Key West - peaceonabike

KEY WEST, FLORIDA

With a day to relax in Key West before heading home, I awoke to a beautiful day with nothing planned. Some of my teammates from the Key to Keys ride were flying home while others were sleeping in from a late night on the town. Still others had family members join them in Key West.

Me? I had my bike.

I started with no real plan. I began by riding back to the buoy that marks the Southernmost Point of the Continental United States and seeing many “Southernmost” landmarks including hotel, hotel on the beach, furniture store, and hockey rink.

I passed the Key West AIDS Memorial. I don’t like to think of “them” vs. “us” but it makes me wonder why no Cancer Memorial. I’m not suggesting less be done for AIDS but more needs to be done for cancer.

I left headed north – the only way one could head, and rode. As I rode I got to thinking about the Seven Mile Bridge which many teammates got to ride yesterday but we survivors, did not. And I rode.

The ride was a combination of shoulder on US 1, bike lane on US 1, and bike path separate from US 1. From the original highway which featured separate one lane bridges, many of the bridges are fully intact and are designated for riding down the middle and fishing from the sides. This is part of the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail.

I had pictured mile after mile of bridges but most of the highway through the keys is actually on land. The big exception being the Seven Mile Bridge.

Not all bridges are intact

I knew it was near mile 50 and wasn’t concerned about riding 50 miles. But I was unsupported and to ride 50 north would require 100 miles total. I wasn’t sure how my body would react to the distance. Or the winds.

Railroad Bridge, then Highway Bridge, then Ruins

As I rode farther north, I decided that I would turn around at noon unless I was on the bridge. At noon I was a couple miles short. I lied. I kept going.

Just short of the bridge I stopped at a campground/gas station/food store. I bought a water and Gatorade but the water was too much to fit in my bottle. In the store I explained that I was coming back and wanted to leave my half-full water behind the counter and the woman offered to keep it in the Snapple cooler instead. So cool. Off I rode.

I rode across the Seven Mile Bridge greatly enjoying the trip. It seemed to be littered with GU packages and sponges and I thought damn cyclists. We have to do a better job and not drop our energy packets when empty.

I touched the sign to Marathon Keys then turned around and rode back. Stopping at the food store to pick up my water one woman wanted to know how many miles I had ridden. I wasn’t displaying mileage so I showed her the buttons to push on my Garmin so she could see it — but not tell me. I didn’t want to know. I was just enjoying the ride.

I also found out that the litter on the bridge was from yesterday’s seven mile race across the bridge. Damn runners.

I had a bit of a headwind riding the first 60 miles and was able to ride the final 44 miles at more than 20 mph. Tailwind. Nice. Real nice.

Pigeon Key

I felt good except for too much sun. Each day on the trip began with applying SPF 50 sunscreen and then halfway through I was always able to reapply at the team car. With no support today I only applied before I left. But the legs felt good. And I can cross the Seven Mile Bridge off my bucket list.

Florida Keys on Dwellable

KEY WEST, FLORIDA

We left Baltimore eight days ago for a 1,300-mile trip to Key West. Today we arrived. Well, actually it was a 414-mile ride and an 886-mile drive trip. Yes, there were more than twice as many miles in a van than on a bike.

The day began with the dedication circle. Imagine what a better place the world would be if 25 people held hands and dedicated a ride, or the day, to them. I have met some wonderful young people giving up a summer of their lives to participate in the 4K for Cancer or the Texas 4000 so I dedicated my day to them.

Each day began with the super-secret unveiling of the teams (groups) for the day. I had never ridden with the leader and it became apparent to me that his ego was threatened by strong riders. He liked to be the strong one in his group so today would be no different.

The groups were announced and Groups 1 and 2 would be comprised of cancer survivors. The names were called – all except for mine. I didn’t say anything but a couple of people quickly told him that he had forgotten me. So I was included with the cancer survivors.

Thus the final dedication began with calling the names of six riders and two staffers — all of us being cancer survivors. We became the middle of the circle and the outer circle closed around us. It was very humbling.

The six of us would ride from Homestead. This was my first day to ride with Jessica Tanner. The rest of the team was Jae Slye, Paul Lemle, Meg Shipman, and Patti Jackson. Our drivers were Abby Ramirez and Samantha Powell.

We rolled out and just had fun while riding. We kept a very comfortable pace which allowed me to drop back or speed ahead. It was just a fun day to ride.

The top of the Keys is pretty boring on a bike. Or maybe more realistically, the entrance to Keys. It’s a divided highway with aqua-blue jersey barriers, 45-55 mph traffic, and a narrow shoulder. This is not for everyone. But we had great company and even a flat by Jae didn’t bother us today. Even the 30 minutes it took to change it because she was riding deep-rim wheels. Nope, we were relaxed.

My expectation before the ride was to ride the entire length of the Keys on this day. I don’t know if that is any longer a bucket list option for me. It was fun today to ride with my teammates.

Twenty miles from Homestead we jumped in the Tundra and began our drive to rendezvous with the rest of our teammates. We first stopped in Key Largo for a quick restroom break. Then, on schedule, once back in the car we decided we needed lunch. One of the staffers reminded us we didn’t have time but we were survivors. We said screw it. This was a day of celebration. Our celebration.

We stopped at The Beach Cafe at Morada Bay in Islamorada. Great location and great food. We got back in and swore, on a day no group had time to stop to eat, that we would never tell. And we haven’t.

As we went through Marathon we saw it out ahead. The Seven Mile Bridge. We were amazed at this structure and disappointed. To a person, this was the section of the Keys that we most wanted to ride. That would have to wait for another day.

But our group leaders kept this for themselves to ride. “Cancer survivors, we honor you by letting you lead us out today and ride past Walmart and Wawa. And we will ride the fun part in the Keys.”

We arrived about seven miles north of Key West. This is where we met the other riders who were hungry and maybe a little concerned about our whereabouts. We then rode into Key West together. The first mile in Baltimore from Race Pace Bicycles to the Inner Harbor and the last miles into Key West were the only times we rode together.

We blocked an entire lane and most people were celebrating with us. The people of Key West were very welcoming. While riding I was talking to a couple on a motor scooter and both were cancer survivors. I invited them to ride with us but they got caught at a light. The celebration was on.

We arrived the famous buoy and were greeted by a number of family members of riders who had made the trip.

Dinner was celebrated at Fort Zach on the beach with evening activities in town.

This was an amazing journey. I take back friendships and memories. For every person who donated and/or help me up in prayer or good thoughts, words cannot describe what that means to me.

This was also a week of transformation. For three and a half years I have been a cancer survivor. And yet, until my name was called to enter the “Circle of Survivors” (it wasn’t really called that) most people on the ride did not know I was a survivor.

What they heard me talk about were the many other people fighting cancer that I rode for each day. And that’s what it really is about. This wasn’t a ride for me. It was a ride for all people who are battling cancer and to remember those who have lost the battle. And I’d rather be an advocate than a survivor.

Leg 1 – Homestead to the Keys

Leg 2 – Ride into Key West

Florida Keys on Dwellable