I did a week-long van trip to bike on a bunch of bike trails in Florida. This blog post outlines the whole adventure. Sorry about the length, but I decided to put the whole thing into one post.
I used the TrailLink app (with the paid membership) to locate any bike trails that were over 20 miles long. I saw that there were many in Florida, so I decided to take the van on a trip with my new Priority Gemini gravel bike to check some of them out. I had originally planned to do this trip in the end of February to get away from the winter weather, but was delayed. I started the trip on Tuesday, April 7th.
Day#1 (April 7th): Home to Greenville, SC.
Woke up and did my morning routine – will be the last time for a while. Finished packing a few items into the van, and added a third bolt to a couple of shelves that were loose. Drove around town to run a few errand ending at Harris Teeter to purchase groceries for the trip.
Drove down to the Little Sugar Creek Greenway in Charlotte for a bike ride. Parked about 3 miles from the SC border in some street parking. Made a sandwich in the van for lunch. Before starting my bike ride at 12:15.
Weather was perfect- mid 60s to start up to the low 70s. I started by biking south to the end of the trail at the SC border. Then went north up to downtown Charlotte. The trail was great and the signage was good until I approached the downtown. Then it got very confusing to follow the trail. I took several wrong turns. It was easier going back, because I knew better where I was going.
New bike worked well. Tires stayed inflated, which was a risk, as the last ride with this bike the week before I had a flat that took a while for the sealant to close up. I ordered new tires for the bike, but they hadn’t arrived before I left. Shifting was smooth. Took a trunk bag, but really didn’t need it.
Rode 29 miles. Made good time. Returned to the van at 2:25. This is my first time riding this trail. If I do it again, I may not go as far north, as the southern part of the trail was the best part. I saw a connection to the Briar creek greenway, and I may add that to the route next time, just to get in some more miles.
After loading the bike back in the van, I drove to Greenville, SC. My next trail is the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Greenville, which I’ll ride in the morning. Stayed at a TA truck stop for the night. Got there at 5:30 and had dinner in the diner. I could have made something in the van, but I would feel bad if I didn’t spend some money at the truck stop.
The temperature got down to the upper 40’s at night, but I didn’t turn on the heater. I had up up all the thermal curtains and my body heat (along with the refrigerator?) kept the van temp close to 60 degrees.
Day #2: Greenville to Tallahassee, FL.
I got up at 6:00 and did my morning routine without exercise. Made breakfast in the van and drove 30 minutes through rushhour traffic to the parking spot I selected on the Swamp Rabbit Trail. The trail is over 25 miles, but the first part I did was through downtown Greenville and it was very confusing to follow. If I had done it a couple of times, it would have been easier, but the signage was nonexistent, or poorly done. I made several wrong turns. So I bailed on the rest of the trail in Greenville and rode north out of town. The trail climbs up past the town of Travelers Rest, and is very scenic once you leave Greenville. Here are some pictures from the trail in Greenville.
There was one bridge out, but a clear way around. It was 15.6 miles to the northern trailhead. Then the same distance back, but more downhill.
I returned to the van before noon. Made a sandwich in the van and then made a camping reservation for south of Tallahassee. I’m kind of making my plans as I go based on the weather and what I learn along the way. So, I didn’t make any advance reservations the whole trip. Actually, Greenville was going to be my last stop on this adventure, not the first, but because of rain on the east side of Florida, I decided to do the western Florida trails first.
I’m glad I decided not to bike more than 30 miles, because it was seven hours of driving to get to the campground and I had to drive through Atlanta. It was already dark by the time I got to my campsite. I ate something on the trip down when I stopped for gas, so I didn’t have to make dinner. I just took a shower in the camp bath house and went to bed.
The only problem on the trip down to Florida that day was getting gas. The first place I stopped, the pump wouldn’t take credit cards. I went inside, but they would only set up the pump for the amount of money I wanted to charge (so I couldn’t fill up all the way). I left without gas and stopped at a QT at another exit. Their pump was very slow. I washed my windshield, went inside to use the restroom, and bought a drink. When I came out, there was only 4.5 gallons pumped. I stopped the pump and left. That gas got me past Atlanta and to a Loves, which was excellent as always.
