April 26, 2018
They call this section of Florida’s gulf coast The Forgotten Coast, my hope is that it stays that way. When such things find their way into the popular mind they become overrun and eventually run down or turned into Beachopolis. For now this area has a relaxed rural charm that invites tourism without screaming it at the top of its lungs. Here you can still find local restaurants, private enterprise and low density development. Sunsets and wildlife abound. However, there are signs that this is changing with large sections of vacant land now surveyed, divided and posted for sale. Best enjoy it while we can.
The town of Apalachicola was along our route today and it bills itself as the oyster capital of the world. This may have been true at one time but it seems to be on the wane. A few years ago a hurricane was predicted to hit their area and damage the century old oyster beds. Local water men urged the regulating powers to allow them to do a deep harvest since the storm was going to destroy them anyway. You can guess what happened, the storm missed and the water men destroyed their livelihoods through over harvesting. Attempts to reestablish the beds have only been partially successful and even then there are some who want to begin harvesting oysters early before they have fully been restored to their former glory. Time will determine if this is wise.
The town of Apalachicola is quite interesting with an old time flavor to it. There are the usual shops selling some of the usual touristy stuff but they also feature a lot of locally made products and do so in an eclectic way. The Cafe con Leche was a welcome stop for many of our group and we wolfed down numerous apple fritters and other treats to fuel the next leg of our day’s ride. On the wall were two signs that we assume reflect the views of the owners.
For now I will remember the Forgotten Coast as it is: Classic views, smooth roadways, light traffic and a dream to bicycle. I hope others will be able to remember it fondly as well.
