2015 first long trip ,Eastern NC,to Keywest,Fl.

[ru4ragu]

Hello everyone
Planning my first long trip ,NC, to Key west,Fl. Any idea's,tips, advice,precautions, would be well accepted .There will be two riders and a third with one with a support vehicle.

 Thanks Gary 

[Westinghouse]

I just did that several weeks ago from Stuart, FL to NC and Pennsylvania to Maryland. Highway 17 will take you all the way to FL. The problem with 17 is there are many lengths devoid of a side lane for cycling. There was a book out by Donna Ikenberry about the east coast route. Quite a few roads she used have been changed. If you check out ACA's route on their web site, you can figure which roads to use by checking theirs against a road map.

Once in FL, follow the barrier islands to Miami Beach. You will have to cut over to the mainland to go around the inlets. From downtown Miami take Brickell AV. It takes you to a bike path under the metro rail track. You can have wide paths all the way to Florida City and the Last Chance Saloon. If they completed all that work on US 1, you can take it to Key Largo, and it's smooth sailing from there. If work is not done, you will have to take Card Sound Road, not that it is necessary to do in any case, but it is safer.