What If You Didn’t Expect?

My first day on the Tamiami Trail wasn’t what I expected. Fortunately, I’m slowly learning to write my expectations, along with my plans, in pencil. Life works better when you let it happen without comparing it to a set of preconceived notions.

My wake-up call arrived courtesy of the guys from the morning drive show on CALL FM radio in Miami. We’d exchanged a couple of messages but never actually nailed down a time. The call went like this.

“Hey, Rich. Would you like to talk to us on the radio about your ride?”

“Sure.”

“Great. We’ll be live in two minutes.”

Despite still being asleep, we had a great conversation. The guys were great interviewers, and I really enjoyed talking to them and their audience. Click here to hear the interview. We’re going to check in again tomorrow morning. Maybe this time I’ll try to be awake.

# # #

We began the day by meeting with another wonderful group of kids from the SAINTS program. These kids and their leaders will be a special memory from this tour. Check out some great photos.

After a bit of driving and some preliminaries, we unloaded at the advertised end of civilization. Left turn-downtown Miami. Right turn-Everglades. Time to hit The Tamiami Trail.

I was just getting warmed up when the ominous sign appeared: ROAD WORK, NEXT 11 MILES.

Really?

This was one occasion when being a cyclist was an advantage. It was one of those two-lane construction projects where they close one lane and let one direction of traffic through while the other waits. When I pulled up to the first stop sign, the guy waved me through the traffic barriers. He said I could ride in the unused lane.

For the next eleven miles I had my own lane, mostly smooth, pristine asphalt. Construction workers cheered as I passed, offered me water, even moved their trucks to clear the way. Not sure what prompted the royal treatment, but I felt like a passing celebrity.

After the construction zone, we entered the Miccosukee Indian Reservation. This area was sort of stereotypically commercialized with gift shops, airboat rides, “authentic” food, and other tourist-type development.

Just when I wondered if I was doomed to ninety miles of souvenir shops the road turned and the world changed. Aside from an occasional passing car I was alone in an eerie, mysterious, primeval environment of unfamiliar plants and wildlife.

For fifteen miles I watched gorgeous birds and wondered about the shadowy ripples in the water a few feet from my bike.

Darkness comes early on this narrow road in the Everglades, so this ride ended too soon. So we drove into Naples, and we’ll return Tuesday morning. I’m looking forward to completing this ride, though we may have to portage around some unsafe sections. We saw some stretches with no shoulder and others covered with rumble strips. So I’ll crank as much as possible with reasonable safety.

Oh-I’m trying to figure out the PANTHER CROSSING signs. Think I should worry?

# # #

We’re 437 miles into the journey. Becky tells me some speaking opportunities popped up while I was riding today. She’s still working out details, and it’s bedtime. We’ll let you know what’s up tomorrow.

Please leave a comment here.