Never Ending Cycling Chronicles

Before You Go:

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/4264998

Getting There:

I started at the Polk City Trailhead of the Van Fleet Trail. This also serves as the trailhead of the Van Fleet Extension which is the short link to the TECO-Auburndale Trail. The trailhead is off of Interstate 4 exit 38 (Highway 33), follow the signs to the Van Fleet Trail. Travel eastward toward Berkley Road. Make a left onto Berkley and, after a small curve, the trailhead is on your right.

The Trail:

As stated above, the Polk City Trailhead of the Van Fleet Trail does double-duty as the trailhead for the Van Fleet Extension which was built to the south of the Van Fleet Trail to link up with the TECO-Auburndale Trail. The trail is well maintained and runs through a mix of rural settings and urban settings as it heads south into Auburndale.

Though not as rural as the Van Fleet to the north, the TECO-Auburndale trail still offers chances to view wildlife and experience the natural settings along an urban corridor.

Once you pass south of the Highway 33 underpass, you will cross some pasturelands to your west and more residential areas to the east. As you travel this portion of the trail, the Interstate 4 underpass will dominate. And the trail, named for Tampa Electric Company’s right-of-way, will be lined with power lines as you travel along the power easement.

All you have just passed until you reach the first TECO-Auburndale Trail sign, is actually part of the Van Fleet Extension. From this point on, the trail takes on less of a rural setting and becomes more urban as you travel further south.

When you reach the intersection with Pace Road, you can travel east along another trail that will take you to the nearby lake front. Continuing south, you pass further pasturelands and farming homesteads.

I was lucky enough to catch a shot of this little fellow looking for insects within a power pole lining the trail.

One annoying feature of the actually TECO-Auburndale portion of the trail (it does not apply to the Van Fleet Extension) are the metal gates. By design, they are to keep motorized traffic off the trail; however, they serve as a bottleneck to trail traffic. The morning I rode this trail, I had to stop to allow a bicyclist from the south to safely pass since the gates were angled so that several feet on either side of the trail were not available. Additionally, further down the trail, I had to stop again as I could not pass a pedestrian with a stroller since, again, the gates were not fully open so that I could not safely pass.

Once you near the southern terminus of the trail, you will pass quite a few ammenities on either side of the trail. There are soccer fields, a fitness trail, dog park, rest rooms and parking facilities.

One interesting thing I encountered at this portion of the trail were spectators for the soccer games who decided to set up their chairs ON the trail. At one point, they completely blocked the trail. So be warned, if you are looking to make good time, avoid the southern portion of the trail on early mornings during the weekend.

If you want a short jaunt, the TECO-Auburndale Trail is a fine choice. The northern portion is preferable to the southern portion of the trail and makes a fine addition when added to the Van Fleet Trail to the north. For most of its length, the trail is tree lined with flowering shrubs lining the trail on both sides. Numerous moss draped trees and pastures off fine chances to view Florida wildlife. Happy Trails!!