Day 1. I sleep in a bus (but it’s not what you think) - Coast 2 Coast 2 Coast - CycleBlaze

March 4, 2025

Day 1. I sleep in a bus (but it’s not what you think)

No Wi-Fi in the bus so this journal entry had to wait but today you get two entries -isn’t that great? (unless this rhyming scheme is not what you’d wish and you find it plebeian and rather childish.)

Out at dawn I’m hitting the road but first a stop for breakfast to intake my caloric load. McDonald’s has hot coffee and a sausage McMuffin. It may not be haute cuisine, but it’s better than nothin’. 

Crossing the bridge was no sweat as the bike lane brought me right over the inlet
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The main thing from this business that I can glean is someone here is a fan of the washing machine
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Spotted wildlife and circling vultures over the fields of agriculture
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 Nine miles on the road and I turned upscale as the route diverted onto the St Augustine Palatka trail. A ribbon of asphalt through the wild which got me off the road and I smiled. 

View from the trail is a swampy bog. And what does one hear? Why of course, a frog.
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Sun still coming up in the sky it’s still low which means you can see my shadow
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A fast decent from the causeway requires a bit of chutzpah as one makes their way into Palatka. I passed Angels diner, supposedly the oldest in the state. It was too early for lunch but I hear it’s great. I passed two others cyclists and called out “bonjour!” -it’s always great to talk with other cyclists on tour. 

“Here’s the church and here’s the steeple, only thing missing is all the people!”
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At 45 miles I stopped in Florahome for a break. I felt it was necessary as my butt began to ache. The fountains water was cloudy, it seemed off-kilter. Good thing I brought my Kathadin water filter. 

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After 76 miles I was more than ready to visit the park named after musician Tom Petty
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I arrived at my destination full of anticipation. It’s a converted school bus parked in the host’s driveway outfitted with a bed, kitchen, and bath it’s just perfect for a one night stay. 

Staying in the bus was comparatively cheap and to be honest I had a good nights sleep
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At the end of this ride I met this affectionate kitty which was good because after 78 miles I felt rather … bad
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Today's ride: 78 miles (126 km)
Total: 78 miles (126 km)

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Comment on this entry Comment 5
Kelly IniguezDo we get a photo of the bus interior? Good job on a long day.
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3 weeks ago
Paul MulveyTo Kelly IniguezKelly I have something just for you - you get a pic of the interior when you read day 2 😃
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3 weeks ago
Rich FrasierHopefully it's also for the rest of us. There are many who'd appreciate a picture of the bus.
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3 weeks ago
Paul MulveyTo Rich FrasierYes of course it is - I didn’t mean to exclude. Not sharing the pic with you all would have been rather rude.
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3 weeks ago
Gregory GarceauNothing could be finer / than to eat at Angel's Diner. I'd expect the servers to have wings / while serving up delicious things. One particular angel might a gracious host, that would be Tom Petty's ghost.
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3 weeks ago