General James A. Van Fleet State Trail

A day on the trail is always good, a new trail, crisp weather and sharing it with good friends notches it up to great. The General James A. Van Fleet State Trail, which touts itself as one of Florida's most rural trails, lived up to that billing. From start to finish over nearly 40 miles, we saw only three cars, no houses and only a few electric lines, offering us a paved slice of Central Florida boondocks, from Mabel to just north of Polk City. With seven of us on the trail, Feet First was a slow-moving, bird watching, stop and talk presence.
A quick glimpse of history shows no connection between the trail's namesake and bikes. He was a World War I, World War II and Korean War vet, a West Point classmate of Dwight D. Eisenhower and a one-time University of Florida football coach. No mention in his bio of any connection to the Fleet enema fortune, which as a general he could have plugged with the slogan, "I have met the enema, and it is mine!"
The trail was smooth, and fearless leader Bruce was elevated and on two wheels, giving Deanne's new bike a 40-mile test ride. Both bike and rider passed with flying colors. A tailwind pushed us south and the headwind coming back made us earn our lunch at the Rainbow Restaurant in beautiful downtown Mascotte. We were left with the mystery of how to pronounce Mabel, does it rhyme with Black Label, or is it like the matriarch of the singing Carter family, May-bell. That mystery will have to wait for another day. Photos are posted in the gallery, thanks to Will Byers for his contribution.

Don't forget, the 2007 Feet First Spring Tour begins Saturday morning, so get your days off lined up and come ride with us. The ride locations and launch times are now posted on the calendar. Yall Come!

Trail Condition: Excellent
Facilities: Excellent
- Gary Kirkland