Wife is 74 with second-stage kidney failure & 20% heart activity backed by a defibrillator. I'm79 with a wide range of hurts. She can't ride anymore, and I'm ready to do my second start-over as soon as it's 55 degrees here in northern Indiana.

We've gotta get out of here next winter for the whole winter! Any suggestions?

We used to travel widely in our work and have been everywhere in the U.S. We have friends in Phoenix & Tucson, relatives in the Smokies but no one anywhere else. Ideally, we'd drive somewhere and take along my bikes. But I can't handle mountains at this stage, and I don't have the stamina for heavy winds. She'd love the beach, so we're considering Florida panhandle or Tampa area. Also Charleston, her favorite city. Or maybe Savannah.

I want the ability (weather/wind) to ride 20-30 miles every day, preferably using designated bikeways for safety reasons. Want an area where motorists are bike-friendly. Would even be nice to make a friend or two for exploring.

Ideas would be appreciated.
Don

How about joining the other snowbirds and come down to central Florida. I live very close to the Withlacoochee Trail. Its a rail trail and 46 miles long. The southern half of the trail is very rural. We also have the Suncoast Trail (41 miles), the Nature Coast Trail (25 miles), and many other paved trails in the central Florida area.
The beach is a short drive from the area. Most of the "water" people around here are fisherman (big business here) or kayakers.

Look at Harlingen, TX. Flat with good roads. Many "snow birds" spend the winter there.

I have elderly relatives, in poor health, in these areas & they seem very happy but none of them cycle

• Pawleys Island, SC
• Palm Coast, FL

RonH: Your area of central Florida is something we've not considered, but your mention of the trails there has definitely sparked our interest. I use a rail trail (the Pumpkinvine between Goshen/Middlebury/Shipshewana, Indiana) here every day during good weather. I'm somewhat familiar with your area, having written magazine articles about camping in the Withlacoochee State Forest (and, of course Ocala NF). Which towns would you recommend as a base? There's Inverness, Brooksville, Floral City that come to mind. Or, perhaps with beaches for my wife, New Port Richey, Spring Hill, *****assa? Really good possibilities.

Texbiker: I've been to Harlingen & liked that whole area. Always intended to take my bride there, so maybe it's time. However, as I remember it, the wind (especially around Padre Island) was horrendous. Great area for RV campers, but we got rid of our rig. Any trails there or is it all road riding? The Valley is a really long, hard trip from Elkhart, IN for old people.

Rumrunn6: I'll check out Pawleys Island/Georgtwown/Murrells Inlet for possibilities. Thanks for the suggestions.

As far as the northern SC coast, Pawleys Island/Georgetown region, it can be pretty cold there for long stretches during the winter. Sometimes accompanied by cold wind. Me personally, I wouldn't stop until at least Savannah, Ga. And better yet, as someone suggested Palm Coast, I rode in St. Augustine this past January. Seems to be fairly bike friendly, lots of bike lanes around there. Even right in town motorists seemed pretty tolerant. Also rode out in the country toward the St. Johns river. Pretty country & just a little south is Palm Coast.

3rd week of Jan.; we visited friends near Orlando, Florida. Temps were in the 60's/70's:
Next week(last week of Jan); we went to Greenville, SC. Nice place too by the Swamp Rabbit Trail;
but temps were in the 30's/40's.

Savannah is a gorgeous town. I was there last week. Spanish moss, old churches, lots of art due to SCAD. You could do worse.

Consider the Alabama coast, Santa Rosa Beach or Rosemary Beach Florida.

Greenville is also gorgeous. I would love to move there.

None of these are the tropics however and it will get cold. South of Tampa is the best bet if you want really warm winters.

When I go to Florida, except climate and scenery, I feel like I'm back up north. I guess because northerners have retired to Florida for well over a century that they've slowly brought that "atmosphere" with them.

