Monthly Archives: February 2023

Tallahassee to St. Marks Historic Rails to Trails

Posted on by

At 8 AM, on Sunday morning February 5, 2023, when I rolled out of the parking lot of the Sweet Magnolia Inn the temperature was 49 degrees. I was riding to trail head for this historic rails to trail. I knew it was going to warm-up quickly so I decided to wear biking shorts with a long sleeve thermal top under my jersey – I was comfortable. This trail is a fabulous 16 mile paved path that is flat and runs from St. Marks to Tallahassee Florida. Even though the official name for this trail is the Tallahassee to St Marks trail I have always found it more enjoyable to stay and start from St. Marks. However, the only place to stay in St Marks is the Sweet Magnolia Inn and since they only have 6 rooms you’ll have to plan ahead for reservations. There are several road crossing along the 16 mile route but only 4 stop signs for the bikers. There are also restrooms about every 3 or 4 miles and park benches along the way as well. 

Along the trail at mile 7 you will find the Wakulla station that has restrooms, picnic tables, playground and parking. At mile 11 you will find the Woodville station with similar amenities. The Tallahassee station at mile 16 has a restroom and parking and places to eat a short distance further down the road.  

The St. Marks to Tallahassee rails to trail is a great ride for people of all ages and abilities. The path is comfortably wide enough to pass walkers or slower riders and very shady. Sunday riders can have their pick from multiple churches of different denominations if they wish. Most of them have welcome signs for riders and emphasize No Dress Code Required. One church even put a water fountain right next to the trail for everyone to use.

Apalachicola National Park Trail Head

Apalachicola National Park –  For mountain bikers and gravel bike riders. About a mile from the Tallahassee station there is a small trail head for the Munson Hill Trail System running through the National Park. There is no place to park a car here but there is plenty of parking at the Tallahassee station, a short 1 mile ride to this trailhead. There is a bulletin board at the trailhead that shows the trails on a map and gives other information to riders – about bears and other things. 

One of the many restrooms along the trail

History of the Tallahassee to St Marks Historic Trail – In 1831, the Tallahassee Railroad received the first Congressional land grant ever given to a railroad. The Tallahassee Railroad (TRR) is Florida’s oldest incorporated railroad company. The company was formed in 1834 to build a 22 mile line from the state capital Tallahassee to the coastal city of St. Marks along the banks of the St. Marks River.

Tallahassee to St Marks Historic Rails to Trail

 In 1837 the first trains started traversing the railway. Local farmers and business owners wanted this railroad so they could move their cotton more quickly. After operations began approximately 30,000 bales of cotton were moved on the railroad by 1837. In 1856 the wooden rails were replaced by steel rails and the mule drawn carriages were replaced with locomotives. 

In 1983, the railroad stopped operating and a year later the Florida department of Transportation purchased 16 miles of the corridor and Florida’s first Rails to Trails began.  
More images from the trail

Truma Service Center

Posted on by

Truma Service Center
Lakeland, Florida
Monday – January 30, 2023

Hello! I would like to introduce you to Dave and Bruce – Dave is on top of the RV and Bruce is manning the ladder. Together Dave and Bruce manage and operate the Truma service center in Lakeland Florida and are the most helpful and courtesy corporate service persons I have ever met. That’s not my RV they’re working on – mine is in the bay getting a new Truma instant hot water heater. At Christmas time I was busy with my family and did not properly winterize my unit so when the temperature dropped to the single digits my unit froze and cracked. 

Dave and Bruce – Truma Service Center – Lakeland, FL

After conferring with several friends I decided to go directly to the Truma service center instead of going to a general RV service center – and I’m so glad I did. If I had gone to a general RV service center I would have had to make an appointment for diagnosis and then parts would have had to be ordered and installed – not only would I have paid a lot more but there would be no telling how many days or weeks it would have taken. 

I called the Truma Service Center, talked to Dave and made an appointment for 9AM on Monday January 30,2023. When I drove up at 8:45AM that Monday the bay door was open and Bruce was there to greet me. It took him about 10 minutes to diagnose the problem and another 45 minutes to replace the unit and get me back on the road. They had a comfortable waiting area with bottled water, coffee and a clean restroom that made the wait seem like no time at all.

Charlotte getting a new instant hot water heater

Truma is a German company with their headquarters and manufacturing based in Munich Germany. Truma has a long history as a leading supplier of comfort systems for the recreational vehicle industry. Truma has been providing innovative, quality solutions to campers all over the world since 1949. In one of their brochures they say: “ A commitment to our customers is part of Truma’s history and core values”. Dave and Bruce are proof to this commitment – something that’s hard to find these days. If you are ever thinking of an RV upgrade or need servicing I highly recommend Truma and the Lakeland Florida Service Center with Dave and Bruce.

Briziflora Farms

Posted on by
Briziflora Farm -Lake Panasoffkee, FL

It was 7:50 AM when I pulled away from home in Charlotte, my RV, on my first boon-docking trip. Boon-docking is when you are camping with no amenities like water, electrical or sewer hook-ups – you have to be reliant on what you have. I was a little nervous. I took all day Saturday, the day before to get ready. I had done some extra cooking the day before so I would have leftovers I could reheat for the trip and not have to worry about cooking. I slept great Saturday night and got up at 5:30AM my usual time. I had my coffee, fed and walked the girls all before 7AM. I had a longs ways to travel and I wanted to leave by 8AM – I was 10 minutes early. Once I got past Watkinsville and started down 441 towards Madison the nervousness went away and was replaced by a calm, excitement –  I was on adventure. Everything I was doing and experiencing  was new – I was out of my comfort zone but didn’t care. I felt that I had prepared and planned well for this trip and I would just deal with anything unexpected when or if it happened. 

After the first 200 miles I really started to love Charlotte. She drives and handles so nicely and of course it’s beyond great to travel with your own bathroom. It’s also nice to have a refrigerator and freezer on board as well. We got on I-75 at Forsyth and had no trouble keeping up with the traffic at 70-75 MPH. I was a little worried about a 400 + mile trip, but I stopped 3 or 4 times to stretch my legs, eat my lunch and for fuel, plus listening to my book (Autobiography of Malcolm X) the trip went by surprisingly fast. I don’t know maybe this nomadic lifestyle suits me – I just want/need my girls with me. 

My setup for the night at Briziflora Farms

I stayed at the Harvest Host site Briziflora on Sunday night January 29, 2023. It is only about 60 miles from the Truma service center where I had a 9AM appointment on Monday. The farm is located just a few miles off on interstate 75 which made it very convenient. After exiting I-75 onto county road 470 it was just about 5 miles before you turn left onto state road 479 and then less than a mile was the entrance to Braziflora Farm. There are no signs or markings other than some big posts that outline the opening. I arrived about 3:30 PM – it was a 420 mile trip from Athens. When I got there the host was helping some customers with some plants, but she excused herself long enough to show me where to set up. By the time I stretched my legs and set-up my RV, she was ready to show me around. This is a working farm that provides plants, fruits, vegetables and canned goods to the local community. Inside her house she had several free standing racks full of canned goods and a freezer full of different kinds of breads. She had a private tasting set up for me with several of her canned goods and one of her homemade banana breads.

All of her canned fruits, veggies and peppers were made with a Brazilian spice influence – they were delicious. I ended up buying 75 dollars worth of canned goods which included; A loaf of pumpkin, coconut bread, hot peppers (but not the hottest), figs with oranges, pineapples, and a jar of tomato sauce. I probably spent too much, but they were good and I have a special place in my heart for entrepreneurs. This woman has done a fabulous job in the 5 short years since she has started this farm. She is a first generation immigrant and has been here in the US for 22 years. This farm has pigs, goats, cows, donkeys, green houses as well as fields of crops. If you are ever neat Lake Panasoffkee Florida and need a place to stay for the night I highly recommend Braziflora Farms. I wished I had brought my bike because County road 479 was shady and not much traffic – perfect for cycling. I saw several cyclists riding on it.