Thursday, February 3, 2022
General James A. Van Fleet State Trail
Yesterday, we drove 650 miles from our home in Clinton, Tennessee, to a Microtel at I-75 exit 314, on the outskirts of Brooksville, Florida. Today, let the fun begin! The temperature was in the upper 60s this morning and quickly warmed to a high of 83. Yeah!
Our 2000 Nissan Xterra has been a trusty steed, but the time has finally come to keep Old Yeller in more local pastures, so we added a trailer hitch to our 2018 Buick Regal Sportback for transporting the bikes. I have to admit, the car is a more comfortable ride - and gets much better gas mileage too.
Tom with the Buick bike-hauler
Florida has some of the longest - and definitely the flattest - off-street bike trails in the country. In January last year, we rode 50 miles on the nearby Withlacoochee State Trail to mark Jana's 50th birthday. Today, we rode somewhat less than that on the General James A. Van Fleet State Trail, one of the most rural bike trails in the state.
First ride of the trip!
And away we go...
Mellow marsh
Needs work
The Van Fleet Trail follows an old railroad right-of-way through the Green Swamp and marks the eastern boundary of the Withlacoochee State Forest. The exceptionally straight trail has only one curve in its 29-mile passage through swamp, marsh, forest, and pastureland.
The Green Swamp
I'll keep my eyes peeled
Camouflaged alligator
We parked at the Bay Lake trailhead, riding first to the northernmost point of the trail at Mabel and then south for a few miles past Bay Lake before returning to our car, covering just over half of the trail with a total ride of 30 miles. We spotted quite a few critters along the way, including a few gators, tons of turtles, a couple of cute lizards, and one dead snake, as well as a pack of aggressive chickens that charged toward Tom.
Little gator
Friendly turtle
Cute lizard
Dead snake
Aggressive chickens
Late in the afternoon, we drove into Brooksville, a surprisingly hilly town for Florida. Just before dark, we stopped for a bite to eat at the Red Mule Pub, a fun little hole-in-the-wall located in a strip mall. The Reubens and local draft beers were excellent!
Lodging: Last night and tonight at a Microtel Inn & Suites at I-75 exit 314 in Brooksville. A clean, friendly place with comfortable but small rooms - as one might gather from the name...
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