Day 27 – Jim’s Trek – On the 5th Day of Christmas – 15.1 Miles

Good Day,

My location this morning, as accounted for by Google Maps for Jim’s Trek, is 667 Heckscher Drive, Jacksonville, Florida.

 Thanks Bob for warning me about the ferry north of Mayport. I caught it early this morning. Didn’t need the pontoons.

After 328.5 miles on my Tampa to Seattle Trek I have now about 287 miles to reach my next Interlake address point goal. It looks like, all-things-being-equal; I shall arrive at my next goal point on Friday, January 18, 2013.

Total Direct Miles to Seattle	To Date	TD Miles Remaining	% TD Miles Completed	Interlake Miles Left to Seattle	Weight (lbs)
3,301.0	328.5	2,972.5	9.95%	5,670.8	170.0

Been wondering about Max, our new puppy… He’s still on track to get fit and trim. The wiener-schnitzel tube that arrived this house a couple of months ago seems to have gradually disappeared. And it is a wonder as he follows and mimics Radar in many of his mannerisms. Even when he has to pee, Max sneaks his way between Radar’s leg and a tree. He wants to target the exact location.

Here he’s trying to determine exactly what a legless mouse is.

And now that WWI is over, Upstairs, Downstairs turns to the local battles of politics.

Enjoy,

Jim

Day 26 – On the 4th Day of Christmas – Jim’s Trek Reaches Over 300 Miles

Good Day,

Two milestones, so-to-speak, in Jim’s Trek this morning. I reached just over the 300 mile mark and I passed by my 7th Interlake address goal.

The Interlake address goal is actually Interlake LLC in St. Augustine, Florida. I can't find the actual office location of the Interlake company. And nary a Schwinn 150 is located, but I am here.. I just keep cycling on by.

This morning I completed my 15.0 miles. I am now located on Florida State Road A1A travelling north toward Perimeter Road. There’s salt marsh on both my left and right sides. I’m at the southwest end of the Naval Station, Mayport.

Today I clocked 313.4 miles.

Total Direct Miles to Seattle	To Date	TD Miles Remaining	% TD Miles Completed	Interlake Miles Left to Seattle	Weight (lbs)
3,301.0	313.4	2,987.6	9.49%	5,685.9	170.0

And the Upstairs, Downstairs question this morning who will now be the Upstairs to the over-staffed Downstairs? Will Major James sell 165 Eaton Place? Will…?

Tomorrow I should be just north of Jacksonville headed for the Florida Georgia States border.

Enjoy,

Jim

Day 25 – On the 3rd Day of Christmas – Another 15 Miles

Good Day,

On the 3rd day of Christmas my legs continued another 15.0 miles; my total to date 298.4 miles. And I still have just under 90% of my total Tampa to Seattle 3,301 miles to go. My location is 1740 Florida A1A or Ponte Vedra Boulevard, north of St. Augustine. I’m 9.0 miles from my next Interlake address location and about 65 miles from the Florida Georgia border.

My stats -

Total Direct Miles to Seattle	To Date	TD Miles Remaining	% TD Miles Completed	Interlake Miles Left to Seattle	Weight (lbs)
3,301.0	298.4	3,002.6	9.04%	5,700.9	171.4

Last night I went to Boizao for a birthday supper… Of the six tables filled, three had infants, actually babies, as a part of the parties. Not the type of restaurant I would consider taking a very, very young child. And then again I was amazed that of the maybe, 20 patrons, more than half were each eating for three persons.

But it wasn’t until I exited the restaurant that I was taken aback by one hilarious bright yellow billboard advertisement only 20 feet staring at the front door.

And as a point of note, I put on one pound after last night's feast.

Upstairs, Downstairs episode, the war is over.

Enjoy,

Jim

Day 24 – Happy Boxing Day – 15.0 Miles A Day Continues in Jim’s Trek

Good Day,

I hope everyone had a very good Christmas Day… and did not spend too much time gorging yourselves. Well Happy Boxing Day. Today is the day to recover and think of all the possible culinary stroke of genius that one can create with the leftovers.

Today I finished my 15.0 miles; total to date on Day 24 is 283.4 miles, 8.6% of my Tampa to Seattle goal. I am certainly convinced, almost, that I have committed myself to this total Trek.

Total Direct Miles to Seattle	To Date	TD Miles Remaining	% TD Miles Completed	Interlake Miles Left to Seattle	Weight (lbs)
3,301.0	283.4	3,017.6	8.59%	5,715.9	170.4

I’m still in the State of Florida. My location is heading north toward Lewis Blvd. on South Ponce de Leon Blvd. in St. Augustine. I did NOT break that stop sign… but it is the point of my 15.0 miles this morning. The San Sebastian River is on my right hand side.

