FL Day 13

Today we finally got into the Keys.
We started early since we knew it would be a rough ride. Card Sound road (the smaller alternative to Rt 1) doesn't have a shoulder, and is a 2 lane road the whole way. Lots of people like to drive this and speed we hear since it isn't patrolled much. This would've been fine- if drivers weren't so stupid. They were all speeding- but when they would go to pass us- wouldn't slow down even if there were other cars approaching- I can't believe no one hit oncoming traffic...urgh.

Actually getting over to the Keys was another hurdle- the bridge used to have a side walk but the removed the middle portion (over the highest part) so people wouldn't fish off the bridge. Cook ended up walking his bike/trailer over---by walking the gear on the 'sidewalk' scraping along the way, and him walking on the road. He came back over and carried one wheel of the trailer (with Surly inside)- while I pushed the bike and the other wheel rolled on the 'sidewalk'.

I wish we could've ridden slower/more relaxed. The wildlife along the way was cool- lots of turtles and Cook got to see a gator...

But hey- the good news is that the new trailer has a lot less resistance than the other one! So we can go faster with much less effort. woohoo!

We camped at a site in Key Largo. It was right next to a Publix- which had 3! different types of tofu pups. I got some charcoal, beer, pups, buns, mustard...and we ended up eating the whole pack. Yum.

FL Day 12

Spent today as a rest day at the hostel waiting for our trailer to arrive.

Walked up the road- got some super cheap Mexican food, yum.

FL Day 11

We managed to make it alllll the way though Miami fine. It was great when it was a 6 lane road- no shoulder- no bike lane- and the sidewalk had "no bikes allowed" signs! We choose to break the law on the side walk...we passed a few cops but none said anything. I guess the realize how absurd it is.

After Miami we had a bike path for miles and miles. It was nice and shaded- but had fallen into disrepair- the roots of the banyon trees are really good at pushing up pavement it seems. But- better than nothing, so we were happy!

At one point- we were on the 3-4 ft off road bike path. We went to cross an intersection w/ a neighborhood road. There was a car at the stop sign. Cook crossed- with his trailer and flag on it. THen I crossed, with my bright yellow trailer and flag- and then the car decided to go! Totally oblivious to the fact that there were people in front of him. He hit Surlys trailer- luckily in slow motion, and luckily its a strong trailer (designed like a roll cage for saftey)- so she was just fine. The trailer was another matter.... the axle had bent, so the wheel was rubbing on one of the breaks.We also don't know what kind of other damage might be done to the welds, since this hit was enough to bend the axle (we called Burly who makes the trailers and they agreed).

I yelled at the driver to stop. I was afraid he'd drive off- and we'd be screwed... he didn't even get out of his car the whole time! I made him give me his insurance info, and we wrote down his car info. He also gave us his address- he said he lived just a few blocks away and that he had to pick up his daughter from school. I didn't want him to leave- I didn't care about his daughter really- the school wouldn't put her out on the street! I wanted him to buy us a new trailer! Cook let him go though.... since he promised to come right back.

after half an hour he still was gone. So we called his insurance, and a cop came to make report. He was about to write him a ticket for a hit and run (turns out that no matter what, in FL you can't leave the scene of an accident)- when the guy came back. Lucky timing. We walked back to his house- and the whole thing was really akward. They clearly had money- a Mercedes, huge house, huge yard w/ a pool...they were vegetarians, daughter is a vegan, used to live on a sailboat- I mean if he hadn't hit us we might've all been friends.

But there is no way you can say to me "well its some your fault too!" when you ran a STOP sign and hit me. It was broad daylight- and 15 feet of cyclists/gear jsut passed you, and you still went? How in the world do you miss us??? And try to blame me some?? After he came back and saw the cops I think he realized that we were serious. There was some issues w/ his insurance... so in the end he went to the bank and got cash to pay us for a new trailer PLUS overnight shipping AND he gave us a ride to our next spot- a hostel in FL City that would let us camp in the garden w/ the dog.

So alls well that ends well- and we have a new trailer on the way and will only be out one day.

FL Day 10

Today we rode to North Miami... we wanted to start out early to get through the hell of Miami that we were expecting...

We meet a couple who had just done this same ride a few years back, and now actually live about 15 miles north of where we had met. Too bad we didn't run into the earlier- or we would've had a fee place to stay! They were telling us about a park further up- they thought it had camping. This placew asn't on my map- so they said they'd call us when we got there. They ended up leaving a message- well there isn't camping but there are great cabins- but no dogs allowed. Even though we obviously coudln't stay there--- they kept going on about how great the cabins were! Oh well.

We found a little hotel - one of the ones that hasn't been renovated since it was built in the 50's- but still decently nice. Right on the beach, in the shadow of GIANT 500 plus a night hotels. They were one that we called before- but decided to try again anyway. When I called previously- they said that only lap dogs were allowed.... So I walked in, and asked if dogs were allowed. They wanted to know how big- and I kind of skirted around it, and mentioned howshe is a therapy dog, just bathed, very friendly etc.... they came out to meet her and luckily said yes. Surly- good job winning over just another person :) An older guy came by and started asking some questions about the bikes/dog...he had glasses as thick as a coke bottle....he went in and told the woman at the desk to give us the bigger room b/c of all our stuff. She argued- but he insisted that we get the bigger room for the same price. We think the guy has owned the place since it opened!

