Sunday, November 15, 2009

Emily recently had a crash in Jacksonville Beach florida, en route to St. Augustine, FL. Her foot got stuck in her wheel and she flipped over her bike, and ended up with a pretty severe concussion and 8 stitches in her elbow along with some bruises. Luckily, Burlington friend Mike McDonald lives in Tallahassee and offered to come pick us up. We've been recouping at his place and just put our bikes in boxes to ship home. We'll continue on to New Orleans by bus tonight, spend 4 days there, and then head home in time for Thanksgiving.

Before that we'd come from Charleston, SC to Beaufort, SC where we stayed the night in the side yard of the Davis family, home of Tom Davis, the U.S Senator! We then continued onto Hunting Island where we were visited in the night by 3 wily raccoons. The next day we went to St. Helena Island, home of Gullah culture and the famous Penn Institute, one of the first places to educate freed slaves. We tried low country gumbo, sweet tea, and sweet potato pie. We were able to stay in Savannah with a friend of a friend, Nick Powell, a wonderful guy. We explored the city, admiring the beautiful architecture and squares, saw a film at the SCAD film festival, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

After Savannah, we stayed a night in Darien, GA in the yard of a Methodist preacher. We stayed one night at the famous Hostel in the Forest, in Brunswick, GA. We camped our last night in Kingsland, GA at a KOA campground. The next day our goal was to make it to St. Augustine, the oldest continually inhabited city in the United States. The Spanish established a fort there in 1565 made of shells that still stands today. We were about 20 miles from the city, having just crossed a river via ferry when Emily had her accident. Margaret was ahead of her and did not see it, but heard the crash and backtracked. Luckily, a paramedic on the scene gave us a place to stay for 2 nights before we got in touch with Mike. Emily is still somewhat zombie-like, but it showing progress and sleeping a little less each day.

Also we have no pictures because Emily's camera also fell and cracked in Savannah. It however, was not wearing a helmet so instead of a concussion, it completely bit the dust. Sorry! We'll see you soon! And thanks so much to everyone along the way - we could not have done it without you!

4 comments:

  1. Oh no! Glad you are going to be okay Emily. It's great to hear you'll still complete the journey even if it is by bus.

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  2. I will not die an unlived life.
    I will not live in fear
    Of falling or catching fire.
    I choose to inhabit my days,
    To allow my living to open me,
    To make me less afraid,
    More accessible,
    To loosen my heart
    Until it becomes a wing,
    A torch, a promise.
    I choose to risk my significance,
    To live
    So that which came to me as a seed
    Goes to the next as blossom
    And that which came to me as blossom,
    Goes on as fruit.
    ~ Dawna Markova

    Hey You Two

    Who have taken all of us followers on a wonderful tour as you pedaled in pursuit of Autumn. Glad to read that Emily survived her finally catching up with a "Fall". One must be careful what is wished for. Ouch! Here is where Emily's rep as a hard headed woman may pay off. Truely you have taken the seed of an idea and nursed it to fruit with your adventure and in the process taken us all along for the ride. Many thanks for that. Heal well, and remember your ....

    SecondWind

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  3. Emily,

    I am glad that you were not that seriously hurt but a concussion is not a good thing either. I am sending prayers Heavenwards for your recovery.

    It's too bad that you were not able to complete your trip via your own power. I almost have a snapshot in my mind on where you had your mishap on A1A near the Mayfair Ferry since I rode through that way back in early April.

    Hope that your stay at the Hostel in the Woods was a lot better than what my experience was. I was thinking that your route might have taken you through Southwest Georgia and I could have shown you the sites around Americus and Plains. Would have liked to have met you in person. We travelers on two-wheels need to stay together.

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  4. Oh no! Glad to hear Emily is doing better, what a trip you two have had! Thanks for all the post cards, Marg its been really fun to follow along!

    Hope you guys enjoy the last of your adventure and make it home safe. Looking forward to the next time I can hear tales in detail face to face.

    Bron is coming to Chicago for thanksgiving and we'll be think of you! miss you!!

    love,
    Sarah G

    ReplyDelete