Van Fleet State Trail

On Monday, after joining others in the campground for exercising using the Walk Fit program in the morning, we had an early lunch and went to the Van Fleet State Trail to bike ride in the afternoon.

We try to check out local bike trails via Google maps and had seen this very straight trail a little west of our location (see Google maps link). Its arrow-straight-ness made us think that it was probably a rail-to-trail and we also found it on TrailLink (see TrailLink link).

The reviews on both Google and TrailLink were positive, and the trailhead about 10 miles north of the trail's beginning in Polk City was not far from where we are in Orlando Thousand Trails, so we decided to try it on Monday afternoon.

We started at the Green Pond Trailhead...

... trail information near where we started.

From what we read, the area north of the Green Pond trailhead was where we were most likely to see wildlife and natural flora.

Just starting out heading north - nice wide, relatively-smooth asphalt path.

When we were unloading our bikes at the trailhead, another couple rode their bikes into the parking area having just ridden part of the northern section. They told us that just a couple of miles up the trail there were three bridges, and at the 3rd bridge, there was a large alligator (8' or more) in the water below...

... so we stopped to look...

... I'm on the bridge looking over the edge for an alligator...

... we saw interesting views of the woods...

... but a warning sign was our only view of any alligator.

Carl crossing the bridge.

We were several miles further along, nearing the northern end of the trail and had really not seen any wildlife other than squirrels and birds, when we noticed a creature at the side of the path...

It was a turtle -- not positive of the kind, though from this website, I think it might be a cooter (another link here)...

Carl taking a picture of the tortoise -- it is on the side of the asphalt in the shadows.

Continuing on to the end of the trail - the picture looks foggy, but it was a clear sunny day - we appreciated the shade provided by the woods on either side of the trail - but I like the effect of the picture!

The trail ends in Mabel, Florida.

Some information about the towns of Mabel and Linden -- interesting that "... it is now most recognized for the annual picnic that has been held for more than a century at the Linden Cemetery."

Mile marker 29.0 (I know it looks like 25, but it is 29!). Since we started at about mile 10, we rode 19.2 miles one way or 38.4 round trip!

One of the things we noticed along the trail was that there were several places where a dock-like structure was built out over the swamp. Some of them had these boxes installed too...

... on the side, it says "Bike Rx"...

... the plaque on the front indicates that it was placed as part of an Eagle Scout Project...

... inside was an air pump and adjustable wrench, and they were cabled to the box so the items wouldn't walk away...

"Bike Rx"

View out over the swamp.

On our way back, we came across this little guy (look on the asphalt - it may look like a stick)...

...it was a little alligator (notice the pine tag under his tail to get an indication of his size - 9-12" long we guessed)...

... he stayed still while we were there. Carl thought Miss Kitty might enjoy playing with it; I did not!

We were nearly back to the trailhead where we had parked when we saw a gopher tortoise (https://www.floridastateparks.org/learn/gopher-tortoises-van-fleet-state-trail) - a protected species that we had read about being on the trail.

The trail was so straight that we could see for long distances - this picture was as we were nearly back to the parking lot.

It was really an enjoyable trail!