Merge pull request #68 from mattpopovich/pine-island-audubon-center-n…

…ature-trail-ride-through

Pine island audubon center nature trail ride through

_posts/2021-08-03-obxs-pine-island-audubon-center-nature-trail-ride-through.md

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+---
+title: "OBX's Pine Island Audubon Center Nature Trail Ride-through"
+author: matt_popovich           # Reference author_id in _data/authors.yml
+# Can also use `authors: [<author1_id>, <author2_id>]` for multiple entries
+date: 2021-08-03 08:05:50 -0600
+categories: [Blog, YouTube] # <=2 values here: top category and sub category
+tags: [youtube, photography, time-lapse, travel, hiking, obx, north carolina]       # TAG names should always be lowercase
+layout: post                # post is the default, we will set it to be explicit
+pin: false
+toc: true                   # Table of contents
+comments: true              # Enable/disable comments at the bottom of the post
+math: false                 # Disabled by default for performance reasons
+mermaid: false              # Diagram generation tool via ```mermaid [...]```
+#img_cdn: https://cdn.com
+#img_path: /img/path/
+#image:
+#  path: /path/to/image.jpg
+#  width: 100   # in pixels
+#  height: 40   # in pixels
+#  alt: image alternative text
+description: A bicycle ride I took on the Pine Island Audubon Center Nature Trail located in Corolla, North Carolina.
+---
+
+{% include embed/youtube.html id='YlQLeMSQD0Y' %}
+
+## Into
+The video above shows a timelapse of a [bicycle ride](https://www.strava.com/activities/5303657216) I took on the [Pine Island Audubon Center Nature Trail](https://pineisland.audubon.org/visit/landing/nature-trail) located in the [Outer Banks (OBX)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Banks): Corolla, North Carolina. It is a 4.4 mile (7km) out and back trail (2.2mi (3.5km) out, an additional 2.2mi (3.5km) back). It is open to walkers, runners, and cyclists. It has two scenic overlooks that look over the Currituck Sound (0.8mi (1.3km) and 2mi (3.2km) from trail start).
+
+![The first scenic overlook on the Pine Island Nature Trail](/assets/img/posts/2021-08-03-obxs-pine-island-audubon-center-nature-trail-ride-through/PineIslandNatureTrailScenicOverlook1_2021-05-15.jpg)
+*The first scenic overlook on the Pine Island Nature Trail*
+
+## Locating the trail
+
+The Pine Island Nature Trail is located just behind the [Pine Island Racquet and Fitness Center](https://maps.app.goo.gl/mfkWJ9JAQ73AtgHEA).
+
+When I first pulled up to the entrance for the [Pine Island Racquet and Fitness Center](https://maps.app.goo.gl/mfkWJ9JAQ73AtgHEA) I was a bit confused because it looked like it was closed. Turns out the parking lot was closed for cars, but the nature trail was still open. As of May 15, 2021, the gate is open (for vehicle access to the parking lot) from 8AM-8PM Monday through Friday but they close at 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.
+
+The entrance fence has a skinny entrance on the side for pedestrians / bicycles. Do note that it’s about a half mile walk from the closed gate (Audubon drive) to the beginning of the nature trail.
+
+After traveling down Racquet Club Dr, you will find the parking lot followed by [Pine Island Racquet and Fitness Center](https://maps.app.goo.gl/mfkWJ9JAQ73AtgHEA). There they have a gym, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, outdoor pickleball courts, and they are open to the public.
+
+Just past the racquet and fitness center you will find the [entrance to the nature trail](https://maps.app.goo.gl/JP6gjpuQDX5nQKy68).
+
+<div style="text-align:center">
+<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m14!1m8!1m3!1d3217.2812546041314!2d-75.7893237!3d36.2569501!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x89a527ec6cf7f685%3A0x1f2bd1a51acf4198!2sThe%20Nature%20Trail!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1712981888233!5m2!1sen!2sus" width="90%" height="400" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe>
+</div>
+<my-caption>The actual entrance to Pine Island's Nature Trail</my-caption>
+
+## The Trail
+
+You can view the [video](https://youtu.be/YlQLeMSQD0Y) above for a "ride-through" of the trail (as it was on May 15, 2021) so you know what to expect. Additional information for the trail can be found at [AllTrails](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/north-carolina/pine-island-audubon-center-nature-trail), which is a fantastic hiking resource with pictures, comments from fellow hikers, and other recommended hikes.
+
+![Pine Island Nature Trail](/assets/img/posts/2021-08-03-obxs-pine-island-audubon-center-nature-trail-ride-through/PineIslandNatureTrail.jpg)
+*Pine Island Nature Trail*
+
+## Outro
+
+Hope this helped give you a better idea of the Pine Island Nature Trail and what it entails.
+
+Enjoy!
+
+<!--
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