BAR HARBOR, MAINE, TO RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
In the Northeast, you'll enjoy the flavor of quiet Maine coastal towns, New England villages, the rural countryside, and bucolic Amish
farmlands. Once you cross the Mason-Dixon Line, which is the boundary between Pennsylvania and Maryland, you'll ride into the South and get
some flavor for Civil War history by visiting the battlefields at Fredericksburg, Virginia, and the city of Richmond, Virginia. Spurs lead
into the various larger cities along this route. A lack of road signs can make parts of this route challenging. It can be ridden from late
spring to late fall. Due to changing local conditions, it is difficult to predict any major wind patterns. If you aren't used to it, humidity
will be a challenging factor.
Starting in the tourist town of Bar Harbor, Maine, on Mt. Desert Island, you'll bike out of town through Acadia National Park and then along
occasional back roads situated near the coast. Allow some time to savor the quintessential ambiance of the coastal towns. After crossing the
Penobscot River, stray off route to visit Ft. Knox, an exceptionally well-preserved unused Revolutionary War fort. Only a small portion of the
route is along the Atlantic's edge in Maine. More New England beauty will be enjoyed as you head south through New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
and Connecticut. In Massachusetts you can take a 30-mile spur into Boston. You'll see charming, picturesque towns that you might find on your
wall calender. As you bike through New York, you'll pass through scenic farmland. The route along the Hudson River has several sites of
historic significance.
Entering New Jersey, you'll ride through one of the best areas in the state for bicycling as you travel along the Delaware River. The Delaware
Water Gap National Recreation Area is particularly beautiful and gives an other-world meaning to typical images that people have of New Jersey.
At Lambertville, another spur extends eastward to New York City. The route heads west into Pennsylvania through productive farms and many
hills. Downtown Philadelphia is a short distance from the route via a bike trail along the Schuylkill River. You'll ride through Valley Forge
National Historic Park, then enter Amish country, where "old-style" living includes horses and buggies. The route swings west around the
outskirts of Baltimore, and you can take the alternate through the city if you prefer. There are more farms in northern Maryland, which will
turn into suburban sprawl as you reach the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
Although congestion increases tremendously, the ride though Washington, D.C., is pleasant. Bike paths through Rock Creek Park take you to the
Lincoln Memorial and the Potomac River. After crossing the Potomoc, you'll ride another beautiful bike path to Mount Vernon, George Washington's
residence from 1754 until his death. Then there are more urban areas in expanding northern Virginia, some quiet country roads, and increasing
urbanization as you approach Richmond.
Terrain
This is one of the challenging rides that Adventure Cycling has to offer, as it has many hilly areas where granny gears are needed to climb
the steep hills. Northwestern Connecticut, the Susquehanna River area in Pennsylvania, and the country roads north of Richmond are extremely
hilly. But you do have some easy riding to compensate, such as when biking the paths along the Potomac River in Virginia.
Logistics
Services are generally plentiful along the route. Some spur routes, such as the ones into Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia, can take
you into large cities for whatever you may desire. People who like to camp won't find any campgrounds in Maryland unless they do the alternate
route through Baltimore. Some cyclists may want to do the northern portions of this route during the colors of autumn. If you do, call ahead to
verify campground availability because many close after Labor Day. If staying indoors, make advance reservations.
RICHMOND,
VIRGINIA, TO KEY WEST, FLORIDA
In the South, you'll pass Baptist churches and develop a sense for that "old-time religion." In contrast, you'll pass through some highly developed areas in
Florida to which throngs of tourists flock and where many people have retired. There are numerous wildlife refuges to see and hike through.
If biking the Outer Banks Alternate, you'll get to see tools utilized by the famous Wright Brothers in their bicycle shop. This route can be
ridden year-round, but the northern part can be quite cool in the winter. Expect high temperatures and humid conditions in the summer,
though beach riding will be tempered by ocean breezes. Due to changing local conditions, it is difficult to predict any major wind patterns.
