bikegeek57

what a tease.

RonH

It rained Monday night and was cool, overcast, and foggy yesterday. Today was kinda cool. I guess a "cold front" moved thru because it only got up to 72 today.

As promised I took some pics to tease you. I rode north (from about mile 35) to the top end of the trail, then turned around and went south to the south side of Inverness.

Here is the view of "old" Florida from our patio.


I pass a few pastures on my way to the trail.


Here are two good eating places right on the trail in Hernando.


Here are a couple of the "busy" cross roads on the trail.


I'm almost to the top end of the trail.


Anyone for fresh oranges? There are a lot of orange and grapefruit trees like this. Many of the locals don't bother with picking them. They'd rather buy high priced fruit at the store.


Bottle art?


Suncoast Bicycles located right on the trail in Inverness.

RonH

Saw this painted on the Withlacoochee Trail every mile or so in the high pedestrian areas. I wish the PathFoundation folks would paint this on the Silver Comet and Atlanta-Stone Mtn bike paths. Maybe --- maybe the walkers would stay on the correct side of the path.

bikegeek57

nice pix. especially that last one. hah! even in a hallway folks get it mixed up.

RonH

It was another lovely day on the Withlacoochee Trail. The high was ~79 degrees and sunny.
We've been on the road a lot this week so I haven't ridden since last Saturday and my legs and lungs could tell it. Only did 36.5 miles.

RonH

Warning -- teaser post.

It was ~72F when I left for my ride on the Withlacoochee today and ~80F when I got back to the apt. Sunny and windy so I got a good workout. I decided to take it easy today so only did 37.3 miles.

bikegeek57

thanks for the teaser post heads up. not that I'm jealous or anything. it's a cheery 45 in Tucker about now. might hit 57? would go out but this allergy season stuff in February is for the birds! hardly breathe. blah. but so glad you are having great weather and long rides in FLA. enjoy!

RonH

Allergies? All those allergy things at the drug store didn't work for me. I got rid of mine in the spring/summer of 2010. The folks at the health food store recommended quercetin. I take 3 in the am and 3 in the pm during the peak season. Other times I cut back to 2 in the am.
I buy it at Health Unlimited on N. Druid Hills, across from Toco Hill shopping center.


It has worked great for me down here in the swamp. There are many "strange things" blooming but I haven't had any problems.

bikegeek57

really? that's the stuff in FRS. hmmm.... off the to the healthy store...

zzOtherlandzz

Its kind of funny, I've only rode the trail 1 time but took some of the same pictures as you did. I have one of the bottle art, one of the bike shop, I took a picture of the mile marker on the south end of the trail. I even have a picture of one of the same cross roads...

Makes me want to go back down and ride the trail again....

RonH

I was out again today. Rode my age. Did 67.3 miles. I'll post pics tomorrow after I get them edited and uploaded to photobucket.



You may have some of the same pics I took today.
Let me know if you want to head over here and ride with me.

zzOtherlandzz

I live almost 2hrs away from the north end of the trail. (north and east) I used to get down that way more when my sister lived in Dunnellon (north end). So I have ridden the northern 10 miles of the trail quite a few times. If it was summer I would suggest you go check out rainbow springs in Dunnellon. NOTHING like riding 20 or 30 miles when it is in the high 90's and then jumping in the springs to cool off.

jasonball

well completed 243 this month.

RonH

As promised, here are the pictures from yesterday's 67.3 mile ride to the south end of the Withlacoochee Trail.
This sign is posted in Inverness, in the city park section.


There are several scenic lakes along the trail. Good fishin' in all of them.


Lots of picturesque horse farms too. The two smaller horses aren't ponies, they're some breed of small horse.


Istachatta is a tiny little town on the trail. These pictures show the entire town.



Watch out for the goats. One of them got out of the enclosure.

RonH

Like Atlanta, Florida is also having drought problems. These cypress knees are supposed to be in water. The difference in the coloring in the pictures is because one picture was taken when it was overcast and the flash made the colors kind of funny. The other was taken without the flash in bright sunlight.



Here is Sandy's House of Flavors, located right on the trail in Floral City. Notice the sign next to the trail letting riders know there are goodies (carbs) just a few feet off the trail.



I got a brownie and a raisin and fruit filled turnover. Both very tasty.

zzOtherlandzz

Very cooooool pics !!! Very true about the drought too. Its sad riding my bike over bridges with NO water under them anymore. The same bridges that had LOTS of water under them just a few years ago....

RonH

I've seen several dry lakes or puddles that were once ponds in the pastures.

Vlaam4ever

Great riding day in Atlanta. I got home too late to partake, so ran a couple 5 miles instead. Saw plenty of Outback Bike kits out today on the run, wish I could have joined. I still took the time to test my new shoes on my commuter bike.

RonH

I went up to Trenton and met lookinUp. We rode 27.8 miles on the Nature Coast Trail. She was on her brand new Trek Madone 6.5 WSD. Beautiful bike.
Here are the pics. --> https://s373.photobucket.com/albums/o...Coast%20Trail/

RonH

Did 76.3 miles today in the warm sunshine and now I'm pooped.

bikegeek57

wow! sounds like you really are having a road trip!

RonH

If you read thru the last several pages of the Did you Ride Today threads you'll see/read more of my Florida adventures.

RonH

Aren't you Atl folks riding? Or are you riding and not posting?

bikegeek57

caught me out. not riding much and not posting that I'm not riding.

RonH

We got back to Atl on Sunday afternoon. I'm missing the bike trail already.
No riding yet. I crashed near the end of the Clean Air Ride on Saturday. It started sprinkling and somehow my right cleat became disengaged and my foot slipped off the pedal while I was sprinting. Lost control of the bike as it skidded into the leaves along the side of the trail. I went down on my left side. OUCH!! After a moment I managed to get up but limped home in the sprinkles that changed to rain when I was about 3 miles from the apartment.
My bike is ok but I still have to check it over before I ride it again. I think I'm ok but my left side still hurts like the dickins.
Here's what my handlebar looked like when I finally picked myself and the bike up off the ground. A quick 5mm allen adjustment fixed it.



I was hoping I'd be able to ride ~1500 miles while in FL. I got "swamp fever" the second week of March and was off the bike for about 5 days. My mileage for the FL vacation ended up being just a little over 1100 miles.