Bicycling the Lake Apopka Loop Trail

Lake Apopka Trailhead Kiosk

As I listen to the rain tinkle down today, I am reminded of past bicycle loop rides around Lake Apopka, back before the state got serious about water quality and restoring past mistakes.  Those bike rides started from my home then in Apopka, led me on my various road bicycles south along the eastern shore of the lake to the mostly abandoned Winter Garden downtown, with all the vultures perched on the telephone tower.  I would Tour through open country to turn west past Oakland, rolling up and down through the hills of Monte Verde, climbing the wall of Sugarloaf Mountain to turn right to Astatula in the north, and cycle back easterly through the Zellwood area farmlands and Apopka fern fields to return home again.  It was something around a 70 mile ride, crossed a busy highway twice and it took most of the day.  One day it turned cold and rained, but I still rode, a dedicated voyager back then, but not so much now.  I won't ride in the rain anymore unless caught out in it with no where to go.  I like how things have changed.

Lake Apopka, large and looming along your left as you bicycle west.

Crushed cement and gravel trail surface

Today the state of Florida has embraced rail trails and hiking trails and all things outdoors, and have remodeled buildings and opened businesses as the bicyclists and walkers, runners and skaters came and spent a little money on coffee, pizza and antiques.  Whole towns have become great places to live again, and have grown like the downtown area of Winter Garden along the West Orange Trail.  And I noticed the great lake of Apopka is no longer looking 'electric green' and heavily contaminated with nutrients as it did 25 years ago.  Nearly fifteen years into this reclamation and all the work done and all the money spent is beginning to show for the better.

Anhingas resting on poles and posts along the water

Reeds in close and grasses out far along the shoreline

What better way to celebrate area restoration than to bicycle the Lake Apopka Loop trail, along the northern shore of the Lake.  It was supposed to rain, but didn't.  Overcast and windy, it made for a good day outdoors and a challenging ride back into the wind along the open shore.  Now this is not a smooth paved trail, but it is hardened like a gravel road, perfect for wider tires with lower pressures and slower speeds to enjoy the views.  You do start on black pavement at the Magnolia Park trailhead, but after a quarter mile, that changes to crushed cement and gravel.

Old steel supports, well-marked, but be careful bicycling!

Osprey waiting for lunch

The trail follows the top of a dike built around the northern side of the lake in the 1930's-1940's.  This dike allowed the farmers to pump Lake Apopka water onto the muck lands where they truck-farmed for decades, and pump it back out again as the plants matured, creating the fine white Zellwood corn, carrots, lettuce and other farm vegetables for market.  The system was engineered to use labor to cut the produce, toss it up to workers on a shaded platform truck driving slowly behind them who processed and loaded the vegetables into packing cartons, that were conveyor-belted off the back of these slow moving trucks into other refrigerator trucks backing behind them, which then hauled fresh vegetables straight to the freezer warehouse all within 30 minutes of being picked. From there it was distributed directly to stores around the country.  This was American mechanized truck-farm ingenuity at its best.
The problem was that the pesticides and nutrients added to the muck to nourish and protect the food washed back into Lake Apopka with each man-made flood.  Lake Apopka is the head waters for the Ocklawaha River system which feeds into the St. John river and out to the sea at Jacksonville. Contaminates and high levels of nutrients killed the trophy bass fishing businesses on Lake Apopka and ran downstream through the Lake Harris chain to kill fish, birds and wildlife in the St. John river.  This river is also where a lot of Florida's community drinking water comes from, hence the reason for the farmland restoration.
Presently you come to the historic pump house.  It's 3 kerosene pumps are still in place along with huge rusted pipes.  There is a new picnic shelter there with 2 tables, trail brochures and lots to look at both water-side and trail-side.  A raised path has been built around the lake side of the block pump house, and there is a portable toilet on the west side by the ponds and canals.  CLICK HERE for a trail map.

Along the windy lake shore

Historic Pump House

Big pipes!

