September 24 Crossing America
Skidaway Island, SC – Yemassee, SC a distance of 69 miles, 43 on bike.
Total distance traveled through today 5,495, on my bike 4,692 of them.
Jack and Connie have treated me so well I did not want to leave today but the road beckons. Actually it’s getting late into the season for riding north and I need to complete the journey. Our first stop today was to pick up our SAG driver extraordinaire Matt. Second stop a fabulous diner in downtown Savanna for a hearty breakfast. Too full to ride, we drove through downtown over the massive river bridge and north to a wildlife refuge
to see if we could spot an alligator or two, we did.
I got the feeling this bad boy was eyeing me up for a juicy snack
After getting one last picture of a gator we mounted our bikes for the ride to Yemassee. Jack a couple miles slower today, thank goodness he wore me out the other day. Visiting with Jack I learned he had bonked, lost his energy on that first ride, which was the real reason he rode the stretch between Claxton and Pembroke. We discussed for this ride to slow down a couple miles an hour and most importantly to stay well hydrated. I was
pleased to see Jack did both and had no trouble completing the 43 mile ride. It was a new distance record for him. For his birthday next month Matt is urging Jack to ride 64 miles. Jack I have no doubt you are and will be capable of completing such a ride and I fully
encourage you to do it. Just remember to slow down, drink lots of fluid and enjoy the ride.
Today we came upon the first other touring cyclist I’ve seen since starting stage 3 down in Key West. vYoung man’s name is Carol and he has rode from New York City to here in
8 days a distance of nearly 900 miles. WishvI could ride that kind of miles day in and day out. Then again you’ve had a great tail while I’vevbeen battling a headwind plus you are doing the “minimalist” route as it lookedvlike your gear probably weighed in less than 20 lbs. OK, enough of my making excuses why you done so well compared to me. Nice riding Carol, you make me envious.
The last five miles of our Jack and my ride was in the rain, a heavy rain it was too. I was a happy camper to arrive in Yemassee due haste and get out of my soaked clothes. Jack was, too. Jack and Matt had checked out Yemassee a couple days before I arrived in the area.
Jack proved his ability as a super-salesman as he lined out with the Mayor, J.L. “Dale” Goodwin of Yemassee to allow me to stay the night in the City Hall offices. That’s a first and truly an amazing accomplishment. Mayor Goodwin is a great ambassador for the town and made us feel welcome the moment he arrived. I noticed he had USMC tattooed
on his left forearm and he still has the look of a Jarhead. I love the Corp but rarely admit I was in it for a brief few months. Always fealt cheated I didn’t complete boot camp. Sidebar for those who are wondering what I mean by the above; after the 1968 Tet offensive during the Viet Nam war I enlisted as a Medical Recruit Enlistment Program (MREP) due to a knee injury playing football in high school. The Marine Corp wanted a way out of not being responsible if my knee wasn’t capable of holding up in boot camp and/or later. I made it to the rifle range week of boot camp before the Captain of our Series spotted me limping around. He sent me to the infirmary and next thing I know I’m discharged with a Medical condition making me unfit to serve in combat. Thus, I rarely ever claim to have been in the Marine’s as I didn’t complete basic training. Sucks but that’s life, right. I sure got off track this time.
Mayor Goodwin we learned retired from the Marine Corp and has been Mayor of Yemassee for the past 14 years. He represents his community well and I am pretty confident they are lucky to have this amiable and capable Marine representing them. The Mayor even presented each of us with a Souvenir coin the city had made. He even gave me a T-Shirt from the Annual Shrimp Festival which was held for the 17th time last weekend.
Wish I’d been here for it as they had a shrimp eating contest and I can eat my fair share of those delicious creatures. The Mayor also gave me his card and told me to have the Police Chief of the next overnight town to call him for a reference to allow me a place to stay. Yep, I sure do like Mayor Goodwin. Semper Fi (Always faithful) Mayor Goodwin! Oorah!
Mayor Goodwin and the Old Guy
The Mayor even told us where to go in town for some finger lickin’ fried chicken, not the Colonel’s either. Again the Mayor gave us good advice, don’t know about Jack and Matt but I felt like I needed to loosen my belt a notch or two when we left. Learning no restaurant are open on Sunday in Yemassee, tomorrow, I ordered two BLT sandwiches to go for breakfast. As all meals I’ve had while in the company of Jack and Matt, I didn’t have to pay. Jack paid this time. Matt has paid other times. I really appreciate all you two have done for me the past few days but more slightly embarrassed for always having my hands
in my pocket when it comes time to pay. Thank you guys, I owe you. Please come to visit me in Missouri and I’ll do my best to treat you as well.
Returning to City Hall after our meal I noticed the door to the EMS office was open. I suspected there would be a shower and immediately went to the office and introduced
myself to the two EMS technicians on duty. The gal said I wouldn’t want to take a shower there as it was pretty nasty. Then said I could look for myself which I did and I quickly told her I’d showered in much worse showers over the past few months, I take the shower. It was difficult for me to say goodbye to Jack and Matt they have been so nice to me. You two guys I can’t begin to thank you enough for how well you have treated me. You went way overboard. Thank you!
