Training Log Archive: OutdoorsMama

Well that was a hoot!
Long story short, we ended up on a bunch of single track south of Ocala, in the middle of the Santos Fat Tire Festival. We got out of the way of anyone with a number on their bike. And it wasn't all "easy" single track (according to the trail ratings). D'oh!
The trail ended up in the vendor displays at Santos mountain bike trail head, which had a fun festival vibe. We had been at this festival last year, having stumbled upon it driving away from the Scrub Buzz gravel ride we'd done out of Ocala. The return ride was on a freshly paved multi-use trail (we met a lot of mountain bikers returning to the trailhead via this route, rather than the single track).
If you have ever driven down I-75 and seen the "land bridge" just south of Ocala, this trail network takes you across it. It really is a terrific network of trails......single track of varying degrees of difficulty, the paved multiuse trail, a limerock road that was used during the attempted construction of a cross-Florida canal (that was my original plan, before we ended up on the single track), equestrian trails, as well as the hiking trail that runs the length of Florida. (Now that would be an undertaking!)

Morning walk through the hammock vegetation.....while being serenaded by chickadees. Very odd to have been among chickadees two weeks ago while XC skiing in Timmins, then again today on the Gulf coast of Florida.

No toe warmers required! But knee covers and long sleeves were appreciated. And full finger gloves. But it was sunny!!!!
We did some riding on the Nature Coast rail trail out of Trenton, FL (west side of the state). There were fields and fields of freshly planted watermelons, and a huge (gigantic) dairy farm on our route. We rode some gravel, but kept ending up on busy paved roads and dead ends. I can sprint up a small hill, passing Paul, when there is a dog chasing me. Biked over an old bridge on the Swaunee River. Sometimes there are manatees there, but we didn't see any.

Camping at Shell Mound, near Cedar Key. The road to the wildlife area is kinda busy (especially on a Friday night) so we cut the ride short and did a loop on some gravel, figuring the No Trespassing sign wasn't legit, as the road was labelled by the county/municipality. But didn't want to risk a second loop in case it was a legit sign.

BTW...this was possibly the coldest night we have camped in. And we do a lot of camping in the northern parts of Michigan late in the summer. Of course, when we go camping up north, we take up north camping supplies, so are better prepared for nights that dip well down into the single digits C. We did not bring our up north camping supplies to Florida.

About half way through I realized my legs were getting tired. That was one fast team we were up against!
If Tylenol Cold has any performance enhancing characteristics, they weren't evident tonight.

Dry arena air and vigorous skating always helps with dripping noses.