Lake Placid FL -- 47 miles

A short mileage day -- just as well as it rained in the morning and agaian in the afternoon. We squeezed a pleasant ride in between the storms. Today's ride was through orange groves and cattle country. We even found a winery -- in Florida no less. We stopped there for water refills and ice cream. The free range chickens were very interested in the ice cream. We passed a huge development that apparently went belly-up -- many streets and stop signs, but no houses. Maybe never will be.

Lake Placid used to be called Lake Stearns. Melville Dewey settled here and convinced them to change the name to honor his home town in New York.

Bowling Green FL -- 63.8 miles

We left Tampa around 8 this morning in deep fog. Getting out of town was a trip and a half -- heavy traffic for quite a few miles. Interesting countryside -- usually a beautiful floral smell. One stretch of 3 miles boasted dozens of Osprey nests, and birds, guarding every electric pole. A check of the map later on revealed lots of lakes (borrow pits?) beyond the roadsides. Arrived at our hotel about 1:30 PM -- first ones in, we think.

We are several miles out of town so we all had an Italian dinner brought in. It's a very nice group of people, several whom we've met before.

Can't seem to get the pictures to post....

Florida 2010

We head south tomorrow for another road trip. Follow along....

Images from the Road

Mt. Rainier

After an eight hour drive from Kalispell we arrived at Mount Rainier Thursday afternoon. We did an introductory sightseeing drive up the base of the mountain to Paradise. Paradise is an apt name -- it definitely was! In the late afternoon light afternoon light it was as though everything was glowing. Avalanche and Glacier lilies were everyone. A silver fox and a pika put in a brief appearance for us.

Friday was a busy day. We drove all the way around the southern boundary of the park, and up the east side to Sunrise. We did a three hour loop hike on Sourdough Ridge to Frozen Lake, then back via the Wonderland Trail. It was , quite probably, the most beautiful hike I have ever done. The sub-alpine wildflowers were in full bloom. The views of the mountain almost up close and personal. We were able to spot a few ants (climbers) making their way up the mountain.

Just for fun we added on two other short hikes -- to Grove of the Patriarchs (huge trees) and the Cowlish trail, where Sarah has previously spotted owls. None were cooperating for us today, but it was still a pretty hike through lush forest. Sarah's expert owl-calling made it seem like the owls were all around us.

Today we are worn out and taking it easy.

Jasper and the Ice Fields Parkway

.We have arrived at the end of our Canadian journey in Jasper. For two days we have been riding the Ice Fields Parkway. Wildlife sightings have been plentiful -- bear, elk, wolf.... Yesterday we rode over Sunwapta Pass at the foot of the Columbia Glacier. They have snow-coach tours out onto the Glacier from there. Of course it had to rain again before we reached our lodging was at Sunwapta Falls -- hard, stinging rain that felt like sleet. We were delighted to see our cottage with a fireplace. We spent a very pleasant evening in from of the fire.

Since we didn't go out in the rain last night to see the falls we did that this morning before we hit the road. There is a lot of water going down after all the rain. About mid-way through the 36 mile ride we stopped at Athabasca Falls. In the course of 10,000 years the falls have carved out many channels, some of which are now abandoned and dry. It was an unforgettable experience to walk through some of the old channels.

My mileage total for this trip is 565 miles. Jim's is higher as I rode in the van for a day and a half when I had a bad headache. Total bike mileage (for me) since leaving home is 1007.2. Tomorrow we'll get on a bus and head back 400 miles to Kalispell.

Saskatchewan Crossing

Another day of fantastic scenery. Images are of Peyto Lake and Mistaya (Grizzly Bear in Cree) canyon.