When we first moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 2015, we found a rental property (a 3/2 house) about 4 miles from the University of North Florida. That experience is a story for perhaps another day, but the short version is that we bought a home less than a year later and is where we currently reside – the “we” being my son and me.
When we lived at the rental property, I did my requisite exploration on my bicycle. I had a regular route to the university, which has a nice loop that gave me an out-and-back course that was a staple in my riding diet. Occasionally I would ride to the beach which was slightly more challenging because of 6 lane boulevards (Atlantic or Beach) that got you there. The city was gradually improving the bike lanes, but anyone knows that 6 lanes with traffic lights can certainly be intimidating for cyclists.
In the summer of 2016, the cycling launchpad of our new home provided a slightly quieter road out to the ocean, as well as to the outlet of the St. Johns River. The little hamlet of Mayport was added to my list of frequently visited destinations. If a longer ride is desired a trip aboard the Mayport Ferry got you to the other side of the river and off to the land of Talbot (Little and Big) and Amelia Islands in Nassau County, Florida.
On Mayport Road (recently renamed Jimmy Buffet Memorial Highway – I kid you not) there is a sandy stretch of beach area (across from the Mayport Naval Station) where folks can be seen casting their fishing lines into the St. Johns. In the early days of my Jacksonville residency I noticed another land area adjacent to the “Little Jetties” beach, making a mental note to ride out there with my mountain bike and explore that dirt trail sometime. It wasn’t too long before I realized it was closed and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would be working on a project to “to calm the difficult currents at the junction of the St. Johns River and the Intracoastal Waterways.” The project was supposed to last for 18-24 months.
Fast forward, or maybe slow forward, to Spring 2024 when the park officially reopened. I was a little preoccupied in the April/May timeframe of 2024, but I was determined to finally visit Helen Cooper Floyd Park and finally ride that dirt trail.
On January 5, 2025 that day had come. Oh, and it couldn’t be christened with just any old bike, so a new steed was required. Introducing the newest ride in the Rush stable of bikes…
So my first day on a new “gravel” bike I got to traverse over new territory and discover yet another unique place in Jacksonville. You can see my Strava post documenting the cycling data details, and a Google map of the area.
Here’s a little bit of what I saw when I was there on that gorgeous Sunday afternoon…
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