BIKE FLORIDA - March 2013

Orange Blossom Express
Lakeland - Claremont - Lake Wales

Cheryl and I packed two bikes and all our "indoor" camping gear into the Accord (we have done it before ... it works) and got on the road at 7:30am.  We arrived Friday night after 11 hours (lots of traffic passing through Orlando) at Sun 'n Fun in Lakeland.  Our home for Friday, Saturday and Sunday night was in a big airplane hanger decorated with beautiful murals.  Something we didn't expect ... there is no place to change clothes in a hanger!

By Saturday morning everyone in our group arrived.   Pete, Paul, John, Joseph, Terry (the CFC gang) and Jack (my Ragbrai friend who lives in Pittsburgh).  I had volunteer duties Saturday morning and Jack was arriving that morning so Jack and I went for an afternoon ride around Lakeland and its various lake communities.  After getting lost for a few miles that ride was about 32 miles.

Sunday the CFC group did the 40 mile loop (Cheryl, Joseph and I stopped for coffee to warm up).

Sun 'n fun also housed the Florida Air Museum which was free to Bike Florida.  Lots of great planes in the museum.

Saturday night we were bussed to Bartow (a 20 minute bus ride).  The town had a street party and the city courthouse was open to visit and inside was Don Stewart who 10 years before had ridden his 1890's bicycle from coast to coast in 44 days (averaging 77 miles a day).

Don Stewart

Sunday night our entertainment was a bus ride to what I will call "Mayfare."

On Monday we said goodbye to Lakeland and rode 67 miles to Clermont.  Florida was cold and getting colder.  50's in the day, windy but sunny.  Tuesday night was 39 degrees.  Jack, Cheryl and I had warm, cozy indoor camping in Clermont Middle School while the "guys" (minus Terry who stayed at his Father's house) tented in the cold.

 Tuesday night there was a concert in the park at the band shell in a beautiful setting by the lake in downtown Clermont.  Pete, Cheryl and I went to the lake to hear them ... the band was wonderful but we couldn't stay long as we did not bring "winter coats" to Florida.  It was cold!

Tuesday was our assigned Volunteer day.  Cheryl stayed at Bike Florida headquarters in Clermont and I ventured out to rest stop #2 which was for all three routes.  Cheryl and I were lucky to be  volunteering that day as this was the coldest (in the 40s) and windiest (25mph at least) of the week.  Tuesday's routes were known for BIG hills, see below what I pulled off the internet about Clermont hills.

"When you think of Florida you think of flat land cycling but there is a place in Florida where the hills have names. This area is called Clermont. The hills in Clermont have names like, “The Wall”, “Buckhill”, “Sugerloaf”, “North Ridge” “Ambulance Hill” and “Grassy Lake” and they are tough for even the best cyclist.  There is a race in this area called the Horrible 100 (http://www.horrible-hundred.com/). It is a very challenging ride that draws thousands of participants from around the country."

My rest stop was at the top and around the corner.  This is Sugar Loaf hill.

Wednesday we moved on to Lake Wales, a 65 mile ride.  The three of us stayed in Lake Wales High School.  The weather was beginning to warm up and Wednesday night Lake Wales had a block party downtown with an antique car show, vendors and a great band.  Lake Wales is known for its large murals painted on buildings aroundtown.   I found one so big I had to video it.

Thursday we rode to Lake Kissimmee State Park (a 32 mile ride) and went to an 1870s cow camp and learned about Florida crackers    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_cracker 

Florida Cracker

Friday was time to pack up and go home.  50 miles back to Sun 'n Fun with some good rest stops (especially thankful for the delicious Florida Natural grapefruit and orange juice ... yummy).  By then there were only 5 of us left due to attrition for various reasons.

'Back to sun 'n fun after 7 days

 Cheryl and I made it home at 1:30 am without hitting bad traffic on Good Friday.