Day 32: Lake City to St. Augustine, FL

Distance: 100 mi (161 km)
Cumulative Distance: 2,884 mi (4,641 m)
Average Speed: 17.2 mph (27.7 kph)
Climb: 2,946 ft (898 m)
Cumulative Climb: 138,312 ft (42,157 m)
Flats: 0Cumulative Flats: 17

Now for some overall statistics.
   Team average miles per day: 90.1
   Team average kilometres per day: 145.0
   Individual average miles per day: 67.6
   Individual average kilometres per day: 108.8
   Total time: 179:29
   Average speed in miles per hour: 16.1
   Average speed in kilometres per hour: 25.9

Since I started this all about a year ago, it is probably appropriate that I make tonights first blog entry - my riding partners will also contribute today.

Today was another sunny day and we took our “Victory Lap” - a relaxing final day over good roads with neutral wind conditions. We rode to our hotel, had lunch, and then all rode as a group to the beach for our final “Front Tire In The Atlantic Ocean” photo. It is poetic that we departed San Diego on 3/24 and arrived in St Augustine on 4/24. We were incredibly fortunate with the weather - one morning of misty rain in Texas and 30 beautiful days! Here are a few more statistics:

   Cans of beer consumed - about 150
   Bottles of wine consumed - about 30 (many “family sized”)
   Pounds of cheese consumed - lots
   Sore derrieres - one
   Feet climbed - the equivalent of more then 4 climbs up Mt Everest from sea level
   Accidents - zero
   Groups who left San Diego before us and we passed along the way - about 10
   Groups who passed us - none
   Nice people met along the way - many, many, many
   Not so nice people met along the way - almost none

Along the way as we met other groups going in both directions, we decided that we had a ride format that we all preferred. We were each involved in the ride every day and never were on the sideline as observers. We made many mutual decisions every day without conflict and got along wonderfully. We rode together at all times - some occasionally in front going up the mountains, some occasionally in front going down, and some occasionally in front in the hills, but always riding as a well matched group. We started as casual friends, but this experience together has created a lasting bond for us.
LEE

I would like to thank each of my partners for a wonderful month. We got along well the whole way, with no difficulties at all. I would especially like to thank Lee for organizing the trip, doing all the pre-work, and getting each of us to go.

KEITH

Unsere Reise ist geschafft. Wir hatten perfektes Wetter, die perfekte Gruppe, die perfekte Organisation.

Ich danke Lee, der diese Reise organisiert hat, David fur seine harte Arbeit mit Plog und jeden Tag die Strecke festzulegen ( mit George unserem GPS fur’s Rad ) und Keith fur seine super Arbeit mit unserer Unterkunft.

Danke danke danke.

GABY

We got ‘r done!

This blog would not be complete without accolades to Lee Chouinard. He was the initiator of the idea, he created the driver change format that was extremely successful, he and Fran drove their mini-van with the bikes and support equipment from Bonita Bay to San Diego, he provided folding chairs and a table that you have all seen in our lunch photos, he provided continual leadership throughout the ride; he was an inspiration to all of us.

A few more words need to be said about the SDS (Self Driven Sag) concept. While it meant that any one of us only rode ¾ of the way across the USA, the arrangement worked perfectly for us. We ended up splitting the longer rides into eighths. That meant one person did their ¼ of the days driving in two segments - and on the longer rides the opportunity to rest twice was a very welcoming thought to all of us. At the driver change locations, we topped up our water bottles, ate a banana or energy bar, redid our suntan lotion if it was required and gave out butts a short rest. A great way to do the ride.

So, Lee, from Keith, Gaby and Dave, a most hearty and heart felt thank you for all that you did to make us able to say: I biked across America!

DAVE