Sebring Winter Bikefest
This year, in early December, we went to the Sebring Winter Bikefest about a 2 hour drive south of Orlando with our friends Carole and Roy Hill from the Toronto Bicycle Network cycling club. We were joined there by Dinsmore, also from TBN, who had first been to Sebring a couple of years ago.
Each morning, the cyclists gathered in front of the historic, almost century old, Kenilworth Hotel to start their rides for the day around 8 am. There were two short rides of 10 and 20 miles and 3 longer rides in the 35 mile, 60 mile (100 km) and 100 mile range. Sandra and I started with a 20 mile tuneup and finished with rides of 38 and 36 miles. Carole and Roy started with 38 miles, increased to over 60 miles and finished with the same 36 mile ride as us. Dinsmore took rides of about 60 miles each day.
On our second day, we rode to the Highlands Hammock State Park (which was the medium distance 38 mile ride done by most cyclists on their first day). The terrain was interesting; but wildlife was scarce.
On our third day, we rode north of the city to tour the "hilly" (for Florida) hammocks region. On the way north, we went through a flat area with many cattle, protected by donkeys. Notice all the egrets in the trees. They fly down to walk behind the cattle feeding on insects disturbed by the cattle.
There was also a large flock of ibis on a front lawn.
And sandhill cranes close to the ranch house.
Finally, we made it to the hammocks (ancient islands that existed before the seas fell to expose the current Florida). It was the most intensive area of orange cultivation we have ever seen in Florida. This picture shows Paul leading Carole and Roy through an area of early ripening oranges into an area of later ripening oranges.
As we accelerated down the hill from one hammock towards the next Carole and Roy zoomed ahead leaving Paul to follow. Who knew that Florida actually had real hills and valleys all covered with groves of alternating varieties of orange trees?
That weekend, Sebring had its annual Santa Claus Parade. Sebring is a small town and almost everyone in the town (including children) seemed to be putting on a display for the town's small children and older residents (plus the couple of hundred visiting cyclists).
Each morning, the cyclists gathered in front of the historic, almost century old, Kenilworth Hotel to start their rides for the day around 8 am. There were two short rides of 10 and 20 miles and 3 longer rides in the 35 mile, 60 mile (100 km) and 100 mile range. Sandra and I started with a 20 mile tuneup and finished with rides of 38 and 36 miles. Carole and Roy started with 38 miles, increased to over 60 miles and finished with the same 36 mile ride as us. Dinsmore took rides of about 60 miles each day.
On our second day, we rode to the Highlands Hammock State Park (which was the medium distance 38 mile ride done by most cyclists on their first day). The terrain was interesting; but wildlife was scarce.
On our third day, we rode north of the city to tour the "hilly" (for Florida) hammocks region. On the way north, we went through a flat area with many cattle, protected by donkeys. Notice all the egrets in the trees. They fly down to walk behind the cattle feeding on insects disturbed by the cattle.
There was also a large flock of ibis on a front lawn.
And sandhill cranes close to the ranch house.
Finally, we made it to the hammocks (ancient islands that existed before the seas fell to expose the current Florida). It was the most intensive area of orange cultivation we have ever seen in Florida. This picture shows Paul leading Carole and Roy through an area of early ripening oranges into an area of later ripening oranges.
As we accelerated down the hill from one hammock towards the next Carole and Roy zoomed ahead leaving Paul to follow. Who knew that Florida actually had real hills and valleys all covered with groves of alternating varieties of orange trees?
That weekend, Sebring had its annual Santa Claus Parade. Sebring is a small town and almost everyone in the town (including children) seemed to be putting on a display for the town's small children and older residents (plus the couple of hundred visiting cyclists).
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