Malabar Scrub Sanctuary

In July got to go to Florida for family trip and finally brought my own bike for a trip to Florida. Due to meeting requirements for packing size had to stick to 26" wheels. So while I wanted to bring the Eccentric opted for the Samurai as had not picked up the 12x142 rear 26" wheel yet.

Before we flew had heard from my daughter's Godmother about there being trails nearby and even before leaving had done some homework.

Malabar Scrub Sanctuary

I do admit wasn't expecting grand singletrack and technical challenges galore. I was thinking more exploration and simply riding in new places.

The only sort of trail area was the Malabar Scrub Sanctuary. Which came with lots of sand and some singletrack. As I said wasn't expecting challenging riding but was better than riding road.

Even came with mobile rocks aka the Gopher Tortoise. Apparently some kind of land based Tortoise that likes to dig.

Gopher Tortoise

One bonus was not just the trail head maps but there was also actual trail markers. Which where nice and kind of gave a clue where one was going. Even though I do admit to going the wrong way a few times.

Fortunately was able to get a second ride in at Malabar the next day.

Malabar Ride 2

While it was a brief 2 days of riding it was worth having my own bike. And with word that there will be another visit next year to Florida and my daughters Godmother. Will be ready. Will have the 26" wheels and 12x142 rear hub axle ready to go.

Highland Creek Primitive

Thanks to a road trip on June 15th to Toronto had time to re visit the classic old school primitive style Highland Creek trails.  I say primitive as compared to the Don Valley where everyone goes and is well manicured. The Highland Creek trails barely see a quarter of the users. 

Highland Creek Primitive

And with such low user volume you do have to expect some bonus challenges. Over growth one of them.

Of course with it being overgrown one has to ride slower than normal as it is harder to spot those bits that can hook you and take you down hard. And nothing sucks more than slamming knee first into the ground.

And with the weather....the rain that seems to keep coming. It has not been easy to get out to the trails anywhere. So this was the first ride this year to go through most in the Highland Creek system.

One side effect of the overgrowth is as mentioned hard to see things. Well, that overgrowth led to the near T Boning of a Deer. Who jumped 4 feet to the side then stared contempously at my disrupting it's day. Sadly when I pulled out my cell to take a pic it moved into denser foliage and became very hard to see.

Somewhere in there is a Deer

Sadly due to time restrictions did not have again time to try the couple of log rides the trail builders put in this year. Sucks as having done observed trials 20 years ago I do like a bit of trials style challenges.

Hopefully on the next trip down will have more time to try to master the new challenges. So with the time drawing near the bingo line it was heading back to the vehicle to get on the road.