Bike Rides and Rescue Operations

Yesterday my friends and I drove out to Alexander Springs for a bike ride and swim.

The initial plan was to drive to San Antonio and ride hills. It occurred to me that with the heat, that ride could be miserable right now. So another friend suggested a ride the involved a dip in the springs along the way. Good recommendation!

The drive there was pretty uneventful. Once we got off of the interstate the country was pretty. Lots of rolling hills, cows, and horses. As we got closer to the park, the roads kept getting a bit more narrow.

When we arrived at Alexander Springs, there was a long line of cars to get in. We decided to drive up the road a bit, park the cars on a forest road, and then ride our bikes back. I’m sure there were some grumpy folks in line when they saw us ride up and past the big line of cars.

We rode and took a look at Alexander Springs, but we didn’t stay. We decided to ride to Juniper Springs first, 16 miles away. It was a pretty easy ride. We saw a momma turkey and some babies while riding. Part of the route had heavy traffic, but there was a wide shoulder.

Finally we arrived at Juniper Springs, hot and ready for a swim. We paid the entry fee, rode in, and locked up. We found a place to put our stuff, hydrated a bit, and then got ready to take the plunge.

The water from the springs is the same temperature all year long. And it’s cold. You just have to jump in. Once I did and got over the initial shock it felt good. The water immediately got deep, over my head. My legs wanted to cramp from the cold and the exertion of riding. It felt wonderful to cool off.

After swimming for a bit we had a picnic lunch. Most of us just brought snack food, but one person thought forward a little more and brought delicious salami, cheese, bread, vegetables. That with the snack food was very satisfying.

After some got back in the water, some took a nap. I fell in with the latter group.

Then the rain came. 

It rained hard for awhile and finally slowed down. We started riding while it was still raining. I was glad it wasn’t 45 degrees with a headwind, conditions I had to face while in Canada.

We biked back a different route back to Alexander Springs: a total of 18 miles. The rain kept the temperature cooler. 

Alexander Springs was bigger and wadeable. It was nice to walk through the clear water. We all left our snorkel gear in the cars, and no one felt like getting them. If I go back I definitely want to use them. There were SCUBA divers out there too, which would have been cool to see.

Soon enough we loaded up the bikes to head back to St. Pete. The drive home would have been uneventful, but we drove up on an accident on the interstate.

A Jeep had flipped moments before we drove by. I slowed, saw others stopping and running towards the vehicle. Since others were already going to help, and I didn’t think I could contribute anything, I kept driving. But then I saw a dog running like a bat out of hell. I was sure the dog was part of the accident, was terrified, and was running to get away.

My travel companion had been napping, but he woke around this time. We decided to try to get the dog so that it could be reunited with its owner. At one point we stopped to try to call to it to get it to stop, but then it took off again. I cruised the shoulder slowly, and my friend kept calling to it from the window. The dog slowed a bit, but never stopped.

Finally, I was going to give up, but I saw a man who had pulled over and gotten out of his car. I thought maybe he had her trapped on a hill. He started pointing, so I pulled up closer. The dog was stuck along the fence. He thought she was stuck in the fence.

My friend climbed down there into the mass of briar and other plants. The dog let him approach. She still had her collar on. It was secured, but also loose on her. My friend asked if there was anything we could use for a leash. I ran back up to the car and pulled an innertube that I use for a bungie from my bike. My friend tied it to the dog’s collar.

The dog was obviously terrified, but not aggressive. My friend tried talking to her, coaxing her out. He learned her name was Cabella from the collar. She wasn’t moving from her spot. I realized that we should try to contact the police to let them know we found the dog, and that maybe they could send someone with something to clear away the tangle of vines that was providing sanctuary for the dog. I called *347 (*FHP for the Florida Highway Patrol). They got me in touch with someone nearby and soon enough a Sheriff pulled up.

My friend tried to lift the dog at one point. She wasn’t having it. I was so scared she was going to bite him, and she did snap at him. He didn’t get bit though.

Soon after this, my friend and I switched positions. I crawled back with the dog. I pet her and spoke to her sweetly. I was making some progress in getting her out of her hidey hole by pulling her on her collar. I had to unsnag her paw from a piece of briar that got wrapped around it.

The cop mentioned that Animal Control would be there soon. I was about to give up and leave it to them, but I started being more direct in talking to her. I pulled up on her leash/collar as I did so, and she started to get up. At first she turned around and tried to go back in, but I got her turned around again and out the hole. I tried to push down a couple of vines of thorny briar so she could get out without tearing herself up more. She was impatient, and she ended up getting through and over them. My friend had hold of her from there.

There was one last scare when the innertube leash came undone near the road. Fortunately Cabella didn’t take off and go into the traffic. I called her and she stayed put and took a couple of steps towards me. My friend reattached the innertube so it wouldn’t come off.

The cop opened up the back door of his car and she jumped right in.

I hope the lady in the accident ends up being Ok and can be reunited with Cabella. If she’s not, I would think about adopting Cabella if I can find her. Hopefully it won’t come to that, but it’s already crossed my mind.

I felt conflicted when I drove by the wreck. I don’t want to be one of the people that just passes by. It occurred to me later that I might have been able to help just by holding the woman’s hand and helping to keep her calm. 

While I passed by the wreck itself, I’m glad I was able to help with the dog. I was glad others stopped to help, but at the wreck and with the dog. It is incredibly encouraging to see the helpers, and to be one as often as possible.