Around the 'big lake'
Started at the Kissimmee River (between Points 19 & 20)
And finished at St. Lucie Canal (Between Points 5 & 6)
Date: Saturday, July 5, 2008
Temp: 76 - 85 degrees F
Distance: 27.9 Miles 
Calories Burned: 848
Average Speed: 14.0 Maximum speed: 17.8
Ride Time: 2 hours 25 seconds, starting at 07:39 -- finish 09:47
Cool things I experienced along the way:
The trail around Lake Okeechobee is situated on top of the dike that encloses it and is 110 miles long. Not all of it is paved, so with my friend, Keith's advice, (who just so happens to work with the South Water Management District) I chose to bike the 26 mile portion between the northwest section, to the north and end at St. Lucie's canal on the east side of the lake. Keith, thanks for all the great advice and maps!
There is no shade, so I wanted to get a very early start. I had to get up at 04:00 or Oh Dark Hundred to make this happen. The trail is approximately a three hour drive from home and I wanted to get an early start...
I finally took a picture when it started to get light. I'm on Hwy 441 here.
There was a lot of fog.
The Desert Inn is at famous, historical Yeehaw Junction!
Highways 441 and 60 intersect here.
Big horse farm with the morning fog still lingering.
The meet-up place and the start of my journey, Lightsey's Restaurant.
The vultures were dining at the restaurant's dumpster. Must be a great place to dine on road kill!!! I guess I'll find out later...
As I was prepping to head out, this group of ROTC joggers kept passing by.
Young stud muffins in training! Hubba!
Okay... I might be on the heals of 50, but I'm not dead yet! ;-)
Ready to hit the trail! Now to find it!
One last picture before I hit the trail.
I found a man at the U.S. Coast Guard building that pointed me to the trail.
I was supposed to call my friends, Barb and Keith before hitting the trail, but my cell phone had no signal in this "remote" area. Fortunately, Barb had called me an hour before to make sure I was out of bed, so she knew I was on my way and my approximate time of arrival on the other side of the lake.
They were going to meet me there and bring me back to this site, to enjoy a nice lunch on this day after Independence Day!
Hopefully they would stick to the plan!
Well... off I go!
I had to head back onto the highway for just a short bit, to find the paved trail.
There's the trailhead!
The sun is already gaining altitude!
Hey! I'm just getting started and there's already a gate!
Oh, I see... Guess I'll just go around this...
Okay... hiking, biking and dog walking. Check!
\
A mobile home park situated near the dike.
Taking pictures was going to be difficult heading east this morning.
I thought I'd be able to see the big lake as soon as I got on top of the dike, but is not easy here. The lake is down to 9 feet, which is half of it's normal depth of 18 feet, according to Keith.
Great! There's someone else on the trail!
It's a big mobile home park...
Benches like this one will be the only source of shade on the trail.
This was the first Mile Marker I passed, so I turned around to get a good picture of it.
I calculated that I'd started at MM 62, so I should finish at MM 36.
A cyclist and walker ahead.
This canal runs along the outer perimeter of the dike.
This was the Sheriff's Department Bus just unloading prisoners to work off their community service time. Not a holiday weekend for them.
Yikes! Pedal faster!
Still trying to see the lake.
A boat had just sped by on the canal.
Starting to see some lake...
There... in the distance...
I'm on the northern edge now and the sun is straight ahead as I head eastward.
Another fishing boat heading down the canal.
Lots of fishermen around these parts.
Morning flight for the geese.
I was expecting this U-Turn since Keith had told me about the detour around the Lock.
I was going to have to leave the trail and head out to the street, cross over the bridge and return to the trail...
The Lock...
Oh! The lake!
Heading back on the U-Turn...
It's still early (before 8) since my shadow is so long...
Bridge over the canal to cross...
Back in the street...
<Rumble>
The Lock I was detouring around.
Turnoff for the trail just ahead.
Had to walk my bike through this yucky mess... It had stormed the day before.
Better view of the lock heading back to the trail.
No fishing from the bridge... well, okay...
The canal is really beautiful!
... and even prettier not looking into the sun!
Ahhh...
The only hill to climb today! Back up to the dike!
Starting to see more of the lake now.
A row of colored townhouses.
There it is!
A wier, according to Keith -- not a dam.
Now I'm turning south, so the sun will be on my left.
I'm now starting to see just how vast the lake is...
There's a lot of greenery between the dike and the start of the lake.
Evidence of last night's 4th of July fireworks celebration! <giggle>
Parking area for another trailhead.
A 'structure' according to Keith!
The trail passes right by the structures!
No swimming within 500 feet. Well... I guess you're not allowed to dive either, then.
A big crane for the construction project.
Since Lake Okeechobee is so low right now, they are reinforcing the dike.
MM 52 - 14 miles to go!
Grass mowers all lined up!
Heron checking things out.
Pretty homes along the canal shoreline. A great view from atop the dike.
Another structure ahead.
Two storks a-flying
Please slow to 5 mph -- it's a structure!!!
Palm tree farm!
A palm tree 'fence' on the other side of the canal
An easy ride!
This weird looking cloud has been there all day.
Keith told me afterwards, that it's from an orange processing plant, burning the peels.
Ah... so graceful!
Oh my! Shade ahead!
Think I'll stop and see if I have cell phone coverage to call Barb.
I'll have to walk out into the field to actually find the shade!
Beware the bees collecting honey!
I was finally able to call Barb from here! Yes!
MM 44
There's cell phone tower!
Tent camping area.
Yep another structure! They're numbered!!
Wow! A couple more riders!
More fishermen speeding along!
How do they catch fish that way?
Oh well... looks like fun!
Coconut Palm
Another octagonal house!
MM 41 - only 3 miles to go!
The lake is soooo beautiful and you can't see to the other side!
It's like looking at the ocean -- only without the surf!
It's still there!
40 MM
Wow the only other biker besides the couple on this side of the lake!
I asked if he needed assistance, but he was just making a call.
Not far to go now!
Ah... the life!
The bridge ahead must be the St. Lucie Canal!
MM 38, I'm almost there!
Still gaining on the average speed!
One last look on this lovely lake!
Yep, the shadow is shorter now!
The gate at the end of the trail...
Done!
The lock at St. Lucie. And the end of the paved trail for this portion of the lake.
Right on the money! MM 36!
Our tax dollars at work!
Here come Barb and Keith. (No, not the ones with the motorcycle!)
It was great to see them!
I love doing this!
Barb & I with the bike!
Okay... this is just funny...
It looks like I'm steaming!
Really, it wasn't that hot yet! It wasn't even 10:00!
We decided not to eat here at Lightsey's since they weren't open yet.
(Guess I'll never know if the 'road kill' is good there!) <giggle>
We had a great lunch at Skip's Bar-B-Q place in the heart of Okeechobee.
Thanks for the assistance and the great lunch, Barb and Keith!!!