Author Topic: Southern Tier in North Florida  (Read 7653 times)

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Offline Westinghouse

Southern Tier in North Florida
« on: October 07, 2014, 12:04:13 pm »
ACA puts you on highway 90 in north Florida. In its full extent, 90 runs between Jacksonville, FL and Van Horn , Texas. There are three main possible routes through north Florida, each with its own positive and negative values as far as cycling is the matter.

90 has many motels and campgrounds and wooded areas for free camping. The many trees help fend the north winds of winter. Restaurants abound. The scenery is good. You have a side lane to yourself most of the way. It is historical. There is the used-to-be infamously cruel Chatahoochie mental hospital. There is the even worse state training school in Marianna, FL where forensic anthropologists have unearthed 91 of the 31 bodies of boys the state said were there. Yes, 91. Seems many just disappeared, probably beat to death. 90 is also very hilly.

There is highway 20 running E and W many miles south of 90. 20 is much closer to level than 90, and thus faster and easier to cycle. There are many places for free camping. Traffic is comparative light. There is plenty of room for safe cycling. However, 20 can be a nutritional nightmare. Once west of Wakulla Station, only one store or two have anything resembling real food. You have three days of mainly junk food.

There is 19 / 98 running along the contour of the gulf coast. This road is about level. There are many places for camping, legally and stealthily. Restaurants are aplenty. Food stores with nutritious food are available often enough. The downside is sea breezes off the gulf are not always just breezes and they can slow you to a crawl. This route is about 60 miles longer than 90 and 20.

All in all, there is a good argument for choosing 90 as the best of the three.

Offline Catherine

Re: Southern Tier in North Florida
« Reply #1 on: October 13, 2014, 02:34:32 pm »
Thanks for the information.

Offline etsisk

Re: Southern Tier in North Florida
« Reply #2 on: December 16, 2014, 03:31:50 pm »
Thanks for the info! I'm looking to knock out a chunk of the ST in the early spring, maybe.

Offline Westinghouse

Re: Southern Tier in North Florida
« Reply #3 on: December 21, 2014, 02:26:08 pm »
I changed my mind about highway 20. In fact, if you hit it at the right time, there are quite a few places to eat well enough. WhenI did it before I must have had the bad luck to get to places when they were closed. I used 20 again weeks ago. Restaurants and stores were up and running. It is faster and easier than 90. 90 is much hilllier but more interesting.

Offline etsisk

Re: Southern Tier in North Florida
« Reply #4 on: January 07, 2015, 11:50:19 am »
Again, good to know!

Offline etsisk

Re: Southern Tier in North Florida
« Reply #5 on: January 11, 2015, 08:51:01 pm »
Westinghouse, what would the "right time" be, to catch hwy 20?

Offline Westinghouse

Re: Southern Tier in North Florida
« Reply #6 on: January 31, 2015, 08:49:43 pm »
The right time would not be for the roadway itself, but the eateries along the way. Places were not open or available before which made a bad impression for cycling. This last time restaurants and cafes were open. I would prefer 20 over 90.