30 September - Day 0

Over the past two days the Gulf to Goat riders have assembled in Apalachicola, some driving one-way rentals and others flying into Panama City. Most of us spent the day reassembling, repairing and tuning up our bikes and doing a short 15-20 mile test ride. We met as a group in the afternoon at the Apalachicola library for our pre-ride brief by BIKEternity. The hour-long breif reviewed safety protocols and covered the daily routine and provided an overview of the route for tomorrow.

Following the briefing we were hosted to a happy hour and a delicious dinner by USNA '75 classmate Mark Milliken nd his wife Elizabeth who live a few blocks from the library in the house Elizabeth's parents once owned. It was the perfect way to kick off the ride and most generous of the Milliken's to host a large group of riders, spouses, BIKEternity staff and friends.

Most of us felt excited but a bit apprehensive about what lies ahead. I have logged over 5400 miles the past twelve months in preparation for this adventure and other riders have similar stories. The challenge we all face will be stringing together 60-mile days for the next three weeks. Will these 70+ year old bodies deliver that kind of performance? Time will tell.