I’m headed to Okaloosa Island for the Thanksgiving break. Just curious if anyone has been or goes regularly to the Bernie R? I see they have a morning Master’s swim and a separate morning and afternoon lap swim. Are drop in’s allowed for either? If so, is any time frame better than the other as far as crowds?
Thanks in advance
Trav
Trav-
Funny to see this pop up as I have been down here for a few weeks, although I leave on Monday. I have been swimming there, just during their open swim times, not with the Masters Group. So can’t comment on the Masters questions, but the open swim times haven’t been too crowded. Have had to split a lane, but yet to circle swim. Believe the drop in rate for open swim is $7 and if you are wanting to do masters email Pam at dragonfamily at cox dot net , that is who I was put in contact with. The only reason I didn’t go to the Masters workouts was due to the timing.
If you have any other training questions about the area let me know. There is a decent place to run/ride about 5mins from the pool.
Awesome, thanks so much for the info! Not bringing my bike, buy yeah a good place to run would be great. They have a trail system of sorts?
Thanks a heap
Trav
I didn’t make it out there to run, but from what I was told there was a good dirt road to run on. It is here: 30.475980, -86.604587
The next road North is the spot to ride from, and it appears via Strava that there are some good trails to run/mtb on between the 2 roads. On strava it shows them as Range Rd 234 (the road to run on) and then Range Rd 236 (also known as Ranger Camp Road). You can also put Timber Lake Bike Trails into Google and Rnage Rd 236 will show up.
Of note, it is hunting season from what I can tell and there are a lot of hunters out on those roads, not sure if they are in the area of those specific run/MTB trails in between 234/236.
Enjoy the FL weather!
Not so much hunting allowed in the area south of the Army Ranger camp (My Eglin reservation map got misplaced so I can’t check.) But technically I think you’re supposed to have an Eglin Reservation recreation pass if you don’t have a DOD id and want to ride or run the Range Road area. They can be had cheaply and with little fuss from the Jackson Guard office in Niceville, just bring a driver’s license so they can get a photocopy.
Unless you’ve got issues with running on pavement, the sidewalk on the north (sound) side of Santa Rosa Blvd west of the intersection on Okaloosa Island was not the worst thing in the world when we lived there back in the day- the street lighting is decent if you run after dark and you can go out and back from the corner to the Air Force gate with pretty much zero cross traffic.