JAXNC to NOLA (Purple Apples)
Day 1 – July 8, 2013
The first day of my journey from Jacksonville, NC to New Orleans, LA. I biked 71 miles (114.2 km) in 11 hours. Made it to Carolina Beach Campground. Dinner at Shuckin’ Shack was fantastic!
Day 2 – July 9, 2013
Biked 45.4 miles (72.7 km) in 6 hours. Had an amazing lunch at Surf House—Turkey Cuban. Took the ferry and made it to Waterway Campground.
Day 3 – July 10, 2013
Biked 31 miles (50 km) in 4 hours. Had lunch at an Irish pub next to the beach—an amazing rashers cheeseburger. Made it to Myrtle Beach Travel Park, set up hammocks, and had beers by the ocean.
Day 4 – July 11, 2013
Biked 41 miles. Had an amazing lunch at Nalu’s Hawaiian Café. Worst strawberry daiquiri at the beach. Ended the day at a mansion on Pawleys Island, SC.
Day 5
Traveled 73 miles and made it to Charleston, SC. It poured all day—great test for my rain gear. Got a flat tire and changed it in the rain. Had Cajun-style boiled peanuts at a gas station. Hitched a ride from a business owner. Had an amazing Vietnamese sandwich. Stayed at the Comfort Inn, cleaned up, did laundry, had incredible pizza at D’Allesandro’s, then found I had another flat—glass shard!
Day 6 – Saturday
Walked my bike to 5 Loaves Café—had an amazing turkey sandwich on sourdough. Walked a mile to the bike shop for a new tire. The ride to Savannah along the 17 was boring, so we rode 20 miles to the train and hopped a ride into Savannah, GA.
Day 7 – Sunday
Rest day at the hostel in Savannah. My biking companion got sick with a sore throat. Had a fantastic breakfast—Arizona skillet and pecan French toast. Got caught in a downpour. Took a siesta. Tried to catch the free historical trolley (it never showed). Dinner at The Olde Pink House—fried lobster tail was out of this world.
Day 8 – Monday
While riding out of Savannah, my companion was too sick to ride, so she rented a car. Had an amazing sub for lunch. We ended up in Jacksonville, FL, watched Pacific Rim (she’s in the credits!), then camped in Tallahassee.
Day 9 – Tuesday
Returned the rental car and started riding 34 miles back to Chattahoochee KOA. At mile 28, clipped a stick and broke my rear derailleur. Walked the remaining 6 miles. Had two cherry Cokes, one beer, half a pizza, and passed out. What a day!
Day 10
Walked my busted bike to the gas station. Hitched a ride to Tallahassee with a nice couple heading to a clay shooting tournament. Then a pest control guy gave me a lift to the bike shop. While waiting during the $250 repair (worth it), I had lunch at Voodoo Dogs—amazing. Explored downtown Tallahassee and saw the Capitol building. Rode 35 miles back to KOA. At mile 30, campground owners gave me a lift the rest of the way. Ended the day with a dip in the pool.
Day 11
Did much-needed laundry at the KOA. Had breakfast pizza, then rode to Lake Talquin. The local store owner offered his backyard for camping—just three blocks from The Whip Waterfront Pub, which served one of the best burgers I’ve ever had. Set up hammocks and weathered a little rain.
Day 12
Disaster morning: broke two tire stems while inflating. Hitchhiked—driver caught two massive catfish. Bought new tires at Walmart and had mimosas. Rode 20 miles to Wakulla Springs, took a nap, and went on a boat ride to see wildlife. Dinner at the park, then rode 14 miles to St. Marks Lighthouse.
Day 13
Woke to a massive rainstorm. Rode 10 miles to St. Marks Riverside Café, stayed from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. drinking and making friends. Got a room nearby, cleaned up, did laundry, and had chicken salad for dinner.
Day 14
Packed up and had breakfast at Riverside Café. Launched a canoe, then biked 25 miles to Panacea. Stopped at a seafood market—had the most amazing smoked salmon. Camped at Holiday Park. After a nap, had bacon-wrapped shrimp stuffed with crab and a seafood steam basket. Dessert was pineapple-glazed shrimp. 😄
Day 15
Left Panacea and rode 45 miles in the rain to Eastpoint. Took shelter under an abandoned housing complex and watched TV shows on my laptop. Lunch was an MRE (chicken breast). Dinner at El Jalisco—really good chicken burrito.
Day 16
Left late from Eastpoint. Counted five peacocks at the campground. It poured on a two-mile bridge ride, so we hitched a ride to Panama City. Rented a car and drove to Fort Walton Beach. Had the best sushi I’ve had since Japan.
Day 17
Started in Fort Walton. Breakfast at Bon Appetit Bakery—ham and cheese croissants. Rode to Pensacola via the Gulf Coast, saw a submerged boat, and had my first crash in soft sand—hilarious. Stopped at Hemingway’s Restaurant—burger, fries, screwdriver, and to-die-for key lime pie. Got drenched again.
Day 18
Rode from Pensacola, FL to Mobile, AL. Avoided the coast due to headwinds. Lunch in Robertsdale—an amazing chicken burrito. Stayed at Battle House Renaissance Hotel (thanks to Margit’s boyfriend). Worst dinner of the trip: Joe Cain Café—avoid it.
Day 19
Woke refreshed, had an omelet. Checked out and hit the rooftop pool. After hours of lounging and drinks, we headed to New Orleans. Returned the rental and checked into the hostel. Dinner was delicious Vietnamese food. Met amazing people from around the world.
Day 20
Rest day. Breakfast burrito and bananas foster French toast at a local café. Napped at the hostel. Lunch: Vietnamese pork sandwich. More napping and reading The Hobbit. Late night on Bourbon Street.
Day 21
Woke with a bang—a water bottle fell from the top bunk. Read more Hobbit then went to the French Quarter for breakfast burritos and bacon Bloody Marys. Shopped, biked back to the hostel, then returned for dinner at The Gumbo Shop—gator sausage and chicken gumbo.
Day 22
Breakfast croissant with a new hostel friend. Biked around New Orleans running errands. Saw The Wolverine—not impressed. Did some shopping and made brownies at the hostel for everyone.
Day 23
Made my own breakfast. Ran to the hospital to update my shot record for Drexel. Lunch at Reuben’s—amazing muffaletta. Hid from the heat at the hostel and hung out with friends. Margit and her boyfriend took me to dinner—had an incredible pork chop.