After Jack and Matt were gone I got my toilet kit and took a much appreciated shower. It’s the one luxury on this adventure which I most cherish being able to do after a hard day
of riding. When I finished my shower I visited more with the two EMS staff and learned they have a couple MS victims on staff. I assured them there will be a cure for this disease in the next few years. I will continue to do my part to help raise the needed funds to make it happen, I promise.
Decided I needed to compare the routes of the Adventure Cycling maps with the State map from SC/NC to see if there might be a better route up the coast. My plan to ride and ferry the outer banks isn’t going to happen as hurricane Irene wiped out US Hwy. 12 and it won’t be rebuilt until late in October. Actually we learned the Outer Banks is closed to outside visitors until October 10th at the minimum. Pouring over the maps for a couple hours I’ve come up with a route combining both map sources. We’ll see how well that goes. In the meantime, I’m calling it a night. Thanks for reading my journal. I haven’t heard from a few of you in a while are you still following me; George, Barbara Ann, John W., Jeanne and Gene. You guys in particular are my inner strength and I enjoy hearing from you.
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8 Comments
Gene Moll
September 27, 2011Yep, Frank, I have been reading them all. Keep up the good work biking, that is, when you are not visiting with old and new friends. I have never been to Florida so this has been quite interesting.
Gene
4theoldguy11
September 27, 2011Hi Gene, Thank you for letting me know you are still reading. Our Country is vast and beautiful but nothing compares to the goodness of the folks I have met. This has been a life changing experience for me. I thank God each day for making Crossing America much more than an adventure.
Jack & Connie Odell
September 27, 2011Frank, we’re watching closely and h0ping one of your friends comes to SAG for the few remaining days of your fabulous journey. They will be well rewarded and you really need the help finding a new route to Richmond after the cycling roads and bridges were destroyed in NC by Hurricane Irene. Matt, Connie and I are so grateful we had the opportunity to share a few days of your adventure. I’m working hard on the “Old Guy” video and hope to have it done this week – your footage is very exciting! Question; where is the Miller Clinic and I assume that clip was a MS symposium? Thanks again for the great rides we shared in GA & SC.
4theoldguy11
September 27, 2011Hi Jack! I making it OK, Mark may SAG the last couple days. I have figured out alternate route to the Outer Banks and hopefully will cut the second to last day into two 55 mile days instead of a 110 miles in one day. I miss being with you guys already, your company and friendship will forever be with me. The Miller Clinic is on the campus of Virginia Tech in Charlottesville, VA. We have to figure out how we can get together for a longer ride together, maybe a Florida Keys excursion for a week instead of doing it in two days like I did as there is so much to see and do down there. You and Connie take care and drive careful traveling to Crystal Lake. I thought you were going to hold off on doing the video until you return from Illinois? I know it will be great and hopefully it will generate many more donors to defeat MS. Did you by chance read the comment from a Renata in Yemassee, she touched my heart with her comments. Take care and thank you for all your support and friendship.
Jack & Connie Odell
September 27, 2011Sorry you had to ride all the way to Moncks Corner, but it sounds like it worked out well. Yes, your video has taken priority in my life for the next several days and I will finish it before leaving for CL. And yes, I will ride with you again and I do love the Keys! We were touched by Renata’s comments. Take care Frank, you’re almost there.
4theoldguy11
September 29, 2011Hi Jack, Yes the ride all the way to Monsck Corner was hard but turned out well worth the effort as I have four more friends I didn’t know I had. They are a great bunch of guys. Wow! Thank you for making the video a priority, I didn’t expect you to do that but happy you are as you do fantastic work. I’m confident when it is posted we will see more donations to defeat MS and folks such as Renata will benefit. I think the Keys would be a great place to ride next, let’s figure out how to make it happen. Thank you and Connie once again for taking awesome care of me while at your home. You guys take care and be careful on your trip to CL. See you down the road.
suzy Mcdonald
September 26, 2011I’m still following you, Frank. I went swimming today. while the air was warm the water was COLD. i still made it to the float and back. Ed and I logged a 10 mile ride last Fri. It was flat and in the fog. Then we tried to ride the same route with a major wind and “oh my” only did 5.2. what a difference the head wind makes. I feel for you riding into it day after day. So, keep riding , buddy, we are all waiting to read about the finish!!
4theoldguy11
September 27, 2011Hi Suzy, Alright good for you and Ed you will be ready for your tour next Spring for sure. You make me cold just thinking about jumping in the cold lake water, you are brave. Yes, wind is relentless and makes riding difficult. I sure got it wrong by going to Key West and riding north to take advantage of a tailwind. Today was the first day the wind has come out of the south and guess what the Adventure Cycling map sent me south for 20 miles. I can’t win, so have resigned myself to grinding out the miles. There hasn’t been much to see the last couple days which adds to the dullness of riding the miles. The bonus though has been meeting a continuous stream of nice folks, I probably spend as much time talking with folks each day as riding. Thank you for letting me know you are still reading, I think of you often and am very grateful for having discovered your friendship. Take care and may the wind be at your back, well at least most of the time.