Farming culture kiosk

Looking east past the new picnic shelter

Today the farms are all silently gone, the land bought by the St. John Water Management group, but the canals, pumps, roads, bridges and dikes, and a lot of rusted steel remain. The first 4 miles of the trail are open to the lake, providing awesome views across the empty water.  The Monte Verde hills loom above the lake's western shore, water towers and radio towers mark Winter Garden to the south.  Fallow fields to the right seem to flatly go on forever, with a network of dirt roads and old bridges over canals.
About 3 miles further west, you turn inland along a canal, then turn left twice quickly to return back to the shoreline, inside of a line of trees.  Another mile brings you to a picnic table at 8.7 miles, which was my lunch stop and turn around for today.  I believe this is my first-ever stop in a 'new' picnic shelter along a trail that had no trash, no grafitti spray painted anywhere, and had nothing broken.  Even the picnic tables have no carvings in them.  Please, let's keep it this way!
It overlooks a couple of canals and miles and miles of flat land.  Ducks paddled about, hawks and buzzards lofted above, and it was very peaceful.  A Bald Eagle perched on an old power line pole along the way back, then took to the sky with a mate.  I saw a Red-tailed Hawk swooping low along the old fields.  A Blue Heron repeatedly flew a few yards in front of me, then flew again to another branch.  Great Egrets flew in the winds above with an occasional Swallow-tailed Kite.

Nice, new covered picnic area, my bicycle, and more canals

Low and flat farmlands, marsh and more canals

A sign at the picnic shelter & others posted along the trail each half mile

And birds are everywhere.  Anhinga's and Comorants dry their wings on trees and perch on sticks along the shore, Turkey Vultures circle on thermals overhead, Great Blue Heron's take to wing as you approach, Red-winged Blackbirds and Ospreys share tree branches together.  That loud and continuous birdsong that sounds like the Everglade's rookeries was heard along the first section of trail.  I counted 12 of the 18 birds listed in the Orange County Loop Trail handout, and those were just the ones I could identify.  There were many small warblers and yellow colored small birds, cardinals and jays that not on the list.  This is truly a bird-watcher's heaven.  Bring your binoculars!

Well signed trail

Note there are 2 Ospreys and one Red-winged Blackbird sharing a tree

Continuing along the trail you pass wildlife, mostly in the forms of alligators.  Signs are posted everywhere to not feed alligators, so please do not dangle your bicycling partner in front of the 80 tooth monsters as they will bite.  I have read online to stay 15 feet or more away from these beasts, as that is their comfort range (IF they are not hungry or mating March through June).  I usually give them 30 feet or more. Unfortunately this trail passes less than that away from many of these wild animals along the route.  This day, 2 ten-foot-plus ones were sunning themselves just 8 feet off the trail.  Also, don't provoke them to move off the trail if they are blocking it, it may be the last we hear of you.

Do Not Feed Alligator signs are everywhere

Alligator eyeing ducks

Look closely, alligator swimming

Beside the trail, keep 15 feet or more away!

There were also hair-infused animal droppings along the trail, suspected the be from Barn Owls, which I did not see.
There is not much, if any at all, shade along this trail, so wear sunscreen and drink lots of water.  Fill up your water bottles at home or at Lake Magnolia Park, there is no drinking water available once you are on the trail.  I drank 2 water bottles on a 3 hour trip in cool, cloudy, windy weather, bring more when it is sunny.

A Bald Eagle waiting for it's mate on an old power pole.

Nearing Magnolia Park on the return ride, and trees are a welcome relief from the wind

Of the entire 14.6 trail miles, I will return to ride the remaining west shore miles along the Apopka-Beauclair canal to the picnic shelter where I lunched on this trip.  Then on another trip I will follow the trails and climb the 4 wildlife viewing towers along the Clay Island loop trails.  The map shows a proposed trail to highway 455 out of Monte Verde, which when finished will make a nice walk (not sure if these trails are to be bicycled or not).  I also want to explore this area and learn more about it before the heat and mosquitoes of summer make it difficult to enjoy being outdoors.
There was really only silence to replace the sounds of farming that once rang out here daily.  I like how things have changed.
To get there, go west on highway 441 from Orlando, through Apopka.  After you pass highway 439 look for a stoplight at an overpass.  Turn left on south Binion Road (437) and follow to Magnolia Park on your right.

