Tampa Downtown (Kayak only)

The launch spot for this trip was from the south end of Marjorie Park on Davis Islands.  This is NOT a designated kayak launch spot but it is on City of Tampa Park property. 

Park along Columbia Drive right at the south end (free for four hours maximum).  There is approximately a 400 foot portage from the parking spot to the launch spot.  The launch spot is at coordinates 27.932794, -82.454610.  

Be careful. Below is where you are launching from, and it changes with high and low tide...

 The stones are placed in such a way that they create steps (sort of).  Be very careful because there are oysters attached to the rocks and are present at low tide, and they are sharp.



Trimble Map.... (Click on "Trip Details to go to the Trimble site."  There are a lot more pictures there too.



Google Map for directions to the parking spot on Columbia Drive...
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Current weather for area...

Weather Forecast | Weather Maps | Weather Radar

Have a great trip - I'd love to know if you head out from here and if you had a good time!

Alafia River Cooridor (Hike Only)

This preserve is located near Brandon, FL.  As you navigate to the trail head you might think you're in the wrong spot.  Just enter the little league complex and turn to the left to find the trail head sign.  This is a great area that not a lot of people know about.

Bridge over the Alafia River

Trimble (click on Trip Details at the bottom of the map to get to the website)...



Here is a cool looking moss covered tree...

Google map to trail head so you can get directions...

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Current weather for the area...

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Have a GREAT hike!

Brooker Creek Headwaters Preserve (Hike Only)

A great spot to hike.  I live in South Tampa and from there I can be on the trail in about 30 minutes (via the Veteran's Expressway - Tolls).  I didn't take a lot of pictures or make a lot of waypoints in Trimble.

Trailhead Sign

Trimble.... (click on Trip Details at the bottom of the map to go to the Trimble page)



Google Map to get directions to south trail head....

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Google Map to get directions to the north entrance along Lutz Lake Fern Road....

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Current weather for the area...

Weather Forecast | Weather Maps | Weather Radar

Happy Hiking!

Balm Boyette Scrub Nature Preserve (Hike or Bike)

This hike was on Wednesday, September 26th, 2012

There are two sides to this nature preserve.  On this day I hiked in the one on the east side of Balm Boyette Road.  I specifically chose a weekday because I knew that the bike traffic would be reduced.  This is a popular spot for mountain biking.  If you park here on Saturday or Sunday make sure you arrive early - preferably 30 minutes before sunrise.  The lot fills up very quickly.

Here is a trail map published by the mountain bike club:

Trail Map

It was a misty cool overcast morning.  Very nice for hiking...

Two Track Trail

Here is the Trimble Map.  Under the map you can click on Trip Details for more info.  You can also click on Download GPX to get a GPX file to use with your GPS.

Here is an example of one of the many mountain bike trails that enter and exit off the two track trail...

Bike Trail

I hiked through a beautiful peaceful area with lots of butterflies and bird sounds...

Here is a short video of butterflies and bird sounds.  Make sure you turn the volume up to hear some really nice sounds of nature...

A little while further on the far east side of the preserve I saw this gator getting a little sun!

I just had to get a picture of this Spanish moss.  It made for an impressive walkway...

There are also some nice vista views too.

Current weather...

Weather Forecast | Weather Maps | Weather Radar

If you head out and hike here, I'd love to know about it.  It is a beautiful area.

Ray

Myakka Trail Markers (Bike or Hike)

A couple of years ago (abt 2010) I purchased a really nice trail map entitled "Myakka Wild & Scenic Trails Map."  The price was a $2.00 donation to the Friends of Myakka but it was well worth it.  There is a lot more than just Myakka back country on this map.

Stick to the two tracks for any biking in the area.  These markers are for hikers.

Within the map is a printed list of trail marker coordinates.  The following link takes you to a list of those coordinates.  From there you can upload a GPX file for use on your GPS.

http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/1892542

I made this list for my personal use because I intend on hiking in this area in the fall.  I will be adding additional information and waypoints then (especially the waypoints for the camping areas).

Here is a Trimble Map also....



The weather for the area....

Sarasota Weather Forecast, FL

Picnic Island Park (Bike, Hike, Kayak)

My son Eric and I had a nice sunset walk here.  It was a beautiful spot for a two mile out and back walk as the heat of the day was subsiding.  I recommend doing the walk at low tide.  Tide information can be found here:

http://www.saltwatertides.com/dynamic.dir/tampabaysites.html

Use Old Port Tampa for your tide selection.

You can bike here but the road in and out is very short. Not much to it.  You can launch kayaks and canoes from either the boat ramp or the kayak launch.  Watch the tides for the kayak/canoe launch area - must be pretty high to launch there.

We arrived at about an hour before sunset and parked in the boat ramp parking lot.  We hiked south through the dog park.  The only obstacle that we ran into was a locked gate at the southern part of the dog park.  We had to walk around the spot where the fence meets the water.  At low tide it was possible to do this without getting our feet wet.

Trimble:  http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/1880508

A nice pre sunset picture taken shortly after we arrived

A little Crab on a tree in the mangrove trail area

This is the walking area on the east side.  At low tide early in the morning this would be a great spot for a nice sunrise.













Here is a cool little snake video.  This little guy scooted into the tall grass quickly...

Another neat little video of a boat cruising through the sunset...

Tampa Weather Forecast, FL (33611)

Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park (Bike or Hike)

I enjoy walking and hiking, and if you're reading this blog, chances are, you do, too. 

During the week, when I can't get out for a real hike in a nature preserve, I walk the neighborhood.  Every day, I'm out there, enjoying either the pavement or the paths. 

Most of my hikes are within the greater Tampa Bay area, but you may find me venturing further out occasionally. 

My intention with this blog is to help other hikers and walkers find information about different spots to hike and walk.  I'll be providing GPS points of interest, trail head coordinates, trail conditions, GPX files, and my observations about the areas.

I use a Blackberry Torch for my GPS.  The application I use is Trimble Outdoors.  Each time I enter a blog here about a hiking spot I will provide the link to the Trimble Outdoors website for more information about that hike.

This past Sunday, August 19th I took a really nice hike with my oldest daughter Vicki.  We hiked at Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park located in New Port Richey, Florida.

We arrived at the wilderness area at about 8:30 in the morning.  It was a slightly overcast day and since it is Florida in the summertime - it was hot and muggy.  But, we were still about to immersed in nature - something we both love.

Shortly down the trail we found this spot through the trees...

Reflections

It wasn't long before we ran into several dead ends along the trail.  The trail was flooded with water in those spots.  Anyone who is familiar with hiking in Florida during the summer season is familiar with this situation.  Each time we were able to back track a bit and follow another two track forest trail.  I would not recommend doing this without a GPS.  The trails we took are not marked but they are on a topographical map.

We were able to make a loop trail out of this hike but had to hike along the paved bike path for much of our return hike.  It was still a lot of fun.  We covered a little more than 8 miles and were on trail for about 3 and 1/2 hours.

More info with download capability, etc. can be found here:

http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/1869289

This is a test entry to get the blog started.  In the future I intend on placing more points of interest and trail information within Trimble.

A Google Map...


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Here is the current weather for New Port Richey...

New Port Richey Weather Forecast, FL