Great pictures! Hubby and I might just have to try to get back up to the Palatka area to ride some of these. I am lovin' riding my mb better than my road bike right now. The last time we road the Gainesville/Hawthorne trail, it was just too crowded and not alot of fun. It's amazing how many wildlife areas there are up here in North FL that are great mb areas. The St Johns River Management and SW FL Water Management websites have some great trail maps on them. Is there a name for this trail?

Rice Creek Conservation area website here ---> http://www.sjrwmd.com/recreationguid...eek/index.html

The trail south of SR20 that I rode today is part of the Florida Trail. The part that is on the north side is part Florida Trail and Rice Creek Conservation Area. The trail head for Rice Creek is actually on SR100 a bit west of Palatka. The Map says there isn't any parking on the south side of the trail on SR20 but there is a space to park, off the road and out of the way. It is about a 6 mile ride on the trail from SR20 to SR100, so there and back 12 miles or so. There are other looping trails that can add a bit if you want to ride more though. The coolest thing is the 1800 foot boardwalk over the swamp in the middle of the trail. You can't really ride the boardwalk though because 1) Hand rail on one side. 2) The boardwalk is made up of 2 (2x6) boards with a gap in the center that your tire could and most likely would get stuck in. Their isn't enough room to walk beside your bike over the boardwalk either. I usually put my bike up on the back wheel and walk it that way. I know your husband just had shoulder surgery so it could be a bit painful to walk the bike that way for 18 hundred + feet? There is a nice bench in the middle though.... If you don't feel like hoofing it back across the boardwalk you can hit the pavement for the ride back to your vehicle. Some good paved roads & bike lane on SR20. I guess "technically" some of the trails are only for hiking.....

And true the G.ville trail can get a bit crowded on the weekends.... During the week though.... good to go .. I just rode the Palatka Lake Butler trail Sunday and it was far from crowded. I saw about 10 other riders along the whole 10 miles of the trail (the paved part). Out and back a good 20 mile ride.. More if you head up towards Goldshead St. Park.. The paved part starts in Grandin about 10 miles west of the Rice Creek trail head on SR100.

I apologize for being long winded today ...