Free Rails to Trails guide with donation

I have been involved with the Rails To Trails organization since the early 1990's before we moved from Central Florida to the mountains of Colorado.  In Central Florida I participated in the setup work and a few of the early meetings on what eventually became the West Orange Trail.  I am very pleased with how the rail trails here have expanded here over the years and how well walkers and bicyclists have taken to the linear parks concept in Florida.  I both walk and bicycle some of these trails near my home.
The Rails to Trails folks are currently giving away a trail guide for making a $35 dollar donation to them.  Pick your favorite trail guide from the list on the site at this link.  Instead of a paperback book, you could instead select an E-Book guide for your Kindle or tablet.
These guides cover Rail Trails in the Southeast;  New England; Mid-Atlantic; Midwest; West; and PA,NY & NJ areas.  Pick your favorite area and support this fine organization.

While most rail trails are located in urban areas, some regional rail trails like the General Van Fleet and Withlacoochee State Trails in Florida are located far from towns and follow through woods, forests and farmland along the way.  I like travelling them just to enjoy the outdoors and have created multiple day trips along a few of the longer trails.  Rails to Trails TrailLink mapping system works very well for locating these rail trails in your area and for planning your day.  There are about 25,000 rail trail supporters in the state of Florida, and many have supported the state in creating more rail trails and with expanding connections between existing rail trails.  A lot of energy has been expended to make your rail trail trip more enjoyable.  Please check these trails out as welcome alternatives to just backpacking only in the wilds.

Solio Bolt Solar Charger

My first interest in purchasing the Solio Bolt Solar Charger came from pictures out of hurricane Sandy's recent destruction in the northeast.  The photos were of hoards of cell phones being plugged in bunches on sidewalks, piled in window displays, grouped in cars, stacked at lunch counters...jammed anywhere there was electrical power available to recharge their phones.

Hurricane Sandy cell phone charging jam

We have power outages in Florida, from natural disasters like hurricanes but also from storms and failed electrical transport equipment.  Maybe in the future even from a computer hacker.  When two critical neighborhood transformers blew this week, my wife's first question was, "Is your new solar charger 'toy' charged?"  "Yes," I smiled. "It is."

So why this model?  I had been looking online at solar chargers for some time and found this one was relatively inexpensive, selling for $65 online.  The Black Friday REI sale took 25% off the price, so I ordered it.  For my $45 I got a reasonable solar charger and a lithium battery, which is said to hold a charge for about a year.  The manufacturer says you can usually get two full cell phone charges from a full battery, then either plug the charger back into your computer USB port or an electrical outlet or setup the solar panels in full, unobstructed sunlight to recharge it.  It weighs 5.3 ounces or 150 grams, about what my cook kit weighs.  Add in the 0.6 ounce cable for a total of 5.9 ounces.  Unfortunately, the Black Friday sale is over.  Here is the REI link for the Solio Bolt.  The Solio website is here.

Solio Bolt Solar Charger and included USB cord

In reading users online posts, I can tell there are varying levels of success in both charging devices from the Solio Bolt and in recharging the units battery.  I expected my mileage to vary due to different phone types and the local tilt angle of the sun, but I was surprised at the wide angle of solar alignment the Bolt can handle during charging.
So after our first full battery charge, we have charged my wife's Google-style HTC smart phone, once, while it was turned on, leaving 2 flashes of light or about 40% charge remaining (20% per flash).  If that is true, it took 60% of the battery to fully charge her phone one time.  Since she has to recharge daily to use all her smart phone functions, it may be difficult to keep up with her needs during an extended power outage, much less keep my phone charged also.  We tried charging her phone on the remaining battery the next day and got a 75% charge.  Enough to work, but not 100%.
I'll test it with my work phone next, a Blackberry Curve.  Fortunately for us, both phones work with the included micro-USB cable that came with the solar charger (my Kindle Touch works also).
My work-provided Blackberry phone charged, and while still powered on, charged and charged until the Bolt was discharged after 6 hours.  About 4 hours in, I looked at the Blackberry charge meter and it was full but the unit was still charging.  Bad for sharing.  Then I recharged the Bolt battery and tried again, this time with my work phone turned off. The phone completely charged in one hour, but it did not turn off the charger.  For all future phone charges my suggestion is the phone must be turned off.  This left a 60% charge in the Bolt battery.
My Kindle Touch drained the Bolt's entire battery and got about an 85% charge.  I had turned the wireless off.  Long enough to finish a story or check email since the Kindle charge can last a month or more.

