The Okeechobee Rotary Club’s 8th annual L.O.S.T. Ride-Run-Walk will be held March 26, starting at 8 a.m. for bikers; 8:30 for runners and walkers.
Good food and camaraderie
I’ve ridden six of the seven previous events. It’s a great time of year and the sponsors and folks who man the rest stops are friendly Okeechobee locals who put out home-baked goodies.
Don’t be intimidated by the riders, either. There’s a mix of hard-core go-fast riders and riders on beater bikes. You’ll quickly find someone of your speed and ability.
This is a great time of year to be on the lake, too. Four of us have been out there the last couple of weekends and have seen so many gators sunning themselves and cruising around that we quit pointing them out.
Places to stay
There are getting to be more and more places to stay in Okeechobee. The Hampton Inn Okeechobee is offering a special for the event riders. Donna Huth, director of sales, said the hotel has a special rate of $89 for groups of 20 or less and $79 for groups of 21 or more.
[Full disclosure: Donna offered me a free night’s stay, which I accepted. Apparently my inability to get up at ye-god-o’clock, especially after the time change, and drive from the coast to Okeechobee has gotten around.]
If you are looking for less upscale accommodations, I’ve stayed at the Scottish Inns in town several times. Don’t expect anything more than a small, clean room, but the prices were in the $50 range the last visit. Here was my Scottish Inns review in 2009.
“You are a Soldier in The Battle of Transportation,” read the June 11, 1943, Phillips 66 advertisement in The Southeast Missourian.
I was researching another story when my eye was drawn to the headline and body copy: “Every unnecessary mile you drive is a contribution to our Axis enemies.”
Almost immediately, the story attracted 40 comments (and climbing), mostly from people knocking the idea. Here is a typical one: “Who commutes by bike in Cape? Last time I rode one was when I was 15. Get a car! Bike lanes are lame.”
Confine your driving to a patriotic minimum
What happened to the shared sacrifice Americans were asked to make during World War II?
Have you seen or heard anything like this on TV, radio, in print or coming out of the mouths of politicians?
“Every bit of rubber and gasoline you save on the home front is a contribution to the combat needs of our fighting men on every battle front.
“You can help hasten the day of victory by confining your driving to a patriotic minimum. Use your car only for going to and from work …for needed shopping…for war-time activities like vegetable gardening…for travel to and from places without other transportation facilities.
“Remember, your Government asks you to do your part to prevent a transportation breakdown, asks you to care for your car–for your country.”
Back in the Fall of 2010, I got a message from Kelly Bilak asking for information about riding to Key West after seeing a couple of Palm Beach Bike Tours stories.
We traded several emails where she said that she and two friends – Carol and Barbara – from the Atlanta area were planning to start in St. Augustine, ride down the east Coast of Florida to Key West. Kelly rides a Surly Long Haul Trucker. Carol and Barbara are recumbent riders.
Video of Atlanta Trio’s visit to Palm Beach
Bent, bike and tents in back yard
In the middle of January, I got a message asking if I knew of any place to camp in Palm Beach County. The county park they had planned on required them to pay for a two-day stay since they were coming in on a weekend, and they were going to be charged by the tent, not the site. It was going to cost more than staying in a hotel.
I offered up our spare bedroom, but they said they’d be fine camped in our back yard.
Long Haul Trucker with Click-Stand
I notice that Kelly’s Long Haul Trucker was being held up by a Click-Stand. “I read about it on your site,” she said. I was impressed that she had it made to match her LHT. I noted that she had copied my PVC pipe mount (attached to the the left side of the bike).
Kids grew up and the dog died
Barbara, packing her bent, said she’s been touring since she was 21. It’s gotten easier, she said, “once the kids left home and the dog died.”
Georgia mascot
Barbara’s mascot on her bent’s fairing was neat. If she’d spent much more time in Florida, she might have traded it in for a Love Bug or a Glades Mosquito, though.
Appearance counts
They arrived early enough to get a driving tour of the area and have a good Mexican meal. They were impressed enough with Palm Beach to decide to go for a side trip on the Palm Beach Lake Trail the next morning before heading off to Ft. Lauderdale.
Just because you’re sleeping in tents and sweating on a bicycle all day long doesn’t mean that you aren’t conscious of how you look. Barbara makes one more adjustment before heading off to Palm Beach.
Kapok Tree dwarfs LHT
The roots of a giant kapok tree near the Flagler Museum dwarf Kelly’s Long Haul Trucker.
Tree almost swallows bikers
Kelly and Barbara posed in the roots of the tree. While we were there, a mother and her daughter quizzed the women about their trip. You’ll have to listen to them on the video below.
