Jacksonville-Baldwin Trail

Mark, Deanne and I met up early at Everybody's Restaurant in Baldwin for our usual country style breakfast and dose of local color and were elevated by our server to the stature of "Darlin's" while she made sure we had everything we desired. Then off to the trailhead, a few blocks north, where Sandra joined us.
This was one of those days that sees a range of temperatures, starting off a little cooler than expected and warming rather rapidly. It was accompanied by a thin layer of clouds that overcast our experience with less than direct sunlight but was unable to mask the natural beauty of this trail. In north Florida, among the paved tails, the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail State Park is this trail's only rival in that department.
It's quite easy to forget to notice the trail surface itself, mostly because the surrounding forest is so beautiful, but also due to its well maintained condition. I was somewhat surprised to see so many people enjoying the trail this time, so I guess the secret is out. There were families, cycling and roller-blading, walkers, runners and horsemen... not crowded, but well used.
At the half-way point, where we are used to visiting the facilities, we were drawn off to the side to another trailhead that had been opened since our last visit. The Harvey House appears to be the central feature, though it has parking, a long, elevated boardwalk nature trail running through a dense pine forest, many acres with specimen Live Oaks planted, and connects via concrete trails to the trailside rest stop. We spent a few minutes there talking with folks and met another recumbent trike rider, John Landress, from Jacksonville.
At the east end, the Imeson Road Trailhead had a nearly full parking lot, unlike our launch in Baldwin which was almost empty.
Photos are posted in the gallery.

Trail Condition: Excellent, facilities clean and available.
O\vo~

Nature Coast Trail

Sandra and Mark were waiting for me when I drove up to the sight of Mark's brand new Rans Stratus, parked and ready. After I took a quick spin on a very quiet, light-weight, new bicycle with superbly stable handling, I slid back onto my tricycle and we were off. There was no difficulty in staying focused on the cold as it was only 49 degrees and hadn't been that cool in quite a while. The idea of shopping for socks crossed my mind a few times, but the wind was light and allowed the sun to peek through a fair amount.

We stopped for a break in Fanning Springs and found some fellas actually doing some welding work on the gas pump island. Considering the concept for just a few moments seemed to hasten our departure... something just didn't seem right about that. There were a few other trail users out this morning, one was particularly interested in our strange craft, but mostly we had the trail to ourselves. In Chiefland, we simply turned about and headed back, but noticing it was still feeling rather chilly at 61 degrees, we began to discuss the warmth we suspected would be associated with that little barbeque joint in Fanning Springs. In less time than the return trip took, it became apparent we would stop there for lunch and that turned out to be a very fine idea, indeed. They even had fried green tomatoes on the menu and do a particularly fine job of not over cooking the collards.

After lunch, it was mostly a back to the barn run. We weren't really pushing it, but didn't dawdle either, finishing up the last of the 36 miles happy to see our warm cars waiting.

Photos are posted in the gallery. I'll be out of pocket this coming weekend, but look forward to the weather at last permitting us to ride the Jacksonville-Baldwin Trail the next weekend.

Trail Condition: Always Excellent, facilities clean and available.
O\vo~

Suwannee River Greenway at Branford

Rachel joined me this morning in Fort White as we stole a morning's ride out from beneath an impending weather front. We used the western 5 miles of the O'Leno to Ichetucknee Trail to get to the Ichetucknee River where we made use of the park's facilites before crossing the bridge on US 27 to get to the Suwannee County side where the Suwannee River Greenway at Branford terminates.

This trail has changed a lot since I last rode it in September. Maintenance is way up and debris is way down. It is like night and day comparing the two trails we used today! They have eradicated the major sand wash at one intersection that always saw me dismount, and replaced it with an asphalt ramp. Very nice! Nearly every intersection had, at the very least, fresh yellow paint on the barricade posts, many had new posts, too! It was readily apparent that the trail had recently been edged, mowed, and swept and was indeed a treat to ride from end to end and encounter so very little in the way of surface problems. I was also suprised to find the dive shop building completely gone that had stood atop the north boat ramp at Ivey Memorial Park.

The weather seemed to be holding so nicely that we went ahead west of the north end of the trail to Little River Springs where what seemed to be at least a gagglette of geese hustled away from my low slung craft. There was just enough of a coolness in the breeze to talk me out of my interest in jumping in the inviting spring.

On the way back, we went into the Ichetucknee River State Park and back out again just enough to push our velometers up to total 40 miles by the time we stopped back in Fort White. A good ride... now bring on the rain and the new year!

Photos are posted in the gallery. We're looking forward to riding much more next year.

