Day 3 - Lamont, FL to Valdosta, GA - 63 miles, 1545 feet ascent

We crossed into Georgia today and had our longest ride so far. We headed east from Lamont for 35 miles then turned to the north. The winds were from the Northeast today so we were riding into headwinds the whole day. No one got lost and there were no mishaps. The route was along country roads and one overgrown trail. Traffic was generally light until we reached Valdosta making the last two miles a bit sporty on the main road through town with no shoulder.

Our first rest break was in the town of Greenville, FL at Haffye Hays Park. Greenville is where Ray Charles grew up and there was a bronze statue of him in the park. Lunch was in the town of Madison, FL at a lovely park with monuments to Madison County residents who lost their lives during the Civli War, WW II, Korea and Vietnam. For rides over 60 miles we take a third rest break which was just north of the GA-FL boarder. We saw floats for a homecoming parade in Madison. There were lots of youngsters in town beacuse schools were closed for the parade.

We saw a wide array of road kill today as we peddled into the relentless wind. The flat menagerie included armadillo, alligator, raccoon, squirrel and at least three species of snake. Tomorrow we go even further riding the 74 miles between Valdosta and Waycross. This leg will pass the former Moody Air Force Base. We will have less climbing for this leg of the trip, but as we press further east we continue to keep a weather eye to the horizon with an increasing chance of rain through the weekend.