West Palm Beach’s impressive skyline
West Palm Beach’s skyline looks impressive in the background. The Flagler Museum is on the right.
Palm Beach Inlet
We stopped at the north end of the island for the obligatory Palm Beach Docks photo. On the way south, the riders asked if I knew of any public restrooms since the morning coffee was looking for release.
I explained that the good folks in Palm Beach don’t provide things like beach access or restrooms for commoners. On our way south from the inlet, I suggested that we stop at the fire station to see if they would let some tourists get some relief. They were more than helpful and friendly. You might want to file that bit of info away for a time of need.
Donald’s Mar-a-Lago
The ladies posed for one last photo under the arch leading to Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago before I headed for home and they headed to the Keys. They made it safely home. You can see Carol’s photos and journal here.
Anne and I decided we’d ride south instead of north for a change the other day and ended up on Hypoluxo Island, which runs north and south from East Ocean Ave. and sticks out into the Intracoastal Waterway.
Map of North Hypoluxo Island
View North Hypoluxo Island in a larger map
I like it because there’s very little traffic and it’s slow-moving. The homes are a curious mix of the 50s, 60s and 70s, with a growing number of high-ticket McMansions popping up.
Anne was particularly impressed with flowering shrub. When she asked me what it was, I had to admit that I didn’t have a clue. When Osa joined us on this weekend’s ride, we were lucky enough to spot the owner out in the front yard. He couldn’t remember the name either, so he took off on a run to ask his gardener.
I couldn’t make out the real name, but “Starburst” gave me enough of a clue that I could Google it.
Insisted on taking our picture
The nice man wouldn’t let us leave until he had taken our picture with my camera. Note how Anne and Osa are smiling. I, on the other hand, am remembering what happened to a photographer I dispatched to a riot. He radioed in that he was arriving at the scene, but then we didn’t hear anything from him. After about an hour, just before I was getting ready to send him backup, he walked in with a sheepish look.
“What the bleep happened to you? We were getting worried.”
“Well, I got there and made some pictures. Then, while I was standing around waiting to see if anything else was going to happen, this kid about about six years old walked up and said, ‘My daddy’s a policeman and he carries a radio just like your radio. Can I see it?’ The next thing all I see is a-hole and elbows as he boogied out of there. I got in a car with a couple of cops and we cruised around trying to find him, but he was long gone.”
Professional photographer advice
“OK, kid, I’m going to give you two pieces of professional advice: (1) NEVER let your equipment out of your grasp and (2), if you do, start out the story with ‘There I was, surrounded by these four thugs that had to be 6’4″ and carrying knives bigger than that….’ NOWHERE should the phrase, ‘six-year-old kid’ come in.”
I felt much better after the nice man handed me my camera back.
Copper or bronze?
This box looked like it might be copper or bronze.
Gators are a popular theme
Gallery of Hypoluxo Island mailboxes
Click on any image to make it larger, then click on the left or right side of the photo to move through the gallery.
Osa and I wanted to get in a mid-week ride, so we let the wind decide our direction. It was blowing briskly out of the south, so we headed south, hoping to be blown back home.
When we got down to about Lantana, she felt the first few sprinkles of rain. We stopped, bagged everything up and checked the radar. We had rain to the southwest, west and north, and the temperature was starting to drop. We decided those who fight and run away may live to fight another day, so we turned back. The tailwind, for once, stayed a tailwind.
Pavement wet in Lake Worth
By the time we got to Lake Worth Beach, we notice the pavement was wet, so we had just missed one line of showers. When we made the west turn onto Southern Blvd. from A1A, she thought I might want to stop to shoot an island bathed in light with the dark clouds behind it. I’ve run several photos from that location lately, so I was really just humoring her (you do that when you finally run across a good riding partner) when I pulled out the camera.
Just then, the sun lit up the clouds and the homes on Palm Beach and a jet on final approach to Palm Beach International Airport popped up. Thanks, Osa. [Click on the photos to make them larger. They’re nicer when you can see more detail. Brag mode off.]
We logged about 16 miles, dodged all the rain and I got a couple of easy photos. Not bad for a January afternoon when other cyclists are talking about the merits of studded bike tires to ride on ice.
The Okeechobee Rotary Club’s 8th annual L.O.S.T. Ride-Run-Walk will be held March 26, starting at 8 a.m. for bikers; 8:30 for runners and walkers.
Don’t be intimidated by the riders, either. There’s a mix of hard-core go-fast riders and riders on beater bikes. You’ll quickly find someone of your speed and ability.
There are getting to be more and more places to stay in Okeechobee. The Hampton Inn Okeechobee is offering a special for the event riders. Donna Huth, director of sales, said the hotel has a special rate of $89 for groups of 20 or less and $79 for groups of 21 or more.
