Tuesday 2 August 2011

Day 89 Cobourg to Florence

Well this is it. The last day for some but not me of course as I have contractual obligations with my sponsors. Dolo and I followed  the official route today and did the 85 miles to Florence. The rest of the group took a 2 day detour so that they could dip their wheels in the Pacific. The problem is that it isn't 'Florence by the Sea'  it's 'Florence on an Estuary' a few miles inland.

So I will be in Florence one day before the main group which gives me a layover day and the time to prepare for the next  bit. Instead of turning right and hrading up the coast to Vancouver I am turning left and finishing in San Francisco where I will be spending a few days with Greg. This adds a couple of hundred more miles but hopefully Greg will be there waiting at the Golden Gate Bridge with champagne on ice.

I then intend to take the Amtrak up to Vancouver with a stopover in Seattle. A 26 hour journey but all part of the fun. I will also get a day in Vancouvet before flying home on 26th August and rejoining the real world.

So back to today's ride. What better way to start than a tried and tested Mcdonalds breakfast, where surprise surprise we found Ellen and Kelly. And Cathy too. Cathy and Kelly had also decided to go direct to Florence but at their usual warp speed pace.

After negotiating our way through the city centre traffic we picked up a cycle path taking us out of town and then had a glorious day cycling down ( with a few ups ) a river valley that took us all the way to Florence.  We arrived at the campsite about 6 30  after a long day and then had celebratory 'British Style' fish and chips at a waterfront restaurant washed down with a couple of large beers. Tonight we will be having our farewelll meal with the rest of the group.

San Fransisco is about 12 days  and 600 miles away.  Dolo will be riding with me some of the way and we intend to take a somewhat leisurely 50 mile a day pace.

Miles Today 88
Total         4663