How it works:  the Solio Bolt has two solar panels, hinged to open them both to the sun.  The included pencil allows you to prop the unit up to the right tilt height for the local sun (the pencil is slick and may need to be roughed up a bit to actually hold the Bolt in place).  Check here for your local sun tilt level and scroll down to fill out the form.  It also has covered USB plugs, a micro and a regular-size plug on the battery unit.  The micro USB connector is for incoming charges, like from your computer or an electrical outlet.  The regular-size USB port is for outgoing charges to your devices.  When the Bolt unit is being charged, the single LED button on the back glows red, turning off at 100% battery charge.  To charge your device from the Bolt charger, connect the outgoing USB cable, then press the single LED button once.  It will flash the charge level and then begin charging your device, flashing green as it charges.  This may take a minute or so, but in our case the phone came to life, just like it was being charged in an electrical outlet. Once charged, the green flashing light goes out and you press the LED button again to turn off the charger, then disconnect the cable.
From the website:
Max Wattage: 5 Watts
Discharge Rate: Fixed 5V, 1,000mAh
Charge Rate: 5-5.5V 450mAh
Charge Time via USB port/wall charger: 4 hours 30 min.
Charge Time via Sun: 8-10 hours
Battery info:
3.7V/2,000mAh Li-Poly - User replaceable at end of life (average 3 years)

Solar charging the Bolt on top of my garden composter.  Note there is no shadow from the pencil.

To charge in the sun, I used a place in our yard where the sunlight was unobstructed (it won't work under polarized glass and is reduced under pool enclosure screens and intermittent shade).  I just used the included pencil that comes with the unit and aligned it so there is no shadow from the pencil onto the front of the unit.  My results were the Bolt was almost fully charged when I checked it at sunset in 4 hours.  Since the sun had already dropped below the treeline when I got to it, the unit was not charging at that time.  It read 4 flashes or an 80% charge and started with 3 flashes or 60% charged battery.  The unit should completely charge the battery from no flashes to full 5 flashes in the sun in about 10 hours.

Note pencil shadow after 3 hours charging...even though the sun's alignment had changed, the unit was still charging!

For recharging by the sun on a moving backpack with varying degrees of shade, my expectations have improved.  I did figure how to dangle the charger at near the correct tilt over the back top of a backpack using mini bungees and cord locks.  There is the tree cover, either solid or intermittent shade, usually both,  that can hamper charging.  During breaks you can position it properly on your pack or on the ground.  The unit does charge sufficiently and I expect it would charge more so in the desert southwest or even above treeline, than in the southeast subtropical scrub.  Please let me know your real-life results.

My Blackberry USB Outlet Charger

Currently, solar panels like this one are designed for a relatively fixed location.  To change them to a mobile receive-sunlight-from-all-angles design would require a market for that specific use, one I think is coming.
The north-bound through-hiker cure for the AT would be to carry a multiple-outlet USB wall charger, and to recharge the solar charger battery (or any USB devices) while shopping and washing in a town at an electrical outlet every 5-6 days.  Then you would have two power recharges (one for your phone every other day) and if you kept your phone off between towns you may get many days between charges.  There's also your GPS, camera, e-reader or tablet to be charged, along with headlamps, video cameras, water purifiers, i-Pods and who knows what so plan well and test in advance how you will charge everything before a long backpacking trip.  My Blackberry USB wall charger weighs 0.8 ounces or 22 grams, so it is quite lightweight. You could also solar charge on clear sky zero days, but then we don't usually plan for (or get) many of those days when ultralight backpacking.

Restoring Myself

Friday's Sunset

The weather outside is great for Florida in May, the sun is out with few clouds, the humidity is low and the temperatures were in the mid-60's this morning.  So why am I inside, typing on the computer?  I am restoring myself.
Somehow, I cut my toe and it hurts to walk on it.  Since walking is what I do, I decided to sit back and let it heal, and not make it worse by hiking on it today.
I did some household chores and took my wife out for a short day trip and we enjoyed fish tacos outdoors. Yes, I walked a little, but I really enjoyed myself.  By slowing down and not pushing to check off everything on my to do list in the scant daylight left to me, I can enjoy some peace, and even be surprised at what I do find.

A nice break at a trail head.

