Avanti73

I did a quick google map St Pete to Fort Lauderdale to Key West 438 miles
going to leave on a WED sometime in December. I'll have my wife drive down on FRI and spend the weekend before driving back to St Pete. given 3 days it would be 146 miles per day

has anyone done this and/or is anyone interested it riding with me?

Edit: this trip will be on the 5th week of DEC. after Christmas weekend
departure from St Pete will be on the 27th of December 2010

update: this will be a camping bike trip

the loose route as of right now will be
St Pete to Okeechobee for day 1
Okeechobee to Homestead for day 2
and Homestead to Key West for day 3
ferry to Fort Myers to Venice for day 4
Venice to St pete for day 5

Avanti73

here's the map link
https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...=7&lci=bike%3E

France

Are you camping? What kind of bike?

RedC

I don't know a lot about the rest of your route but in Zolfo Springs SR 66 gets a little dicey. I'd turn on SR 64 (before you get to 66) and turn right on Steve Roberts Special (get's you off the main hwy traffic) When Steve Roberts ends (about 11 miles) turn right on Parnell. There is a wooden bridge on Parnell but it's the only real obsticle before you get to SR66. From this point you turn left on 66 and there is a wide shoulder the rest of the way in. I'd probably go right on Orange Blossum (before you get to Skipper) and go to the end and turn left on Lake Josephine and then right on Henscratch Rd. Stay on Henscratch til the pavement ends and turn left on Miller which becomes Lake June Rd and will take you to 27 but we use SR 17 which paralels 27 but has less traffic til you get past Lake Placid. Depending on your dates and how fast your pace is I might be interested in joining you when you get to this area.

Avanti73

France:: I will most likely do motels so I don't have to carry a tent. I will be riding my six

RedC:: thanks for the tips, my pace varies from 18-24, but I've not attempted this many miles yet so it could bring me down a bit.

Edit: this trip will be on the 5th week of DEC. after Christmas weekend

RedC

I'm afraid Iwould just slow you down. Have fun!

Avanti73

Red if you are interested in going I can roll slower, this trip is going to be about the ride not how fast I can do it.

France

Have you read: " A North American Bicycle Journey " ? It gives a route and description or travel from Key West to your area.. Glenn in Naples

Avanti73

thanks, Glenn, no I have not, but I'll look in to it.

Avanti73

I'm thinking my first leg will be St Pete to Okeechobee 147 miles.
here a google map https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...&z=11&lci=bike

Second leg Okeechobee to Homestead 144 miles.
https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...h&z=8&lci=bike

Third leg Homestead to Key West 128 miles.
https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...h&z=9&lci=bike


I'll work out the exact route and stops in the up coming weeks

wfin2004

I think you could cut many miles from trip by riding down the west coast. . . Arcadia, Ft. Meyers Shore, Immokolee direction. From Naples down the Tamiami Trail. The Tamiami Trail is used by very few cars. Desolate and definitely real Florida. Besides the Friendship Trail bridge is no longer in use. You can ride the Skyway's Bike path to the main span (South Fishing Pier) and get your wife to portage car to US 19 split south of Skyway. Too much traffic on the east coast for my tastes.

Avanti73

looks about the same distance give or take a few miles. I would like the best scenic route to take I'm not concerned with the miles, I will consider the westcoast route I forgot about 90/41 going across as I always drive 75. I have to go over the Gandy, as my wife will be working and not following me down, but meeting me on Fri. in Key West. As far as riding on the east coast I pretty much decided against that if you look at post #10 I was going to go from St Pete to Okeechobee to Homestead to Key West

wfin2004

Either way, US 41 down through the Everglades is some of the MOST scenic Florida ever. A few years ago I rode down from LaBelle, Fl and rode south to US 41 at Ochopee, FL. Continued across the Tamiami Trail until I got to Krome Ave. Then I turned around and went back. I was in it for the scenic Florida ride. This was about 6 years ago and I encountered only about one car per 10 to 15 minutes. This is also Florida Panther territory south out of LaBelle. Speed bumps on the entire length of road from I-75 north but a bike has room to not even go over them. They want to keep car speed slow through here for the panthers.

France

Alternate bike friendly route: Mulberry,37,old 37, 663/661,70,31,78,29,41.......If you did not want to do the 41 thing, just take 78 to Okeechobee.

Email me at francearmstrong@gmail.com and I'll give you my phone # if you have any questions..Glenn in Naples,Fl

RedC

Let's keep that conversation open and see what I'm able to do in another 6 weeks. I lost my training partner do to illness but I'm getting more time off beginning next week. So it's a possibility.

Avanti73

just getting this back to the top to see if there is any more interest

carlspeed

That's a cool idea, and I think it would be fun, but I don't think I will be ready by December.

Tractortom

You are planning to ride through Okeechobee and along the LOST? Be aware that past Port Mayaca, you are traveling the roads, as the trail is closed for construction/rebuilding on the dike. When you get closer to going, drop me an email and I'll update the condition of the roads and trails. Tractortom01@gmail.com

Wish I could go with you, but the mileage you plan is a little outside my comfort for my current level of fitness.

Tractor Tom in Okeechobee

Avanti73

thanks for the info Tom I will keep this thread posted

Avanti73

December is getting closer, I'm ramping up my daily milage. We're doing the full Suncoast trail out & back tomorrow 83 miles.
Still don't have a week locked in for this ride either the 1st or 3rd for sure thought.

Edit: this trip will be on the 5th week of DEC. after Christmas weekend

obrien

do this the week after christmas, and I could go with you fat boy

Avanti73

DEC. week 5 is a possibility

This might need to be a 4 or 5 day trip, if I don't start building more base miles.

obrien

Especially if I tag along.

Avanti73

ok so the date is official
this trip will be on the 5th week of DEC. after Christmas weekend
departure from St Pete will be between the 27th and 29th of December 2010 (not sure about a 3 day might need to be 4 or 5)
Avanti IN
obrien IN
who else is down for the trip?

Avanti73

so here's the latest on our trip we will be leaving St Pete on 12/27/10 early in the am
and camping along the way
I've decided to get the Eureka solitare tent https://www.basspro.com/Eureka!®-Soli...58274/-1115418
we are going to ride down to key west and then either rent a car to drive home or take the ferry to Fort Myers to shave a few miles
the goal is to be home for New Years Eve

the loose route as of right now will be
St Pete to Okeechobee for day 1
Okeechobee to Homestead for day 2
and Homestead to Key West for day 3
ferry to Fort Myers to Venice for day 4
Venice to St pete for day 5