Push On To Palatka

US 17 and SR 20...north edge of the Ocala National Forest. If ever you are in the area, swing through town. Ravine Gardens State Park, a great old downtown, lots of murals, a war memorial to Submarine crews, and the oldest diner in Florida!

Angels Diner is absolutely worth the drive, just a great old diner, great prices, good food, friendly staff...welcomes customers....including bikers!

So, if in the Forest, push on to Palatka, go to Angels, pay respects at the submarine crew memorial and enjoy the afternoon along the St Johns river.

http://picasaweb.google.com/mmitch1079/RandomDayTrip#

Biketoberfest 2010

Had the best trip to Biketoberfest this year! The weather was great, we rode north on A1A to the little spot just north of Marineland where old A1A is right on the beach...just awesome views up there.

Doing Biketoberfest on a weekday is great. You get all the experience, but just a little less than peak crowds. You can walk on Main Street sidewalks versus wiggling sideways to fight for space....

All in all, this was the best Biketoberfest in a while, between weather and time off for us, just really GREAT. Can't wait to go again!

Okeechobee

Had a great day at work recently. Took the opportunity of a south Florida work assignment to ride the bike down Canoe Creek Rd through Kenansville, and take US 441 south to Okeechobee before cutting over to West Palm Beach on SR 710.

Kenansville and Okeechobee did not disappoint, the weather was awesome. Found some more murals in Okeechobee to add to the collection.

Stopped at the Desert Inn in Yeehaw Junction, but didn't have time to actually go inside....next time we'll slide in for the full experience.

Enjoyable Day

Had a great day today. Took an unplanned trip to a couple of spots and found a couple more great central Florida surprises.

Howey-In-The-Hills - get off SR 19 in town, slide to the east to the edge of Lake Harris. The town of H-I-T-H maintains an awesome lakeside park that has a magnificent boardwalk and excellent lakeside views. A real treat. Then, on the way out...a mysterious abandoned estate, real art-deco styling, covered with vines, very Tower of Terror looking, just great.

Another day spent trusting the road and enjoying every minute of it.

Here's a link to more pics:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=mmitch1079&target=ALBUM&id=5523612054266032145&authkey=Gv1sRgCL-d6pqo6KqtuQE&feat=email

Florida SR 17 - A Favorite!

Original post from 2010, updated in June of 2015.

SR 17 - a great ride through rolling orange groves and Florida History!

From the north, go down US 27 almost to Avon Park.  Just below where SR98 intersects from the west into US 27, a few more miles south, you'll find SR 17 leaving US 27 to the east.  That is the start of a beautiful ride.

Run north on SR 17 and you roll through sleepy old Florida history, orange grove towns, murals, cows, and railroading history as well.   What an awesome scenic stretch! Designated as a Florida Scenic Route - The Ridge - it winds through thick orange groves, hills and lakes and awesome Florida views.

Add to the road the journey through the small towns, complete with the ubiquitous Florida Murals (I love those murals), it made for a really great afternoon under the awesome Florida PIXAR sky!  Frostproof, Lake Wales, Waverly and Dundee, and on into Haines City.  SR17 is under construction, the north lane of the road was blocked the day I was there, had to cut back west to US 27.

 

Looking forward to my next leisurely ride on SR 17 between Haines City and Avon Park.

Here's a link to more pictures from spots along SR 17.  Also there are pictures from an event formerly titled "The Run To The Heartland".    I think I saw a run for October to Avon Park this year, maybe some of those folks are picking up where the Heartland run had to stop.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=mmitch1079&target=ALBUM&id=5523612054266032145&authkey=Gv1sRgCL-d6pqo6KqtuQE&feat=email

Take A River Ride - Fort Gates Ferry

Located in Fruitland, literally at the end of the road. The ferry is well marked from US 17 to CR308, to CR309 and then down the Ft Gates Ferry RD. Interesting historical marker, the Mount Royal site, very cool.

