Suncoast Trail

We took a bike ride this morning on part of the Suncoast Trail and the Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park bike trail. We parked at the SR 54 trailhead, which is 2.5 miles north of the southern terminus of the trail, and headed north. The trail follows the Suncoast Tollway and is 21 miles long, but we rode only to the access point to the Starkey bike trail, where we headed west on the 6.5 mile trail to the day use area.

Parking lot at SR 54. There's a $2 fee to park here.
 

Nice paved bike trail through the Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park.

Water stations are filled daily with ice cold water!
 

The Investigation Station commissioned and installed this display of the solar system: "From the Sun to Pluto," a mile-long scale model of the solar system, built on roughly a 3.5 billion-to-1 scale.

"From the Sun to Pluto," a mile-long scale model of the solar system, built on roughly a 3.5 billion-to-1 scale. - See more at: http://suncoastnews.com/news/news/2012/sep/11/5/pnnewso3-investigation-station-installs-solar-walk-ar-491616/#sthash.7Oq0BfXn.dpuf

"From the Sun to Pluto," a mile-long scale model of the solar system, built on roughly a 3.5 billion-to-1 scale. - See more at: http://suncoastnews.com/news/news/2012/sep/11/5/pnnewso3-investigation-station-installs-solar-walk-ar-491616/#sthash.7Oq0BfXn.dpuf

 

Each planet is represented at a proportional distance. The reverse sides of the signs provide information about each planet (and Pluto, listed as a dwarf planet).

We stopped at the day use area to use the restrooms and eat our trail mix before heading back, just in time to beat the rain. Our total ride was about 21 miles.

Later we went to some local model homes to see what the Florida real estate market is like. If the two developments we visited are any indication, the market is hot, with almost all the homes sold. In one neighborhood, four lots were released a couple of days ago, and three of them were sold this weekend. We enjoy checking out model homes.


Anara called today to thank us for her birthday gift, and we talked about her new pet rats, Pepper and Chammy (short for Chamomile). Talked with Chris too--they've bought their tickets to visit in December--yay!

Tried to do a Face Time call with Julie and the kids, but the connection wasn't strong enough. We ended up doing a Google Hangout which worked fine. Sam showed me his new toy, which looks quite ferocious and has a wolf head. Jesse showed me his new toy too--no idea what it was 8-) Cate talked about skating and about the possibility that she may be in chorus next week (?).

Carol is looking forward to her visit to New Mexico with Nicki. Nicki has never seen her birthplace. The trip is for a reunion of many of the volunteers that worked in midwifery with Carol many years ago when she graduated from college.