Trail Condition: Vastly improved, facilities marginal (portable toilets at Little River Springs).
O\vo~

Jacksonville-Baldwin Rained Out

The threat of rain had been reduced to 10% for Saturday morning, according to some forecasters, so we rose early and made the drive, allowing some extra time for a breakfast stop at Everybody's Restaurant. Before we saw Raiford, the pavement began showing signs of recent rain and by the time we made it to Macclenny there was a consistent drizzle. We were encouraged by a lull in precipitation in downtown Baldwin and Rachael joined Deanne and I for breakfast, which made it seem even more likely things would work out.

Then we drove the few blocks north to the trailhead park and as soon as we parked, it began to sprinkle again, and a little heavier. So, we called it "rained out", parted company, and headed for home.

When Deanne and I got underway and realized the sky was constantly improving, it seemed only natural to simply relocate plans for which we were already armed. We drove to Fort White, parked at the Community Thrift Shop, unloaded the trikes, and pedaled away on the O'Leno to Ichetucknee Trail. So we salvaged a rained out ride by enjoying a sunny little 26 mile jaunt through the debris and called it a day. Photos are posted in the gallery.

Trail Condition: Absolutely deplorable, completely blocked in three places, facilities non-existent, this trail is dangerously close to finishing an entire year since its dedication without maintenance.

Don't forget, you can comment on what you read here by simply clicking the word "COMMENTS" at the bottom of each post.

O\vo~

West Orange Trail

As a cold front stalled between us and the West Orange Trail, we were faced with an uncertain weather circumstance for today's ride. Sandra and I met at Gary's before daylight and then drove south through occasional light rain to find ourselves surprised by a rain-free Winter Garden celebrating the season with a parade through its downtown streets. We pedaled through the center, following the trail west, guided by survey tape and barricades as a few of the early birds began to set up their chairs. Upon our eastbound return, the procession had begun so we had to detour a couple blocks away to make a path around the crowds.

On the east side, it had already reached 80 degrees out and a light breeze with fairly solid cloud cover kept it nice and comfortable for riding. We had taken a side trip to the shores of Lake Apopka in Oakland, so it seemed natural to stop again at the lovely Chapin Station and walk through the garden there. A little further along, we found this guy running his brood in and out of this fence alongside the trail. Clarcona Horseman's Park is our usual turn-around point, but as we did that today, we decided to go ahead a ride the rest of the trail up to Apopka.

At what I had known as the end of the trail (2 blocks south of US 441), there were serious signs of construction leading us to look further. To our great delight, up on concrete stands awaiting future placement, we discovered the previously promised bridge that will span US 441 in Apopka and connect the part of the trail I already knew with another 3.1 miles of it heading north out of town! We couldn't help but begin to hope this might be completed by the time we visit the area for our Spring Trails Tour in March.

These and other thoughts almost kept us from noticing an increasing likelihood of our being caught in an afternoon shower. Before long, we noticed our pace had quickened as decidedly as the relative humidity. The barbeque was still good, though the restaurant at the Winter Garden Hotel had undergone a name change. It is now called "The Grove" which I thought was somewhat appropriate since there seem to be fewer and fewer of those around any more.

So, the front held its position just long enough for us to finish our ride and meal and the light and occasional rain again cooled our travel as we drove northward home. Sandra, Gary and I rode 38 miles. Photos are posted in the gallery. We're looking forward to the Jacksonville-Baldwin Trail next weekend.

Trail Condition: Simply Excellent, facilities exceptional.
O\vo~

Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail

Today was all about color. The trees on the trail seemed to be at their peak of fall turning, and though it started out fairly cool, the four of us enjoyed peeling off the layers as it warmed up very nicely. A great blue heron winked as we crossed the first bridge and three armadillos greeted us on our return. Sandra, Gary, Deanne and I held a peaceful pace for the 31 miles. Photos are posted in the gallery. We're talking up the idea of driving to the West Orange Trail next weekend.

Trail Condition: As always, fairly good repair, no trash or debris, facilities functional, scenery was positively exceptional.
O\vo~

Some Rearranging

Perhaps to keep it interesting, probably to keep me interested, the website is undergoing some changes at this time. I am thinking that I may let topical postings on this blog replace the page now known as "Trail Reports" as it will make it simpler to keep them current and possibly make them easier to find. Photos from the rides we take are also now much easier to deal with, both up- and down-loading as well as viewing (Thanks, Google!).

Using the blog has the added benefit of providing a feedback channel, in that as readers, you may enter comments you may have along the way, whether or not you were able to enjoy the ride.

I have added a couple rides to the "Ride Schedule", so do have a look and join us if you can.
O\vo~