Loop from Tequesta through Jupiter Tequesta, FL April 4, 2022 |
I have wanted to ride, essentially around Jupiter and Tequesta. I was not sure how long the ride would be, I was hoping for 20 miles, but it turned out to be just over 14 which made me a bit disappointed.
The ride was fun. The most enjoyable section was along Island Way, which is at the very western portion of the ride. The hardest is along Indiantown Road--which is 8 lanes wide and fortunately is also one of the shortest parts of the route. The biggest problem I discovered was underplanning. I rode backwards, meaning I had a lot of left turns in heavily trafficked areas. Not smart! In these areas I stuck primarily to the sidewalk since it was not worth crossing traffic to ride for a few blocks to cross traffic again.
I think I actually would have hit 20 miles had I ridden to Indiantown Road, the lower left corner of the route as depicted on the map, and returned, but I wanted to cross the big Loxahatchee River bridge--which I did. It is very high and the sidewalk is narrow with concrete walls on both sides. I was so happy to reach the top that I decided not to stop and take a picture--that was a huge mistake. It is a bit of work to use my phone for a picture because I have to stop, unhook the phone which is running a mapping app, take the picture and then get the mapping app back up and reinstalled in the cradle on the bike. I almost feel as it I need to ride with a separate camera.
First world problems, wow!
But, I completed the circuit and probable will never do it again because it just wasn't as tough or as long as I wanted it to be.
Looking forward to a sunny and bright day today. Who knows where the day will take me.
-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL