Anastasia State Park and the Atlantic Dip

Hi Everybody,

Dave and I started with breakfast on the beach with David and Gloria Botten (Paula and Mike stayed back to walk on the beach).  After breakfast the Bottens and the Runyans drove north a ways to a lovely farmers market and walked among the vendors.  Felt just like being with Meg at one of her markets.  We then came back to the RV park to get Paula and Mike and the motorhome and trailer to drive up to Anastasia State Park for the ceremonial wheel dipping.  We waited until 1:50 and then the guys started their ride through the parking lot, onto a boardwalk out to the beach.  The first sand was too soft to ride on so they carried their bikes until we reached the hardpacked sand.  Then they rode into the water.  They lifted the bikes high into the air in victory.  Mike put his bike down and walked into the ocean.  Dave got into a conversation with a family who had been watching all of this.  Then we noticed a couple coming toward us and, lo and behold, they were CFO people from the North Florida camp who had read the emails from the CFO office.  Joe and Bonnie Trauerman had been looking for us and when the guys raised their bikes in the air they figured they had found us.  What a wonderful surprise.

We visited for a while, walked back to the parking lot, and packed up.

Thanks to Walt and Veba Clark and Bob Ream who called us just as we were getting to the beach.  Thanks to all of you who have emailed, called, prayed, sent good thoughts, and donated to the cause.  It is not too late to contribute.  You can go to the website for instructions on how to contribute on-line or mail a check directly to Harlan Glover, 120 Indian Village Rd., Shapleigh, ME 04076 made out to CFOI, with Pedal 4 Peace in the memo.

The rest of the day was spent walking around old St. Augustine.  So much to see, lots of tourists, endless history tidbits and more, beautiful buildings both old and replicas, Flagler College which was built as an exclusive resort for the wealthy, and finally a delicious dinner at O.C. White's located right across from the marina and the Lions' Bridge.

We had to retrace our steps through town to the parking lot and then drove to Bottens for coffee.  They drove us back to the RV at 9 PM.  

We will leave early in the morning for Atlanta, Chattanooga, and Fairfield Glade, TN.  We will be at Ann and Howard Swan's for the night.  We should be in West Chicago late on Monday.

There's dancing in the street, wild celebrating, toasts to a great trip, confetti in the air, bands playing, and speeches made--at least in our heads.  It is with humble pride that we say thanks to God for safety and strength and for all the wonderful people along the way and at home.  We live in a beautiful, diverse country, and we have enjoyed a lot of it over the last six weeks.  

Love and blessings,

Lana

The End

Hi Everybody,

We woke up this morning to rain on the roof and thinking that the end of the ride would be like the beginning--wet.  However, by the time the guys were ready to ride, the rain had stopped and the sun was starting to shine.  We started on a state route to see how busy it was and when we got to the turn off to the more scenic route along the St. Johns River it was decided to ride that way.  Paula got her bike out and rode with the guys for about 12 miles.  It was very picturesque and we stopped in Riverdale Park along the river for lunch.  then it was on to St. Augustine.

What a charming and beautiful town but mobbed with tourists.  It was difficult maneuvering the RV and trailer down the narrow streets, finding the places to turn, and a place to park.  We finally drove back out of the middle of town and waited for the guys to catch up and decide just where to go to take pictures.  We finally met up in a bus parking lot and walked to the Castillo de San Marcos, a fort along the bay.  there is so much to see and do here--some of it is very touristy but with lots of history involved.  We hope to come back tomorrow to see some more.  We took pictures at the fort of the bikers at the end of the journey, although tomorrow we will take the bikes to the seaside to dip their wheels into the ocean.

We drove out of town and south along Highway 1 and then out to the beach communities.  In Ocean Beach we got into our RV park and then called our friends Dave and Gloria Botton who have just (Wednesday) moved down here from Concord, MA.  They drove over to pick us up and then back to the beach just out from their new house to celebrate the end of the journey with champagne.  It was so good to see them and they were excited to be able to welcome and congratulate us properly.  We then went back to their new home here in Ocean Beach in a community called Sea Colony.  They have not brought the majority of their belongings down yet, but have a table and chairs, some wicker furniture and a few other things.  Their home is so lovely and much larger than what they had in MA with large rooms, screened porch, open porch, a two-car garage with a full apartment over it, and great closets, sculptured hickory floors, beautiful fixtures, and nice landscaping.  We had a terrific enchilada dinner and will see them tomorrow for breakfast and the ceremonial wheel-dipping and touring St Augustine.  They are such wonderful people and what a gift to us that they are here.

Where have the last 6 weeks gone?  As we went through the pictures tonight with the Bottons it was such a blur.  It was hard to identify some of the scenery or remember the names of towns.  I am sure glad that we took lots of notes along the way.  Sure hope that they coincide with the pictures!  We are so thankful for all your prayers, emails and encouragement along the way.  With the internet and cell phones we always felt connected  with you.  We hope that you have visited the website and gotten more information about Camps Farthest Out, Camps Farthest Out International, and the United Prayer Tower.  

Love and blessings,

Lana

 

Wipe out!

Hi everybody,

Yep, Dave wiped out right in front of my eyes into the sand turning into the RV park tonight.  Paula and I had arrived first, of course, hooked up, set up, and cooked dinner.  No guys.  Finally Mike called and tried to describe to Paula where they were.  He kept asking her what landmarks she had seen along the way and she kept telling him she was watching for the RV park and hadn't noticed much.  He asked about a weigh station and we told him that we were beyond that about a mile or so.  Turns out they were about 2 miles past us and when I went out to the road to watch for them, I looked up the road and could see the weigh station only 500 yds. away!  Is it any wonder we sometimes can't find each other?  Anyway, Dave did not hurt himself.  Just got dirty.

The best was this morning as we pulled across an intersection right after the guys had gotten on their bikes.  I was driving and was going straight through the intersection.  Mike pulled up on my left, smiled and turned left followed by Dave.  I yelled out to Dave that they were going the wrong way and continued on.  Dave says they went a block before turning around.  However, in Gainesville, Paula and I got totally off the track and ended up on a detour, in a poor section of town, headed who knows where.  the directions were not clear in one area and in another the wrong street name threw us off.  It is just a little disconcerting driving our rig on neighborhood streets dreading the "Dead End" or "No Outlet" signs!  We often have to go a long distance out of the way to get turned around.  

Happily, we are enjoying a warm evening, our last outside of St. Augustine, all in the same place and still talking to each other.  

We crossed the St. John's River this afternoon.  Another spectacular bridge to photograph.  An easy day of about 40 miles tomorrow will put us in St. Augustine for the late afternoon and night.  We will ride up to Anatasia State Park Sat. morning.  That is where the bikes and bikers will enter the Atlantic.  Can't believe it!!  There is some discussion tonight whether or not to follow the bike route tomorrow.  A direct route is faster but heavily traveled and has a nice shoulder.  The bike route is more picturesque (not high on the bikers' agenda), has no shoulder, and is longer.  They will probably try the more direct route which initially is part of the bike route and see how busy it is.  If they feel like targets on the road, they will opt for the bike route.

Goodnight from East Palatka, FL.

Love and blessings,

Lana