Bicycling for Breath: Day 184-185, Jan 25-26, 2017. Punta Gorda, Fl to South Venice to Bradenton

Our arrival in Punta Gorda turned out to be the beginning of a ten day visit. Our friend Jeanne has a place in an RV resort that has one of the closest and most caring communities I have experienced. Folks would stop you on the street to talk, wonder if they could be of help, ask if you would like to play cards or go kayaking or anything. Ken and Bev, neighbors of Jeanne, even offered to re-arrange their lanai so that we could store our bike there to protect it from a storm we had 1/23-24. We had originally planned to leave 1/23, but rain and 25-35 mph head winds dissuaded us.

Ken and Bev and us

Bev and Jeanne

The sign explains it all.

Banyan tree

I was too distracted by talking with Phyllis and Doug, friends since college to blog last night. I will blog tonight for today and yesterday.

Yesterday we rode to South Venice to stay with our friends Phyllis and Doug. The ride of 1/15 on US-41 from South Venice to Punta Gorda was one that did not deserve to be repeated. Two foot wide shoulder that occasionally disappeared, speed limits as high as 60 mph, lots of traffic, not a fun ride. We both looked for a route to avoid high traffic roads and succeeded. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/18571667 Note that FL-776 has side paths or service road for over 90% of its length.

Leaving Punta Gorda, and crossing the Peace River bridge.

Bridge sidewalks can be very narrow.

Beach at Manasota Key. Lots of shells here.

Shells on beach.

Doug and Phyllis welcomed us to their home, and after the mandatory shower, we went out for a lovely fish dinner. Tired arrived soon after we returned, and Margaret and I fell into bed.

Doug and Phyllis

Today's ride also involved several islands. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/18689737
The beach at Siesta Key is supposed to be the best beach in the U.S. We had to go see it.