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HMC 50th Reunion Cross Country Bike Ride - Day 1 to Gainsville FL

Started by karlos, March 19, 2022, 08:45:58 PM

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karlos

A couple of years ago as we contemplated our 50th Harvey Mudd College Reunion, Jerry Tunnell, asked me "How hard is it to ride 100 miles a day for 30 days to ride from the Atlantic to our reunion in Claremont, CA?" I thought it a funny question since the Class of '72 will be 72 (mostly) for our 50th reunion. But I said, what the heck. It was something I always planned to do, hopefully with one of my best friends, Don Keenan, who was glued to my hip ever since grad school in mathematics at Caltech. Unfortunately Don was an early victim of kidney cancer, but I inherited his custom Stan Johnson touring bike and so I and the bike are going for it.

We were lucky to have my brother-in-law, Jack Burger, enthusiastically donate his Mercedes Sprinter 3500 van to us when he heard about the trip. We outfitted it with 4-bike racks on rear and front hitches and Brian Baxley and I headed out to St Augustine from Solana Beach. We zipped by Albuquerque NM to pick up fellow alum Floyd Spencer, who helped us drive the rest of the way to the Atlantic.

We all spent the night in a KOA campground and woke up early to dip wheels in the Atlantic to start the journey with a 97 mile route to Gainsville. We spent 11 hrs total on an unbelievably flat ride, the long elapsed time due to working out logistics with how the van support would work and wanted to make sure everyone completed that first day. Karl Rudnick (me), Jerry Tunnell (the instigator), Dick Jones, Floyd Spencer and Bill Frost knocked of the first segment staying largely together the whole time. Brian Baxley, who has graciously volunteered to be Captain Sag, helped us with food, snacks and water along the way with big help from Dick's wife, Joan from Pitzer, who is shadowing us in their car and also got in 10 miles of scenic trail riding. We all learned some good logistics lessons with our moving motel and following directions (some navigate with Wahoo Bolts and couple other use paper route sheets) to give us important lessons for the 40 more days to come. A great start to what we hope will be an epic adventure.

For some photos - click here
Here is the RWGPS route

Leaving the KOA campground in St Augustine

karlos

Day 2 was a much shorter day planned at 65 miles. Day 1 had 30+ miles along some super wide, smooth, and scenic rails to trails paths, but many of the connections were on busier roads where we had to deal with traffic and do our best to ride enough left of shoulder stripes to encourage motorists to swing wide to get past us. It all went safely, but parts of the route were just not quite as relaxing,

Although Day 2 only had about 3 miles on a similar trail, the roads were mostly rural and county roads where traffic was lighter and motorists were respectful (all but one) of giving us a wide berth by even crossing double yellows to safely pass us. Our logistics with the van were perfect as we needed only one pre-planned stop at a trail entrance to meet with the van loaded with all the food and drinks that Brian picked up as Day 1 taught us to figure out what kinds of stuff to eat we all like and need on a big calorie, day long ride each day. Although there was essentially no trail riding, this was a very calm day of riding rural roads. One small glitch was that RWGPS planning failed to note a couple of unpaved segments, one 2 mi stretch easily manageable, but we rerouted on the fly to get around the second longer, rougher stretch that no one wanted to ride. We arrived at our motel at 5:15 to easily get cleaned up, have a less fancy Steak and Shake dinner of burgers, fries, and shakes.

For a few photos, click here.
Here is our RWGPS route.

Lunch stop



karlos

Day 3 saw some marvelous rural roads in Florida. It was a cooler day and humidity was way less. Four completed 92 miles while one chose to keep Captain Sag Brian company the last ~30 miles. We had a couple of miles of bone-shaking dirt although RWGPS showed our route as 100% paved. Had a pleasant lunch just across the Suwannee River in the abandoned town of Ellaville. We're all getting into a rhythm, and bodies are beginning to adjust, although each of us has a few little nagging things we all hope go away as the journey continue. We did have our first group flat, minor wheel touch at slow speed while trying to double check our route, and one rumble strip avoidance maneuver resulting in a slip of the road edge into a swamp. No harm, no foul ... well, little harm anyway. Dinner was a challenge as it was Sunday and restaurants were closed and those fast food places open were out of most food items (supply chain, work force issues?).

