🌴Suncoast Outdoors🥾

Are ready to try bikepacking? Are you ready to let your bicycle carry the load?
This will be a new adventure for me and a new event offering from Suncoast Outdoors. Two nights / Three Days of primitive camping and cycling.
What is bikepacking? Simply put, bikepacking is a mix of cycling and backpacking. Bikepacking involves carrying only essential gear much like backpacking but attached to your bike. This event will require your bike to ride on pavement and limited dirt roads. You will need to carry a full load with shelter/sleeping system, a cooking kit, food, water, and your clothing needed for two nights of primitive camping and three days of cycling. And do not forget a spare tire tube and tool kit.
There are options for attaching your gear to your bicycle. There’s purchasing specific gear for bikepacking, and there is a pack-it and strap-it method or the combination of the two methods. Please find what works best for you.
https://bikepacking.com/bikepacking-101/
The planned route:
Day 1: Hideaway Ranch to Fort Cooper State Park – approx. 38 miles.
We will meet at the Hideaway Ranch (aka Brad & Jamie’s house) at 9:30 am. Get our gear loaded and attached to our bikes. The plan is to saddle up and hit the pavement by 10:30 am. at the latest. This first day is approximately 38 miles. Having gear on our bikes will slow us down considerably. We want to have plenty of time for breaks, adjustments, and stopping for lunch before arriving in Fort Cooper. Once we arrive at Fort Cooper, we will set up our camp for the night.
Day 2: Fort Cooper to Crooked River Campground – 22 miles
We will have a leisurely morning but target our departure time to be no later than 11 am. This departure time will give us plenty of time for breakfast and to repack our gear. This could be a challenging morning getting all our gear packed up properly. We will take breaks and stop for lunch as we make our way to Crooked River Campground at Silver Lake.
Day 3: Crooked River to Hideaway Ranch – approximately 25 miles
We will have breakfast and pack up our gear for our last day of bikepacking. We will leave early on this last day. We should be more proficient in our packing up, and everyone will be ready to get back home. Much like backpacking, we will have limited luxuries.
Since this is a beginner event, we will be learning as we go. I suggest watching some videos on bikepacking. You will find that most of the gear you use for backpacking transitions quite easily to bikepacking. The biggest challenge is getting it attached to our bikes.
https://bikepacking.com/bikepacking-101/
https://youtu.be/AoFJUGYC0z4
https://www.rei.com/learn/series/intro-to-bikepacking
https://www.garagegrowngear.com/blogs/trends-top-10/bikepacking-on-a-budget
https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/bikepacking-checklist.html
https://youtu.be/Srhl4Uu6HfQ?si=rfGlpBXzskTdbBOs

Launch/Parking: Linda Pedersen Park's designated kayak launch. As you turn off of Shoal Line Rd into the park, go to the right through the chain link gate and follow it all the way around to the back. Hernando County has re-implemented their parking fees. It is $5.00 and payable via the ParkMobile App or their website: ParkMobile Parking App | Find & Pay for Parking | On-street & Reservation Also, at the park, they have signs with a QR Code to pay. Opens at sunrise and restrooms are nearby, has a small floating kayak launch and small shoreline launch.

Float Plan: We will wet our paddles right at 9:00am. So, please get there in enough time to prepare your gear. I have a loop in mind but, it will be dependent on water levels in the creeks. We'll paddle a counterclockwise route which will take us thru creeks, into the mouth of the Weeki Wachee River, you'll have sights of Bayport Park Pier, there will be an open shallow grass flat crossing to Nellie's Cove where we'll take an extended break. From, here we'll return by hugging the shoreline, entering creeks leading into Redfish Cove. Most times I see Bald Eagles hunting or perching here. We'll take a scenic saltwater creek back out to Jenkins Creek for the short paddle back to the launch and end our journey.

Afterwards: To replenish calories and re-hydrate. Please join us at the Upper Deck Cafe,5386 Darlene St., Weeki Wachee, FL 34607, which is 5 minutes down the road. Upper Deck Cafe

Suggested Items: plenty of hydration, snacks, lunch, a good hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, bug spray, closed toe water shoes (no flip-flops), towel. FRS/GMRS radio tuned to Channel 6. Advisable but not mandatory, Safety Flag

This is not a professional tour nor am I a professional guide.

Please monitor this event as this is where I will post any cancellations or updates. On day of the event. Feel free to text or call me at 813-442-1615.

YOUR RSVP TO ATTEND A "SUNCOAST OUTDOORS " SPONSORED EVENT IS YOUR EXPRESS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING AND UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE OF FULL PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND LIABILITY FOR ALL ASSOCIATED RISKS.

If you bring a guest who is not currently a member of Suncoast Outdoors, you have assumed such liability for that guest. Your guest is free to join our group and register individually, thereby releasing you from any such liability.
Possible risks from participation include, but are not limited to:
Injury from a trip & fall, drowning, venomous snakes, stinging insects, venomous spiders, wildlife encounters, heat stroke, hypothermia, noxious vegetation, weather related injury, insect or airborne transmissible virus and disease, smoke inhalation, wildfire, falling trees.
Items that you may want to bring; plenty of water, snacks, lunch, a good hat, sunglasses, closed toe water shoes, sunscreen, bug repellant, towel, snorkel gear, umbrella and a chair for the sandbar. Remember, it's your responsibility to be USCG compliant

Skill Level Definitions (Florida Paddling Trail Association)
Beginner: New to paddling and may need tips and or instructions about paddling strokes,
safety procedures and entering/exiting kayaks. Comfortable on short trips of 1 to 3 miles on protected waters, when wind does not exceed 5 mph.
Novice: Paddlers acquainted with basic paddle stokes and can manage kayak handling in
dependently in winds not exceeding 10 mph on protected waters. Comfortable on trips up to 6 miles.
Intermediate: Paddlers with experience in basic strokes and some experience on different
venues, including some open water. Comfortable on trip distances of 6 to 10 miles, winds not exceeding 15 mph.
Advanced: Seasoned paddlers who possess skills and experience to paddle all venues and
conditions. Experienced in self-rescues. Should be comfortable paddling more than 10 miles in a day.