Location Spotlight:  St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge, Florida

About a quarter-mile offshore, at the mouth of the Apalachicola River in the Gulf of Mexico, is a small, undeveloped barrier island, St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge. With many types of habitats, ranging from tidal marsh to freshwater lakes and streams, St. Vincent is a haven for many endangered species. Bald eagles, alligators, sea turtles, indigo snakes, colonies of bats, red wolves, and a vast compliment of migratory and tropical birds take up residence here.

With no motor vehicles allowed, and access to the island only by boat, St. Vincent is preserved in as natural a state as possible. Hunting is done in a managed way with the goal of maintaining wildlife populations at a level compatible with the habitat. Our visit to St. Vincent was a unique pleasure; the absence of motors always brings us joy, but it was the uniqueness of such a small island with so many diverse species and habitats that really stands out for us. The Naturespace track Infinite Shoreline was recorded here. Since it is at the mouth of the river, the waves strike the shore at a very oblique angle, which presents a waveline that cascades from right to left, as opposed to head-on. Totally unique, quiet, clean, diverse, and on the ocean; it is one of our favorite spots so far.

Location Spotlight: Chequamegon National Forest

Most of us here at Naturespace are avid mountain bikers. For us, there is no better way to get away from the endemic noise pollution of roads and highways than riding 20 miles into the thick. We are constantly seeking the best trails in diverse wildlife regions. We will occasionally spotlight our favorite places so you can check them out for yourself. Let us know your experiences if you have been there, and if there is a place you think we should know about, please tell us. The quest for the ultimate ride is never over.

We have chosen the Chequamegon National Forest in Northwest Wisconsin as our first spotlight because it is one of our favorite places to ride and record. Obviously, there are no mountains, but the rolling hills and steep eskers that were glacially cut into the landscape provide some of the best roller-coaster riding we have found. Chequamegon is home to a truly vast network of riding trails. Over 300 miles of single and double-track take you on a never-ending journey of fun in the forest. The wildlife includes black bears as well as a seemingly infinite set of avian species; the forest in late May at 5 am is just ridiculous with birdsong. Affordable lodging means you don’t need to camp, and there are plenty of campgrounds available if that’s how you roll. And then there are the lakes. Warm, clean, clear water that allows you to see to the bottom, dragonflies and butterflies hovering and flitting about makes stopping off for a refreshing dip mid-ride the highlight of the day.

For more information, visit Camba Mountain Bike Trail System. Also, you should know that the Chequamegon Fat Tire festival occurs annually in September, so if you are going to go there for some solitude, stay away for at least a week before and after the event; it’s the only time the place gets really crowded. But if you are into biking with a lot of other great folks, you should do the fest. It’s a major party.