Purtis Creek State Park

With the weather threatening today, I decided to stay closer to home, and just ride out to Purtis Creek State Park. It’s just 12 miles from home, and the destination of most of my 25 mile weekday rides. But, I usually just get there, then turn around. Today, I figured I would explore some of the park roads. It really is a pretty place, and if a downpour came, I’d never be further than 12 and a half miles from home.

Halfway to Purtis Creek, it started to rain, and I stopped under a tree when I could see it really pouring down in front of me. Checking weather radar on my phone, what hadn’t even been a blip on the radar when I left home, had built into a major rain storm right where I was, wouldn’t you know it? But, it was headed east away from me, so after a few minutes stopped, the rain was gone and I continued on.

Once I reached Purtis Creek, I explored all the roads. It really is a pretty state park. There are canoes, kayaks, and pedal boats for rent. You can get kayak lessons or go on a kayak tour of the lake (I keep threatening to join that tour in my pedal kayak). There is a large campground, plus primitive camping, mountain bike trails, and hiking trails.

By the time I got near home, it was getting dark and threatening, but not raining yet, so I rode a couple of 2 mile loops near Cedar Creek Lake. Cedar Creek Lake is a 32,000 acre lake just a half mile from home. It’s a great crappie lake, part of the reason I’m hoping to retire here. I got in a couple of loops before the thunder from the dark clouds approaching from the west started getting close. It was starting to sprinkle rain as I pulled into my driveway, so I decided to call it a day on the bike. I ended up with 40.7 miles.

They rent canoes, kayaks, and pedal boats at Purtis Creek.