A really good YouTube video is posted here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he62Bt8C0L0 The couple that put this up did a great job, very nice. Heed their advice, and mine, VISIT.

The day was rain free. The ride is challenging on a heavy classic cruiser style road bike. From the Fruitland Park (main office) side it's only 1 mile of dirt road to get onboard. If you don't enjoy that mile, TURN BACK! Once you cross the river, you get about 8 miles of dirt rd, varying from fresh grade hard-pack dirt to soft sugar sand, to wet mud sections that for me weren't bad today, but after a wet season may have been real cruiser bike-stoppers. Luckily, worst case, you decide not to proceed, turn around and the ferry operator will come back for you - park at the ramp and LEAVE YOUR LIGHTS ON - is the universal "come get me" river signal.

Cost of the ride for my motorbike today - only a Fiver! AWESOME service, the ride operator was cordial and efficient. Sadly, he remarked that he doesn't get many bikers through lately.

Brave the dirt, take the drive to the boat, enjoy a last true, unspoiled bit of Florida, far away from condos, downtowns, politicians, and stop lights. A wonderful bargain at $5 for the bike, or even $10 for a car.

More ride pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/105039978752277397723/FortGatesFerryRide#

Biggest Little Show? Leesburg Bikefest

The Leesburg BikeFest is awesome. Growing in popularity every year and this year has been great as well. Added on one more day sort of and expanded some venues. The entire area benefits from the influx of biker business. Extra bonus for us Central Florida residents who are sad we only (! boo hoo!) get Biketoberfest and Bike Week...the Leesburg event is very welcome, nice and close and a great time! Don't miss it!

http://leesburgbikefest.com/Bikefest/index.htm

Seven Mile Smile

Truly a candidate for a decent Bucket List ride......

A1A down through the Keys. Go all the way!

Yes, the lower part is two-lane and given to congestion....

But oh man, it's so worth it!

All the bridges, all the history.

All the bars, all the beaches.

Don't forget the Duval Crawl.

Route 60 East

Running across the state, between Yeehaw Junction and Vero Beach....

This stretch of route 60 was improved some years ago and is a delight to ride.

Light traffic, fast four lane (watch out for Mr Trooper Sir), it makes short work of the miles between the Turnpike at Yeehaw and I-95 at Vero.

Find Your Center >> Center Hill

CR478, route 48, north of Websters....

A few old blocks of the remnants of town.

Good spot for a cold beverage from the store.

The Road To Tuscanooga

The road to Tuscanooga(Tuscanooga RD, oddly enough) is just west of downtown Groveland.

Run 50 through Groveland, and on your way towards Sloan's Ridge you pass the road to Tuscanooga. Going uphill in front of the Groveland cemetary, at the west end of the cemetary at the end of a stand of pine trees, take that right turn to get on to Tuscanooga Rd. Only a few short miles, it takes you towards Center Hill and CR 469., or left on CR 469 and head back down to SR 50.

Nice curves, some good deep swamp and woodsy bits, old time Florida settlement history, it's always a pleasant ride and fun to get off SR5o for a few klicks.

Another Bike Week

Was lucky enough to get over to Bike Week for two Fridays this year. Both days were clear and cool. Lots of cold and rain this year, sorry for those many who traveled and were met with inhospitable Florida winter, very much out of character!

Still, big fun when it's clear and bright, many seemed to be having great times!

Looking forward to Leesburg soon!

Got it bad tonight, really feeling the call of the WEST COAST.

Pacific Coast Highway....The Golden Gate, Point Reyes... Just needing a road trip badly!

So, tonights tip: Just GO. If ever you get the chance to go where you've never been.... JUST GO.

You never know where you will find that next best breakfast, favorite view, or odd chance encounter that you will never forget.

Just close your eyes, step out, and TRUST THE ROAD.

If Ever Up North - Way Up North.....

