jesspal

This trail Shark Valley is one that I enjoy riding. It is usually pretty empty on weekdays, but it is a closed road that is well maintained. It is 15 miles long and the only traffic is a tram tour that goes around once an hour or so. As you can see in the pics it is pretty much in the middle nowhere. There is lots of wildlife and I have included just a few pics. I am really into reptiles and birds, the birds can be difficult models at times but i got a few reptiles to cooporate.

First my bike, a department Store GT Palomar, I'm not proud of it but it gets me off the couch riding almost everyday. I have a CAAD9 on order should be here in a few weeks.



Half of the trail



Me with one of the locals



Biggest gator i've ever seen, and living in south FL i've seen a lot



Baby gators with mother, first time i've seen this in wild.



Black racer was kind enough to pose for photo.





Another snake, i think just a common ringneck snake, couldn't tell if it was playing possum or dead. I didn't want to touch it either way.



Enjoy the pics.

adrien

that racer shot is amazing. I have some from hiking in VA: black rat snake, northern water snake, plus a hognose. but i've never been able to get a racer to stay still long enough.

jesspal

It was still pretty cool out so I think that may have had something to do with it. Plus there were a few other people watching, it may be used to seeing people on the path. The snakes are definately low on the food chain there, i saw a few birds flying away with snakes wiggling in there mouths.

cooleric1234

YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! Is that picture of you next to the alligator real? Are you crazy? I've never lived in Florida, and after seeing these picks, don't plan on ever doing so. Common sense seems to tell me that you should stay as far away from alligators as possible.

jesspal

I work in an emergency room, I have seen too many people hit by cars. Usually around 1 cyclist a weekend. In 5 years I've seen one person attacked by an alligator, because they were swimming in a canal in everglades at night. The guy said "I came up out of the water and a log was swimming after me, then bit me" IMO, it is much safer to ride bike around the gators than on the streets of Miami.

garysol1 

Love the pics. I have spent some time around the Glades and learned pretty quick that the gators really don't give a damn about us. Not to say I would kiss one on the snout or try to provoke one Awesome sight those things are.....

cyclokitty 

Yeah, I hate it when logs get all toothy.

That trail looks great! My best friend has family in Florida and I'm seriously considering begging to get invited down. It looked like a fun bike ride.

I like your photos too. In Toronto the deadliest our wildlife gets are greedy seagulls swooping in and taking a sandwich from your hands. I've heard we have coyotes but I haven't encountered one.

RedC

Cool pics! How do you get to that trail? I'm not so far from Miami that I couldn't take a ride down.

jesspal

Take the turnpike south until you get to tamiami trail sw 8th st. Take that about 30 miles west about 20 of those miles past krome ave.

adrien

i think that's a mud snake, not a ringneck

jesspal

It could be, honestly I was not sure what kind it was. Had the red belly of a ringneck without the ring. Has it's mouth open and belly showing like a hognose as well.

Mazama

Are you friggin' nuts? Too damn close to those gators LOL!

adrien

south florida swamp snake, apparently...

https://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20p?see=I_JDW825&res=640

jesspal

yeah that looks spot on

youcoming

One question where's your helmet young man.

jaxgtr

Man, we Florida riders are seeing some gators these days. By the way, enjoy the CAAD9, I love mine.

jesspal

my wife forgot hers so i let her use mine, which is always in the car. although the ride was very casual, i most certainly would have had it on otherwise

Missbumble 

OK - This is really unbelievable!!!! My family all live in Florida..(Boca and Lake Worth) .and when they see an Alligator it is rare and a huge conversation point! So you just take a walk or ride ont his trail - and bam there's an alligator**********??Weren't you guys scared??? I mean my goodness! I would be scared- awed and scared. Amazing!!!!! I mean I worry I might see a snake in GA and try and avoid the squirrels..but you see giant snakes, gators, and a mom and her baby!! And then post the pictures like it is an ordinary bike ride?? I mean that guy was one big fella! Thanks for taking the photos!

WOWOWOW!

jesspal

On this trail you see dozens of gators, not really a big deal. When i ride by myself i don't even stop and look lol.

Wino Ryder

Thanks for the pics Jesspal. Thats quite a shot of the gators. I'm a bit north of you but we have gators that size around here too. Awesome looking animals. Many a lap dog has escaped the warm confines of the house, never to come back.

CranesInTexas

Gators are not just native to Florida. Just outside of Houston, we have a state park (Brazos Bend) where you can ride around lakes and enjoy the wildlife. I've been there with the family before Hurricane Ike and saw a huge mama and her little ones (see pics). its not as long of a ride as you have, nor paved roads, but still a nice place to visit.

Hey, either way its still a hell of a lot better than living where the snow has to be shoveled to get out the door. Been there, done that. I'll take the 70+ degrees on my ride today.

Mr. Beanz

WHAT THE........!....That there is some different pics!

Neil_B

What an interesting ride. Thank you for sharing the photos. While I admire the photography, I think I'll stick to my typical subjects of covered bridges and churches, thank you very much!

Caincando1

Great photo's and great trail. The gator pics don't bother me too much, but the snakes..I'd have kept riding. I think too many people watch to many episodes of the Crocodile Hunter. Gators are like most wild preditors, if you leave them alone they're going to leave you alone.

funrover 

Great pics!