A late roll out brought me to Balm Park in glorious sunshine. Off I went and WOW!

Bunker Hill Missionary Baptist Church rest stop.

A glorious day!

Look who is open…Feel the need for strawberry shortcake.

Peace out. Tres

I waited until after lunch to hop on the bike and began my first time exploring of the New Legacy Trail extension. I started at Pompano Ave Trailhead and went south.

I had the wind at my back and it seemed to blow me down to Venice Train Depot. Went on to Shamrock Park and turned around.

The Shamrock Road to get to Manasota Key.

Very cool separate bike lane on Ringling Blvd that took me to Bayfront Drive and the water. The new infrastructure is great.

Great afternoon Peace out Tres dog

Another great country breakfast: Eggs, cheese grits, biscuits and sausage gravy, bacon, sausage, OJ and coffee, Gib. Great 8 miler!

Great drive home until the I-75 stuff. Being outdoors really changes your lenses.

It was a beautiful rollout from Casa Smith to Clay County. I was accompanied with SMBC stalwart road biker Dana W and off we went to picnic lunch in a beautiful downtown park in Melrose, Florida.

Easy roll into Camp Chowenwaw. Nice campground with hot showers and a refrigerator.

Great fall off the bone baked chicken dinner with BBQ baked beans, cole slaw, salad, yeast rolls, chocolate chip cookies and sweet tea. Gib! Two great speakers about the King’s botanist John Bartrand and his son, William, exploring the St. John’s River in the 1770’s. They had been in Blackwater Creek in a battoe, an old row boat with a small sail. We would follow their footsteps today in the kayak. The pics.

Dana and I went underneath the 15 bridge into the St. John’s River next to take out. It was beautiful.

Another killer dinner with live folk music. An 8 miler up Peters Creek and after lunch away we go back home.

I knew I would be in town for the game and got a ticket for the game with the James Madison Dukes. Boone, NC was hopping. I was to told find parking and did so. A few pics.

ASU was killing them at half and they ended up losing. Great fan experience. Going to see some friends in Asheville and home Monday. Great trip. Peace out Tres dog

Had a early breakfast of Eggs Benedict. Gib. First stop West Jefferson. It was a nice town. Ashe County cheese made there. I have a sample of 7 year old super sharp cheddar. They have a running regular movie theatre.

A trip to see two local churches that had frescoes painted in them. 1974-80.

These frescoes below were painted by Ben Long and his students from 1974 to 1977.

This Last Supper fresco in 1980 in an Episcopal Church in Glendale Springs.

On to Todd, NC and the Todd Mercantile Store. No pics but an incredible baker in residence. Yummy cinnamon roll. New River nearby for paddling.

Todd is great for cycling as well. I will do it upon return On to Roan Mtn. I stopped for local pork BBQ. I got some pinto beans, cornbread and onions for dinner with slaw!

Out to Roan Mtn State Park. Wow!

It was a big tourist day! Came back to this map and will probably be heading home early. Peace Tres

My friend recommended a route out US 221 almost to Grandfather Mountain and returning on the parkway. Great recommendation on a beautiful morning.

As you can see I was getting to Rough Ridge and the weather and wind began to really pick up.

The ORIGINAL Mast General Store. Always cool never grows old. Still has a working post office.

Big day today. Looks like weather here may change. Big peace out Tres dog

A chance meeting with my new PA friends staying at Damascus Mill Inn. They had leftover fried chicken and potato wedges and I had half a fresh watermelon from the Farmer’s Market in Abingdon. Super people! PA Clan on trail with super dog, Harper, breaking hearts. Pic below.

I got away quick and it was cool but a glorious morning after egg casserole and biscuits and strawberry jam. Gib,

My rear tire was going low and I pumped it enough to get back. A nice drive to Blowing Rock and Mellow Mushroom Puzza with Elli Sias, owner and tour consultant for Cycle of Life Adventures (COLA). I rode the Natchez Trace with Elli and Dennis. Super people and great tours. It was great to catch up. BR below.

Elli told me about Rhodie Bike shop in BR. Super shop fixed my flat and went through some things about going tubeless with my wheel set. Super nice people. Laying low maybe some Kilwin’s Ice Cream later. US 221 and Blue Ridge Parkway loop tomorrow. Big peace out Tres dog.