Viewing
the white Pelican birdsFlorida Day 4 January 25, 2006
All the riders and their bikes were loaded into vans, cars, trucks and headed to Sanibel Island this morning. (A little joke on the cue sheet named the ride sansibelt - a hint that this place has lots of SAND!) It was about 1.5 hours drive, on this clear and sunny day. But it was much cooler today. Some took light jackets to start with. But by the time we got on the bikes about 10:45 it was warm enough to go without extra cover. Most everyone wore the new screen printed shirts that John S had made up specially for this group bike trip. We had a group photo in front of the motel this morning. Most everyone got in the photo, except a group who left very early.
Sanibel was beautiful -- but the hurricane damage was still being taken care of in some places. Many beautiful trees I was told had all been taken down when the storm went through.
Nelson and Polly Caley who are wintering over on Fort Meyers Beach area were there today and rode all day with us. We went through a wildlife area where so many birds were everywhere. The first attraction where we pulled over was to see a large flock of white pelicans sunning themselves. The six mile road through that wildlife preserve was all very rough - what we northerners would call terrible chip and seal. Down here it is special road rock that will allow water to go through and the road won't wash away. Not ideal bicycling surface though. But it was neat going through this to see the many different species of wildlife.
We all stopped at the Green Flash Restaurant to eat. There was Grouper fish sandwiches and fabulous salads, oyster Rockefeller, and other specialty sandwiches. This place was very busy, but good service and a great view of the water. Some ate downstairs on a patio, others upstairs inside overlooking the water.
The traffic on the main highway I-75 (we did not ride bikes on that road) was to me, never having been down in this area before, horrendous. This would be hard to get used to -- all the cars for miles and miles. The causeway is under construction so it was slow going to the island. After we did a 36 mile ride around the island we loaded the bikes and headed over to Fort Myers Beach. We were running out of daylight to do another 20 mile ride. So some took a 1 mile walk on the beach sand, others walked out on the long pier. We all watched the sunset at 6:01 PM. Then all were hungry and headed to the Whaoo Wallie's outdoor cafe for dinner. By the time we were done eating it was time to head back to Venice. I'm anxious to get to bed now as it is another day of adventure tomorrow when we cycle to Rotunda.
It is suppose to be even cooler tomorrow -- Probably arm warmers, and maybe even tights over the shorts to start. But the sun shines brightly. This has been such a relaxing and enjoyable time down here. We have always had lots of people to ride with and everyone is having a great time.
Paul and I saw some people we know from back in Ohio. When we were in Al Jones' vehicle driving down the main street on Fort Myers Beach I spotted two people on cruiser bicycles coming down a sidewalk. It was George "Gary" and Arline Ursick. We couldn't stop in the busy traffic, but what a surprise to come upon them. Paul worked with him at Firestone for many years, Gary having retired about a year ago. We had first met them when we were all active in the Greater Akron Aquarium Society many years ago. Isn't it something how you can go traveling hundreds, even thousands of miles from home and you will almost always meet someone who you know or who you both know. Really makes the world seem so small among so many.
My skin is really itching tonight from where those nasty biting ants got me yesterday!
Photos today:
Viewing
the white Pelican birds
Sylvia
F poolside
A
bird outside the window at the Green Flash restaurant
This
guy rides around town with his pet bird on the handlebars
Debbie
and Erika make an after-ride toast.
Bike
trail on Sanibel Island. Bon Ton Roulette
(Let the Good Times Roll!)
Eating at Wahoo Willies, Fort Myers Beach
Nelson
and Polly Caley at the Green Flash. Happy campers down here in Florida for the
winter. Great people who ride with Stark County Bike Club and Folks On Spokes
when up in Ohio in the summer.
Ahhhh,
biking in Florida in January!
Palm tree shades our bikes during a break.