March 26: Live Oak to Gainesville, Florida

It’s strange to realize that you think of an 86-mile ride as easy in advance, but that’s how we’ve all become.  “Eh, 86 miles, no big deal.”  And we all seemed to approach it that way today, an easy recovery ride after yesterday’s 113-miler and tomorrow’s 99.9-mile final spin into St Augustine.

Maybe we don’t want it to end or maybe people were actually a little tired, but all in all, the day was a relaxed lollygag with friends.  It just happened to also be 86 miles.

A fallow field red with flowering dock.

Gary and Bob chat along the route.

Cattle and goats snooze; Spanish moss hanging from the trees in the foreground.

Emily wonders whether a Florida State fan visiting the sag food table wants some of the coveted Nutella (chocolate and hazelnut spread), while Carol and Matt try to look unconcerned.

Matt eyes the peanut M&Ms.