2010 Coast2Coast Itinerary

2010 Coast2Coast  Itinerary
Cities & Mileage

LIVING MY DREAM

On March 5th, 2010 at age 69, I will begin a
cycling adventure from San Diego, California to St.Augustine Florida. The two month, 3098 mile journey will cross the 'southern tier' of the United States and end on April 30th, 2010. I will post my progress, location, and photographs whenever possible.

ABOUT ME

My photo
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Mother of two sons, Tony and Mark Lonero. Tony an ultracyclist lives in Italy and Mark here in Pittsburgh. Retired from the Veterans Administration at age 55 and have not looked back. I am truly blessed with a great family,wonderful friends, and good health.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED - ARRIVED IN ST. AUGUSTINE (I did it!!)


ARRIVED SAFELY IN ST. AUGUSTINE this morning around 11am.   It was a 40 mile ride  under cool and fast conditions.   At 40 miles we were joined by the St. Augustine police who escorted us 6 miles  to the beach where we dipped our front tires into the Atlantic Ocean.  A ritual with Womantours and also other bicycle touring groups.   Friends and families were waiting there with signs and hugs as we arrived.   We had a picnic at the beach and this evening  a final banquet for the riders.  It was an adventure with many highs and very few lows.  Re-entry into the real world tomorrow.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

High Springs to Palatka, Florida (75 miles) - ONE MORE DAY!!!

Today was a 75 mile day, beautiful weather and great road conditions for cycling in Florida.  It was my last day as a SAG driver.  The ladies kept reminding me it was my last SAG stop.  At first it didn´t bother me, but by late afternoon reality hit!!  This was my last SAG stop.   Tomorrow I will be cycling into St. Augustine (47 miles) and dip my front wheel into the Atlantic Ocean.  Unbelievable!!  In the photo are three of the four SAGS!!  (Left to right:  Karen Cooper, ME, and AMY Derwinski)

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

PERRY TO HIGH SPRINGS, FLORIDA (76 MILES)


Today was another beautiful day cycling in Florida.  The terrain was flat and the temperatures perfect.  We stopped and dipped our feet into an emerald green lake in Ichetucknee State Park. (photo)  The water was crystal clear and you could see all the way to the bottom. What a treat for my HOT feet.   Two more days until we reach St. Augustine.  WOW!!!

Monday, April 26, 2010

WAKULLA SPRINGS TO PERRY FLORIDA ( 51 miles)


Beautiful day to ride.   Florida highways were smooth and the terrain flat.  Everyone got into the hotel in record times.   Some were cycling  15 to 18 MPH average speed, including yours truly.  Only three more cycling days left:  High Springs (76 miles), Palatka (73 miles), and St. Augustine, Florida only 47 miles.  It is hard to believe sometimes that this journey is coming to an end.  Photo of one of our cyclists stretching on the side of the road.

QUINCY TO WAKULLA SPRINGS, FLORIDA

Very short day, only 40 miles to Wakulla Springs, Florida and a day off. The ride was short and we seemed to be ahead of the rain all morning. It sprinkled a little, but we made it to the hotel in time. Wakulla Springs Lodge is located in a state park and wildlife sanctuary quietly hidden in the Spanish moss-draped Florida woodlands, 30 minutes from Tallahassee. The lodge offers a boat tour on the Wakulla River. I took the three mile river boat tour that lasted a little over an hour. We were able to see and photograph alligators, native birds, turtles and other wildlife up close. Some of the women were planning on a kayak trip this morning, but it was raining when we got up, and they canceled. I had not planned on entering the water, either swimming or kayaking. Every creature we saw on the boat tour yesterday is in that water. It shocks me that they allow swimming in the same area as the alligators and snakes, and there is no separation except for a roped off area. The ranger said that no one has been bitten by an alligator in six years However, one of our cyclists went down to the beach this afternoon to take some photos and as she turned to come back, she was confronted by an alligator only 6 feet away.  In the photo you can see three turtles and an alligator sharing the same log.... at least until the alligator gets hungry.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Marianna to Quincy FLORIDA


Today we cycled out of Marianna to Quincy, Florida (55 miles).   Marianna is a small town that has a junior college called CHIPOLA.   Chipola is where my son Tony went to school, in 1977, for two years on a baseball scholarship.   It is a town with all the usual fast food restaurants and strip malls.   The thing that surprised me the most was the fact that there were no bicycle lanes, and it´s a college town.   It was very difficult getting to our hotel on the busy city streets.  Quincy, Florida is also a small southern town with HUGE southern mansions.   We stopped and had lunch at Miss Helen´s restaurant. The owner told us that these millionaires made their money on Coca Cola stock.  As the story goes, many of the residents were offered stock options when the plant opened here many years ago.   The ones that bought the stock are now the millionaries living in the BIG WHITE MANSIONS.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

EVERYBODY LOVES THE SAG DRIVER



Today was my turn as a SAG driver.   As I sat in the car waiting for the cyclists to pass by, I thought long and hard about the duties & responsibilities of a SAG driver.  The primary duty is to  provide water and snacks every 20 miles to the cyclists.  Some SAG days are longer than others, today I had 94 mile day with 4 SAG stops, and at each stop each rider had to be logged ¨ in and out¨ to make sure everyone passed by safely.  There are three types of cyclists in our group:   FAST, AVERAGE SPEED, and SLOW.   But, something else came to mind, the emotional support.    And the amazing part of this whole scenario is the fact that they are all happy to see the SAG car and driver.  And, we drivers are happy to see the cyclist.  It is similar to waiting and watching for your lover to come home.  It´s a love affair between cyclists and SAG, that  most people will never understand  unless they´ve been out on the road for days touring.  It is a show of love and compassion like no other..........  (photo of Sag Sistaƛ Amy, Shelley and Karen)