Gold Head Branch State Park

Pre-ride warm up for the "carbon-based units", both two-legged and three-wheeled varieties, Charlie, Colleen, and Russ await the ride start while Sandra, Beatrice, Jamie and I finishing getting ready. We rode through the park, down the connector, and east on the Palatka Lake Butler State Trail through Grandin and Florahome. The threat of rain showers kept the wind in our face and promised to help us hurry back. The entire round trip totaled 52 miles with a brief and light shower on the way back. A very rewarding visit to Blue Water Bay in Melrose polished off another great ride stolen from the forecasters.

Flagler Beach/Palm Coast Ride

A full dozen of us descended upon Flagler Beach this morning and eleven set out on a 42 mile clockwise loop around the Intracoastal Waterway including the Lehigh Trail, the Pine Lakes Path, the Palm Coast Linear Parkway, and the Flagler Beach Marineland Trail. Last minute adjustment had us swing north to include a visit to the seaside section of the Washington Oaks State Park then we headed back south for the lunch table! 

The group was taken care of in supreme style at the Flagler Fish Company as their own Brock attended to our every need. Sandy skipped the photo shoot, which included Noel, Pat, Charlie, Jim, Russ, Bob, Irwin, Bruce, Phil, Mary, and Joe, but did not skip lunch. Another fine day on the trail.

Nature Coast State Trail

Met up with some fine folks on the Nature Coast State Trail this morning as Pati was enjoying her first outing on her new bike with Daintry, Beatrice, and Jamie. They rode over to Fanning Springs while I dashed out to Cross City and back. Then we met up for an outstanding lunch at Cherry's Seafood & Steak in Trenton.

Nature Coast Tigers

Here's the group that rode the Nature Coast State Trail Tuesday from
end to end to end!

Bruce, Tommy, Colleen, Charlie, and Russ

Nature Coast State Trail

Tommy Tinker and I ran "Color Guard" for the upscale CarbonTrikes and Wind Cheetah owners as our pod of five behaved in true marauder fashion, conquering the entire Nature Coast State Trail (100 km) in a fell swoop given purely perfect weather with which to contend. Colleen, Charlie, and Russ were detained only lightly by a brief lunch stop in Trenton and a minor blowout event on the return route. Another wonderful day in a state park! 

Four Freedoms Trail

Deanne and I took a drive up to peaceful, downtown Madison, Florida this morning to the Four Freedoms Park. We launched our recumbents there and rode the thirteen miles of Madison County Four Freedoms Trail up to the shores of the (other) Withlacoochee River and looked across at Georgia. There was a fairly strong northeasterly breeze in our face on the way up, but it paid us back on the return trip, giving us even more time to enjoy the surrounding landscape. This trail is one of the more beautiful in north Florida. I was pleased to see evidence of recent maintenance and had a chance to make use of the new restroom facilities in Pinetta. 

As we were loading up to leave, we had a nice visit with Matt, on his road bike just finishing up his next to the last day of riding from Newport Beach, CA to Neptune Beach, FL. Yet another fine day pedaling.

Jacksonville Baldwin State Trail

This is handily the shadiest trail in North Florida with a canopy of shade for well over 75% of its length. Never laid eyes on another recumbent, but there were lots of folks cycling in some beautiful weather, flowers blooming in the splashes of light, birds singing in the bushes, and a fine day was had by all.