Day 2: Ocala National Forest, FL to Gainesville, FL

The good thing about camping in the forest is there's no reason to hang about in the morning. You can get up and get some miles in to free space later in the day. I've planned a short day planned into Gainesville and got a Warm Showers host sorted. I pedal away in the gloom, out of the National Forest and bypass Ocala city.

Get on the peanut butter straight away mmm

The roads are quite lonely here, the trucks are wide but so are the shoulders. Navigation is easy.

It rained most of the way.

I pass straight through Paynes Prairie Park as I just fancy getting to a dry place in Gainesville. It looks like a nice city. The cycle shop sorts me out with a spare gear cable for free. Apparently it's Spring Break now so being a university town it's a bit empty. I grab a coffee and hijack the wifi for ages before heading down to my place to stay. On the way is the stadium for the University of Florida Gators american football team - just the 90,000 seats for the university team. I asked the stewards (there was a basketball match going on next door) and they tell me I can go take a look inside. Gaaaatorade.

I stay with Shane & Ashley, who host a lot of cyclists passing through the city and coincidentally another is staying the same night. Shane popped out to get pizzas for us and we chilled out in their little living room oasis. Another great place to stay. Any house full of bikes is a good house in my eyes.