Dolly's Bike Blog

It was a cool morning as we headed out US 84 – the morning shadows, combined with trucks and rumble strips were a challenge.  The best photo of the day (missed) was of about 20 women surrounding the sag vehicle Bo Peep, due to an error on the cue sheet.  Once the turn mystery was solved, we found ourselves on a quiet, but bumpy country road – with a head wind!

Took a rest stop in Odum at 31.5 miles then continued on into Glennville.  It was another blue-sky day in rural Georgia, so not many photos:  more cows, horses, winter wheat, manufactured homes – and headwind.  The last 15 miles were a real slog, just from road and wind fatigue.

We had our first injury today; Peg took a tumble on rumble strips along the road and spent some time being checked at the local hospital.  She will be off the bike for a few days, helping with sag support.

Sadly we had to say goodbye to Denise, one of our guides.  She had scouted our ride up the Atlantic Coast, and her first mistake was today, by coincidence.

64.90 miles today.

A fun photo from last night’s margarita party.

The temperature this morning was a brisk 57 degrees when we left Folkston this morning; luckily no threat of rain despite a dark cloud for a few miles mid-morning.

As noted yesterday, I stayed at the Western Motel, which turned out to be a great improvement over the Relax Inn, the regular assigned lodging.  We are pleased to be at a Comfort Inn tonight.

While the skies were a beautiful blue, and the roads generally quiet, can’t say there was much to photograph today.  The last 20 miles we had a definite headwind – and the rough roads brought back memories of Texas chip & seal.

We arrived in Blackshear around 2 pm and had lunch at Michael’s Deli.  It is a big weekend in Blackshear as the high school baseball team is playing a regional championship game.  I wandered a bit around town before dinner to use a few different leg muscles.

Emily fixed delicious chicken curry for dinner and we celebrated Wendy’s birthday (with a cake made in 2 dutch ovens).

Mileage today: 55.28; from Fort Lauderdale 517.94; from Key West 746.43.

Sarah and I a few years back – we don’t take enough pictures together!

I’m so proud of my daughter.

She’s been working at Equal Justice USA (EJUSA) for exactly a decade, helping to end the death penalty and build a better criminal justice system.

She has educated me along with thousands of others across the country, and I’m now one of EJUSA’s biggest supporters.

Will you sponsor me as I bike 2,528 miles up the east coast raising funds for EJUSA’s amazing work?

Sarah is the Communications Strategist, so she sends good news about EJUSA’s work to my inbox almost every week. (I suppose she sends it to lots of other people as well, but it feels like it’s just for me.) Like two weeks ago, when Nebraska took a major step towards becoming the first conservative state to end the death penalty. I love reading about this kind of progress while I’m gathering strength for the next day’s ride.

Donate today, and help Sarah and her co-workers reform the glaring problems in the U.S. criminal justice system.

Being Sarah’s mom gives me the inside view on EJUSA’s incredible impact. And I am so impressed – not just with my own daughter but with the whole operation.

EJUSA deserves your support. Gifts from people like you and me keep EJUSA organizers in the places where they are needed most, transforming our criminal justice system so we can all live in a world with more justice and less violence.

I know I want that world.

I’ve got over 2,000 miles left to go, but I am already looking forward to crossing the borders into Maryland, New York, and Connecticut – states where EJUSA helped end the death penalty. Donate and follow my ride through those states and more.

Thanks for joining me on another biking adventure!