "Swiffers" status!

Southern Tier Alumnae

Picture of Southern Tier 2010 alumnae at send off banquet for east coast
tour. (L to R. Alayne,  Pam, Mary, Kirby, Katie).  Other alumnae on tour
include 9 riders from Southern Tier 2013 and 6 riders from Pacific Coast
2012.
This tour has become the reunion epic tour!

Woman Tours Orientation

Woman Tours Orientation:  Introductions, Safety, Food, Lodging, and Rules of the road!

Best of Day: Meeting our cohort and crew (33 riders, 3 staff).
Worst of Day: Predictions for rain, and guidelines for steal grated bridges and getting off the road when lightening occurs.
Quote of the day:   "Drink before you are thirsty, eat before you are hungry!"

First Day in Fort Lauderdale

Awesome bike shop staff who put our bikes back together (the bike in picture is Kirby's!)


Best of Day:   Warm weather and ride in the park (literal)!
Worst of Day:   Thunder storm in afternoon (and even that wasn't bad)!
Quote of Day:    "You are going 25 miles?  No, I meant 2500."

"Count Down"

Today is my last day home..can it be possible?!

The past week has been spent saying goodbye to "my village" of support.
I can't say thank you enough to family and friends who are my inspiration.
First, to my early biking mentors, Ellyn and Franco, and my very first training partner, Lisa: to daughter Kelle who encouraged me to buy a bike 13 years ago and to daughter Lisa, grand-teenagers Abby and Tyler who are my inspiration (and receive most of the postcards!); to my college roommate Alby who was my safe haven in San Diego on our last two epic Woman Tour rides.  And thank you most of all to Bud, who keeps the home fires burning, animals fed and nurtured and our tour apprised of all weather conditions along the route!

"My Village"
Pictures of the extraordinary people who were part of  this year's winter training:

Training with Kelle, Flagstaff AZ in March (San Francisco peaks in background).

Keeping me safe on the road and providing tech support extraordinaire is Pete of Bluedog Cycles, and Jarrod (missing was Michael).  

At the fireplace is Jill (personal trainer/Pilates instructor) and Becky, Deb and Katie (missing were Carrie and Diane).

On the yoga mat at VMH Wellness Center is Cynthia, Katie, Diane and Jen (personal trainer/Yoga instructor).

Standing at the VMH Wellness Center is Katie with Heidi (personal trainer/Spin instructor).

Atlantic vs Pacific

Question (quote) of the day!
Will the Atlantic Coast look like the Pacific Coast??
(Biking Pacific Coast, Fall 2012)