Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.Dwagenheim
06-09-02, 12:03 AM
EARLY START!
We did our best in avoiding confrentation with the RV park personnel, which meant leaving as early as possible. We were on the road by 5:45am! It was still dark! But it worked out well. We crossed a bridge from Ft. Meyers to Cape Coral and found a place to sit and eat a nice breakfast. We loaded up on eggs, potatoes, bacon and toast at Perkins before starting the main chunk of our ride. We ended up stopping at a gas station to clean up our bikes before heading North of US 31 to Arcadia. The workers at the gas station were cool enough to let us use their water hose, which normally costs 50 cents a pop. We took full advantage. We must have been there for over an hour. I tried to fix my rear breaks, but was unable to. We took the turn onto US 31 and saw we had 37 miles to Arcadia. It turned out to be a very long and very hot 37 miles! It was over 90 degrees (F) for most of the way. We were surrounded by cow pastures and grass (turf) farms for the first part, then we started getting into the orange groves (http://www.cyclingtheamericas.org/Pictures/FLTour/OrangeGrove4.JPG) towards the end. I was the first to Arcadia and I had to stop at the local ice cream shop to cool off. The first thing I noticed about the area was that people were very friendly. Its a shame we don't get some of that down in Miami so much. It reminded me of the midwest mentality, very hospitable and helpful. Carl and Mike strolled in a little behind due to Carl getting a flat. I guess the heat was getting to him so much, he started swerving onto some gravel and must have hit a piece of glass. After a nice rest, we made it to the Arcadia/Peace River Campground (http://www.cyclingtheamericas.org/Pictures/FLTour/PeaceRiverCamp1.JPG) a few miles away. We looked into canoeing on the Peace River, but it seemed a little pricey and the river was pretty low this time of year. The campground was nice. There were showers and a pool. Plenty of friendly campers and RVers (many permanent residents!). We cleaned up and swam around and shared a huge watermellon with some kids at the poolside before cooking up some grub later on. We got to bed pretty late that night, around 10:30, so we didn't get started the next morning until about 8:45. So, I guess you'd call that sleeping in.
Peace
Dave
Miles: 75
Pic: Peace River in Arcadia, FL
We did our best in avoiding confrentation with the RV park personnel, which meant leaving as early as possible. We were on the road by 5:45am! It was still dark! But it worked out well. We crossed a bridge from Ft. Meyers to Cape Coral and found a place to sit and eat a nice breakfast. We loaded up on eggs, potatoes, bacon and toast at Perkins before starting the main chunk of our ride. We ended up stopping at a gas station to clean up our bikes before heading North of US 31 to Arcadia. The workers at the gas station were cool enough to let us use their water hose, which normally costs 50 cents a pop. We took full advantage. We must have been there for over an hour. I tried to fix my rear breaks, but was unable to. We took the turn onto US 31 and saw we had 37 miles to Arcadia. It turned out to be a very long and very hot 37 miles! It was over 90 degrees (F) for most of the way. We were surrounded by cow pastures and grass (turf) farms for the first part, then we started getting into the orange groves (http://www.cyclingtheamericas.org/Pictures/FLTour/OrangeGrove4.JPG) towards the end. I was the first to Arcadia and I had to stop at the local ice cream shop to cool off. The first thing I noticed about the area was that people were very friendly. Its a shame we don't get some of that down in Miami so much. It reminded me of the midwest mentality, very hospitable and helpful. Carl and Mike strolled in a little behind due to Carl getting a flat. I guess the heat was getting to him so much, he started swerving onto some gravel and must have hit a piece of glass. After a nice rest, we made it to the Arcadia/Peace River Campground (http://www.cyclingtheamericas.org/Pictures/FLTour/PeaceRiverCamp1.JPG) a few miles away. We looked into canoeing on the Peace River, but it seemed a little pricey and the river was pretty low this time of year. The campground was nice. There were showers and a pool. Plenty of friendly campers and RVers (many permanent residents!). We cleaned up and swam around and shared a huge watermellon with some kids at the poolside before cooking up some grub later on. We got to bed pretty late that night, around 10:30, so we didn't get started the next morning until about 8:45. So, I guess you'd call that sleeping in.
Peace
Dave
Miles: 75
Pic: Peace River in Arcadia, FL