Cycle Touring South

I can envision it. Awesome.

Once when I was a kid, I was working for the Shriners doing fundraising. A few of us sneaked into a backroom, and found a stack of initiate fezzes. Not the big golden plush full fez the bona fide Shriners wear, but a smaller version that was red, like you'd see in Casablanca. We took them, and gave some to a friend, Eddie, who had a band, and played at the Schooner lounge. All the band wore them. They renamed themselves Eddie and the Fezes.

 

Fantastic! The guys from Mastadon have been know to do that, in fact, they made a vid...

I like simple, cheap vids like this. Rent out a bar, get a bunch of friends to dress up like killer crowns and circus freaks, and film them wrecking the joint while playing dressed up like Shriners...

[video=youtube;TsdIO8RHMTc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsdIO8RHMTc[/video]

 

The internet/world is full of people that will tell you what you can't do. How many idiots have told me I was insane for taking some of the trips I've taken? You will likely be just fine biking anywhere with a little common sense. Charleston is def not a great biking town but getting to FB from downtown is no prob at all if you take the back roads on James Island. Don't listen to the haters get out there and do it. I met a dude this summer in San Blas that had ridden his bike there----FROM NYC! Have fun good luck!

 

Not hating or sayin' ya can't but I have lost two friends in the past couple years bike riding in the Chas. area. Hell, you can get hit in a car and die just as well I suppose. Personally I wouldn't do it but that's up to you. Suppose it depends on time of year as to how heavey the traffic is. I've seen a lot of carnage with cars, bikes and pedestrians on the stretch of Folly road from Ft. Johnson Rd. to where the road narrows to one lane over the years. Like I said goode luck.

 

Have fun, be safe and keep us posted when you can. I'm pretty sure most of us here would love to be able to undertake an adventure like that.

 

Not me. That long on a bike would induce some real butt injuries.
MIS would like that, though......

 

The guy didn't pay you the 20 to do his wife while he watched, eh? Are you of an age that you'd recognize the deal if it happened?

Beware of waynetheinsaaaane now that you're way souf of the Mason Dixon Line, sparky. You see a windowless white van plastered with surf stickers approaching & blaring the worst whitey gospel music you've ever heard.....that be him.

 

Glad you made it safe. How was surf on the way down?

 

Your trip is inspiring. Thanks.
Best wishes on the remainder of your journey.

 

That's so awesome! Welcome to Florida. Last week there were two huge events in Florida:
1. A container ship dumped thousands of cans of vacuum sealed Cafe Bustelo that washed up from Canaveral down to Palm Beach. Also jugs of wine, canola oil, and laundry detergent. All sealed and useable.

2. An alligator killed and ate a thief hiding in the reeds of a lake from a sheriff, near Sebastian.

 

Totally awesome you made it to the fabled "God's Waiting Room" aka: Florida. Rain tomorrow with passing cold front,then blast of north air will give us a nice head high windchoppe Saturday and cool weather all weekend. You will finally have a brisk north wind at your back. PM me if you need directions to good breaks down here.

 

Cool journey ECsponger.

I made an attempt to camp throughout the FL Keys once; we staked out spots via google earth. Most of em didn't work out, because the land had been developed in the time since the picture was taken. But one...

One spot kinda worked out. There was an old road to nowhere on the map. If I recall correctly, at the end of it, it looked like there was an open field/park where people had built bike ramps. Our plan was to drive to the end of the road, and camp. We had a small crossover 4x4- not small enough.

The vegetation had grown into the road so much that it was constantly scratching the sides of the truck. Our buddy kept driving so we just kept laughing. About a mile or two in it became even tighter; the mangroves were frequently right next to the road. We decided to camp in a little opening we found. One of the guys, a Bogdan-Eastern-Euro from Queens, was very concerned about getting chomped by a Gator in his sleep.

That night, on the radio, we heard about a massive earthquake in Haiti. With recent memories of the Indian Ocean Tsunami (and a poor understanding of Caribbean geography), we became somewhat worried. There was no cell service, and the radio didn't sound any emergencies, so we just got drunk, cooked, and passed out.

When my friend drove out the next morning, his truck got really scratched up. As he finally exited the road into a field of tall grass, he screamed out "YEAAHHHHHHH" and floored it, directly into a boulder. His front quarter panel and bumper got crushed. It was one of the funniest things I've ever witnessed.

In the morning a few groups of cyclists passed us, so I'm sure people know about the spot. Might be a cool place to hit up. Looking at the map briefly, it may have been old state rd. 4A, on Saddlebunch Key. If you're interested I could probably wrangle up the exact location.

On Key West, there's a big legit campground called Boyd's. It's not very cheap, but I think it was the only option. I'm sure you could find some free accommodation if you're 'flexible,' haha.

Good luck man, and be sure to regale us with some tales if you get the chance. I think I'm stuck up here all Winter...

 

Yeah, talk aboot having your sh!t tossed in the ocean! I dragged several gallons of the cooking oil out on Saturday. There was also aerosol cans of Lysol, Capri Sun and pet food. And of course, the 'big haul'. No square grouper tho. Stopped at the surf shoppe on the way home and they had a big pile of coffee and oil sitting by the door that locals had dropped off. Treasure Coast indeed.

 

Damn all that cafe bustello just layin around ,i could have been set for the winter.Stuff comin ashore like that reminds me of the old days in hatteras when the square groupers would stray in to the beaches and if your weed tasted kinda salty you knew where it came from

 

cycle trips are gay...or you will be singing soprano at the end??