Trans America Cycling Day 44 - Marianna, FL to Tallahassee, FL

The link to today's route and statistics is found here.

Today conditions for riding were excellent.  Wind was not too high, 8 mph max, and at the end of the day there was even some tailwind.  The high was about 80 F.  The humidity was only about 60%.  The road surface was very good in most places.  We made good time.

We saw damage from Hurricane Michael from Marianna to about 50 miles east, approaching Tallahassee.  There were many trees in the forests snapped in two or uprooted.  Many houses had blue plastic sheeting for temporary roofing until a roofer could finish the job.  One section of forest around Chattahoochee had severe tree damage.  Perhaps a tornado spawned from the hurricane tore through this swath of trees.

In a heavily damaged swath of the forest near Chattahoochee most pine trees were snapped in two.
Rays of hope coming through. 

As we rode on we crossed the Apalachicola River, going from the Central Time Zone to the Eastern Time Zone and then Georgia was to our north. The Apalachicola River starts below the Dam for Seminole Lake.  The river flowing into Seminole Lake from the north is the Chattahoochee River.  Local Georgians call the river “The Hooch.”

Looking toward Seminole Lake Dam, and the Chattahoochee River is above the dam, while the Apalachicola River is below.  Water is spilling over the dam as part of flood control, an indication that there has been considerable rain lately.  Note the lock on the left side that allows boats to cross the dam up or down river.

Now with a name as catchy as Chattahoochee, you just know that here must be a country song about it, and there is.  The song Chattahoochee by Alan Jackson includes the following lines:

“Way down yonder on the Chattahoochee, It gets hotter than a hoochie coochie

Never knew how much that muddy water meant to me, But I learned how to swim and I learned who I was, A lot about livin’ and a little ’bout love”

The song Chattahoochee is on YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubikQJHSmUY

We then rode past some Florida farms with what Floridians call topsoil.  They were planting in what appeared to be pure sand.  The Florida topsoil appears to be better sand than we have in our Tennessee golf course sand traps.  Some fields have large sprinkler systems to water the sand.

Florida farmers make do with the sand that they call topsoil

Beautiful houses and churches littered the route.

Baptist Church in Gretna

As we rode through Tallahassee we passed through the Florida State University (FSU) campus.  The campus is filled with beautiful red brick buildings so excellently maintained that most looked brand new.  The greens were filled with enormous live oak trees draped with Spanish Moss.  FSU is quite possibly the most beautiful university campus in the USA.

Riding through campus under trees draped with Spanish Moss,
look at the moss but don't touch  'cause it's buggy

Live oaks and red brick buildings are everywhere

Monument to integration and diversity at FSU

Notice the Native American in the monument to integration and diversity.  The FSU Seminoles have an interesting tradition at football games.  The official mascots of FSU are Osceola and his Appaloosa horse Renegade.  Osceola represents the historical Seminole leader of the same name.  Before the game Osceola rides into the field on Renegade and plants a burning spear in the grass at midfield.  All the while the FSU Marching Chiefs (band) play rousing music, such as an Indian War Chant, while fans do the tomahawk chop.

Osceola riding Renegade at an FSU football game

Finally, we are always looking for wild animals along the route, except for aggressive dogs.  A pit bull came running at us today and Maltese Ray pulled from his jersey pocket and tooted his marine horn at the dog, which immediately ran away from the cyclists.  Great work Ray!  Here is another wild animal, an inquisitive baby possum,  found on the route by Ray from Pennsylvania.

I'm looking for a ride to St. Augustine.  Might I go with you, pretty please, Mr. Ray?  Mama's pouch is too small for me now.  I see that you have three big ones on your jersey.  If you don't want me, then please ask John.  He stops to wee a lot and he and I would get along grand.