I was hoping to make Santos that night but I just didn't have it in me to make the drive from Mobile to central Florida. I had crossed the time zone line after UWF and that only added an hour to my journey. This is one of those times you pull out Strava Global Heat Maps (one of my favorite adventure tools) and find a place that may have riding and camping.
That's when I noticed a lot of orange tracks around a town called White Springs. White Springs was right where I-10 and I-75 meet, and, it was the location of the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park. Well I'll be damned!
That's when I noticed a lot of orange tracks around a town called White Springs. White Springs was right where I-10 and I-75 meet, and, it was the location of the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park. Well I'll be damned!
I pulled in, paid my dues, and set my tent up among the retirees in mobile homes. I was anxious to spin the legs out in this quiet part of Florida so I took off on the nearby Foster Hammock Loop. This and all the local trails are maintained by the Suwannee Bicycle Association. A great local group promoting all things cycling and fun.
Foster Hammock was on the state park so I was able to ride from my campsite. I ended up actually riding it backwards...but don't tell anyone. There were a few areas I had to ride around to find the trail, but it wasn't horrible. I was impressed by what they could make out of palmetto fields and not much terrain.
The ride lacked the rocks of UWF but it was certainly bumpy with all those roots. It follows the Suwannee River for a bit, the only real whitewater river in Florida. Which was pretty neat. At a little over 8 miles it was the exact thing I needed to tire myself out for some sleep. Tomorrow I had much bigger plans after having reviewed the SWA website...
Foster Hammock was on the state park so I was able to ride from my campsite. I ended up actually riding it backwards...but don't tell anyone. There were a few areas I had to ride around to find the trail, but it wasn't horrible. I was impressed by what they could make out of palmetto fields and not much terrain.
The ride lacked the rocks of UWF but it was certainly bumpy with all those roots. It follows the Suwannee River for a bit, the only real whitewater river in Florida. Which was pretty neat. At a little over 8 miles it was the exact thing I needed to tire myself out for some sleep. Tomorrow I had much bigger plans after having reviewed the SWA website...