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| A public school downtown. |
Our Sunday group ride was cancelled just 5 minutes before we were to push our bikes out the door and take them to our car. We quickly checked what other rides were going out, realizing a short time later that a group ride was not going to happen for us this Sunday. The only one we could hook up with in time was taking a route we'd already done twice this week.
A new plan was needed: We decided on a Miami Tour de Neighborhoods.
Miami neighborhoods are fascinating. Miami, like most cities, is a patchwork of unique neighborhoods, each with its own cultural group, style of homes, stores, restaurants, colors, and panache. It makes Miami a fascinating place. (And it's why we can't imagine living anyplace else.)
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| A very interesting alley. |
It was a cold (55 degrees) and overcast morning with a blustery wind from the northwest. We were bundled up in Miami cold weather cycling clothes (think upper Michigan in June). We pointed our bikes north and began pedaling.
We wheeled up Biscayne Boulevard, detoured down the parkway along the bay so that we could check out the big boats at Port Miami. We rolled around Bayfront Park, then headed a few blocks inland. We went through Wynwood, the Design District, Little Haiti, Little River, finally turning around in Miami Shores. We headed back south on Biscayne Boulevard to downtown, occasionally waving to groups of cyclists headed north. Then we headed inland again winding along the Miami River, finally crossing it, heading inland through Little Havana. We made a quick stop at the Versailles Restaurant/Bakery. Then we turned south and pedaled into and around Coral Gables.
We saved the best for last, a long, fast ride through the Miracle Mile and down Coral Way into Brickell and home. On Sunday we barely ever had to slide over into the bike lane. Traffic was light, and we just took the right hand lane.
Wonderful.
It was a beautiful day for a bike ride.
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| Along the Miami River west of downtown. |
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| Black bikes against a black and white mural. |
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| Versailles Restaurant on Calle Ocho (SW 8th Street) |
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| An always amusing piece of public art in Coral Gables. |
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| Cafe con leche at one of our favorite local cafes. |
