We left Lake City at 7am and, although it was a bit dark, it was nice to have some cooler weather. We stopped for breakfast in Live Oak (about 25 miles). By 10:30 it was 95 degrees.
However, we soon had an incredible thunder storm, which lasted about an hour. It was great to cool off a bit. Our only mishap was when a truck drove a little too close to the shoulder and knocked Rob off his bike. He was fine, although a bit muddy.
We were prepared for FL to be flat, but it is VERY hilly! We finished in Tallahassee.
Stats:
| Time: |
07:26:52 |
| Distance: |
95.27 mi |
| Elevation Gain: |
3,263 ft |
| Calories: |
3,997 C |
Live animals – Donkey, Large Turtle, vulture, Horses
Dead animals – armadillo, opossum, fox, frogs, deer
We had a GREAT send-off at Jacksonville Beach. Not only were the Iron Pigs there, but Bruce Thomason, the chief of police, rode his bike with us out of town. Then the Jacksonville Police Dept. gave us an escort all the way to the beginning of the Jacksonville-Baldwin Trail!
We met Penny at the end of the trail (40 miles completed) for a quick peanut butter sandwich and we were off again. Drivers were very nice and gave us lots of room. We took US 10 to Lake City and had wide, clean shoulders the whole way. It was 103 degrees when we reached Lake City.
Our stats:
| Time: |
06:03:02 |
| Distance: |
82.58 mi |
| Elevation Gain: |
2,527 ft |
| Calories: |
3,569 C |
Live animals – Donkey, Turkey, Chickens, Cows, Snake
Dead animals – Alligator, Armadillo, Swan, snakes
Kim and Rob dipped their rear wheels in the Atlantic Ocean shortly after sunrise this morning in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. After speaking with a crowd of well-wishers including members of the Jacksonville Beach Police Department, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Department, a contingent from the “Iron Pigs” motorcycle club, and a number of CIA Alumni, they started pedaling toward California.
We hope to post photos and video tomorrow.
Pedaling for Patriots is honored to have received letters of support from President Bush (41) and Bush (43)
Letter from Former President (and CIA Director) George Herbert Walker Bush:
Letter from President George W. Bush:
Retired CIA officer to ride for donations
The Associated Press
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A retired CIA officer is set to embark on a cross-country bicycle ride to raise awareness and money to support the children of agency officers killed in the line of duty.
Rob Richer retired from the CIA in 2005 as the second highest ranking member of the agency’s clandestine services after spending much of his career overseas in Yemen, Tunisia, Nepal, Jordan and throughout the Middle East.
Richer will be joined on the roughly 45-day ride by his wife, Kim. It will begin Sept. 11 in Jacksonville, ending in San Diego, Calif.
Richer says he wants to raise awareness about the sacrifices of his fallen colleagues, who live largely in the shadows due to the secretive nature of the work. All funds will go to the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation.
Online: http://www.pedalingforpatriots.com/
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/09/10/1817107/retired-cia-officer-to-ride-for.html#ixzz0z8EF15L7
Apparently CNN had some technical difficulty with the audio of our interview. We think it has been fixed…but the story got bumped today by the lengthy Presidential Press conference and follow-on analysis. With luck the story will run on Saturday 9-11.
We arrived in Atlanta yesterday. What a beautiful city! We have already done an interview with CNN (Suzanne Kelly), which will air tomorrow at 11:00am. We are now off to explore and take a short bike ride. Thanks so much to everyone who has written us notes of support and for your donations to the Memorial Fund. We are SO appreciative!
