Day 15
Friday, 10 June 2011
Statesboro, GA to Savannah, GA
60.6 miles, 4h44m, 12.8 mph
Elapsed Time: 5h34m, Max speed: 20.7mph
Total Climbing: 486ft, Max elevation: 252ft
Total mileage: 1001.1
All done. Sixty short miles from Statesboro to Savannah and I'm done a
day early. We have all day tomorrow to tour this wacky city.
I rolled out of Statesboro at about 8am and headed south. A few miles
down the road I saw a big group of riders joining my route. This was
the BRAG (Bicycle Ride Across Georgia). I missed them by one day in
Milledgeville, and finally we meet. I rode along with them for a mile
or so until I realized I had missed my turn.
BRAG takes over an El Cheapo convenience store.
So, I turned around and went back the other way. Turns out the entire
time I was riding with BRAG was the wrong way. Also, I saw a fully
loaded touring bike riding the BRAG route, though I don't think he was
in the BRAG. This particular stretch of road is part of the Adventure
Cycling East Coast Route, so I think he was another lone touring dude
like me. So far on this trip I've seen three other touring cyclists,
and every time I've not been carrying bags. It's embarrassing.
Anyway, I got myself straightened out and pointed back at Savannah.
It looked like this. There was a heavy layer of smoke in the air. Like
there was a
big fire somewhere nearby. Seems like most of Georgia smells like smoke
in the morning.
I know some blitches who could live here.
The entry into Savannah was even more unpleasant than the route into
Atlanta. Industrial areas. Heavy traffic. Lots of trucks--even on the
back roads. By the time I got into the city I knew I wasn't riding the
extra 15 miles to the ocean. Done.
I met Linda at Chippewa Square--where the bench scene in Forrest Gump was filmed. (I swear
last time we were in Savannah the bench was still there, but now it
seems to be in the Savannah History Museum). She walked (and I rode)
down to City Hall for the victory photo.
Woo-hoo!
Rode 1000 miles and I doubt I lost a pound.
We took the bike to the Perry Rubber Bike Shop on Chippewa Square and
they
will ship it back to me. That was easy. I guess we didn't need an SUV.
A typical Savannah Square. This is Madison Square,
which--naturally--has a statue
of a guy named Jasper in the middle of it.
Since I was riding the March to the Sea Trail for the past few days, it
would have been appropriate
to end the ride here, at Sherman's Savannah headquarters. But I didn't.
Tomorrow we'll be touring Savannah and
hopefully attending a Savannah Sand Gnats baseball game.
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"Tour of the South 2011" Copyright © 2011 By Bob
Clemons. All rights reserved.