Đại úy Chuck and the NCOIC Part 11

June 14 – Day 10

Horsepen Branch Hiker Biker Campsite to Washington, D.C.

The previous day at the Veterans’ gathering,Đại úy Chuck learned that he’d unintentionally planned the arrival in DC for Flag Day and the Foundation Day of the US Army, so wearing the Stars and Stripe/U.S. Constitution shirts given to him by RUSeeN Reflective Apparel  was even more appropriate.


Cuppa Joe made using the French Press feature of the JetBoil's Flash Java Kit, along with some energy bars satisfied morning hunger before setting off for Great Falls where there was supposed to be food. Here’s the sidebar about food. When riding an unsupported tour the greatest concerns are water, where to stay next and where’s the food. Specifics about food are irrelevant. If it’s edible, it’s food. So, if the Visitor’s Center at Great Falls has a concession stand, it was a potential bull’s eye.


The Visitor’s Center was good preparation for an anticipated mass of humanity to be encountered in DC and there were lots of people to test our ability to cope! Salvation in dealing with “Where’s the food!” came in the form of volunteers for Borrow-a-Bike, a program offering free, two-hour, loaner bikes to visitors. Deena, one of the volunteers, acquired an ATV and knew the route to the concession stand. Yay, food!



Wearing jerseys depicting Stars and Stripes, the Constitution, Blind Veteran and Vietnam Veteran attracted the attention of many people at the Visitor’s Center, including the gentleman taking orders at the concession stand, a former Vietnamese National. On a very personal level the NCOIC spoke with the widow of a Vietnam Veteran and experienced a deeper understanding of the significance of the Vietnam War at home. Thank you, Ingrid.

Great Falls was a good stopping point to delay arriving in DC as Đại úy’s cousin would not be avail for a pick-up before 5PM. The journey through Pittsburgh had made an impression and if a ride could be had, then, fine! The operating, replica canal boat at the Park would have to wait for another day.


Traffic on the Towpath increased dramatically inside the 10-mile post and became heavy before mile 5. Hasty, mumbled and cryptic directions were the norm inside the metro area. “Look for the pointy building” was the funniest and least helpful. Eventually, The Wall was reached. There’s nothing more that can be said about that right now.

While waiting to be found in DC a storm arrived in full force and making the decision to accept a ride a very good decision. Eventually, through rain and mysterious roads Debi arrived. Yay, Cuz! Now, two Zero Days awaited.

Day One; G'ville to St. Augustine - 86.9 miles, average speed 12.6 mph

Left later than intended (745), but within my planned window. Stopped at work, which was on the way out of town and said goodbyes. I've dealt with all the internal issues related to leaving my job to someone else. I prepared as much as possible and have to trust that things will work out. The nature of this Adventure is such that I cannot dwell on what might happen anywhere except on the road.

Before leaving G'ville, I stopped at Winn-Dixie and bought the sunscreen I had forgotten yesterday. Later, I'd be glad of the decision. I also picked up a handful of Larabars because I had packed my supply deeper than I wished to dig. Added a tin on wintergreen Altoids for their diversionary quality.

From G'ville to Palatka was typical Florida except for a few tedious hills. The final several miles really sucked, though; hot, featureless, straight and a headwind. It's been my observation about headwinds in Florida. No matter which way one rides, eventually there'll be a headwind. Pallatka turned out to be 50 miles distant and while that had been my maximum distance previously, I did not intend to stop before reaching St. Augustine, another 35 miles.

I ate two Larabars, drank a lot of water, even stopped at a convenience store for more water and some Gatorade, but over the final miles before reaching Palatka I could only think about double cheese burgers Well, I never intended to make this a fine food adventure. I bought two. Loved 'em. And had refills of Coke and suffered not a moment of remorse. I did have an extended moment of anxiety when two men in my age range left and headed to their cars. They wore jeans. Neither had an ass. Will this happen to me? Is there a treatment or is it terminal?

Soon after leaving McDonalds I encountered one of Florida's "mountains."

This one climbs over the St. Johns River. 5 mph up. 30 mph down.

I opted to diverge from Adventure Cycling's route which would have me zigging and zagging my way to The Ancient City. Having driven 207 I knew it has an adequate paved shoulder. Using it would reduce the distance by 5 to 7 miles. It was a tough 35 miles. Headwind. Heat. Tired. And a diversion.

The bike path to nowhere.

 About 10 miles from St. Augustine a bike path appeared along the 207 right-of-way. I doffed my helmet and took it. When it crossed to the other side of 207 an continued to follow the right-of-way I stayed on it. When I reached a point where it seemed to vanish at the horizon was concerned. A single road crossed it after 3 miles. When I met an oncoming walker and asked about getting to my destination he told me the trail was a dead a few miles ahead. I needed to backtrack only a few hundred years and eventually reached the Pirate Haus.

I admit to being damn tired, but managed too get bike and gear to the top of the stairs of The Pirate Haus. After sitting numbly for awhile I showered, got some expensive pizza and a lot of Pepsi and am now ready to call it a night. Tomorrow will be a significantly shorter ride likely in the 55 mile range. It will also be the first tent night. Today convinced me I can do this thing.
 

Physical, Psychological and Spiritual Update

Trying to keep the trip from becoming The Trip, or worse, THE TRIP!!! is the other part of  . . . the trip. Failure would amount to a real drag. Managing the balance between being serious and too serious is a daily thing.

First Aid: A Not Definitive List

• When I broke my hip in a bike crash in ’05 and spent several days in the hospital I acquired a large collection of patches designed to cover abrasions typical of bicycle accident. Packaged sturdily already, they fit perfectly into my growing kit.
• What hikers call Monkey Butt is common to bicycling, too. Saddle soreness is our version. Zinc oxide is the consensus treatment and is available as an ointment or as a deodorant stick-style named BodyGlide. Adding good hygiene, triple antibiotics and some peroxide probably takes care of chafing and most wounds.

Food: For The Times When There’s No Other Choice

• Freeze dried and dehydrated food is big business for hikers. Maybe it’s dumping boiling water into a foil bag and waiting 20 minutes is the problem I have with hiker food. I feel much more satisfied by adding something to boiling water and having to “stir occasionally” for 10 or fewer minutes. So, I have these assorted 4 serving packets made by Bear Creek that I divided (by weight) into 2 servings and repackaged that will easily stir into my 4 cup titanium cup/pot. The taste is acceptable and the composition sufficient to take care of carbohydrate, protein and fat needs.
• Larabars. No added sugar. In fact, nothing but what they claim to be, cashews and dates; dates, almonds, walnuts, unsweetened cocoa powder, unsweetened coconut; dates, cashews, almonds lemon juice concentrate. Larabars have about half the calories (190 to 230) of Probars (350 – 400), but are very similar in carbs and fiber (22-23gm/4 to 6gm).
• No Man’s Land Beef Jerky is the best I have ever eaten. Mostly, I find jerky to be offensively salty and inordinately stiff.. Stiff I could tolerate if saltiness was less pronounced, otherwise, sucking on a piece as a diversion results in curing a portion of your inner cheek or lips.

Shoes: What About Those Very Large Feet?

• I found another pair of Skecher Safari Sandals and have worn them only enough to be sure they fit without causing any irritations. What I haven’t solved is how to carry a more substantial show to use as an alternative, especially if the weather turns cold.

Georgia: Is There Nothing In Coastal Georgia?

• Much of the trip can be made easily from campground to campground and an occasional motel, except in Georgia. <sigh>.