My mom and all here side of the family hail from Indiana. Those that have retired are on the west coast south of Sarasota.

But the other places you listed are good considerations too. They have more of the old charm of the South. I think it's easier to find people your own age and likely from your own area in Florida though if that's an attraction.

St George Island, Florida. Period! It is on the "forgotten coast" and it is a jewel in the rough. The are around there is really quiet. Basically desolate. No real development going on in that area. One of the best beaches in the U.S.

I have ridden down there and it is a cycling dream. Off the island it is flat and the coastal road hugs the gulf. On the island it is very quiet. No high rises. 40ft limit for building. State park is desolate. Beautiful, lazy riding. In the winter the population is barely 3k. No major hotels either on the island. We did a house rental and it was just awesome. The island is basically a sanctuary for sea turtles.

john

WNCGoater: Thanks for the tip on the cold weather at Pawley Island. I just talked with my wife about that, since she's been to Charleston several times, and she knows Pawley Island and agrees with you that the area is too cold for us at our age; she didn't mind the cold when she was younger and went there often (without me). I'll do a check of Palm Coast.

After some discussion, we're very much leaning toward Crystal River in Florida (near the Withlacoochee State Trail).

TimothyH: Savannah is my wife's Second Favorite City. She agrees that what you caution about the weather is correct. "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" is one of my favorite movies.

Iride01: I've had the same feeling when I've gone to Florida. Don't know if that's good or bad, but it's comfortable. My wife will love meeting and talking to former Hoosiers or vacationing Hoosiers, but I'm on the edge of being anti-social and don't really care as long as I can make some enjoyable rides.

Rutan74: St. George Island is a place I definitely want to check out, both online and in person. Even if we decide to go someplace else for the winter, I'll be sure to make a detour there. Thanks for the great info.

American Samoa is nearly Equatorial.. no Hurricanes.


Costa Rica has a Ex Pat community from el Norte.








....

The wind around Harlingen usually is not as stiff as when you are on the beach, Inland the wind drops most of the time. Biking can be on roads as well as trails. Distance from Indiana may not be as far as you think compared to south Florida.
If you prefer Florida look at Naples. We have been there a couple of times and the biking looks good.

I'm late to the party but wanted to second RonH's suggestion. I'm 69 have Heart Failure with an EF of 30 now (but with 15 back a couple of years ago) plus a ICD as well. My wife and I live in. RainBow Springs next to the river and 5 miles of so from the Withlacoochee Rail Trail. We ride almost daily (10K miles last year). It's a great place to winter. We started here in our RV and finally sold our northern home and bought a home here. There are several RV parks near by... Manatees, bike riding, walking all winter long. what's not to like

DowneasTTer: Wow, we are absolutely impressed! Thanks very much for your reply. Your post raises a few questions for us. First, my wife Pam asks to what do you attribute your improved EF numbers from 15 to 30? Her docs haven't been very encouraging about that. She stopped bike riding because of her heart condition.

Do you think riding is partly (or even more than that) responsible for your amazing improvement? Other exercise too? Is diet a factor? Medication?

You have our heads spinning!

I could not find Rainbow Springs on my DeLorme Street Atlas USA map as an actual place, although I found Rainbow Springs State Park and the river. Are you close to Dunnellon?

Like you, we are former RVers. In fact, I was an editor with Trailer Life Magazine and its related publications, have authored several camping books, worked as a VP at Holiday Rambler and Newmar, etc. To check me out, do a Google search of my name in quotes followed by the word author --- "Don Wright" author.

Just today, Pam and I decided to travel to your area in April in order to check it out. We'd love to talk with you more extensively. I can be reached by e-mail at rvwriter@msn.com

Don

RVwriter,

I agree with all the comments above regarding FL. Only been to the panhandle once in January, and St. George is everthing that was stated, but it was cold when we were there. Even here in Gainesville it can get cold in the winter (cold is all relative, I’m originally from NJ).