On Saturday I rode my bicycle along the Seminole-Wekiva trail for 16 miles and spent the rest of the day watching movies.  Nice and relaxing!
Hopefully, I'll be able to walk better next week, maybe even ride my bicycle again, take some more photos and just enjoy being outdoors.
Next weekend, I will be back outdoors again, shooting video and having a blast!  And feel renewed because I spent some time restoring myself.  Isn't life grand?

A mom Raccoon with 2 babies along the trail

Jamis Aurora Elite

I have never ridden a Jamis bicycle, but friends who have swear by them.  A friend from Connecticut owned one of the touring models and said he rode the frame into the ground when living in New York City.  I can see why people like them.  The equipment packages are well thought out, the prices are reasonable, and the frames look well designed and built.

Jamis Aurora Elite

The Aurora Elite is the top of the line touring bicycle for Jamis.  In 2013 the Reynolds 631 steel frame is painted a burnt orange color they call mahogany, with extended collars for strength welded at the head tube. The bike comes equipped with bar-end shifters, disk brakes, a triple chain ring and low, wide-range gearing, matching fenders and a rear rack.  For gears it uses a Shimano 10 speed 12-30T cassette with a Shimano triple 50/39/30 tooth chain ring for climbing mountains.  Shifting is accomplished with Simano 105 derailleurs front and rear.  The bike rolls on Mavic A119 double wall, 36 hole rims with DT champion spokes and Shimano hubs on Vittoria Randonneur 700 X 32c tires.  The rest of the bike parts are also first class.  Bike sizes include 47, 50 53, 55, 57, 59 and 62 cm.  The geometry looks spot-on with the long wheelbase and I would expect this bike to roll easily all day long while carrying a good load.  Even the bike seat looks fine with a cut-out and chrome rails.  The bike's MSRP is a little high at $1650, but you can find it for hundreds less in the real world.

Jamis Aurora

The Jamis Aurora model is built with Reynolds 520 steel, less expensive Shimano Tiagra and Sora shifters, a 9-speed drive train, and cantilever brakes instead of disk brakes but it looks to be the same frame geometry as the Elite and includes fenders and a rear rack.  The black forest color is nice also.  At an MSRP of $950, this may be a really good deal for touring on the cheap while owning a quality bicycle with parts you can upgrade.

Aurora Bossanova

For the commuter or ultralight tourist, look at the shorter-framed, quick-handling Jamis Bosanova.  It is also a Reynolds 520 chromoly bicycle with a carbon fiber fork, triple chain ring and 10-speeds with fenders, but has no rear rack.
When my time to purchase a new bike comes, I'll be looking closer at these fine Jamis bicycles.

A look at the Fuji Touring

Fuji Touring

In my short list of bicycles we have remaining to discuss (in reverse order) the Fuji Tourist, Jamis Aurora and Trek 520 touring bicycles.  The idea is to take a look at these bicycles to see how they may also work for you.  Many of these bikes are similar, and some are just the same bicycle from a manufacturer that gets marketed by different companies.  At least that is what I was led to believe until looking at the details.
The frame sizes between the Fuji and Windsor bicycles are quite different.  While at some time before they may have been the same frames, now there are major differences.
Fuji has sized their bicycles from 49cm (XS-S), 54cm (M), 56cm (M-L), 58cm (L) and 64cm (XXL).  This is in a good range to meet the many "people sizes" on the market.  Bike shops can easily make adjustments with seat height and fore/aft positioning and with the stem length/rise height.  Crank arms are also longer on M-L to XXL sizes along with handlebar width being wider.
Component-wise, the Deore rear derailler and Dura-Ace 9 speed are a nice combo.  Tekro brakes handle stopping duties and the 50/39/30 T chainring is well paired with an Acera 11-34T rear cog.  The rest of the parts seem to be a good choice, keeping in mind personal choices like seats and pedals are, well, personal.
The dark gray matte finish is highlighted by small bright red splotches of color in the name graphics, the seat bolt clamp and along the wheel hubs.  A nice visual touch.
Where the bike really makes itself felt is in it's frame, a chromoly, custom tapered, 4130 tube set named Elios 2.  The long touring bicycle seat stays and long dimensional bike frame from the front to rear dropouts and the low bottom bracket work together to make road rides comfortable, supporting the rider comfortably between the 700 x 32c wheels.  The chromoly fork soaks up road vibration.  With a good fit you should be able to ride all day in comfort.  It has been many years since I rode one of these bikes, so that is something I plan to do this year.
I couldn't get a recall notice on the Fuji site to work, and it may mean nothing.  I like the Fuji and it will make a fine touring bicycle for long unsupported road trips, bicycle trail sojourns and running errands around town.  In the next 2 weeks, we'll look at the Jamis models, the Aurora Elite, the Aurora and the Bosanova.

