Update #25 - August 31, 2006
Jacksonville, NC
6386.5 miles ( 10,218.4 kms) since March 27th,
6877.8 miles ( 11,004.5 kms) since Jan 01st

The ride from Pocomoke City, MD to Jacksonville, NC went well. From Pocomoke City, MD, I rode to Franktown, VA. I spent the night at the Methodist Church in Franktown on Aug. 25th. I finished up the Del-Mar-Va Peninsula, Sat., Aug. 26th, and I called up my Warm Showers contact in Virginia Beach and he came across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel to pick me up. Sunday, Aug 27th, I crossed into North Carolina and ended the day in Grandy. I worshipped at the Assembly of G-D church and I was going to spend the night in the fellowship hall but an elderly couple who lived near the church invited me to spend the night with them.

Monday, Aug 28th, I started my trip down the North Carolina Outer Banks. The ride was okay except for all of the traffic down NC 12. It was around 8:30 p.m. when I found a place to camp out in some short trees and brush south of Salvo. Tuesday, Aug 29th, I had a busy day with catching two ferries. I took the free ferry from Cape Hatteras to Ocracoke Island. I was shooting to take the 3 p.m. ferry from Ocracoke Island to Cedar Island. The wind was really strong and I wasn't sure that I was going to make it. I made it to the ferry landing three minutes before the ferry left. I finished up the day a little before dusk in the small town of Davis where I spent the night at the First Baptist Church.

Wednesday, Aug 30th, I rode from Davis to Swansboro. The First Baptist Church in Swansboro offered to get me a room at a motel in nearby Cape Carteret. Today, Aug 31st, I had a short ride in the rain to Jacksonville. I decided to use some of my emergency money to get a motel room. Before getting the room, I stopped at an Arby's to get some lunch. Before I got up to the register, a guy slipped me $5 and told me to get the lunch on him. The lady at the counter at the motel surprised me by giving me at least a $20 discount on the room.

I might have to stay put here in Jacksonville tomorrow. Tropical Storm Ernesto is making landfall in about six hours between Myrtle Beach, SC and Wilmington, NC. They are expecting some high winds and lots of rain tomorrow. At least, I will be close to do any disaster relief if it is needed.

Once back on the road, I've got about a three day ride down to Myrtle Beach, SC. I am heading south to Florida before heading back to Americus, GA. I am hoping to revisit the area south of Tampa, Florida where Hurricanes Charley and Frances went through. I did some relief work through the American Red Cross at the First Baptist Church in Wauchula and stayed at the United Methodist Church in Arcadia while Hurricane Frances went through the area. In a way, I am a hurricane survivor also.

I'll try and post and update as often as I can if my plans change. The next update should be posted between September 07th and September 14th.