Flat Florida / Hello Georgia

It was an auspicious start to the day I’d leave the first state—the longest state—on the East Coast Greenway and head into Georgia.

The marshlands approaching the Maytown Ferry on the St. John’s River—no bridge across the intracoastal this morning—were ablaze with a vibrant light.

The ferry runs every half hour…

… I waited about 20-minutes for the 7-minute ride across the river.

Ten cars, two motorcycles, and me and my bike went over in this crossing.

We had an audience to witness the crossing.

Then as I pedaled over Simpson Creek at Fort George Inlet, roughly where that white pick-up is, I felt a a heavy thunk and the distinct feeling of repeatedly riding over something…

… this something:

A three inch nail that instantly flattened my rear tire.

I walked the bike back, off the bridge, about 1/8th of a mile to a wide sidewalk / bike trail where I had an impromptu garage sale—at least it looks like one.

It took about an hour between changing the tire and taking a break at Huguenot Memorial Park and I was ready to go again. A bit wary of all the crap (nails, bolts, wrenches, glass, sun glasses, vapes, bottles, etc.) strewn about on Florida bridges.

I finally made it over the bridge to Little Talbot Island and was greeted by a crap free bike trail: the Timuacan Trail.

And later the Big Pine Trail.

Which lead to the aptly named Boneyard Beach.

Great Egrets wading and feeding in an estuary.

Wide beaches on Amelia Island, crossing the Nassau River Inlet.

Now I’m on the East Coast Greenway-Nassau County Corridor.

I’m a couple of hundred feet over the Down Under restaurant on the Amelia River Inlet.

My metabolism is in overdrive from 2-weeks of cycling and this Chinese lunch special in O’Neil, FL, was no match for my appetite…

… proof positive.

A few miles later, north of Yulee, FL, I’m about to leave the sunshine state (with lots of crap on its shoulders) after 14 days of trekking.

The bridge over the St. Mary’s River marks the Florida-Georgia border. I crossed it just about here…

… here’s the proof. Woo hoo! Just shy of the 600-mile mark—that’ll come tomorrow.

I’m done. Here’s where I’m sleeping.

Before dinner, maybe a 2-hour max resistance ride on the Peloton bike?! (I think not!)

Inhaled that!

Day 14
Start: Atlantic Beach, FL
End: Lingsland, GA
Miles: 47.39

Tomorrow’s route to Brunswick, GA. Please keep your nails and other crap off the side of the road!

What I’m Reading:

Silence is the first casualty.
You no longer fear the clamor,
not because you are brave, but
because you’ve learned that death arrives
noiselessly, hovering
in the bowels of a missile…

— Lena Khalaf Tuffaha / “When the Sky Is No Longer”