Bike Florida 2012
Forgotten Coast Tour
Daily Mileage
Daily distances range from 40-65 miles with a Century Option on Day 3 Quincy to Wewahitchka. The Day 3 standard route is also one of our longest days at almost 69 miles. The Day 5 layover is potentially the shortest day, o miles, if you opt to enjoy a day off in Apalachicola. Or you could ride, 20, 40 or 62 miles on the layover day. The last day back to Tallahassee is only 41 miles but could be shortened to 35 if you need to get back quickly.
Saturday, Day 1, offers a 20-mile urban Capital Loop ride showcasing Tallahassee’s 2009 Bronze-Level Bike Friendly routes as awarded by the League of American Bicyclists. An out & back route of 38 miles to the town of St. Marks via the St. Marks Trail might be your favorite way to warm up. This will give you your first look at the gulf, your first seafood meal (a-la-carte lunch) and a visit to the San Marcos De Apalach State Park. A 52-mile Country Loop through the rural and scenic areas of Leon and Jefferson counties will also be available if you want to turn a few more miles.
On Sunday, Day 2, the tour moves to Quincy with 63 miles of flat and rolling back roads as you leave Tallahassee. We’ll lunch at the Ochlocknee River before riding some real Florida hills on the approach to Quincy.
Monday, Day 3, will be our longest day of riding, 68 miles with an option to do a century (100 miles). The route from Quincy to Wewahitchka will wind through rural Gadsden and Calhoun counties, over the Apalachicola River (entering Central Time Zone) and enters Blountstown for a lunch stop of your choosing. From Blountstown the route goes south and crosses the West Arm of the Dead Lakes before entering Wewahitchka, the home of Tupelo honey (if you haven’t seen the 1997 movie, “Ulee’s Gold”, check it out, we’ll show it that night).
On Tuesday, Day 4, our 54-mile route leaves Wewahitchka (yes, even the locals say “Wewa”) and continues south, offering a few rollers before flattening out along the “Forgotten Coast” of Florida. The turn from south to east in Beacon Hill will be one of the most memorable turns on the route as we ride bay side heading east to Apalachicola, our home for the next two nights.
On Wednesday, Day 5, the layover day in Apalachicola, we will offer optional rides to the beaches: a 20 mile (to the party & back) a 40-mile out & back to St. George Island State Park or a 60-mile out & back to St. Joe State Park.
On Thursday, Day 6, the tour will move to Medart, a 53 mile ride along the bay, through Carrabelle, and options to explore Panacea (the 63 mile route) or Ochlockonee River State Park.
On our last day, Friday, we ride 33 miles back to Tallahassee, utilizing a portion of the St. Marks Trail, or a longer option of 49 miles via Natural Bridge, Old Plank and Tram Road. We’ll brunch in the coastal City of St. Marks.
