Road Trip to Cross Florida Barge Canal

We drove from Homosassa to Houston and back numerous times over the years and went over the Cross Florida Barge Canal each time.  Watched the progress of replacing the original two-lane bridge; wondered about the trail; but never stopped.  Since we are always looking for a good place to ride our bikes and the day was changing from foggy and dreary to a bright sunshine convertible kind of day, we took a road trip north.

First stop was the Felburn Trailhead.

Road Trip to Cross Florida Barge Canal

Road Trip to Cross Florida Barge Canal

Have to say that I was pleasantly surprised.  Three good signs for us:

It’s paved (don’t want to flip the bike on sand);

Road Trip to Cross Florida Barge CanalRoad Trip to Cross Florida Barge Canal

 

 

 

 

 

there’s a restroom (yippee for me);

Road Trip to Cross Florida Barge Canal

and Maggie can join us!

Road Trip to Cross Florida Barge Canal

The Cross Florida Barge Canal was originally intended to connect the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean–an environmental nightmare.  It’s now a protected green belt corridor named after the leader of the opposition movement to the canal–Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway.

After leaving the trailhead, we checked out the parking area at the bridge and the boat ramp.

We drove to the Felburn Trailhead.

The Withlacoochee Bay Trail is 5 miles–a reasonable distance for us–from the Felburn Trailhead to the Gulf of Mexico.  There’s also an equestrian trail but Maggie can’t ride a horse.

Next time, we’ll be bringing our bikes and Maggie!

 

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