Author Topic: Calgary to Florida or bust!  (Read 13074 times)

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Offline robscott

Calgary to Florida or bust!
« on: May 19, 2005, 09:15:48 pm »
My wife and I are newbies to the whole touring thing. In the spirit of true irrationality, we've decided to ride from Calgary, Alberta to Florida. We're leaving at the beginning of August and working our way through the heart of the U.S. We're looking for any advice, suggestions, words of encouragement, etc.


FredHiltz

  • Guest
Calgary to Florida or bust!
« Reply #1 on: May 20, 2005, 11:10:49 am »
Good for you! The best one-sentence advice I can imagine is, "Comb the Adventure Cycling web site."

Have a ball.

Fred


Offline TNGuy

Calgary to Florida or bust!
« Reply #2 on: May 20, 2005, 01:24:29 pm »
 Go for it! I'm envious.
Also check out crazyguyonabike.com for lots of info on touring. :)


Offline damselfli

Calgary to Florida or bust!
« Reply #3 on: May 20, 2005, 09:55:49 pm »
I suggest you check out the Warm Showers list!

http://www.carfreeuniverse.org/Members/colin/warmshowers/

Happy Trails!


Offline robscott

Calgary to Florida or bust!
« Reply #4 on: May 22, 2005, 01:34:37 am »
Thanks for the web site suggestions. The "Warm Showers" site may come in very handy. I've heard that some campgrounds close down in the fall. We're planning on starting out at the beginning of August, so we'll be weaving our way down through September and and October. Does anyone know if this could be an issue?


Offline cyclist

Calgary to Florida or bust!
« Reply #5 on: May 22, 2005, 09:15:31 pm »
I do not see it as an issue. Your cycling during the prime fall color season. Stop and enjoy them. Also, there are plenty of fall events to partake in while treveling down this way. Take time to enjoy those. Good luck on the ride.  :)


Offline damselfli

Calgary to Florida or bust!
« Reply #6 on: June 06, 2005, 12:23:39 pm »
I should have mentioned...
If you plan to ride all the way to Florida Keys, I highly recommend the Bahia Honda State Park. It's fantastic camping, and they have cabins too. MUST make reservations in advance. You camp right on the water (Atlantic or back bay, your choice!)...  
http://www.bahiahondapark.com/


Offline robscott

Calgary to Florida or bust!
« Reply #7 on: June 08, 2005, 04:05:33 pm »
thanks for the advice, regarding the state park. Have you gone down the length of Florida, through Miami? It looks intimidating on the maps...


Offline damselfli

Calgary to Florida or bust!
« Reply #8 on: June 09, 2005, 01:15:30 pm »
I have not biked the length, and have never biked the east coast - I live on the west coast of Florida. But I did note the bike path that is present through parts of the upper keys.  You might try connecting with some of the bike clubs in Broward County for info and routes in that area - they may even have a mapped route to the Keys.


Lucky13

  • Guest
Calgary to Florida or bust!
« Reply #9 on: June 10, 2005, 01:04:02 am »
>> Have you gone down the length of Florida, through Miami>>

Miami/Dade County would best be negotiated either by hugging the coastline to the east OR the fringes of the Everglades to the west. You'll want to avoid riding thru the heart of the County. Most all of the east/west corridors are decidedly unfriendly to cyclists. The same would hold true for Broward and Palm Beach Counties as well. Just keep heading south, along the edges.

Riding along Florida's east coast can be surprisingly pleasant...provided we don't have a repeat of last year's hurricane season! From the state line, you can pretty much follow the beach road (A1A) all the way to North Miami Beach. At times, a jump over to nearby US 1 would be required. Traffic is there of course, but motorists seem *conditioned* to expect cyclists on the coastal roads.

The city of Homestead is the, uhmm, key for points south of Miami. From there, you have two options to the Keys...the main drag (US 1) and the alternate route over the Card Sound bridge. Homestead also offers the option of riding into Everglades National Park.

This message was edited by Lucky13 on 6-9-05 @ 9:08 PM

Offline damselfli

Calgary to Florida or bust!
« Reply #10 on: June 10, 2005, 01:31:16 pm »
Case in point : here comes Tropical Storm Arlene, first storm of the season.  

This club has some good info for east coast:
http://www.wheelers.homestead.com/

Don't forget your bug spray coming to Florida in the summer.