Arrgh! (Trip to Fernindina)

Arrgh!

Yesterday my friend Michelle and I went for a ride up to Fernindina. The goal was to make a big loop, going out Heckshire Drive and returning via A1A through Yulee. Unfortunately, Heckshire Drive was closed, so the loop became simple there and back ride. The ride up US17 is certainly interesting. Starting in downtown Jacksonville, it quickly leaves the dense high-rise (and high rent) neighborhood and crosses into Springfield. There was evidence of Springfield making progress near downtown, but as 17 travels north, there is evidence of urban decay along the way; closed stores, run down buildings, cars without wheels. Crossing the Trout River the sides of the road went from urban to rural with the occasional industrial complex. Hooking a right onto A1A we quickly rode out to Amelia Island and into downtown Fernindina. Laid out on a grid, the downtown has the feeling of an old prosperous port town with mostly single story brick and stone buildings. We found an Irish restaurant where I enjoyed fish and chips with enough batter for two servings. Our server, Kyle, was a guy from my class at Bolles. It certainly is a small world. The picture here is me with a pirate that I took to say thanks to Benji (of thescruffypirate.org), who’s hosting my website.