Be aware that hurricanes can occur from July through November along the Atlantic Seaboard and can close roads along the Outer Banks Alternate.
Leaving Richmond, you'll head south through the farmlands of Virginia and encounter some swamps when crossing into North Carolina. If you choose
to ride the Outer Banks Alternate, you'll have a treat biking along the sandy beaches of the Atlantic Ocean. The winds can be strong (that's
why the Wright Brothers flew their first plane there), and sand may blow onto the road. In the Outer Banks, there are two ferry rides, one of
which is 2-1/4 hours long. Heading
southward, you'll ride through the busy city of Wilmington, North Carolina, and take another ferry ride into Southport. You'll pass through
farmlands and swamps, and see the devastation in the Francis Marion National Forest left by Hurricane Hugo in 1989. There's a 34-mile spur into
historic Charleston, once described as "an 18th-century painting come to life."
Heading into Georgia, there are more farms and swamps. Another spur will take you into charming Savannah, which has one of the largest national
historic landmark districts in the United States. The best swamp of all, the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, is four miles off route. It is
one of the largest and most primitive swamps remaining in the nation. There you can see numerous alligators of all sizes, stroll on boardwalks
over the marshes, and take a boat ride through the swamp. As you cross into Florida, you can see some timber plantations with signs indicating
when the trees were harvested, replanted, and expect to be harvested again.
As you head south, you'll skirt around the northeast corner of Jacksonville, Florida, and begin to see the waterfront homes of retirees. Then it's beach riding along the Atlantic Ocean to St. Augustine, the oldest European settlement in the United States, which displays distinctive Spanish architecture. Starting in St. Augustine, the route alternates between urban and suburban conditions most of the way down the coast through Miami. Florida has an extensive though sometimes confusing network of bicycling facilities ranging from 2 foot bike lanes or shoulders to separated bike paths and sidewalks. For some stretches it will be better to use the sidewalk rather than the road while in highly trafficked beach areas, the sidewalks will be pedestrian use only. The approach to often nearly invisible short bridges are usually marked with "frogs", "buttons", "turtles", "slugs" or rumble strips.
Take advantage of the opportunities to enjoy the numerous beach accesses. County parks often include such amenities as picnic tables, cold water, showers and toilets and are inexpensive or free to cyclists. State Highway A1A will change names many times on its journey along the coast. This is especially true as it nears Miami. Often it is located adjacent to an aquatic preserve or wildlife refuge offering bird watching as well. South of Jupiter, campgrounds for tenting are almost nonexistent until south of Miami.
Leaving Florida City on Old Card Sound Rd., you begin a 29-mile ride with no services, potentially heavy traffic and abundant crocodile sightings. If you see what appears to be a green couch along the road, it's probably not! Always give crocs a wide berth, and be ready to sprint if necessary. Crocodiles can reach speeds of 30 miles per hour for very short distances. On the road to Key West the roadways have generous shoulders, though we recommend using the bike paths. Give yourself plenty of time to enjoy this section and have your camera at the ready. As you cross the many old bridges there are multiple occasions to stop and take in the scenery. Each of the Keys offers their own information center with local knowledge of available activities. If you wish to stay at one of the Bahia Honda State Park campsites, make reservations early. For those who don't wish to reverse their route back across the Keys, a loop route can be created by taking a ferry from Key West to Fort Myers Beach where it is possible to join the Florida Connector and return to Fort Lauderdale. Space is limited on the ferries, so when you make your reservations, be sure to let them know in advance that you have a bike.
Terrain
While there is some hill climbing upon leaving Richmond, Virginia, generally the terrain is either rolling or flat.
Logistics
Services are readily available throughout most of the ride though in the suburban/residential areas of Florida they can be scarce. If camping on the Outer Banks, it can sometimes be blustery at night. There are no bike shops between Southport, North Carolina, and Statesboro, Georgia, unless you go into Charleston, South Carolina. In Florida, almost everything else you encounter, including food, will be more expensive due to the tourist nature of the beach communities. Reservations for camping and hotel accommodations are highly recommended year-round.
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