For some photos - click here
Here is the RWGPS route

Suwannee River at Ellaville

karlos

Day 4 was another day of beautiful rural roads ... mostly. We are following the Adventure Cycling Southern Tier route east to west (yeah, backwards with headwinds risk, but Claremont is west coast!). The quiet rural traffic on pretty good roads was interrupted by a skirt through Tallahassee around Florida State University. We had some heavy traffic approaching and leaving and the city cycling was, well, ... city cycling which was manageable but not as fun as the rest. This time 100% paved in RWGPS held true to its word. We had a shorter day of about 80 miles and got into lodging around 5:15 (actually 4:15 as the Appalachicola River marked a change to Central time). Great dinner at Johnny Mac's in Snead, a local hangout with good food all around - beat burgers, fries and shakes of Days 2 and 3.

For some photos - click here
Here is the RWGPS route

Day 4 start

karlos

Out of the gate onto US 90, we took a 20 mile loop on rural roads to avoid highway boredom. After a brief break with Sag Captain Brian, we proceeded to 57 miles on US 90. Although no turns, it was scenic and between towns just one lane each way with a nice safe shoulder. We had a rare tailwind and in some areas easily clocking 18+ mph with not much effort. Brian had a great food spread at Chipley City Hall / Washington County Library. We spent an hour and a half relaxing and using the library restrooms, then pushed onto the finish in Defuniak Springs. At our first stop in Marianna, we found an outdoor piano and after explaining why our huge van was taken up valuable parking, the person talking to Brian to get us to leave found out what we were about. She turned out to be a reporter for the Jackson County Floridian, got our story and names and promised we would be a feature article in an upcoming edition (here is that link). We also ran into a young Swiss couple who were also on our route, traveling from Miami to Vancouver. They got our admiration as they were fully loaded with bike camping gear, unsupported. The youth are strong. All 5 of us finished as we jammed into our destination ahead of an impending storm, which we hope passes before we start out on Day 6.

For some photos - click here
Here is the RWGPS route

Day 5 start

karlos

Day 6 was a whole lotta US 90. The middle ~25 miles, though, was an excursion onto rural roads which then connected to the Blackwater Heritage State Trail. We had lunch at mile 66 at the trailhead in Milton, where we also visited our first bike shop - needed a chain, some safety lights, a lost cleat screw, and an insert to relieve hot foot. We were supposed to camp at Fort Pickens campground but it was closed due to a storm (with tornado watches) last night, so we're snug in a motel tonight.

Today we hit our first 500 mi milestone. 505 down 2,600 to go 8)

For some photos - click here
Here is the RWGPS route

Blackwater River

karlos

And on the 7th day, they rested. Only 42 miles to Gulf Shores State Park. Started on 5 miles of pleasant rural roads, then onto 3 highways to the eastern edge of Gulf Shores State Park, which is on a point of land bordering the Gulf. From there it was a pleasant 5 or so miles along a network of trails to our campsite. Almost everyone in the park had bikes, from kids to elders, regular bikes and e-bikes - a biking extravaganza for all ages and abilities. It was a calm campsite with only the wind in the trees to soothe our sleep. We proved that Mudders can cook over charcoal when forced to. Good kabobs, potato and macaroni salid and a green salad prepared by Captain Sag Brian. A few beers were consumed.

For some photos - click here
Here is the RWGPS route

Happy campers

karlos

We left our campsite at Gulf Shores State Park in time to catch the ferry across Mobile Bay from Fort Morgan to Dauphine Island. It was another pleasant 8 miles of trails (the network of trails in the park amounts to about 20 mies of beautifully paved trails) and then another 15 miles to the ferry. A short 4 mile ride across the water cooled us down and then we headed over a daunting causeway where we had 20-25 mph crosswinds and noone, including the van, was blown off the summit of the causeway into Mobile Bay. We had headwinds most of the way into Pascagoula, with some RWGPS routing issues that we overcame. We did survive another flat and have vowed to study the maps carefully to better avoid unpaved roads for the group. A welcome stay at a hotel since we are not really set up to camp every night. A moderate 72 miles today. Still, haven't found a hill yet after crossiing 2 states and entering our third. They will come and we'll be prepared as every day is some strength gained (we hope!).