This place has a washer/dryer so we did some much needed laundry.



bagel for me?


smug?


bagel over there?


wind?


he loves that helmet... I can't wait to get mine off. too sweaty.

Surly isn't a fan of actually having to swim if there is no tennis ball involved. She points herself towards the beach and paddles...




sitting in a trailer is hard it seems...

FL Day 7

Today we decided to put in a longer day- so we could get to Jupiter where we had a real place to stay!! warmshowers.com is a great site- its meant only for touring cyclists to offer/ask for a place to stay while traveling by bike. Lynne- who lives less than 2 miles off route (and from the beach!) had replied to my email that we could stay. Woohoo!!

We ended up doing about 56 miles, just under 5 hours. It was a semi windy day (and with my sail on the back of the bike...) so not the fastest averages.

Funny thing though... we were just a few miles away and Cook yelled at me to stop now and pull over! Which was hard- as we were right on the beach and it was pretty crowded. Turns out one of the wheels on the trailer was starting to fall off! Crap! We thought that it was one of the bolts that tightens the wedge on the wheel... (its a weird design, I won't try to really explain it here!) Turns out that nope- not that at all. It was one of the bearings. It just failed-one of the race prongs that holds the balls in failed- the whole thing started rocking around, and now we needed a new bearing, and eventually a new wheel as the hub had been damaged.

So- why this really sucks- 1. its and odd shape bearing, and the next day when we were looking for the bearings, only 1 bike shop was open in town.
2. The big one! - because the bearing wasn't spinning- it means I was dragging the wheel part of the time. Instead of it spinning freely- somethings it would skid on the tire. Meaning we needed a new tire- and that I had been working MUCH harder than I needed to just to keep rolling. URGH. after a full day of riding, thats the last thing you want to find out- that your effort could have been that much less.....

But the good is that Lynne is a great host! We can't thank her enough for letting us stay with her!! And letting Surly in the house too-even though she couldn't help begging for (what she though was) her share of Lynne's pork.

We ended up staying for 2 nights. The next day, Sunday, was when I spent running around to all sorts of hardwear stores looking for the right bearing. In the end, the one shop that was open actually took the bearings out of another trailer wheel they had on display and installed it for me! Awesome folks, hands down, for getting us back on the road!

This did give us some extra beach time- and since we are officialy at the gulf stream, the water is WARM, BLUE, and CLEAR. Another reason Jupiter is good- the beach closest is the Dog Beach! So no worries about sneaking Surly in anywhere. Dogs everywhere :) (and if youve read/seen Marly and Me, this is the same beach where Marley drank too much salt water and had an accident in the surf....)









Jupiter Island Banyon Trees- yay for shade!

FL Day 9

Today we rode to Boynton beach. It was a fine ride--- except for the major road work. We were detoured back onto US1 (suck!), off of A1A b/c they had closed the road until the next bridge for construction. That means instead of a nice BIG bike lane through a neighborhood with views of the beach- we were on US1 w/ no shoulder, sometimes a sidewalk, lots of traffic and a bunch of crappy stores, nothing nice to look at.

We found a little motel, they had just bought it and were started w/ renovating. Cook did an awesome job bargaining--- so we got a HUGE room for just 10 bucks more than the smaller crappy room. Still way more than we'd want to spend to stay the night, but there weren't any camp ground at all nearby.

The owner of the place said that it was less than a mile to the beach. So sweet- we started walking down the road, so we could take the bridge over to the beach. ONly problem was this was more like over 2 miles...but at least the beach was georgeous! After a long, hot day of riding, getting in the water felt great. Even though it was short lived- as Surly, while she loves to play in the waves, HATES actaully having to swim (if not chasing a ball). We got to the beach via a sort of side route- so didn't pass any signs. On our way out- an old couple wouldn't stop staring and giving us the most obvious stink eye ever! I can only assume it was because of the 'no dog' signs that we hadn't walked by before. Crazy- people so up in arms about us w/ a dog- on a weekday evening in the winter! I waved as they drove away. We ordered pizza, rolls, and salad- and actually had enough left over for lunch the next day.

FL Day 6

Rode to Ft Pierce today- not that eventful...
the only campsite around was a whopping 60 bucks! no way! we decided to find a motel that was the same or cheaper.... we found one for 40 bucks- and not worth a penny more. The shower would only do hot, or cold. if you turned the dial anywhere in between- it shut off! We slept in our clothes to avoid the sheets--- we thought about using our sleeping bags but didn't want to get them gross with any possible bed bugs! Funniest thing was that at the front desk there was a big sign that said "NO PETS" - but the guy clearly didn't care that we had the dog- we even asked when we called about dogs.. oh well.

we went across the street and got some chinese food and groceries.

Our meals have been pretty consistent.
Breakfast- Coffee in our jet boil- it has a french press!
-Pour coffee into mug. Make oat meal/hot cereal
- clif bar after an hour or so of riding- this stop lets us get the dog out to potty if she didn't get anything out first thing in the morning, and get some water.
Lunch- bagel with peanut butter.
Dinner- MaryJane's camp food...just mix with hot water!