Florida C2C - Sanford to Clermont

40 miles today so we’re probably about half way.  We have decided to go to the Tarpon Spring coast rather than riding to St. Pete because the weather is supposed to be atrocious on Wednesday.  Otherwise the weather has been and is projected to be perfect for cycling.

Had several ‘Florida hills today.  The highest point in the entire state is 345 feet.  The total up and down for the entire trip is only 2600 feet, we’d do that in a day on LEJOG and Steve will do more than that on an evening ride with Andrew!

Sanford was really just an overnight stop.  Next to I4 with some hotels and restaurants to service highway traffic.  The downtown of Sanford was about 8 miles off the route so we’ll save that for another time.  The Woodspring Suites hotels are a bit funny.  You get a mini suite w/ a stove, fridge, microwave, but there’s nothing in the cupboards to eat, drink or cook with - bring your own pans?  Odd.  Rooms are comfy and big enough to hold the tandem.

Had breakfast at Cracker Barrel, always consistent, and then headed out for our ride to Clermont.  Today was really a ride through suburbia, often parallel to I4, but not on it thank goodness.  Mostly on some quite nice trails.  The trail only disappeared completely once where we were forced to ride for about a third of a mile on a pretty busy road.  On the trails, we saw more people in a mile than we saw in a day on the way to Sanford.  It was a 3 tandem day today, the one we saw at Cracker Barrel and two we passed on the trail!

Stopped for lunch in Winter Gardens, really nice town w/ plenty of shops and restaurants.  Had a massive meal at a Mexican restaurant, won’t be having a lot for dinner!  Lost a bolt from the rear rack somewhere on the way (it was there when we left!) and a very nice guy from the bike shop gave us a new one!

In another Woodsprings Hotel tonight, still no dishes.  Having a wine and cheese evening, we’re both too stuffed to eat anything more.  Got a better sized bottle of wine tonight!

Florida C2C - Titusville to Sanford

So it looks like in America, your bike stays in your room…

After a breakfast visit at the diner next to the motel, serving massive omelettes (for me) and pancakes (for Steve), we headed out on the ‘real’ first day of the tour - a projected 42 miles.

35ish miles riding a very straight road through the Florida countryside - a lot of trees and fields interspersed with periodic swamps.  Very, very rural Florida.  Only saw a few people, mostly cyclists, no alligators.  35 miles to the first place we could find to stop for food, although we did find an interesting gas station shop at 30 miles.  Mostly really friendly folk along the way, but a few macho guys focused on ‘athletic-ing’ who were too involved to wave or say hello.  We did stay in the slipstream of a cycling club for a bit, until they pulled off for a drink.  Think they were worried we’d overtake them on the fully loaded ‘big green machine’!

Reminded of our very clear roles on the bike - pilot on the front handles steering / road hazards / a regular series of warnings to the back along with regular administration of the horn to oblivious ibud wearing walkers / cyclists and the navigator / logistics organiser / food and respite sourcer / head of communications (plus whatever we can think of) on the back. The new cockpit on the back is working very well!

All the curvy bits were saved for the last 4 miles.  Lovely twisty ride through the forest around Lake Monroe.  The Pilot had to pay attention there!

46 miles into a 42 mile ride, we arrived in Sanford.  We still finished by 1:00.  Had to wait for the room to be ready, not surprising, but they arranged for a 1st floor room for us which made getting the tandem in easier.  

Texas Roadhouse for dinner - Steak night!

And a night cap.  Steve got the big one!

Florida C2C - Home to Titusville (Atlantic Coast)

​We’ve wanted to pedal the Florida Coast to Coast route for a few years now.  It runs from Titusville on the Atlantic coast to the west coast of Florida, anywhere from Tarpon Springs to St. Petersburg depending upon your preference.  It’s a new trail, not complete yet, but finally complete enough for us to give it a go.  There is a gap still to be completed of about 25 miles, but Steve has found an alternative route so we’re on our way!

Just to make things interesting, a hurricane started forming in the Caribbean immediately after we’d booked all the hotels - might have to rejig the route a bit if it heads for Florida.

Moving a tandem around is always a challenge.  This time we rented a mini-van to drive us, our kit and the tandem across the state to the start point.  I quite liked it, Steve was less keen.  Left at 9:00 and made it to Titusville by 12:30.  Found the car hire place, found the hotel.  Got rid of the van, changed into our stylish cycling gear and headed over to Cape Canaveral. Got our starting photos, realised there isn’t much by Cape Canaveral (except for that whole rocket launch site) and headed back to the hotel.  We did see our first gator of the trip.

We’re staying at a budget-y motel in Titusville.  Places to stay for the whole trip were tricky to find.  There something on, but we haven’t been able to figure out what it is!

Dinner was at Cafe Paradisio.  New Orleans in Titusville - fantastic!