Nature Coast of Florida
Skies are looking gray but only 20% chance of rain, water is high, warm but a little breezy–let’s go on a cocktail cruise.
Got home just in time, that 20% chance of rain turned into a thunderstorm which we watched from the safety of our screened in deck.
Local Places, Local Faces
Terry, Maggie and I love being outdoors and doing all those fun activities available to us all year long in Citrus County, but between the Al-La-Palooza, the JesAndy Jubilee, and the crazy weather we’ve had so far this year, we haven’t had much time to get out there. Finally this past weekend we had a free day and decent weather!
So we headed to the Withlacoochee State Trail for some bike riding. In the next few months, I want to travel the entire length of the trail–all 46 miles–broken up into several manageable lengths. This ride started on the very northern section of the trail, the Gulf Junction Trailhead, just south of Dunnellon. Our plan was to ride five miles south or until we reached the next trailhead and then ride back. A ten mile round trip seemed reasonable.
While we have used the trail many times over the last several years, we always start in Inverness so I didn’t know what to expect at this trailhead. I was relieved to see that there was a restroom. And like the trailhead in Inverness, there was a picnic pavilion and benches.
There were already a few cars parked and people either cooling down or getting ready to start out. They all made a fuss over Maggie which made the pooch very happy. Most of Maggie’s trail experience is from a bike basket since she’s old and has short legs, but she loves getting down and running or walking for short spurts. Her very favorite thing is definitely all the unusual smells.
The trail was relatively flat–just a few inclines and only a few roads to cross over. But I was happy to come across the South Citrus Springs trailhead a little short of our 5 mile goal.I was ready to turn around!
I recently read about an attempt to connect several bike trails and create a continuous 200 mile bike trail from St. Petersburg to Titusville. While I don’t think I want to cover that much distance, I would like to do the “Rails to Trails” 19th annual bike ride on the Withalcoochee Trail in October this year. By then I should have visited all of the trail heads and be ready to ride!
If you see us on the trail, stop and say hi! We’d love to meet you!
Let’s go on an adventure. To Ozello. A wonderful windy drive in a sports car or motorcycle. And a beautiful view. While we are on our adventure, let’s stop for a late lunch. Normally, we’d stop at Pecks Old Port Cove. Yum! But this time we were with friends Paul and Sue—in their van—and they like to try obscure bars and restaurants. Kind of like that show on the Food Network “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives”. So we went to the Island Bar and Grill on Ozello Trail. Fun!
Now a reporter would have got the whole story about this place. But I’m just an observer. So here’s what I observed. Crazy fun décor. A very cool tiki bar in the middle of a former convenience store. Friendly server, cook, and kitchen guy.
Terry had wings. Yum! He loved them–especially since they were dry rub. I had jalapeño poppers. Double Yum! Both Sue and I also got the deep-fried fish sandwich. (I can feel my arteries clogging!) Paul had the shrimp basket—fried, of course. And island bar beer is only $1.00 all the time. Seriously. They even have free wireless.
So my advice, next time you are looking for a culinary adventure and a fun drive, stop at Island Bar and Grill. Maybe Guy Fieri will be there!