Bicycle Diaries

Lighthouse at Bill Baggs

Sunday January 24, 2021

Lighthouse

Finally made it in through the official lighthouse entrance. Last time I was here, the bike could not fit through the turnstiles. Today, there was a gate open to the right side of the turnstiles, allowing the bike to make it in.

Not much left to see on Key Biscayne, I have traversed just about every gravel and paved trail on this island. Haven’t ventured into the neighborhoods, but that’s not my cup of tea, property ogling.

With today’s ride, I have ridden a total of 206 miles around Miami in the last 10 days. Water, bananas and espresso fueled the engine. The scenery inspired me to pedal on, and on, and on …

It’s been a ton of fun.

distance 24.97 miles

Virginia Beach Nudes

Saturday January 23, 2021

Virginia Beach, late seventies, early eighties, was full of nudists.

Lady Godiva

There was this one time that my brother-in-law and I were riding around in his boat and came around Virginia Beach. To our astonishment, there was this lady, perfectly tanned head to toe, long blonde hair slapping her buttocks as she walked down the beach with her two huge dogs.

We struck up a conversation with her, just to get her to stop in front of our beached boat. The dogs eyed us like they were ready to jump aboard and chomp down on us, so we kept the conversation short and polite.

I’ll never forget that day, and neither did Luis.

distance 15.49 miles

Sunrise at Crandon Park

Friday January 22, 2021

Crandon Park

The city of Miami has done a really nice job of cleaning up Crandon Park. Everyday you see the workers cleaning up the seaweed on the shore’s edge with their machines. The best beach area is around the cabanas, makes you feel like you’re in a tropical island.

William Powell Bridge

Finally climbed the bridge coming in and going out. My legs have started to recoup muscle memory and my lungs are not freaking out anymore.

Still riding on the pedestrian path when crossing the bridge. These riders in Miami, not all of them, lack common biking courtesy. I don’t feel like biting it because some weekend warrior guy gets an adrenaline high and barrels into me trying to prove his bike can go fast downhill.

distance: 24.85 miles

Virginia Key North Point Trails

Thursday January 21, 2021

Only 8 miles to sanctuary.

Base Camp

This is where the volunteers gather on the weekends to build and maintain the Virginia Key North Point Trails, a maze of easy to difficult trails that will take me some time to familiarize myself with.

In order to ride the trails I would need to lighten my load, since I ride with a bag on the rear rack. The bag contains all the stuff I need to spend some time out riding, food primarily, a Bluetooth speaker, my phone, etc.

Need to find somewhere to lock up my stuff, not from people, but from those sneaky raccoons that can open any lid that’s not locked down.

distance 15.91 miles

VKBC Mural

Tuesday January 19, 2021

Several containers are used to store equipment, one has a mural.

Virginia Key Bicycle Club

It’s 8 miles to the Virginia Key Bicycle Club from where I’m staying. Round trip miles is the same mileage I would ride in the McAlpine back in Charlotte.

On a mountain bike, riding 3 miles in city traffic to get to Key Biscayne, is a workout. Once you’re on the key, you have to get over the William Powell Bridge, no easy task navigating pedestrians. I could take the bike path on the road, but I’m yet to be able to ride up on the way in, my legs are not warm enough. On the way back out, I can ride all the way up, but I still prefer the pedestrian path to the open road.

It isn’t the cars I fear, it’s the crazy bikers who fail to say On your Left when passing you going full bore down. The bike path is about six to eight feet wide and if I’m taking it easy going up or down, these dickheads just love to pass you within inches to prove their manhood or something.

distance 16.91 miles