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06-23-2012, 03:44 PM
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#1
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: minnesota
Posts: 13,228
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Florida
The reason I stopped by the forum was to ask about options for spending next winter in Florida. For the past few years I have spent winter in Audrey's neck of the woods, along the Rio Grande in Texas. I want to take a year off from Texas to see some new birds and for a change in cycling scenery. I ride my bikes around 400 miles a month.
I spend winters alone in a small Lazy Daze rv. I haul a couple of bicycles and either a car or a scooter. I am especially interested in plopping down somewhere near one of the longer bike trails in Florida. I figured that I would not spend the entire winter in one place, but move around every few weeks.
I'm looking for suggestions on good rv parks and good areas for riding bikes. I do plan to at least stop for a time in the Everglades.
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No more lawyer stuff, no more political stuff, so no more CYA
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06-23-2012, 05:12 PM
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#2
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Gone but not forgotten
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sarasota,fl.
Posts: 11,447
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I think Rich would be a good source for campgrounds since he used to camp on Siesta Key and Don Heff knows the biking paths . I am not a biker but I would think anywhere on Anna Marie Island would be great since you could bike from there to St.Armand's in Sarasota following the beach route . Venice , Fl. is a smaller town and perfect for biking not sure if there is an campground there . If you see a campground in SW Florida online that looks interesting I would be glad to check it out for you and send you pictures and my take on the place .
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06-23-2012, 05:20 PM
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#3
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 899
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 Quote:
Originally Posted by Martha
The reason I stopped by the forum was to ask about options for spending next winter in Florida.
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And we thought it was because you missed us!
Can't help with the Florida question but let me know if you decide to winter in CA.
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06-23-2012, 05:59 PM
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#4
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: minnesota
Posts: 13,228
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mb
And we thought it was because you missed us!
Can't help with the Florida question but let me know if you decide to winter in CA.
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That too!
Maybe the next year I will do SoCal.
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No more lawyer stuff, no more political stuff, so no more CYA
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06-23-2012, 06:01 PM
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#5
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: minnesota
Posts: 13,228
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Moemg
I think Rich would be a good source for campgrounds since he used to camp on Siesta Key and Don Heff knows the biking paths . I am not a biker but I would think anywhere on Anna Marie Island would be great since you could bike from there to St.Armand's in Sarasota following the beach route . Venice , Fl. is a smaller town and perfect for biking not sure if there is an campground there . If you see a campground in SW Florida online that looks interesting I would be glad to check it out for you and send you pictures and my take on the place .
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My inlaws had retired to Bradenton so I used to know the area but haven't been there in quite a long while. I'll see if I can find anything for you to check out for me. Thanks!
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No more lawyer stuff, no more political stuff, so no more CYA
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06-23-2012, 06:53 PM
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#6
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 11,328
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DW an I are staying in Bradenton Beach for the month of February. We bike 20-30 miles a day. That area is ok for biking but not great. I don't know about RV parks.
__________________
Idleness is fatal only to the mediocre -- Albert Camus
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06-23-2012, 07:02 PM
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#7
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,596
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Martha
I do plan to at least stop for a time in the Everglades.
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I'd plan to spend a little time there. Been to the everglades once and it was simply amazing. Definitely want to go back
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I purr therefore I am.
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06-23-2012, 07:19 PM
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#8
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: minnesota
Posts: 13,228
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Quote:
Originally Posted by donheff
DW an I are staying in Bradenton Beach for the month of February. We bike 20-30 miles a day. That area is ok for biking but not great. I don't know about RV parks.
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I recall that you have biked in Florida quite a bit. What are your favorite areas?
__________________
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No more lawyer stuff, no more political stuff, so no more CYA
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06-23-2012, 07:40 PM
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#9
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: The Bay Area
Posts: 2,736
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Martha-
DW and I have been investigating Dunedin, Fl (north of St Pete) on line, and Pinellas Trail Pinellas County, Florida - Park & Conservation Resources - Pinellas County Trail Guide (which gets good reviews) goes thru there. There is also Elite Resorts RV park in Tarpon Springs, at the north end of the trail.
Good luck. Let us know how you like Dunedin if you visit.
__________________
You may be whatever you resolve to be.
100% x 10% > 10% x 100%
Small pensions & SS cover essentials
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06-23-2012, 07:48 PM
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#10
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Gone but not forgotten
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sarasota,fl.
Posts: 11,447
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Huston55
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I have only been to Dunedin a few times but it is a charming town in a great location .
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06-23-2012, 08:41 PM
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#11
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 11,328
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Martha
I recall that you have biked in Florida quite a bit. What are your favorite areas?
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I liked the Pinellas Trail that Huston55 mentioned and also liked the Withlacotchee (sp?) Trail. I preferred The urban Pinellas to the more rural Withlachochee. The Maria Island Bradenton Beach area is pretty good for sorta typical beach road rides with good options for lunch. I love Key West which is certainly bike friendly but not well suited to the 25-30 mile rides I prefer and not at all suited to serious riders who want speed and distance. DW and I just like to get out and ride and are not very particular about the circumstances as long as we can get in some miles interupted by a good restaurant.
__________________
Idleness is fatal only to the mediocre -- Albert Camus
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06-23-2012, 08:44 PM
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#12
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: minnesota
Posts: 13,228
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Huston55
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I'll check out the Elite Resorts park, thanks. EDIT: It looks like it hasn't been built yet.
Quote:
Originally Posted by donheff
I liked the Pinellas Trail that Huston55 mentioned and also liked the Withlacotchee (sp?) Trail. I preferred The urban Pinellas to the more rural Withlachochee. The Maria Island Bradenton Beach area is pretty good for sorta typical beach road rides with good options for lunch. I love Key West which is certainly bike friendly but not well suited to the 25-30 mile rides I prefer and not at all suited to serious riders who want speed and distance.
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Given that Florida is flat I pretty much need speed and distance.  Thanks for the imput.
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No more lawyer stuff, no more political stuff, so no more CYA
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06-23-2012, 09:12 PM
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#13
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: minnesota
Posts: 13,228
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Man it is tough trying to find a decent rv place on the Pinellas trail. Fort DeSoto would be cool but I can't reserve that far in advance and it looks like it is difficult to get reservations there.
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No more lawyer stuff, no more political stuff, so no more CYA
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06-23-2012, 10:36 PM
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#14
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Orlando
Posts: 2,657
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Martha
Man it is tough trying to find a decent rv place on the Pinellas trail. Fort DeSoto would be cool but I can't reserve that far in advance and it looks like it is difficult to get reservations there.
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Had some OH friends try for a couple of years to get a spot at Ft. DeSoto. Finally got a week this year in April and they loved it. They are snowbirds with a 5th-wheel and they spent their last week in FL at Ft. DeSoto.
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06-24-2012, 06:22 AM
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#15
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: The Bay Area
Posts: 2,736
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__________________
You may be whatever you resolve to be.
100% x 10% > 10% x 100%
Small pensions & SS cover essentials
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06-24-2012, 09:31 AM
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#16
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Gone but not forgotten
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sarasota,fl.
Posts: 11,447
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