Local Places – Page 60

Withlacoochee State Trail, Ridge Manor Trail Head

September 27, 2013 by KTgreen

If you have been following us on our bicycling adventures this summer, Terry, Maggie, and I have been riding on the Withlacoochee State Trail. (Yawn) We started this journey way back on May 4 at the furthest north trail head at Gulf Junction. It was actually a bit chilly on that first morning’s ride–it hasn’t been like that since! My unrealistic goal was to do the entire trail by October 6—the date of the Rails to Trails Bike Ride. (I totally forgot how freaking hot it is here in the summer) But we’ve been taking on manageable five mile sections on each ride (so that’s like a ten-mile round trip). We were over half-way through the trail when we were sidetracked with other life adventures in August. (That would be grandkids and a drive to North Dakota) We finally made it back to the trail this month, starting our recent trek at the Ridge Manor Trail Head in Hernando County and riding north.

Ridge Manor Trail Head

Maggie at the Withlacoochee State Trail — Maggie’s ready to run!

This section of the trail is very scenic as it goes through the Withlacoochee State Forest. We set out really early, like right after the sun came up and these humongous scary spider webs were glistening with dew in the branches of the trees right above our heads. Very scary. I mean, these spiders could stop a small plane. We also came across a cypress swamp along the trail–can you say alligators, snakes and swamp monsters? This was by far the most beautiful section of the entire trail–only because I like spiders (as long as they don’t get in my hair) and swampy stuff (as long as that swamp monster stay where it belongs.)

Spider Web on Trail — These webs were high in the trees, someone before us already got entangled in the lower webs. Ecccck.

Cypress Swamp — While we didn’t spot any snakes or alligators, they probably spotted us. Kinda creepy.

We have about ten miles left to complete on the trail–south from Ridge Manor to Trilby and also south from the Lake Townsen Park trail head. (We should have done Lake Townsen Park before Ridge Manor but I needed to go to Brooksville so it seemed like a good idea. And I didn’t even get to make my Bville stop because there was a nasty accident under the interstate.) I thought we’d get out to do another five miles this week but it’s been rain, rain, rain and more rain since Sunday. Finally stopped yesterday afternoon but there are still huge clouds hanging around.

So eight more days before the official Rails to Trails Bike Ride. So the question is, how many more miles can we get in? Any bets? Whether we make it or not, Terry and I will still be attending the bike ride next Sunday (the 6th). Watch for more boring pictures and stories from the bike ride the following week!

Terry and Maggie on the trail — Maggie will not be attending the bike ride. She is totally anti-social and told me that she’d rather stay in bed!

Our Last Summer Holiday for 2013

September 6, 2013 by KTgreen

We had a wonderful long summer holiday weekend. Jes and Andrew started the fun when they arrived on Friday morning from Brooklyn. As usual when they visit, we had a cook-out for our extended family so everyone could visit with the happy newlyweds! (And how long does the newlywed status last? Until they get their wedding photos? After they send out their thank you cards? Or is there some other arbitrary date?)

Slip 'n Slide — Lots of water fun for the kids

Labor Day Picnic — Think William really would have rather gone kayaking.

Our boat went out twice– one morning for scalloping and another for swimming in the spring at Homosassa.

We hit a few of the local restaurants—wings at The Shed and fish baskets at The Yardarm.

When I realized that I had crashed my website, Jes and Andrew went to the Crystal River Archaeological State Park and the Ft. Island Gulf Beach Park. They didn’t want to hear me cry.

One afternoon I mentioned that I could tell that Fall was almost here–which made my NY visitors chuckle. They wanted to know how I came up with that conclusion when it was 91 degrees at that moment. I had a few reasons. First, while mowing the yard last week, I was also mulching up leaves that were falling from our many trees. Second, the sun isn’t getting up quite as early so our morning walks are moving later. And lastly, the mornings are a wee bit cooler–today I almost had to put a shirt with sleeves on for our walk!

And yesterday my statement was vindicated. In the Citrus Chronicle Sports Section, Kevin Mimms column– Path Less Traveled, was headlined Fall’s around the corner. Even he thinks Fall is on the way! And if it’s in the newspaper–its got to be true!

So now that the “cooler” weather has arrived, Terry and I will be doing some “top down” road trips. Michelle suggested a few months ago that I start a new series of posts featuring our drives and destinations so we gotta do it! If you see us scoping out places in our little red convertible, stop and say hi!

Felburn Park Trailhead on the Withlacoochee Bay Trail

August 27, 2013August 27, 2013 by KTgreen

Local Places, Local Faces

We had a wonderful time visiting family in North Dakota, it was nice taking our daily morning walk in 60 degree weather–and wearing a jacket! But we’re back in Florida and attempting to return to our routine–starting with our weekly bike rides. On our most recent ride we went to the Felburn Trailhead on the Cross-Florida Barge Canal. It’s only about a 30 minute drive for us and the views are spectacular.

Felburn Park Trailhead on the Withlacoochee Bay Trail

We’ve been to this trailhead a few times but have never rode east so we headed out in that direction. This section starts with a hill—a bit of challenge for us flatlanders! The paved trail runs along the canal on one side and a lake on the other. I had read that the trail had been extended but we had gone just a little more than a mile before we came across “Trail End” sign. A two mile round trip wasn’t quite enough, so we turned around and headed west.

Felburn Trailhead — End of the Road! By the way, we got there before 8 am and no one threw us out of the park!

If you do the whole trail it’s about 12 miles. There are a few hills but most of the trail is flat and all of it is scenic. There is no road noise from any major highways which makes it a treat. Going west, a large portion of the trail runs along the Cross Florida Barge Canal then switches to run along hammock and the salt marshes of the Gulf of Mexico. The turnaround point is at a pavilion on the water.

We got to the trail really early so we were the first ones to use it that day. We saw a few rabbits–lucky for them, Maggie was in her basket! Also a family of three deer which leapt away before I could get my camera out. On our way back we did see a few bicyclist and a couple of guys fishing, but it was pretty much our own private trail.

It’s a beautiful area and a true representation of the “Nature Coast”.