Trans America Cycling Day 45 - Tallahassee, FL to Madison, FL

May 15, 2019

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

Another great day weather wise for us. Cool, not very humid, relatively low wind. Great road surfaces. Couldn't ask for more.

We rode out of Tallahassee on Old St Augustine Road. The road dates to the 1600’s when it linked Spanish missions from St. Augustine to Tallahassee. Old St Augustine Road was also the first Florida highway. Completed in the 1820’s, it connected St. Augustine to Pensacola by following an old Indian footpath, which became the Spanish Trail. Canopy Road has a dense canopy, mostly from Live Oak Trees draped with Spanish Moss on both sides of the road growing together. The canopy runs for about eight miles, so there is time to take it all in.

Rider enjoys St. Augustine Road canopy

Cruising under the Live Oaks

Ray Charles, the singer, pianist, and bandleader, showed up at the SAG stop in Greenville FL. Ray Charles “R. C.” Robinson was raised in Greenville. Ray’s sight failed at age 7, so he was sent to The School for Deaf and Blind in St. Augustine where he learned Braille. Ray’s family was poor, and he learned the piano from the owner of the Red Wing Cafe in Greenville. Ray was on his own after his mother died when he was 15. Ray pioneered soul music, and he influenced gospel, rhythm and blues, jazz, rock and roll, and country music.

Ray, the man

Our Ray Charley (sorry, not supposed to use last names
in blog, but have Ray's consent) swings in the park
with Ray Charles, an icon in Greenville, FL

Don't know how Ray figured this out, but somehow he did:

Elesta Pritchett, a childhood friend of Ray Charles, was a month and a day older than Ray,

and she lived a couple of houses from him. Elesta was responsible for the naming of the

street in Greenville, Ray Charles Avenue. And now you know the rest of the story!

Elesta Pritchett, childhood friend of Ray Charles meets our cyclists

TAC treated us to watermelon in the park today. Watermelon is a great way to hydrate and eat fiber while on the go.

Vicki, you trained him well

Hydrating the tasty way

Southerners take pride in their county courthouses. Many of their courthouse buildings are like works of art, not only in Florida, but all over the Southeast.