The U-turn!
Crossing Mobile Bay Renata could feel a big difference in the
atmosphere. Of course she wishes that she would have been able to enjoy
Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama a lot more. But at the same time she
knew that her decision to pass these stated during the circumstances that
are was the right one to make. And now she is in Florida!!
The following days she has really been enjoying the emerald cost and
the sunshine, but for the first time on the trip she felt sick. She has
caught a cold and has all the normal symptoms, a slight fever, sore throat,
dripping nose, aching muscles. Ignoring the first signs it is better to
rest for a day or two.
The wind keeps slowing her down and she has been changing course from
the Intra Costal to the Gulf and back again depending on what way the wind
comes from.
Renata met quit a few people every day and it is getting harder and harder
for her to make them believe that she have traveled from Seattle. She
enjoys to see there surprised but fascinated faces when she tell them her
story that she started from Seattle and are already going back...
More than 10 years ago she visited the Everglades with her parents and
remember that it was not a very human friendly place. Crocks, gators,
mangroves, swamps and bugs, thousands of bugs that attack you as soon as
you step out of the car. This time she has a tent and that will work ok
for the bugs, maybe for the snakes but she do not know about the
alligators...
The first day went pretty well without any incidents and she even found a
good solid spot to camp. But when she woke up she got brutally reminded of
what one thing that she had forgotten about, the strong tide. The water
was about 400 meters out so she had to wait a while before she could head
out.
The Everglades where a lot more pleasant that she hade imagined and no
encounters with alligators or crocodiles.
The third milestone off the expeditions is reached!!
On February 14th Renata reached Key West and the monument of the
southern most point of the states. This is a huge milestone and turning
point. From now on she is heading home!!
She was feeling good about biking for a few days giving her back and
shoulders a well deserved rest. Although it was a lot of traffic the A1A
has had a separate bike lane most of the time so she felt pretty safe. But
a few moments of distraction from a woman in a car changed that feeling
fast. As she was changing lanes she ran straight in to Renata's kayak.
Fortunately she was not going fast and Renata managed to jump of the bike
before it hit the asphalt. A bit shocked at first before she realized what
had happened and then relived that the only thing damaged was her trailer.
Fortunately the lady that hit Renata was helpful and her trailer will be
fixed in a few days. Sharks, alligators, storms and wild oceans are all
scary but traffic is still one of the biggest dangers!!
Being so close to Orlando Renata would be lying if she said that she
has not been tempted to visit some of the theme parks that are there.
Renata is a huge fan of rollercoasters, cotton candy and all that
wonderful stuff!
Being focused on the expedition and moving forward it has been easy
keeping the temptation in place...until now...The crash, the broken
trailer, the strong north winds, and the increasing worries about her
shoulders and legs made her finally give in. Having one day to spare
Renata decided to do an adventure of a whole different kind…
SportsGearGuide.com - Patrik Nilsson
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