With our switcheroo on the previous day – skipping the burned zone of the Jackson Trail to walk the Juniper Creek Trail back to the campground – Day Four of the Panhandle Trace Hike had us headed northbound for the first time on this trek. Peggy had hikers going in all directions and for different …
In the Land of Tall Pines
Day Two of the Panhandle Trace Hike started off where we’d left the trail the day before, at Kennedy Bridge. After we dropped off our cars at the end point for the hike, McVay Road, Peggy, Helen, and other members of the Western Gate Chapter shuttled us to the starting point. We asked how long …
Intracoastal Trike Ride
John takes his recumbent trike out for a spin with his friend Richard along the Indian River Lagoon, and finds it an easy and comfortable ride.
John Mahon Nature Park
Ten acres isn’t a lot for a natural area, but at John Mahon Nature Park in Gainesville, it’s plenty for a quick, refreshing walk in the woods off Newberry Road.
Little Campsite by the Chipola
Rambling northwest along the backroads of rural Florida, following Sandy’s directions, we arrived in Blountstown just before dinner. There was still enough daylight to take a wander down the Blountstown Greenway section of the Florida Trail to check on changes for the new Florida Trail guide. Grabbing salads from the local Subway, we drove to …
On the 2013 Panhandle Trace Hike
It was a delight this year – Peggy Grantham’s last as hike leader – to join the Panhandle Trace and get to know the far northern reaches of the Florida Trail. It’s been 11 years since I hiked through Blackwater River State Forest and while some things remain the same, others certainly have changed. I …
Prepping Primrose for the Panhandle
After careful examination of the tires on our VW camper, I decided that a nearly 1,000-mile trip to attend the Panhandle Trace Hike wouldn’t be a smart or safe thing to do. Remember what I wrote earlier about traveling in a thirty-year-old VW camper having its moments of frustration? Online, I found out more about …
Primrose, tie-dye, and VW culture
Within sight of the third Westy that looked just like Primrose, we were looking through an array of tie-dyed t-shirts, trying to find a matching pair. Unfortunately, they had sold out of the ones with the VW design swirled through the middle, or we would have bought some on the spot. We were at the …
South to Florida!
The northern terminus of the Florida Trail isn’t easy to get to. I was thankful we weren’t driving one of our vehicles – especially Primrose – and even more thankful that Helen, from the Western Gate Chapter of the Florida Trail Association, was willing to ferry us in her car down this terribly rutted and …
The Harold Store
Back in camp on Day 3 of the Panhandle Trace Hike, we met up with Gail and Sally. Since we had to move Primrose to our next campsite – and we had to kill time, since someone was still occupying it – we a took detour to the Harold Store. En route I realized that …
Through Smoke and Fire on the Jackson Red Ground Trail
Day 3 of the Panhandle Trace Hike, McVay Road to Red Rock Road Trail Head Guest post by Gordy Hawkins, Suncoast Chapter FTA. Photos by Gail Baldwin. Enter into a world of black and white and the continuum of grays in-between. That is what it was like for me the day we walked a recently …
Turtle Mound Trail
At Canaveral National Seashore, the Turtle Mound Trail leads you to a promontory from which you can see both the Atlantic Ocean and Mosquito Lagoon.