Withlacoochee Rail Trail

Inverness, FL

Friday Aug 12 - Sunday Aug 14, 2005

The Withlacoochee Rail Trail is a 46 mile long paved, linear state park.

On Friday evening, Yarnall, Rick & Nora rode a fun 16 mile ride.
On Saturday the group rode 48 miles return trip to the overpass at the Ridge Manor trail head.
On Sunday we rode north to Citrus Springs trailhead, 26 miles return trip.

Nora's wonderful plan for the entire weekend, was for us to ride the trail, soak in the pool, eat and nap.

A long and empty trail.
We saw only a handful of riders most on recumbrants and Marv and Joyce Norin from SRQ and several species of wildlife.
Yarnall spotted deer and a snake, the group spied a gofer tortoise, I saw a giant black and white spider and a yellow bird, we all saw a rooster, a hawk, several cardinals and other birds, Nora spotted 2 armadillos, and Christie found wild boar diggings.

Rick zooms by.

The gang looms behind.
This photo taken while riding forward with the camera behind me and Yarnall directing which way to tilt the lens. Pretty good?

Always check your shadow.

Pacelining on the trail so Bonnie can get a shadow picture.

Self-timer photo underneath I-75.

Self-timer photo at Ridge Manor trailhead.

Self-timer photo on Ridge Manor overpass.

Much better paceline shadow photo.

Yarnall and Nora have very nice form.

I think this Rooster was lost. But he was fun to figure out what he was from a distance.

Ah the open trail, no cars, just trees and birds and the open road.

We stop at the Hamptons Edge Bike Shop located on the county line.

Gina, Christie, Yarnall and Nora and very nice rays of sun.

A cool flower.

I zoom ahead to catch a photo of the group: Nora, Rick, Yarnall, Gina (waving) and Christie.

1. Pool self timer photo
Taken after Bonnie sets up camera and then attempts to swim over to group.
I actually make it, but am caught wiping my eyes when shutter closes.

2. For my second attempt, I very carefully run and then jump into group photo.

3. Third, just a normal group photo.
Rick, Nora, Yarnall, Gina and Christie.

Rick & Nora and Christie, come over for a game of Scrabble.
Gina, Christie, Nora (and myself) play and Nora wins with a whopping 217 score.

Rick zonks out for an afternoon siesta.

and Yarnall does the same.

Dinner out in Inverness can be quite a challenge.

Sunday morning, 7:00am sunrise.

After another dip in the pool and packing up the car, we're off to breakfast.

Breakfast at the Cockadoodle Cafe proved much better.

Gina, Yarnall, Nora and Rick.

Leaving via SR 48 canopy road through Floral City.

Over the Sunshine Skyway to Sarasota.

Many thanks to the group for putting up with all of the self-timer and paceline photos.
They reminded me of Zachary and Joshua because they wanted to see the photos before they were edited.
It was a really fun group and a really great mini bike trip weekend.