Florida on two wheels
By Diane Daniel, Globe Correspondent, 7/13/2003
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What they discovered while cycling 300 miles with a Bike Florida (407-971-8153) tour in March is that northeast Florida has lightly traveled roads "and some of the most beautiful state parks I've seen," said Ellen, 52, who is a Billerica selectwoman. She and husband Peter, 54, co-owner of Brothers Machinery in North Andover, were among about 1,000 cyclists from 48 states (including Hawaii and Alaska), Canada, and Mexico on the tour, which was celebrating its 10th year. For half of the six-day trip, another 500 riders joined the event.
"I'm relatively new to cycling," Ellen said. "But it was imminently doable because Florida's flat. The biggest hills are some of the bridges."
Because of the terrain, "there are a lot of older people who do Bike Florida," Peter said. "The average age was slightly younger than me."
The ride started on Amelia Island, just south of Georgia. They stayed at Fernandina Beach, "a really funky little place," Peter said.
The group camped at Fort Clinch State Park, which features a restored Civil War fort, but the Rawlings, having driven down a day before the start, stayed on the beach. They camped the rest of the way, as did most of the cyclists, usually staying in state parks.
"It's a really well-run ride," Ellen said. Gear is transported for participants, and all meals but lunch are provided.
The ride was called "Beach Cruisin' " and went south to New Smyrna Beach, a little south of Daytona Beach.
"Some of the beach towns you go through, you're right on the beach and the roads aren't that wide," Ellen said. "Florida has a big share-the-road initiative and is really trying to get the word out that cars and bikes need to share the road, but still you've got to be pretty aware."
Often they would ride on back roads just a little inland.
"It was a stunningly beautiful part of the state, and with lots of rivers," Ellen said.
One memorable day of riding was from Amelia Island to Jacksonville Beach, Ellen said. "We went from Big Talbot Island State Park to Little Talbot Island State Park, to BEAKS [Bird Emergency and Kare Sanctuary], Kingsley Plantation on Fort George Island, and then we crossed on this cute little ferry and rode to Hanna Park."
Though the weather could have been nicer, it only rained on them once while cycling, though one night the campers heard thunder.
For two nights, the group stayed on the campus grounds of the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine. "They were on spring break, and that facility was just fabulous," Ellen said.
"St. Augustine is the oldest city in America, and has a cute little downtown and it has a great cycling and pedestrian area," she said.
"We happened to be there on St. Patrick's Day, so we went to a brew pub," Peter said. And though it was a little less Irish than Boston, there were some folks from Ireland present.
Outside of St. Augustine, "there was a ride that took us along the St. Johns River, and that was really pretty," Ellen said. "There were some beautiful homes and the river was really gorgeous. But there were also huge sections that were just plain boring."
Another two-night stay was at Flagler Beach, a little north of Daytona, which Peter likened to Salisbury Beach. "It was a funky little beach. On the beach side there wasn't anything but beach, then the road, then a row of cottages and restaurants."
They stayed at the Bulow Resort Campground. "They had tons of room. It's a big campground that's also used by bikers for the Daytona week."
The difference between the two groups of bikes and bikers?
"We're probably a lot quieter," Ellen said.
Send suggestions to ddaniel@globe.com.