Day 752: Vulcan Park - Cleveland & Birmingham, Alabama

Welcome to Cleveland, again...

Day #752 * Hike #949* New Track #755
Friday December 7, 2012
Vulcan Park - Birmingham, Alabama
Cleveland, Alabama
My Tripometer:  All Evening * 2.5 Miles * +50 Feet

On the road again.  We were traveling the windy and narrow Alabama roads from Florala at night and finally reached the Interstate near Montgomery.  We drove north, passed Birmingham and then exited to the right in Nomans Land.  Why, I don't know, we just did...

Finally, some 45 minutes out of the way, north of the city; Welcome to Cleveland!

Not much going on in this small town on a Friday night.  I didn't imagine that there would be.  However, mission complete.  We targeted 4 states and found the town of Cleveland in all of them!  Oh, by the way, this was not a hike...

We drove back to Birmingham and the hike begins here:

 VULCAN PARK!

You could pay a fee, take a tour, ride the elevator, but we elected to dodge all this for our free hike around the area.  Great views of Birmingham!  After this, we drove into the city and walked around...

We found Frozen Yogurt!  The place was packed and the yogurt was over 50 cents per ounce.  Ridiculous!  This place is making bank if that's the case.  Chill Out Frozen Yogurt will be opening in a week and we'll only be charging 42 cents.  Hmm, I guess the rent is high in Alabama...

Overall, Bama was clean and pretty.  I did not expect it.  Birmingham is only a couple hours from Hotlanta, which makes it an attractive location.  I would return to Birmingham, but next time I'll pass on Cleveland...

 

Day 752: Florala State Park - Florala, Alabama - Jackson Lake - George C. Wallace Park

Day #752 * Hike #948* New Track #754
Friday December 7, 2012
Florala State Park - Florala, Alabama
Jackson Lake - George C. Wallace Park
My Tripometer: 45 Minutes * 1.25 Miles * +0 Feet

Welcome to Alabama and the city of Florala, which I assume was called this because it's on the border of FLORida and ALAbama, hence FLORALA.  Driving up the road we saw a lake off to the right, hence became our next hike...

This was a huge lake.  No chance we could hike all the way around it.  We met a local here with a very thick southern accent.  He said that you can kayak out to a secluded section of this lake and run into alligators.  The area is known as the Bahamas.  Interesting, sounds cool.  Hmm, maybe when I'm done hiking 1000 days in a row I will begin kayaking 1000 days in a row.  Just an idea...

Day 752: Lakewood Park - Britton Hill - Highest Peak in Florida

Highest Peak in Florida!

Day #752 * Hike #947* New Track #753
Friday December 7, 2012
Lakewood Park - Britton Hill, Florida
Highest Peak in Florida
My Tripometer: 45 Minutes * 1.25 Miles * +25 Feet

From Los Angeles, take the I-10 East to Florida.  From DeFuniak Springs, take US Route 331 North and then turn right when you see this sign down county road #285.

 Pass the Cows...

 Lakewood Park is on the left, about a mile before the Alabama border

 I read that this hill is known as Britton Hill

I believe the actual highest natural spot is 5 feet to the right.  I stepped on that soil to solidify my feat...

 Found a trailhead into the woods...

Jess and the kids began to follow but then turned back because they heard dog sounds.  Really guys?!  On nearly every trek you cut your hike short.  Therefore, I began to run to get in some mileage...

 Trail Junctions...

I heard the dogs too but did not see them.  I ran in a mile loop but the trails appeared to go in other directions and there is more to explore.  It's crazy that this is the highest spot in Florida!  I live only 5 minutes from the ocean and my house is at a higher elevation in Cali than this hill in the middle of nowhere.

3 States, 3 Cleveland's, 3 Highest Peaks.  One more day left in my trip.  One more state to conquer.  Hmm, wonder what I'm going to do...

 Heading into Alabama...

Stopped off to step on a Tank

Next stop, Florala...

Day 752: Pine Log State Forest - Crooked Creek Trail - Old Sawmill Horse Trail - Florida Trail - Lake DeFuniak - DeFuniak Springs

Angry Duck on Lake DeFuniak

Day #752 * Hike #945* New Track #751
Friday December 7, 2012
Crooked Creek Trail - Pine Log State Forest, Florida
Old Sawmill Horse Trail - Florida Trail
My Tripometer: 45 Minutes * 2.75 Miles * +25 Feet

 Random Stop along State Route 79

Not much more than 20 minutes north of Panama City Beach, we passed this trailhead sign and I decided to circle back and check it out...

 Trailhead

• Crooked Creek Trail (Short) ~4.5 Miles
• Crooked Creek Trail (Long) ~9.0 Miiles
• Old Sawmill Horse Trail ~12.0 Miles
• Florida Trail ~1400 Miles

 Red Ants

 Welcome to the Florida Pine Forest

Jess and the kids turned around.  They were scared that there could be bears or jaguars out here.  Nah... Really?  Anyhow, they turned back and I began to run.  The surface was pretty level and fast, and I ran real fast...

Back here, I heard running water but did not see it.  The trail did not weave into the forest but it sounded like there was a creek in it.  I then diverted off the single track trail to turn down this road...

 Okay, now what?  Where am I?

 Oh Boy?!!!

I kept my sense of direction together and ran stupid fast.  The surface on the road was sandy, which made the run even harder.  There were no sounds, no nothings, just me and my running breath.  Finally, I intersected the foot trail and raced back to the car.  Whew...


Day #752 * Hike #946* New Track #752
Friday December 7, 2012
Lake DeFuniak - DeFuniak Springs, Florida
My Tripometer: 45 Minutes * 1.5 Miles * +25 Feet

 Let's check out this small town...

 Cool, there is a lake...

 ...a playground and a pier...

Alyssa and Ayden raced in 200 meter intervals around the mile track.  It felt longer than a mile but maybe that's because I was tired from my previous run...

DeFuniak Springs is located just north of I-10 between Pensacola and Panama City Florida.  Since our flight out of Atlanta was tomorrow afternoon, we did not have time to travel any further west to reach Pensacola.  I figure that I will visit New Orleans some day and when I do, that's when I'll hit up Pensacola.  Hmm, I'll also travel to Cleveland, Mississippi in that trip.  Hopefully I can make this endeavor possible by summer.  We'll see...