We’ll start going west on State Road 70 from Verna Rd in the tiny town of the same name. If we look south along this street we will see, less than twenty meters from the road, a sign announcing the entrance to Sarasota County. In the vicinity there are numerous cattle farms and old wooden houses. Undoubtedly, the most remarkable thing of the environment is the presence of one of the tallest structures not only in Florida but across the country. It is a communications tower belonging to Cox Radio which is 508 meters tall. It’s an iron mast supported by steel cables. Just a few meters away is the Verna-Bethany Road, in whose corner was the village of Bethany, also called O'Riley or just Riley.
The narrow way keeps on going, one lane in each direction, as well as the also narrow berm that will disappear later. Midweek traffic is dense and therefore dangerous, so it’s not recommended to use our bikes here. Among the forest there are as many wild animals as developments of recent constructions and some sections in full work. We’ll get to the County Road 675, also called Waterbury Road due to the ghost town created by James Waterbury in the pre-depression era. For this reason, it never grew and today it remains a vast area of small cattle-filled ranches. The same thing can be said about Lorraine, which is hidden among large plantations. Housing density is more palpable although the lots are large and multi acre. Here we’ll find Lakewood Ranch, a community conceived on planes in what was an old lumber ranch.
The narrow way keeps on going, one lane in each direction, as well as the also narrow berm that will disappear later. Midweek traffic is dense and therefore dangerous, so it’s not recommended to use our bikes here. Among the forest there are as many wild animals as developments of recent constructions and some sections in full work. We’ll get to the County Road 675, also called Waterbury Road due to the ghost town created by James Waterbury in the pre-depression era. For this reason, it never grew and today it remains a vast area of small cattle-filled ranches. The same thing can be said about Lorraine, which is hidden among large plantations. Housing density is more palpable although the lots are large and multi acre. Here we’ll find Lakewood Ranch, a community conceived on planes in what was an old lumber ranch.
Image courtesy of Rick Schwartz at Flickr.com
The town has been developed among forests and has been awarded and certified as the largest "Green" community in the country. The land was never used for livestock, and it formerly consisted of thick, almost virgin forests. The standard of living is quite high and certainly half of its 3,400 hectares is made up of parks and 150 miles of roads and tracks to enjoy quiet horseback riding and there are several venues for practicing polo and cricket. Indeed, the Sarasota International Cricket Club is based here. In total, the local stables are home to 600 of the finest, most spectacular horses in the world.
However, the luxurious mansions and private clubs are not directly visible from the road as they are scattered among the vegetation covering their margins. But there is a dozen entrances to the different housing complexes. As we cross Interstate 75, we will have traveled about twelve and a half miles. At this point the road will be expanded to three lanes in each direction and major shopping centers will appear more frequently. We are getting closer to the capital of the county, even though we won't actually get to it. Now we are journeying by Elwood Park, one of many Census Designated Places in the region, enclaves that are not part of any city or incorporated municipality. This area consists of modern housing estates located on the roadside and older, quiet but spacious farms that are further north.
However, the luxurious mansions and private clubs are not directly visible from the road as they are scattered among the vegetation covering their margins. But there is a dozen entrances to the different housing complexes. As we cross Interstate 75, we will have traveled about twelve and a half miles. At this point the road will be expanded to three lanes in each direction and major shopping centers will appear more frequently. We are getting closer to the capital of the county, even though we won't actually get to it. Now we are journeying by Elwood Park, one of many Census Designated Places in the region, enclaves that are not part of any city or incorporated municipality. This area consists of modern housing estates located on the roadside and older, quiet but spacious farms that are further north.
Image courtesy of Lenna Young Andrews at Flickr.com
From our bike, two miles later, the mighty and dark Braden River flows wide and slowly below the SR 70, the rest of its 34 kilometers in length to its mouth on the Manatee River, of which it is its main tributary. About 400 meters south of the road we’ll find Ward Lake, a reservoir that provides 22,000 cubic meters per day of potable water to over 300,000 people in the region. On its banks there’s a settlement called Braden River as well, which is also the surname of the founder of Bradenton. On the ground, and with the proximity of the small metropolis, the avenue now becomes the 53rd Avenue East. In just two and a half miles we will be at the US 301 north on the last leg of this journey.
Now we are in Oneco, a place whose name comes from Native Americans. Then the US 301 crosses for the last time some lands that haven't been swallowed up by the city and is diverted to the northwest. Then we will first enter an industrial area where we’ll see a broad scenery of warehouses, chimneys and numerous branches and freight cars lined up in long lines.
Then, the road descends, coming together with the Tamiami Trail between Samoset and West Samoset, two communities that are home to about 9,000 residents. We are already close to the city. The name has its origin in the culture of the Algonquin people and specifically in one of its past leaders, Osamoset or just Samoset, of the Abenaki tribe. It means "He who walks over much".
Finally, from Avenue 17 West, having already covered about 21 miles, we must climb back to the 301 to return to the SR 70 and return to Verna, thus concluding our cycling route at the point where it all began.
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Read Patrick Dwyer’s How to choose among the best mountain bikes (Part 1)
Now we are in Oneco, a place whose name comes from Native Americans. Then the US 301 crosses for the last time some lands that haven't been swallowed up by the city and is diverted to the northwest. Then we will first enter an industrial area where we’ll see a broad scenery of warehouses, chimneys and numerous branches and freight cars lined up in long lines.
Then, the road descends, coming together with the Tamiami Trail between Samoset and West Samoset, two communities that are home to about 9,000 residents. We are already close to the city. The name has its origin in the culture of the Algonquin people and specifically in one of its past leaders, Osamoset or just Samoset, of the Abenaki tribe. It means "He who walks over much".
Finally, from Avenue 17 West, having already covered about 21 miles, we must climb back to the 301 to return to the SR 70 and return to Verna, thus concluding our cycling route at the point where it all began.
Recent contents
Read Patrick Dwyer’s How to choose among the best mountain bikes (Part 1)