In order to get a doable day through Miami, I had plotted the route to start in North Hollywood on Broadwalk (Yes; that's correct.) Unfortunately, the 25-miles was over an hour drive for DL. I felt uneasy about today at the get-go. One of those gut feelings. I chalked it up to my frustrating experiences in large cities so far. And the fact that the forecast was for a hot (surprise!) day. I have what some folk call "sun poisoning." Only on my lower legs. Looks like I have venous stasis ulcers. But it's good, old-fashioned sun poisoning. Have had it many times throughout my life. Ol' fair skin lass that I am.
I chalk it up to not being diligent with my sunscreen on my rest days. AND taking my HCTZ every day. I applied a burn gel with lidocaine several times for itching yesterday after I noticed it. Decided to omit the HCTZ for a few days. And today re-applied my sunscreen after two hours. It's better than this today. But not by much. So strange that it is only on my lower legs. Also took Benadryl last night, just in case there was some sort of allergic reaction to some water that sprayed on me from lawn watering as I rode.
Also, on the way to the start, DL saw a woman sitting in the road, apparently having fallen off of her bike. DL thought it looked as if someone may have hit her as they were pulling out. That kind of scene before one rides is somewhat unsettling. I didn't see it.
Then, as if these things weren't enough, as I readied to ride off from the start location, I realized I had forgotten my bike gloves. I had left them hanging to dry all night, having washed them in the afternoon. I happened to have one glove from another pair in the car, so I wore that one, and I added extra sunscreen to my hand, which is usually covered by the glove.
Then I was starting a good 30 minutes later than I had hoped, and it was a good 10 miles longer of a ride than the previous day. So these things add on one's idea of how the day is supposed to go.
It didn't take long to lose the negative feelings. Warm, but beautiful. And the first miles were on Broadwalk, next to the beach. It is a long bricked or cement path paralleling the shore. Everybody and their brothers, mothers, sisters, and children were out this morning. Most people walking, riding, or running for exercise.
Much of the entire morning was along some sort of paved shoreline path, all the way from Hollywood through South Beach to the Miami Marina. The only picture I took today was of this parrot, which was near some sort of Jungle Park (Jungle Island) on Watson Island on the MacArthur Causeway in Miami.
Once into Miami downtown area, I was unable to find my route. There had been construction, which routed me away from the stated path. But then, it didn't matter how I walked or rode to get back onto the map, I was never on the route. I finally put in walking directions to a certain place on the route, and it took me into what appeared to be a hotel driveway up a hill. When I approached one of the hotel staff, he assured me that this was the sidewalk that would lead to the bike route. And it did. Sort of. Then I realized I had only about 20% power on my phone, and about 25 miles to go. I couldn't find the rest of the route. I spent total about an hour and a half trying to get about a half mile. By then I was somewhat concerned that my phone was going to die before I could find a place where DL could get me. It was after noon, and it was hot. I paid five bucks for a frozen lemonade from a "street" vendor. It was darn good and darn cold.
A miscommunication with DL had her en route to rescue me from the downtown, and me trying my best to get as far away from downtown as could be possible so she didn't have to drive there. Needless to say, it was frustrating for both of us.
I did finally find the infamous M-Path, which is nothing more than a paved multi-use path that runs under the metro rail tracks. I found it fairly easy to navigate, even when construction disrupted it. But several reviews of the path fuss about those disruptions and the sketchy surroundings in places. DL eventually found me, and we drove the 30-some miles in about an hour and a half.
My route was to include the M-Path for almost 10 miles to the "greenway" for another 20plus miles. The greenway shares the route of the bus system. There are long bus paths. I'll be on one of those tomorrow for a while. I'll be glad to experience it. I could see one of the paths on the drive home this afternoon.
Campground has some shade. The showers were just fine. We had delicious leftovers to share--enough for both of us. And old fashioneds. I am almost falling asleep. It is not 7:30 pm.
DL deserves some sort of reward for her efforts. I have made sure my Mophie is charged, and it is going with me tomorrow. I am not going to worry about that ever again.
30.13* miles / 933.51
*It was supposed to be 53+ miles today. I was out as long as I would have been if I had ridden that many miles.
I am so enjoying the Florida part of your ride!
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