But as you head further south, especially south of Orlando, it is a different temperate zone.

P.S by full disclosure, it is frequently windy in much of FL in winter months, but they generally start up in mid afternoon and die down with the setting sun. Just plan your rides accordingly.

Hi Don,

My wife and I lived in Maine for 62 years. I can say I feel that once I had the Heat Failure diagnosis back in 2011 if we had stayed in Maine I would be dead by now. But, moving to Fl we can be active ALL year long. That and finding a great team of doctors at U of FL in Gainesville has helped me to a point I am now labeled as class 1 HF patient and of course great drugs. I would think that back on the bike slowly would be a good thing. You find all sorts of riders down here. Many used trikes if health is an issue. Is you wife on the icd forum. If not let me know and I'll send the info on how to join. I'm listed as Downeastter over there as well.

You found the state park, we live right next to it. The mailing address is in fact Dunnellon, but we live outside of the city limits. The park has two parts, the head springs (which we live next to) and the camp ground on the other side the river. The river allows for some of the best kayaking around. And we enjoy it, but the trail is the best. And as RonH said there are several rail trails within an hours drive of here. Since we were from Maine we enjoy the rural areas and you will not find more rural than North Central Fl. t's a great place to live, visit. etc

My wife and I have owned our Rialta for the past 19 years and use it to travel to areas to bike and EAT. Back in the day when we were snow birds we stayed at Sandy Oaks in Beverly Hills. Now the Rialta spends 8 months in storage there and the rest of the time on the road looking for places to ride. Life's short get out there and enjoy the time you guys have left. you can contact me at bbsawyer at gwi dot net or voice at two zero seven 689 six six two nine.

We will be here for the entire month of April and would love to get together when you get here. Do you still RV?

Bruce and Cilla Sawyer (Downeaster)

Sun appeared today in Elkhart, Indiana, and temp got up to 45, so I made my first ride since last July. As expected, ran out of steam after 3 miles on neighborhood loop. But it sure felt good.

Bruce and Cilla: I’ll have a series of e-mail on a variety of topics & questions headed your way by tomorrow (Monday). We are tentatively planning to leave here & head your way on April 14.

Wthensler: Thanks for the cautions. RE wind, my habit is to ride at daybreak if temp is warm enough.

Don

I haven’t been to these places, but I have one set of cycling friends that moved to Clermont, FL and really love it there. Another set is spending a month in Venice, FL and say the cycling and area is fabulous.

My general observation is I remember when going north out of Spring Hill, it was pretty desolate except for some RV parks until you got to Crystal River, and even that was kind of quiet. I would say that whole area (west Hernando up to Citrus County) is growing with more services etc.

scott s.
.

FWIW, here is a pic the day we got there in late September. It was like 3 in the afternoon on a Sunday. IMG_0593a.jpg That is looking west.

john

Being on the Pacific coast, it never gets extremely hot 80f or cold 30f, for more than a few days a year..

but when it does become summer the tourists fill the main roads .. so the economy harvests their money..

Scott967: Much thanks for the observation. That give me a good mind-image of the area and doesn’t surprise me. It’s definitely not a negative for us.

Fietsbob: Money is a good green crop everywhere, and in my experience, especially in Florida! Thanks for the tip on weather; that’s very encouraging.

As mentioned earlier, all you guys have convinced us to make an exploratory trip to north-central Florida, and our plans are to head that way mid-April, returning home whenever.

Jppe: Clermont, west of Winter Garden & Orlando; Venice, south of Sarasota look like two good options. Been to Venice, not to Clermont

Rutan74: Wonderful looking beach. My wife would love it. We’ll try to check it out while we’re in FL in April.

Thanks, guys.

Up here at the Tip O The Mitt...still in the 20’s and 30’s, cold all March with April looking cold at the start. We occasionally have a cold March but this gets tiring. We have yet to see anything above 45deg. Brrrrrr