Day#3: Tallahassee to Inverness.
Woke up at 6:00. Did my morning routine without exercise. Ate breakfast and drove 2.5 miles to the trail parking. The trail actually started at my campsite, but I couldn’t park there past 11:00, so I drove down to the first parking spot on the trail.
I started riding at 8:00. It was 56 degrees, which is about the limit for me to wear shorts and a T shirt. The Coastal Trail ran along the highway, which isn’t ideal. There wasn’t much traffic in the morning, but it picked up during the day.
At 9:30, I made it the 21 miles to the southern trail head. I then did the entire Ochaloochee Bay Trail. I did the two miles to the east, then did the eight miles to the west. The road had light traffic and went through a nature preserve, which was nice.
Started back on the Coastal Trail about 11:20. Made it back to the van at 1:00. Total of 67 miles. It only warmed up to the low 70’s, so it was a great temperature to ride.
The worst part of the bike ride is when I ran over a squirrel on the first leg of the ride. It ran back and forth in front of my bike and couldn’t decide which way to go. I felt very bad about it.
I only drank two water bottles for the whole ride, which wasn’t enough. I need to do a better job of staying hydrated. I think I’ve learned this lesson before…..
I hung out in the van at the parking lot for a while and rehydrated. Made a sandwich for lunch. Ate an apple. Tried to make a campsite reservation at a Florida State Park. But they are the worst at last second reservations. I thought that I would just have to stay at a truck stop, but was able to reserve a different campsite, which was private. There are several good trails in the area of the campsite, so I made the reservation for two nights.
I got on the road about little before 3:00, and it was a little over 3 hours of driving to get to my campsite. It was tough to drive that much after a long bike ride. I just took it slow.
When I got to the campsite, I took a nice shower, washed my dirty clothes in the van and put them out to dry. Grilled out a steak and veggies on my outside table. Did dishes, made a rough list of trails to ride the rest of the trip. It was a full day.
Day #4: Withalochee Trail.
In the morning, I turned off my alarm and slept in another 90 minutes. Didn’t do any of my morning routine, just got breakfast and got ready to go. It was 60 degrees in the morning, so great sleeping weather. It was nice to be at a quiet campground where I can leave the van windows open and get lots of fresh air while sleeping.
Some of my clothes that I had hung out at my campsite were still wet in the morning, so I just left them on the fence post in my campsite. They were dry when I returned from my bike ride that afternoon.
I drove 20 minutes to the trailhead of the Good Neighbor Trail, and parked my van and got ready to bike. I was on the trail at 9:20.
I biked the ten miles of the trail to the Withalochee Trail. The first 5 miles were along a road with very little traffic, and the last 5 miles were through a pretty pine forest.
I headed south on the Withalochee Trail for 10 miles to the southern trail head. The Withalochee Trail had a freshly paved surface and was a joy to ride on. On the way back at MM 5, there was a restroom and water station. I learned from yesterday and filled my water bottle.
I continued to head north past the intersection with the Good Neighbor Trail up to MM 20. The new asphalt ended at MM 11, but the old trail was still very good. Stopped at MM 20 to look for a restaurant for lunch using Google Maps. I saw one just off the trail less than three miles away. So I biked on to the restaurant. Got there about 12:45.
Ate a huge lunch and had a dessert. Then back on the bike to peddle the 24 miles back to the van. I got back to the van a little before 3:00. The temperature had climbed into the upper 70’s, but it was still comfortable. I rode a total of 66 miles for the day.
I drove back to my campsite. and chilled out. I planned the bike trail that I will do and planned my campsite for tomorrow night. This took a while, because there were lots of options to consider. Being a Saturday tomorrow, I decided to go with a less crowded trail that is very straight but through a scenic natural area. I did this trail back in 2013.
