It was cool today. It was 49F when I got the the trailhead and a balmy 57F when I finished my ride.
Today was not a happy day. When I was heading north on the Withlacoochee Trail at the Hernando trailhead a dog walker was walking north in the section where the tall trees hang over the trail and provide a lot of shade. He was on the right side (correct side) of the trail. I saw a dog on the left side in the grass. I wasn’t sure if it was loose or on a leash so I slowed. Riding from the bright sun (wearing sunglasses) into the shade made it hard for me to see much. At the last second I saw that the dog was on a LONG leash. It was stretched across the trail from the guy on the right into the grass on the left side. Luckily I stopped just in time. He activated the retractable leash and yanked the dog back toward him and yelled a few expletives at me. I told him this was a bike trail and the way he was letting his dog wander all over the trail on the "invisible" leash was very dangerous. I got a few more FUs as I rode away. Another dog walker was just few feet past the guy and pulled her two dogs closer to her as I passed. She too yelled a few expletives at me. I guess she thought I was "trespassing" into her private dog walking space.
I’m guessing they were snowbirds. I’ve seen an increasing number of dog walkers on the trail in the past month or two. Seems like more than in the past few years.
If you're riding on the Withlacoochee Trail be aware of these "uninformed" dog walkers. Personally I wouldn't be sad if they all hit the road tomorrow for the "paradise" they left behind. It must be a wonderful place since they all go back there in the spring, and its all they talk about when you overhear their conversations at local restaurants and stores.