Day 109: Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park

Alea had a somewhat easy day today, only 25 miles, but the entire distance was into a 10 mph headwind.  But before she could get going this morning, we found that her front tire was flat.  Rather than fix it right then, we put my front wheel on her bike and sent her on her way.  I drove ahead and found a place to wait for her, where I repaired her flat (a sharp rock had worked its way through the Kevlar-belted tire) and lubed my chain.

Is my tube replaced yet?

Thanks for the bread crumb on that last turn...

We're camping at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park ($22, power, water and showers).  If Stephen Foster sounds familiar, it is because he is credited for having been the "father of American music," including the familiar song "Old Folks at Home" (the lyrics include "way down upon the Suwannee River," along which this park is located).

We made this a short riding day in order to have time to shop in Jacksonville, home of the only REI in Florida (plus it also has a Performance Bicycle store).  Our timing for shopping at REI was perfect, as they were in the middle of a sale.  Most of what we bought was 25-33% off.  Given that we spent over $600, we probably saved $150-200 today.

We started out this trip with some pretty well worn cycling clothes, and decided it was time to replace several items.  We also decided that having four sets of cycling clothes can help to cut down on the number of trips that we make to the laundromat, so we each bought one extra short and jersey.

And we made a stop at Performance Bicycle, where I've selected a new saddle with considerably more padding than my existing saddle.  I didn't have time to put it on this evening, but hopefully I'll have a chance to do so in the morning.  With luck, it will help to extend the distance at which I can comfortably ride.

We got Lana a new bone recently (having mistakenly left the old bone at a previous campsite).  She's obsessing over burying it, so we've been entertained the past few nights as she hides in it one place, then goes back 20 minutes later to find a better hiding place.  It's clearly very serious business to her...

Lana tries once again to hide her new bone...

One of the features of this state park is a carillon tower.  The quarter chime just now has us both hoping that it doesn't chime all through the night...