Green Cove Springs...

Was a good long windy cold ride! I rode to Jim's house early and we left there for the Shands Bridge area. It was frigging cold. It was so cold I couldn't feel my toes any more. From Jim's house we went all the way down Long Leaf Pine, which dumps me right next to 13. That’s where I left Jim, (he was scared ;) he had plans). So then I had to use the bathroom emergency like :). So my options were pretty limited out in the sticks. So just by chance at the corner was a Chevron!!! Thank heavens. Well now being alone and pretty far from home, at least 20 miles, I decided that I would stand at the threshold of the door and ask if there was a bathroom I could use, I had my bike at my side then with the front wheel about half way in the store :), she said yes and pointed to the back. So me, refusing to leave my bike unattended rolled my bike right in the store and in the bathroom with me :) half way to the bathroom the lady spouted something off along the line of sir...ummm...we ummm... normally don’t let bikes in the store. But I just kept walking since she wasn't very loud spoken and just wheeled it right in with me. So then I was off alone to tackle the dreaded, scary, horrible Shands Bridge. Well it wasn't great but it wasn't that bad either, it was 8:30 ish when I rode it and only 9 cars passed me while riding it. A normal bike lane is 4', and this shoulder / bike lane was only about 2'. So it was small and there was a decent amount of trash and debris but it wasn't all that bad, the grading section was only like 40' and the crest was pretty good as well. The Clay County half of the ride was long, windy, cold, & full of hills. I liked the hills but man throwing in the wind made it terrible. I loved the country roads and morning sun. It took about 2 hours to get to Brian’s house and the ride was right at 40 miles. It was awesome to see Brian, Jessica, & Dillon. I hadn’t seen them in a while and need to do this more often. We ate at O'Charleys on the way to my house, which they gladly took me!! Food was good there I had never eaten there before. I wish Dana could have met us there but it was all the way in Fleming Island and we had a Baby Shower to go to.