St. Marks Reflections

This past weekend I led the fourth annual St. Marks ride. The ride included the St. Marks Wildlife Refuge, a climb up the St. Marks lighthouse (a rare opportunity) and a ride up and back down the St. Marks Rail Trail (Florida's first rail trail). Half of us stayed at the Sweet Magnolia B & B, which is the height of luxury and only a few hundred feet from the southern end of the St. Marks Rail Trail. Some of us stayed at a less expensive but comfortable motel in south Tallahassee.

Friday evening we had the pleasure of meeting with some of the members of the Capital City Cyclists for a post ride dinner at a local Italian restaurant in Woodville, just a jump off the Rail Trail. Some of the GCC troupe even managed to make it to the North end of the trail to ride with the CCC on the St. Marks before coming to that dinner.

Saturday we rode through the Refuge and saw an abundance of wildflowers, water lilies and gators. The insects didn't seem as hungry this year as in previous years, I only had to slap a few times. The climb to the top of the lighthouse after the 22 mile ride afforded an excellent view of the route which we had just finished on the paved road through the marsh. We stopped to look at the Refuge shop and museum, and on the ride visited the Newport bridge and a campsite overlooking the St. Marks River.

Post ride we took off for Poseys for some smoked mullet, the less adventurous among us opted for grouper, shrimp and steamed oysters washed down with a pitcher of beer.

That evening our group made it to a wine tasting party hosted by CCC members, where we were introduced to the excellent cooking of Martha Cunningham and the wine expertise of Bob Gorman. A lot of bicycling conversation ensued. Conclusion, bike people in Tallahassee are just like bike people in the GCC. They are people you want to get to know and people you want to ride with. And I shall.

Sunday our group split, half went up and down the St. Marks Rail Trail for a leisurely 32 mile ride and the rest went for a club ride with the CCC. Everyone had a good time, whichever they chose. This in spite of high heat and humidity which at times made us feel like steamed oysters ourselves.

If I lead a ride in Tallahassee again next year , we are going to do something exciting, something fresh, something new.

Until then,

Following winds, my friends

Rob Wilt

Photos by Chuck Broward