Year 3 - Day 14 Yulee FL to Jacksonville FL

Time to go home! We departed the hotel in light fog! It seems strange to be riding almost due east when Jacksonville is due south. After retracing our steps for a couple miles we were back on the ECG. Once we got to Amelia Island we turned south in Fernandina Beach and rode along the Atlantic Ocean. The fog had lifted and we were greeted with beautiful sunny views of the ocean. 

As we turned away from the beach, we connected with the Amelia Island Trail. This trail runs almost the entire south end of the island to the Amelia Island State Park at the mouth of the Nassau River. The mapping program, I was using mapped us across the old bridge, the George Crady Bridge, but about halfway across it was blocked! We turned around and finally got up to the A1A bridge and crossed the Nassau River. Here are some views both from the Crady Bridge and the A1A bridge.











Once we got to the other side of the bridge, I could not resist to take a picture of this sign! We just left Amelia Island and we were “technically” in Jacksonville!


After passing Mayport Naval facility, (where Dan was once stationed) we continued past BAE Systems dry dock where they were working on a couple ships.  I took several photos of Mayport in the distance and also the ships in dry dock.





We continued off the ECG to get to the Amtrak station. We were amused that the train station is far away from the “center” of Jacksonville, actually very far in the suburbs! Anyway, we have completed this leg, year 3, of our journey!






 Today we rode 59.6 miles and climbed 808 feet (mostly bridges!). 



Our year 3 totals are 867 miles and 14,207 feet of climbing.  Our total ECG mileage is 2,482 miles and 75,631 feet of climbing.

We boarded Amtrak on this evening, (Monday) at about 5 p.m. We were shown to our “roomette’s” and told when to appear in the dining car. Dan came by, due to the state’s restrictions, the Cafe adult beverage sales were closing in 30 minutes. We scurried to the Cafe to purchase an adult beverage before they could not sell them any longer.

Dinner was excellent, white tablecloths and all! Sleeping on the train is a completely different matter! The mattress was hard, the space was small, and I just could simply not find a comfortable position, that is until the train stopped for a passing train, then I woke up! 

We had a very good breakfast again in the dining car, but timing is everything! As we finished in the dining car we rolled in to Washington DC where Amtrak changes from a diesel engine to an electric engine. Unfortunately, passengers are unable to use the restrooms until power, by the engine, is restored! Yup get my drift!

We were about 50 minutes late into Philadelphia. One of us was a little panicked, we managed to get our bikes off the baggage car and get to the baggage claim to retrieve our boxes and bags. Load them on the bikes and head to the Red Cap station. A Red Cap took us to the proper elevator and to the track in plenty of time for us to catch the train back to Mount Joy.

We arrived Mount Joy about 12:30 p.m. safe and sound! Standby for next year! 

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