Tampa to Sarasota

February 3, 2016

So the morning was beautiful . . . again! Short-sleeved jerseys are in . . . at least until we head north again. But that is a long ways off!

So, breakfast at Joffrey's Coffee & Tea Company, and we're then on our way. Early today. Before 10:00 AM anyway. Some of my friends will think that's late, but Happy and I are content with it! Ybor City is a historic district, which means "authentic" streets. Most (maybe all) are brick. A bit uneven brick. So it was a bumpy ride for the first mile or so.

After that, it was smooth sailing. There was a brief moment of dark clouds and impending rain. I swear I felt a drop, but it disappeared almost as quickly as it blew up. But at the same time, we began to feel the real nemesis of the day, the wind . . . but first, we had to get around construction activity and the Port of Tampa.

Looking back on Tampa as Happy comes over the S 22nd Street/Causeway Boulevard Bridge. Note that we are behind the barrels.

And the construction zone looking back at the crossing from the far side.

After crossing the bridge using the closed lane behind the construction barrels, traffic was shifted over to the opposite side and reduced from two to one lane. We were squeezed a bit, to say the least. So thank goodness there was a sidewalk available to jump on because there was no way the travel lane was going to accommodate us and the heavy traffic volume.

We were still a mile or so from the turn onto US 41, but it came soon enough and was somewhat disappointing — a curb and gutter section and no bike lane. I stopped and put on my light system so I would have the benefit of a rear red flashing light, although given the brightness of the day, I'm not sure how effective it was.

US 40 after the turnoff to Causeway Boulevard. Yuck!

And we would be on US 41, with only minor diversions, all the way to Sarasota. And the turn put us on a southward orientation that over the course of the day varied only to southeast or southwest. And the wind was relentless. All day relentless. And out of the south, southeast, and southwest.

So US 41 is nothing to write home about. We eventually got some shoulder that was sporadically labeled as a bike lane . . . but it didn't seem too serious. It was half overgrown with grass after all! But it improved the further south we went. The wind did not.

Where the hill came from, I have no idea. It looks like a real anomaly but was being used for grazing!

As we went further south, we saw more retirement community-type development.

Here, you can see the wind is turning the palm tree leaves upside down, making them appear very light colored.

I was determined not to let the wind get the better of me. So I maintained a pace of about 10 or 11 mph, pushing it higher when the wind subsided or I got a bit of a tailwind . . . which only occurred when I was headed southwest and the wind was from the southeast. But it did happen, and I found myself sailing along at 14 or 15 mph.

Happy was moving at a slower pace, so we rode pretty much solo most of the day. And in the urban cities, Palmetto and Bradenton, the shoulder and bike lanes gave way to curb and gutter sections that required one to ride in the right lane. It wasn't too bad but for the occasional jerk who doesn't like cyclists.

Eventually, I reached the Manatee River. I used the sidewalk, which has an admonition, "Cyclist Using Sidewalk Must Dismount." So I dismounted, took a picture, remounted, and went on my way. Such silly rules. I agree, it is a narrow sidewalk, and for the two pedestrians I met, I stopped and let them walk by. Not a problem.

It was a great crossing.

Looking back over the 8th Avenue Bridge over the Manatee River.

And the marina at the Bradenton end of the crossing

South of the bridge, US 41 maintained a curb and gutter section. I diverted to side residential streets as much as possible but ended up on US 41 more than I would have liked. In retrospect, 26th Street would have been a much better choice. Not sure why RWGPS (and Google Maps) uses US 41 through here. As it were, after four miles of that nonsense, I jumped off at Magellan Drive and followed my return route from my Longboat Key ride. That was familiar territory, and it wasn't long before I was headed for downtown Sarasota on Old Bradenton Road.

Back on familiar turf, after the turn into the Whitfield neighborhood.

Then, finally, Main Street, in front of a fun place, Mattison's City Grille.

After Main Street, I jumped on Osprey and was at my hotel in short order. Happy arrived maybe an hour later. Time to find a "Happy" hour!

Today's ride

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Today's ride: 57 miles (92 km)
Total: 1,301 miles (2,094 km)

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