Cross Florida: The Spanish:Saint Augustine to Fort DeSoto

The Spanish Indian Trail is a coast-to-coast fat tire route created by Patrick Thomsen, Matt Wiggins, and Karlos Bernart. This year riders will travel from the east coast at Castillo De San Marco in Saint Augustine to finish at the West Coast in Fort DeSoto located in Saint Petersburg. The route is a Patchwork Quilt of singletrack, forest roads, double track, grassy track, bike paths, and paved roads. This year there will be two options available, a 520-mile odyssey and a 420-mile option.

We will also offer a shuttle for riders this year. The shuttle will pick riders up at the finish in Fort DeSoto and transport riders to a location close to the start in Saint Augustine. Shuttle pick-up will be at 11 am on Friday, January 3rd. If you want a spot on the shuttle, choose that ticket option in addition to your route choice.

Each ticket option provides riders with the route, guide, and resource information; once purchased, this is non-refundable. Your shuttle ticket can be canceled as long as it's four weeks before the 3rd of January.

Rules:

1. You must complete the route under your own power. Once you set foot in a motored power vehicle, you are voluntarily withdrawing from the challenge. There are exceptions made to this rule in cases of medical emergencies. If you are injured and need help, get healthy, and you can rejoin the course at your convenience.

2. There is a no drafting rule in effect.

3. You must be able to carry yourself the length of the route safely. You can only obtain supplies from commercial establishments along or near the route. You cannot pre-arrange any kind of support or supplies, and no SAG vehicles are allowed.

4. There will be three checkpoints where you are required to provide photographic evidence for. Some checkpoints may require video documentation. To prove that you passed these areas, you can either email your pics and videos to [email protected] or post them on your Facebook wall for me to see and verify.

5. You can take as long as you need to complete the challenge; there is no time limit and no cut-offs. Every rider will participate in a mass start if they start with the group the day of the event.

Collected fees go a long way to keep me working on new routes and projects and maintaining the ever-evolving existing routes and future projects. Generosity is encouraged and generally will provide good luck during the event!!!

I hope this is the year you decide to give the route a try.

Questions? Email me at [email protected]

Host or Publisher Singletrack Samurai