Check out LE CAFÉ… How many nationalities? In 2007 this location was empty and in 2011 Le Café was open. It is amazing how one can follow the short history of a location via the photos on Google Maps.

This morning’s Upstairs Downstairs episode’s theme was cowardice during war. In the short time, the producers attempted to present as much as time would allow. Interesting…

Tomorrow morning I should pass by the Fountain of Youth Park. Maybe I’ll stop by for a drink on my way to my 7th Interlake address goal.

Enjoy,

Jim

Day 23 – Merry Christmas – Eat Well and Enjoy

Good Day and Merry Christmas,

I’ve got my bells on my Schwinn 150 and it is Christmas day. Merry Christmas! Today I crossed over the St. John’s River via the Memorial Bridge at Palatka in Putnam County, Florida.

This morning, Christmas Day, I cycled my 15 miles passed Hastings, Florida. Hastings is a small town with a recorded population on the 2004 U.S. Census Bureau of 607. Hastings is known as the “Potato Capital of Florida”.

I have reached 8.13% of my Tampa to Seattle goal; total miles 268.4.

Total Direct Miles to Seattle	To Date	TD Miles Remaining	% TD Miles Completed	Interlake Miles Left to Seattle	Weight (lbs)
3,301.0	268.4	3,032.6	8.13%	5,730.9	170.4

Christmas Eve lunch was at Restaurante La Pequeña Colombia: meat pies; chicharrón, arepa, and corn cakes; roast pork, peas, and rice; and steak Milanesa. Dessert - flan and fig cake. Todo era muy, muy bueno. And to tone it down, a wee bit, for supper I made French onion soup, made with four types of onions, smothered in Gruyère cheese. Ever so good. Believe it or not, I dropped 0.2 lbs.

Upstairs, Downstairs episode emphasizes the control that money has on all lives.

Andy took the photo of our supper. The image of Santa was provided by Litelines by Linda.

Enjoy,

Jim

Day 22 – Christmas Eve and Another 15.0 Miles – Isn’t Seattle Northwest?

Good Day,

On my Schwinn 150, my location on Christmas Eve is at East Crill Avenue, west of Palaka, Florida. FL-20 E/Crill Ave/NW State Road 20 E west of Palaka, Florida. And yes I am headed west to my next Interlake address. It is north of St. Augustine, Florida.

My total miles to date are now 253.4 miles. I have completed 7.7% of my Seattle goal. Accordingly at my current rate of 15 miles per day I will complete my Tampa to Seattle goal by July 16, 2013. With the addition of the Interlake address goals I’m not sure where in the United States I will be on July 16. Taking my Tampa via Interlake address goals to Seattle I will reach Seattle by January 12, 2014.

Total Direct Miles to Seattle	To Date	TD Miles Remaining	% TD Miles Completed	Interlake Miles Left to Seattle	Weight (lbs)
3,301.0	253.4	3,047.6	7.68%	5,745.9	170.6

On my route this morning I passed a billboard advertising online contact cremations… We have come a long way since 1964 when Bell announced, sort of a bomb, the PicturePhone Service. Today, almost 50 years later we are using Skype on our PCs and notebooks… and visual connections on our phones and tablets. What’s next?

A bomb causes damage and misses 165 Eaton Place on Upstairs, Downstairs episode.

The above inserted image of a cycle tree is from Kulshan Cycles in Bellingham, Washington…

Enjoy, the cooking and the gift wrapping.

Jim

Day 21 – Jim’s Trek – My 5th and 6th Interlake Goals Achieved – Interlachen, Florida

Good Day,

Another 15.0 miles on Jim’s Trek, on my Schwinn 150, at 10.9 miles this morning I reach my 5th Interlake Goal – Interlachen, Florida. My location is at Prospect Avenue and Washington Street.

I continue the additional 4.1 miles and arrive at Interlachen Blvd just west of Georgette Street. This sort of is a 6th Interlake/Interlachen Goal. The little Google map guy does not appear to have created a street view on a dirt road.

My total Trek miles are now 238.4. My weight has increased by 1.6 lbs… hopefully muscle. It is the Christmas season. My stats are:

Total Direct Miles to Seattle	To Date	TD Miles Remaining	% TD Miles Completed	Interlake Miles Left to Seattle	Weight (lbs)
3,301.0	238.4	3,062.6	7.22%	5,760.9	171.6

The New Year bells chime in 1917 this episode of Upstairs, Downstairs. It appears that the issue of possible mental trauma to service and civilian persons, due to the atrocities of war is introduced.

It looks like my next Interlake Goal is somewhere in St. Augustine, Florida. Stay tuned and follow my Trek. And now to wrap some Christmas presents.

Enjoy,

Jim