Great diner in Anchorage, Alaska. Been thinking about Alaska a lot lately. Random items keep happening that bring me back. Our last trip, we happened to be scrounging for breakfast, and spotted this business, the City Diner. Now I'm ruined, since I live in central Florida...and the City Diner had the best breakfast I've ever had...forever spoiling me for breakfast as none have compared since...I keep trying....

History Abounds! - Ft Ogden

US 17, south of Arcadia, before you get all the way into Cleveland...and to I-75.

Established 1841, in support of the Seminole Indian War. Another historical waypoint in a largely forgotten major US conflict.

Yankeetown

Near Inglis, Fl...US 19 and CR40. Yankeetown. Go west to the water. Nice little boat ramp area there.

Cool history of the area includes no less than Elvis Presley being there filming a movie. Pretty cool being on the same little bridges and sandy spots where Elvis filmed years ago. Follow That Dream Elvis!

Turn of the century history giving the place it's name. So many northerners came for the fishing and weather...

Another small town gem in west central Florida.

Ahh, Minute Maid

Minute Maid Rd. Crosses the Florida Turnpike and hits CR 68 which is Orange Ave in Ft Pierce. Go west on 68 from the I-95 Orange Ave exit, heading towards 441.... somewhere around 10 miles (maybe more or less) out you get to Minute Maid Rd, turn right (north) and take the bumpy dirt road slowly...eventually you'll be rewarded with an awesome Over The Turnpike View. Go back down to CR68 and return to Ft Pierce, or run west to 441, north is Yeehaw Junction, south is Okeechobee...both are stories for another day!

History Abounds! Dade Battlefield - Bushnell

Located in Bushnell, the Dade Battlefield State Park, super awesome. The park is small, and the museum building is right on the grounds of the battle. Reading the description of the battle and the roster of names, both sides - quite a few places throughout Florida carry these ancestors names. The Seminole Indian Wars were the most involved and costly for the US and the history of this long running conflict has been largely overshadowed by the western expansion story. The park offers a quick immersion in the battle and events of that day... and it's proximity to Orlando and Tampa makes it an excellent short day trip candidate.

She Still Sells Sea Shells

What a great attraction. Been going there since the late 70's...changes over the years and they are hanging tough. North of the Caloosahatchee River on US 41 in Ft Myers. Worth the ride by, lots of Florida Kitsch, new stuff, old stuff, the 9 million tee shirts and beach towels, SHELLS GALORE and of course, PIRATE SCHTUFF.

West Orange Country Club

On CR 545 south of Colonial. Just a short half-mile, the old entrance to the original West Orange Country Club stands on the west side of the road in the historic Tildenville location.

Surprised it's still there now with all the recent Turnpike construction (it's very close to the turnpike overpass.

A remnant of a failed effort back in the 40-70's I think. Makes for a nice picture and story still.

Slow Down For Ferndale

On the way to Sugarloaf Mountain (one of the ways anyway), if on 455, NE of Montverde....you'll ride through a little town called Ferndale. 

 Just a few side streets and a post office... the post office makes for one of my favorite cycle shots..... next time through, slow down and take yours!

There is a newer recreational area, the Ferndale Preserve that looks pretty nice also!  Ferndale Preserve

 

Bayport Is The Right Port

Head west to the end of route 50....go past Weeki Watchi and run 50 all the way to the end... You'll be rewarded with a little spot called Bayport. The road terminates in a roadside park boat ramp area, complete with picnic tables and a pier to walk out on or fish from...

I've been out there a lot and have never been disappointed, the view is always nice.

Chilly Days In South Town

Chilly days - can be some of the best days riding. Bag the NO, try it and look for the adventure! Get the gear to make it right...baclava, good thick gloves with gauntlets, thick pants, layered coat, thick socks, good boots.

You'll know in the first few hundred yards as you pull away if you have covered ankles, wrist, neck and chin critical areas. If there is no wind leaking through...head on out!