The REI Randonee and Safari Bicycles

REI sells two touring bicycles, the Novara Randonee and the Safari.  They seem to share the same steel chromemoly frame with different handlebar setups and different components.

REI Novara Randonee Touring Bicycle

The Randonee model has been around for years and started its life in the 1980's at REI as a mountain bike with drop-style road bike handlebars.  Over the years it varied in design somewhat until about 15 years ago when the design changed to a steel road-style frame and wheels like it has today.  After umpteen variations, I think REI has landed on a good design and I hope they keep it for some time.
The frame is made of Reynolds 520 chromoly steel.  There's much online about 520 versus 4130 steel, both made of a mix/blend of manganese chromium molybdenum, other metals and heat treatment.  My experience with it is that it rides well, it welds well (very important), it is compliant and it eats up road vibration.  Just what you need for long road trips.
The component mix of SRAM and Deore LX works well for shifting the wide range crankset of 44/32/22 with a 10-speed 11-32 freewheel.  Tektro brakes stop the bike well and the bar-end shifters and brake handles are logically laid out.   The 700c wheels are not hand-made, but they have reportedly worked well on tours around the world.  The 700 x 32 Continental Touring Plus Reflex tires should last for at least a cross American tour and maybe for several years of local rides and touring.  They have reflective sidewalls and are puncture resistant too.
The drop handle bars are mounted on a modern-style adjustable stem for an easy fit.  The leather-look handle bar tape matches the riveted leather-look saddle.  The bike does not come with pedals, so set aside some funds to cover that.
Frame-wise you can almost get your fist between the rear tire and the seat post tube, my simple way for judging a well-designed touring frame.  There are braze-ons for front and rear (included) racks, 2 water bottles (I have seen 3 bottle bosses on some earlier Randonees), drive-side chain stay spoke holders and a front fork cable guide for a dynamo hub (for lighting).  Pinon green is a fine color for bicycles in the outdoors and it fits well with the brown leather handle bar tape and seat.
I like the Randonee and have test ridden them over the years, including the recent model.  A fellow bicyclist on the 2001 Ride The Rockies tour enjoyed travelling almost 100 miles daily on his Randonee, and had no issue keeping up with the other riders on their fast and light bicycles.   With a set of front panniers on the rear, and a handle bar bag on the front, I would be set for lightweight bicycle touring.  The $1199 price is a couple hundred dollars less than other popular models.

REI Novara Safari Bicycle

At $899 the Safari Adventure bicycle is a great price.  The Chromoly frame seems to be the same as the Randonee model with a different fork and disk brake mounts.  It has a 27 speed mixed Shimano and SRAM drivetrain, with Weinmann XTB-26 rims and Continental Town Ride 700 x 42 tires (small size frame has 26 inch x 1.75 wheels) and a moustache handlebar with SRAM twist-shifters.  I like the moustache bar with all the possible hand positions available.  It is geared slightly higher than the Randonee with a 48/36/26 crankset, and I'm sure it would be fine on both gravel and paved surfaces.  I plan to test ride one in the near future.

The frame is painted bown and pedals with toe clips are included, along with a rear rack.  

I can see myself touring on one of these bicycles too.  Here I come Bike Centennial, er, Adventure Cycling.  Decisions, decisions.

Both the Randonee and the Safari are excellent touring bicycles.  

REI also carries a commuting bicycle called the Gotham, made of 4130 Chromoly tubing with 700C wheels, a rear rack, fenders, disk brakes, internal NuVinci N360 rear hub, carbon belt (no more greasy chain!), and integrated lights.  While not my first choice for a touring bicycle, I can see where it could be a nice mode of travel for the urban commuter.  REI has spent some real time and thought working on these bicycles and it shows.