We left the hotel at 7:45AM and rode up to the Denny's about a mile up Rte 25 for breakfast. After breakfast we started down Rte 25. We eventually merged with Rte 17 and started following Rte 17 south to Florida. After 10 miles or so we came to the bridge connecting Brunswick with Jekyll island. It is another bridge to rival the Charlestown bridge. The views from the bridge were spectacular!! After crossing the bridge we continued to see the marshes and wildlife along the route. We came to a terminal where thousands of cars were being unloaded from ships and then put on railroad cars to be sent around the country. We continued on Rte 17 and Rte 25 into the real Georgia. Although we continued to see marshes and such, mostly we were seeing pine forests along the road. We stopped at a small convenience store and had something to eat as it was obvious that there would not be any restaurants for quite awhile. We sat at a table in the back room and a local man came in and asked if he could sit and eat his lunch. Of course we said OK. He was very interesting. I asked him if he knew anything about a large number of logging machines and equipment that appeared to be abandoned along the road. He said that he lived not to far from there. I thought maybe the owner had gone out of business but he said no, the owner had all of the rights to the timber in the area and used to log it himself but now he just collects royalties from others who do the logging. The owner now sells parts from the equipment that is sitting there. I wish I had taken a picture but I didn't. The man then told me that he had been deer hunting this morning as it is muzzle loader season. He said he had shot at a deer but missed it because he had not practiced with his gun because he couldn't find his bullets until today. He asked where we were going and we said to Fernandia Beach. He said to be careful because Rte A1A was heavy traffic and that the drivers did not concern themselves with bikers. He was right!!!
We continued riding down Rte17/25. There was not very much traffic and the road was good. It did start to get very hot. I don't know what the temperature was but it definitely was the hottest day so far. It had to be in the 90's. We were running out of water so we stopped at a place that was selling seafood to see if they sold water or drinks. The woman running the place so no but she would give us some ice and we could fill our bottles, which we did. The problem was the water tasted like sulphur! Luckily we came to another convenience store a few miles down the road and bought water to replace what we had.
Eventually, we came to the St. Mary's river which separates Georgia and Florida. We crossed the bridge and we were in Florida, our last state!! There was a big Florida sign but even though we looked as we were leaving Georgia, there is no welcome to Georgia sign.
I have been struck by how many small business and towns we have seen on Rte 17 that are out of business because I-95 was constructed. All of the traffic now goes to the interchange area and not to the small towns. It is a shame but that is progress.
At Yulee FL, we turned east on Rte A1A towards the coast. Our friend was right about the traffic. It was heavy and the cars would not give an inch. We came to another large bridge which spans the river separating Amelia Island from the mainland. More spectacular views to appreciate. We made it into Fernandia Beach and was heading for a motel when I spied the first Starbucks in Florida, actually the second but the first we could easily reach. I had a Venti Mocha Frappachino, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Bob passed!
After we checked into the motel, we walked up to the beach and had dinner at a restaurant on the beach. It was very nice. Afterwards, Bob bought dessert, Blizzards at the DQ!!!
We are in the home stretch, only 9 more riding days!!!
We continued riding down Rte17/25. There was not very much traffic and the road was good. It did start to get very hot. I don't know what the temperature was but it definitely was the hottest day so far. It had to be in the 90's. We were running out of water so we stopped at a place that was selling seafood to see if they sold water or drinks. The woman running the place so no but she would give us some ice and we could fill our bottles, which we did. The problem was the water tasted like sulphur! Luckily we came to another convenience store a few miles down the road and bought water to replace what we had.
Eventually, we came to the St. Mary's river which separates Georgia and Florida. We crossed the bridge and we were in Florida, our last state!! There was a big Florida sign but even though we looked as we were leaving Georgia, there is no welcome to Georgia sign.
I have been struck by how many small business and towns we have seen on Rte 17 that are out of business because I-95 was constructed. All of the traffic now goes to the interchange area and not to the small towns. It is a shame but that is progress.
At Yulee FL, we turned east on Rte A1A towards the coast. Our friend was right about the traffic. It was heavy and the cars would not give an inch. We came to another large bridge which spans the river separating Amelia Island from the mainland. More spectacular views to appreciate. We made it into Fernandia Beach and was heading for a motel when I spied the first Starbucks in Florida, actually the second but the first we could easily reach. I had a Venti Mocha Frappachino, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Bob passed!
After we checked into the motel, we walked up to the beach and had dinner at a restaurant on the beach. It was very nice. Afterwards, Bob bought dessert, Blizzards at the DQ!!!
We are in the home stretch, only 9 more riding days!!!
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