Bike Ride to the Beach, Sunset Beach in Tarpon Springs Florida

During the quiet week between Christmas and New Year's, I loaded up the recumbent and set out from the Starkey Gap Trail in Pasco County for a ride out to the Gulf of Mexico. It's about 17 to 18 miles each way to Sunset Beach in Tarpon Springs, putting the round trip at roughly 35 miles - a great distance for a recumbent cruise with a worthwhile payoff waiting at the end.

Starkey Gap Trail to the Gulf

The route starts inland on the Starkey Gap Trail, threading through Pasco and Pinellas counties before angling toward the coast. It's an easy trail to knock out the miles on a recumbent, and knowing the whole way is a there-and-back means you can settle into a comfortable pace instead of rushing to make good time.

A Break at Craig Park

About halfway along, I stopped at Craig Park - a great spot with benches to rest, water to refill, and a restroom. What makes it special is its role in the local Greek Orthodox community's Epiphany celebrations: young Greek men dive into the water here as part of the ceremony, diving for a cross in a tradition that means a lot to Tarpon Springs. It's the kind of local detail you'd never know just riding past if you didn't stop.

Honeymoon Island, Anclote Island, and the Lighthouse

Closing in on the coast, the views open up fast. From the water's edge you can pick out the northern tip of Honeymoon Island, pan across to Anclote Island, and spot the lighthouse marking the entrance to the Anclote Keys. It's one of those payoffs that makes the inland miles worth it.

Sunset Beach Over Fred Howard

There's another nearby beach, Fred Howard Beach, that I considered riding to instead, but I chose Sunset Beach on purpose - it's quieter, with fewer people underfoot, which makes for better natural views without a crowd of foot traffic in every shot.

Evidence of a Wedding

Walking the beach, I came across clear signs that a wedding ceremony had happened there the day before - and given how clear the weather had been, whoever got married likely walked away with a picture-perfect sunset under a palm tree. Can't blame them for picking this stretch of sand.

A round trip like this is a good reminder of what a recumbent is made for: put in the miles at a relaxed pace, and let a place like Sunset Beach be the reward waiting at the far end.