For some photos - click here
Here is the RWGPS route

Oddfellows

karlos

This was a relatively short day of 70 miles with only 1360' of elev gain, but it was among some of the loveliest rural roads I've ever ridden. Being pretty unfamiliar with Mississippi, this was a pleasant surprise. Since this segment of the ACA Southern Tier passed no motels for our daily mileage goal, we set up camp on open space at the Diamond Lake RV Park. Setting up was easy for us by now after a few nights in tents. Lacking the desire, food, and proper gear, Joan Jones graciously drove 10 mi north to Wiggins to pick up some great takeout from the highly recommended Whistle Stop Cafe. We slept well.

For some photos - click here
Here is the RWGPS route


karlos

After breaking camp (one of our least favorite activities during this trip), we headed out on a rural road excursion northwest through Mississippi, into Lousiana. Much to our surprise, the rural roads in MS and LA are great for riding. Little traffic, pretty smooth (a few exceptions resulted in flats) and only an occasional race to keep a dog off your heels - a strong "Good dog!" was effective as no one was nipped. The highlight of this leg was arriving at a lodge cabin in Bogue Chitto State Park, big enough to sleep all of us. We arrived a little late but sat down to a dinner cooked on the grill. Meredith Frost, Bill's wife who is hopping along in a trailer, met us there from her RV site and treated us to cocktails - French 75s and Bees Knees. Good conclusion to a 90 mile day with 2600' of gentle rollers.

For some photos - click here
Here is the RWGPS route


karlos

We left our luxurious lodge to get lost in a maze searching for the park exit. Once settled in, though, we experienced beautiful, quiet, low traffic roads. I rather like the rural roads of Lousiana. This was our longest day so far, logging 113 miles, but with only 3500 ft of ascent total, very manageable on these serene roads. We are finally west of the Mississippi on the way into New Roads.

For some photos - click here
Here is the RWGPS route

karlos

We had a tail wind to start the day and beat the van to our first stop. Mostly lovely rural roads with a bumpy bit along Old LA 1, where a bib short spread across the rear rack to dry got tangled into the drive chain by an unlucky Jerry who was advised this is a great way to dry your clothes after washing the night before - doh. The destination was deluxe cabins in Chicot State Park where we had a big dinner of chicken, burgers, dogs, brats, potatoes and salad. It was a fairly long day of 97 miles but with only 760 ft of elevation. Locals call this the Cajun prairie 'cause it's SO flat. One of our riders, Bill Frost, added a few extra miles in the park to complete his first century.

For some photos - click here
Here is the RWGPS route

karlos

We have had unbelievable weather until today - is day 13 unlucky? We had high headwinds and crosswinds 25-40 mph with supposed gusts of 55, thunderstorms and tornado warnings. After bucking the headwinds to Ville Platte, we stopped for great coffee at Hundredfold Coffee. We were welcomed by the owner and staff. We exchanged stories. They took pictures of us and we are featured on https://www.facebook.com/hundredfoldcoffee. They gave us their blessings as we headed back out into the weather.  Despite the inclement weather we held true to our goal to have at least one bicycle on the ground at all times. A difficult day at 86 stormy miles and 3200' of rollers. We soothed the weather woes with a fabulous Cajun dinner in DeRidder.

For some photos - click here
Here is the RWGPS route

Here is a shot of the last lone rider taken from the van:

karlos

Today was as a "no chain" day after the severe weather of unlucky Day 13. Long stretches of Hwy 96 with super wide, smooth shoulder and a middle ~14 mile stretch on a Texas rural farm road. Highlights of the day were crossing the Texas state line and delaying lunch until mile 59 at Fausto's Fried Chicken. Some of the best fried chicken and other fried stuff anywhere. Just 77 miles and flat 367 ft total ascent - go figure.

One third the way there with 14/41 days and 1,150 miles behind us.

For some photos - click here
Here is the RWGPS route


karlos

It is with deep sorrow that I have to tell you our dear friend Jerry Tunnell was hit and killed by a logging truck while riding with us on a road near Cleveland Texas in the afternoon of April 1, 2022. We have ended our bike tour.

Thank you for your thoughts and consideration.

Photos and video of Jerry on Day 15