Bicycle Adventures - Johnathon Dickinson State Park

We loaded up the bikes and went on our third biking adventure. We drove 30 minutes south on A1A to the Johnathan Dickinson State Park. The park is located in Hobe Sound. We paid the $6 entity fee and drove 4 miles inside the park to the Loxahatchee River.

The park is named after Jonathan Dickinson, a Quaker merchant who was shipwrecked in 1696, with his family and others, on the Florida coast near the present-day park. He wrote a journal describing their encounters with local tribes, and their journey up the coast to St. Augustine.

There are many miles of bike trails and roads to ride our bikes. We rode for two miles on the paved bike trail and then on the road and on another paved trail that ran alongside the railroad track.

There are numerous signs warning of alligators. They have a swimming beach on the river but I think I will stick to swimming in our condo pool.

We saw a large black bird with white markings perched in a swamp drying its wings. The bird is called an Anhinga.

We rode many miles without seeing any other birds or animals. However the PR campaign gave us hope.

This state park has two large campgrounds. When we arrived at the entrance gate we saw a sign that that stated Campground Full. That is not surprising to see campgrounds full in southern Florida in January. Then we saw the rates. The cost of a campsite is $28.00. Full hook up with water and electricity is additional $7.00. They also have primitive campsites for $5.00 per person and they are half price for over persons over 65.

This state park has rentals for kayaks and canoes as well as bicycles and a wheel chair with tank treads. If you are immobile you can still go off road.

On our way out of the park we saw a sign for a look out tower. We made a U turn and went back to explore it. We were amazed to see a sign pointing toward Hobe Mountain. Who knew there were mountains in south Florida. There it was, standing 86 feet above sea level Hobe Mountain. It has an observation deck that provides a view of the entire park, Indian River and Atlantic Ocean.

We saw a sign as we inspected another campground that boasted another long bike trail. We have many reasons to return.

And so ends the telling of our bicycle adventures until next time.