March 30, 2015
Ft Myers to LaBelle
Jim and Kathy are new to Warmshowers but are everything you would expect plus more from a host. Jim went out of his way to pick us up at the Key West Express Ferry, saving us a four-mile night-time ride to their home, and made sure we washed the salt spray off the bikes before storing them for the night. We slept well and, in the morning, were treated to breakfast burritos cooked up by Kathy and served on homemade tortillas made by Jim. We were Kathy and Jim's first guests, and they were my first hosts. It could not have been a better experience!
It was a cool morning, a welcome relief from the heat of the Keys. The route out of Ft Myers was relatively painless, although along major roads. Generally, we kept to the sidewalks and adjoining bike and multi-use trails. This suited us fine, as our pace was relatively slow, about 11 to 12 mph.
A highlight, however, was the John Yarbrough Linear Park Trail, a six-mile trail along a waterway. We followed it for about four miles, which gave us a nice respite from the traffic. The only drawback is the street crossings, which are at-grade versus a continuous trail underneath the bridges.
After the trail we were back on the local roads and continued north and eastward until we crossed the Caloosahatchee River. This is a very beautiful river that deserves a trail of its own. None exit, but we did follow the North River Road (FL-78) to LaBelle. It was relatively quiet and scenic, with horse farms, natural beauty, and a state park. A better choice than the roads south of the river!
Today's ride: 52 miles (84 km)
Total: 270 miles (435 km)
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