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Hernando Today

Happy Trails

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By TONY HOLT Hernando Today

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 29, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - It was raining and snowing heavily Sunday in upper New England.

The same went for sections of the Midwest and Northwest.

While it was warm in the Mid-Atlantic, thunderstorms were prevalent from New York to Washington D.C.

Those walking, running, skating and riding along the sun-soaked Suncoast Bike Trail were glad to avoid the constant cold snaps being felt hundreds of miles to the north. There has been nothing wintry about Florida since the season began eight days ago.

"I love it here," said Mike Odom, of Land O' Lakes. "I'm here as often as I can right now - two or three times per week."

Odom, who was dressed like he was prepared to cross the finish line in Paris in eight months, stopped briefly at the pavilion near State Road 50 to fill his water bottle. He cycled the entire trail from the Citrus County line to the northern edge of Hillsborough County. The distance is more than 81 miles.

Odom's children live in Annapolis, Md. He is originally from Germany.

"They know it's wintertime over there," he joked.

Temperatures Sunday were in the high 70s throughout the region. It was sunny with clear skies. It was a perfect day for people to make use of all of the area's outdoor attractions.
Bicyclists regularly passed through the Brooksville stop along the trail during the weekend.

"This is a great trail ... the best I've ever been on," said Paul Entriken, who was stretching following a 40-mile ride with his wife. "I'm originally from Vermont and down here it's heaven. We ride all-year round."

They also use the trail during the summer months because there is enough shade to protect riders from the sun's heat, Entriken said.

"The main reasons we come here is because we can go up and down that hill," said 13-year-old Tyler Rivera, who was joined at the pavilion by his friend, Will Horn. Both of them live in Brooksville.

Rivera pointed to the bridge over Cortez Boulevard. Down the hill and a short distance north of the road is patch of trees. Many of the neighborhood kids congregate at that spot. It doesn't matter what time of year it is.

"There are a lot of woods back there," said Horn, who also is 13. "It's a perfect place to play hide and seek."

Rivera filled his bicycle tires with air using the pump outside the restrooms. Horn bought a Mountain Dew from the soda machine and skateboarded along the sidewalks along the parking lot.

The boys will shoot videos of themselves skateboarding and will ride or walk several miles up and down the trail. They often hang out in large groups, sometimes totaling more than 10 at a time, they said.

Sometimes there will be those who hope for the sight of falling snowflakes and the feel of a cold wind pressing at their faces.

"We're from here, so I'm kind of unhappy right now," said Mary Hinkofer-Cino, who went on a bike ride with her husband and their kids Sunday afternoon. "I've been here my whole life and (I've) never seen snow."

At that time, the Spring Hill mother of four looked forward at the shaded trail before pedaling in the direction of Port Richey.

"Then again, if we were up north, we wouldn't have this," she said.

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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