For a place to stay, I was able to obtain a reservation for a campsite at a county park for $13. It’s not too far from the trailhead for my Sunday ride.
I just ate a salad for dinner, as that lunch was a monster meal.
Day #5: General James A Van Fleet State Trail.
I woke up at 6:00, but lounged around for a while. Made breakfast and packed up to go. Checked out my gray water tank, and it was close to full. So when I was ready to leave, I parked at the bathhouse and dumped it into the toilet. Then, I drove back to my campsite and used the water spigot to fill my fresh water tank. Should be set for water for the rest of the trip.
Drove 40 minutes to the northern trailhead. It was a sketchy service road to the parking lot – had to dodge lots of potholes. Called Alex and Alexa for their birthdays. Left a message for Alex. Put my bike together and was on the trail by 9:30. Alex called me back about 1 1/2 miles into the trail, so I stopped to chat with him.
The trail is dead straight and level with only three road crossings. Right through a forest area. On this Saturday morning, there were several triathletes and road cyclists hammering out some fast speeds. I was one of the slowest on the trail. The scenery on the trail is very monotonous. Here is what it looked like the whole way – not bad, just monotonous.
I arraved at the southern trailhead in Polk City a little after 11:30 after 29 miles. I used Google maps to identify a nearby restaurant that happened to be a BBQ joint and biked there for lunch.
After lunch, I got back on the trail and rode the 29 miles back to the van (total of 59 miles for the day). I returned to the van before 2:15. I changed my clothes and made a smoothie in the van. Then I hit the ride for a drive to my next campsite. I stopped for gas on the way. Mostly, I tood the backroads to get there, which was nice as I wasn’t in a hurry. I got to my campsite at 4:30. It was very peaceful except for the boat launch of swamp boats – those things are loud. Here is the view from my van of my campsite and Mullet Lake
Day #6: East Central Regional Rail Trail.
I forgot to set an alarm and slept like a rock until 7:30. Had breakfast and drove to the trailhead, which was about 20 minutes away. No problem with parking. I somehow lost the Allen wrench that I was using to put on and take off the through axle of the front tire of my bike. I hate that they designed it this way, instead of integrating a lever like my Domane road bike. So, I used a small pair of vice grips instead.
I was biking by 9:30. My legs were tired and took about ten miles to feel good. The temperature was about 70 degrees to start and it was only going to reach 80 degrees today, so good temperatures for biking. There was a 10mph headwind that I had to deal with on the way out, but it would be a tailwind on my return.
The trail was pretty and well maintained. Lots of diversity of scenery, especially at the beginning of the route. I saw more wildlife today than other rides this week. Saw my first alligator and tortoise. Also a couple of snakes on the trail that I had to dodge. Lots of road cyclists and triathletes again today, but more casual riders as well.
I rode 18 miles to a junction in the trail. Those 18 miles are a part of the cross Florida trail. Then, I turned north and did 12 more miles. Surprisingly, there is no water on the trail. You have to get off the trail and purchase it. For me, that was at my turnaround point. I stopped at a gas station and purchased water and some snacks to tide me over. No sit down lunch at the halfway point today.
The ride back was much faster with the tailwind. But I could tell that my body needed a break. This was my seventh day in a row of riding, and I have done some long rides. So, while I was riding back, I decided that I would end my adventure after today’s ride and head home. One thing I learned was that I need to plan adventures with more of a mixture of activities and not just all biking. I was leaving the last two trails that I had identified to ride for another trip.
One thing I noticed in Florida is that people get out on the trails in the morning, but not so much in the afternoon. Not sure why, because the temperature was still pleasant.
I made it back to the van by 2:15 after 61 miles of riding. I made a sandwich and a smoothie for a late lunch. I changed my clothes and secured my gear for the long drive home. I started driving a little after 3:00, and made it home at midnight. It was great to see E and sleep in my own bed (after I showered).
That was the end of this adventure. I learned a lot that I will incorporate into my next adventure.