As previously mentioned, I’m training for an upcoming 102-mile stroll through the English countryside, aka Cotswold Way, in June with my daughter, Jenny.
And in the absence of quaint, stone villages, miles of sheep meadows and rolling hills, my training regime consists of treks on some of the best trails in the GNV area.
On a splendid, late Friday morning I ventured out into the 5,953 acre Barr Hammock Preserve, just a bit south and west of Micanopy. Mine was the only vehicle parked at the South Trailhead.
This was no walk in the park, friends and neighbors.
It turned out to be an 8-and-a-half-mile trek.
It wasn’t supposed to be quite that long. But the preserves “trails” per se are mostly what I took to be old timber roads. And they intersected so frequently that it was surprisingly easy to take the wrong turn here or zig when I should have zagged there.
Not a problem. As I mentioned it was a splendid morning and I was all alone in piney woods and wetlands that seemed to go on forever. And I was in no particular hurry.
Plus, GPS.
One other, um, logistical quandry turned out to be frequent trail sections underwater (a couple of them deep enough to conceal gators and snakes). They required artful tip toeing along the edges so as not to disturb whatever critters may lurk just beneath.
The best part of the hike was arriving at the impressive overlook on the shores of Ledwith Lake/Prairie.
The shoreline being all but obscured by mammoth, Spanish moss-draped oak trees.
Oh, and I encountered an artsy iron wrought bridge on the way back to the trailhead. Bonus points!
Barr Hammock is a favorite destination for equestrians, off-road cyclists and hikers.
And listen! English sheep wouldn’t last five minutes in this Florida-primeval Garden of Eden. Eat your hearts out Cotswold Way wanderers.
I’m Ron Cunningham and I approve this message.
FreeGNV 
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