Photo credit: Keith

Arriving at Apoxee Preserve

We arrived at Apoxee Preserve in West Palm Beach, Florida around 6:45 AM and waited in the dark for the automated gate to open promptly at 7 AM. Our friend Terry had invited us to join her WAG (Western Athletic Group) cycling friends for a gravel ride through the preserve, but in the dark we couldn’t make out anyone in the cars waiting. Once we realized Terry was two cars ahead of us in line, we jumped out for quick hugs; we hadn’t seen her since our ride across Florida that previous January.

Once the gate opened we drove about a quarter mile into the preserve taking the first available parking spaces. Terry introduced us to the ride leader Keith who welcomed us and immediately made us feel at home. When everyone was ready to role, Keith had us line up for a pre-ride picture, something they do each week. He was also very good at taking lots of pictures throughout the ride.

 

About the Ride

After Terry told us how fast this group rides I was second guessing joining, but she assured me that they don’t mind stopping to wait for stragglers and routinely have to wait for her. Yes, they rode fast and I worked my butt off to keep up, but the scenery was outstanding, especially during our little excursions off the main trail. With a tail wind on our way out, I felt like I was flying, but several side excursions on rougher terrain and a headwind on the return slowed my average speed substantially.

We had four gator sightings – two right next to the trail, and two in/near the water next to the trail. We also saw several very cool large birds including sand cranes, and even had a snake slither rapidly between Terry’s bike wheels as she rode over it. I was directly behind her and amazed at how fast the frightened snake was moving. Luckily, we didn’t have a repeat of a wild boar knocking a rider off his bike like had happened to one of the cyclists in the group just a few weeks earlier.

 

Ride Overview
  • • Location: Apoxee Preserve, West Palm Beach, Florida
  • • Course Type: out and back plus a short side out and back
  • • Course Surface: gravel, packed sand, double track, and single track
  • • Bike: Salsa Warbird
  • • Distance: 40.47 miles
  • • Time: 3:13:45
  • • Average Speed: 12.5 MPH
  • • Maximum Speed: 19.8 MPH
  • • Elevation Gain: 164 feet
  • • Elevation Range: 17 to 46 feet
  • • Weather: 68° and foggy, climbing to 76° and partly cloudy
  • • Date of ride: February 1, 2025

 

Apoxee Preserve in West Palm Beach to Riverbend Park in Jupiter, Roundtrip

Promptly at 7:10 AM we rolled out of the parking area as we started our ride, riding back toward and then parallel to the highway before turning right to go deeper into the park.

 

The surface turned from single track pine needle covered packed sand and shell to a gravel road when we headed back north.

Photo credit: Keith

 

The surface stayed similar, but would occasionally become covered in pine needles as we rode through pine groves. Occasionally we hit loose wet sand which had my bike fishtailing, but for the most part the trails were in fantastic condition.

 

Our first stop for a break was on this bridge where we had a pretty water view.

Photo credit: Keith

Eventually, we turned onto a paved road and with the wind at our backs we were flying!

 

We rode past sand cranes – see the guy next to the water? If you can’t, there’s a closer up view of some other cranes on our return trip.

 

When we reached our turnaround at Riverbend Park we stopped for a short break to refuel and use the restrooms.

 

On the way back we took a side excursion to the “waterfalls,” ducking under this fence to get to the side trail.

 

This put us on grassy double track which made me a little nervous not knowing what might be hiding in the tall grass.

 

My Salsa Warbird found her twin while on the ride and I couldn’t resist taking a picture.

 

Eventually we made our way to the “waterfalls” which was actually a weir (a low dam built across a river to raise the level of water upstream or to regulate its flow). While at the waterfalls we had a nice and relaxing break before turning to finish our ride.

 

We were led on a different route out of the waterfalls area which was a lot of fun and very scenic.

 

Back on the main trail most of the guys put it into overdrive and rode hard, stopping occasionally to let us catch up. We had quite the headwind and I kept falling behind Terry and my husband. I’d work hard and eventually catch up only to fall back again.

 

We passed more sand cranes on our return trip.

 

It was such a beautiful day and the trail was so pretty that I just kept taking pictures as we rode along.

 

We had our first alligator sighting as we cut through a grassy section and even the Floridians who see gators all the time stopped to take pictures.

 

I was a little slow on pulling out my phone to get a selfie with the alligator.

 

We passed another alligator, but I didn’t get a picture of him. Soon enough though, we came upon this really big guy.

 

And a bit later this guy…

 

When we turned onto this lovely section, Terry told us this was where a wild boar jumped out and charged one of the cyclists causing him to crash. I took this picture right after a very fast snake raced across the trail and between Terry’s wheels.

 

Garmin Stats

Post-ride Garmin…

 

Garmin map and elevation graph…

 

Final Thoughts on the Rides

This ride that I was extremely nervous about joining ended up being my favorite ride of the trip. The scenery was just lovely, and even though there was very little elevation change, the speed of the other riders had me working hard to keep up. My fear of getting knocked off my bike by a wild boar was for naught, but we did come across four alligators, something that the other riders told us doesn’t always happen.

If we’re in the West Palm Beach area again next year we hope to join the Western Athletic Group for another ride.

 

Questions
  • • Have you visited West Palm Beach? ~ this was my first visit
  • • Which would you be more afraid of, an alligator or a wild boar? ~ Now that I know the habits of sleeping gators, I’d be more nervous around a wild boar.
  • • Do you stop and relax occasionally to fuel or take pictures, or barrel on through when on a long run or ride? ~ pictures, always pictures, unless I’m racing

 

I’m linking up with Zenaida of The Running Teacher and Jenn from Runs with Pugs for Tuesday topics Link-Up. Be sure to check out not only the hosts’ posts, but those of the other great bloggers joining in on the fun!