Meltdown Ride

The financial metldown of 2008-2009 presented me an unexpected opportunity to do some long-distance bicycle touring.

I found a classified ad on the Adventure Cycling web site for a ride along the Southern Tier, Florida to California. The Southern Tier is the shortest of their three transconinental bicycle routes, and the only one suitable for early season riding. Our ride was set for mid-February. By riding east to west we would be in better shape and have warmer weather by the time we hit the mountains. About a dozen riders expressed interest, but not all were able to commit.

I continued to look for work, with the ride as a backup plan. In February I gave up looking, and packed bike and bags for St. Augustine, Florida, on the Atlantic coast. Four others joined me in St. A., but for various reasons, only three of us started, and one was only going as far as Louisiana.

Two of us reached the Pacific in May.

Group

Logistics

Route

Climbs

Desert

Ghosts

Roadkill

Summary