Crossing into Florida

I took my time in the morning. It was 35 degrees when I woke up, and I didn’t feel like wearing a million layers and then stripping them off and repacking my bag as the day wore on. They were also serving free Belgian waffles.

After my waffles, I packed up and hit the road. It had warmed up a ton, and the sun was shining as I entered the Sunshine State.

I had planned on heading east around Jacksonville and then to head straight down the coast. Today was the day that I finally got off of 17. At the intersection of 17 and A1A, I reflected back on the road that had carried me from North Carolina all the way to Florida. I went through about two cycles of lights, drinking some water and drinking in my memories of that road. There were so many times where I cursed this road, and it seems like there was an assigned headwind no matter where I was. I experienced some of my sketchiest riding and popped about five tubes along the way. But either way, she had gotten me here, and what a ride it had been.

I hopped right onto A1A. It’s about 17 times as beautiful as 17. Some parts remind me of 12 back in the OBX, but the beach towns are more expansive and the weather is a required 70. I rode through a state park and stopped a few times to appreciate the my surroundings.

I also found time to enjoy a snack. So did this fella:

I took a ten minute ferry across to Mayport, and then found my way to Hanna campground. That place is awesome.I took a late afternoon snooze on the beach and then headed back into the dense green to set up camp. There were bike trails everywhere, but for some reason, I had no desire to hop on my bike and ride through them.