Hot Motorcycle Seat? Home Remedy

Do you suffer from the dreaded biker hot butt syndrome in the summer time?  

You are riding along, knees in the breeze, it's all good.  Quick stop and you're off the bike, it's parked in the sun, but you'll be right back out of Walmart in the time it takes to go check the $5 DVD bin....what could go wrong?

Back on the bike and your butt is burnin'!  Worst of all, your significant other is suffering her baby cakes to be burnt and now nobody is happy.....

Shopping for a solution, the internet is awesome, there are $50 dollar solutions and custom made brand specific hundred dollar solutions to be had.

But, if you understand what Cousin Eddie meant when he told Clark Griswold that the burnt chair was a quality item....  you don't mind a little home grown remedy to solve your troubles.  After all, this is the age of knowing how to get things done (or so the commercial tells us).
 
Here's an inexpensive solution for your burning bagger bottom blues....

Find one of those folding spring loaded car shades, the kind with both halves connected and it twists back on itself for storage.  You can spend $5 to $15 on them, shop carefully.  I had one left over somehow.

Go get a package of 4 tarp clips, the kind that clamp on the edge of a tarp and leave a spot for a bungee cord to pass through.  $3 today at Harbor Freight, on deal from $5.

Procure four bungees, I used the little guys with the adjustable lengths and ball on one end.  Bungees by the bag, $5-$10...

Assemble the tarp clips at each of the four corners, clip the teeth on so they are grabbing just inside the spring coil outline of the sun shade so they don't pull off. 

String your bungees to suit, and hang the whole contraption on the bagger of your dreams.  No more hot butt and you're $30-$80 closer to your next insurance payment.  Not to mention your significant others' cool baby cakes comfort, you, my friend,  will be a regular rock star!

Villa City. Bridges Rd., Tuscanooga Rd.

Here's a quick Lake Co / Sumter Co Ride.  
Beautiful scenery, close by, what's not to like?

West of Clermont out SR50 to Groveland...go north on SR19 and watch for Lake Emma Rd to open on your left.  Go west on Lake Emma Rd, you'll find a historic marker telling about the short history of Villa City.  You can also stay on SR50 past 19, pick up CR565 at the ASCE Hardware store, but you miss some nice scenery and the historical marker.

Lake Emma Rd connects to CR565, turn right and follow it out to US 27.  That stretch is really nice, the road has some elevation to it and crosses through gorgeous lake county scenery.  Go north (left) on US 27 afew miles and watch for Bridges Rd on the left.  It's just past the turnpike northbound entrance.  Turn west (left) onto Bridges Rd.

Bridges Rd turns into Austin Merritt Rd at SR33 crossing.  The Bridges Rd section is really nice, higher elevation, sweeping vistas, just great.  There's even a giant Harley oil can out there, you can't miss it..

Austin Merritt Rd is very nice as well, and gets progressively smaller as you go west.  The road has name changes, to Youth Camp Rd, then Sunridge Rd, finally settling down at the Sumter County line to CR702.  Stay on to the dead end into 48, you'll see the Center Hill downtown area on your left.  Go left into Center Hill.

In Center Hill, pick up cr469 heading east (left) and roar back outta town....nice long sweeping turn there, usually there are Sandhill Cranes out in the pasture with the cows...  stay on 469 to Tuscanooga Rd, and take that back down to SR50 in Mascotte.  Tuscanooga Rd goes by another turn-of-the -century settlement that started out strong and was crushed by weather.  There's a white sign "Tuscanooga Baptist" marking the turn.  This road has an outstanding canopy stretch.  Watch out for the sand washes in the side road intersections and curves, sometimes the wash outs are heavy.  There's this abandoned farmhouse out there, like they just pastured and plowed around it and the house is up on it's original grade, while the ground all around is well down.  It presents an odd look, perched up on it's base out in the field sadly abandoned.

Back on 50 just on the west edge of Mascotte.  Lots more rides...maybe it's not time to head home yet, there's the Green Swamp off SR 33 coming up....

Binion Harris Howey

Here's a nice ride around Lake Apopka. 

Leaving Winter Garden, stay on Plant Street out to Ocoee-Apopka Rd, go left (North).  You'll be traveling around the east side of Lake Apopka, the old way...which is to say the original route before SR429 bisected the area.  Watch for a big nursery on your left and you'll see Binion Rd CR 437.  Turn left (west) onto Binion Rd, you'll find it has some great curves and hugs the shore line for a little while. Watch for Magnolia Park for a nice shade spot...and around the lake they have just opened a new bicycling / hiking trail...nice walk for the cooler days ahead...

Binion eventually runs into 441 up behind the old Cocoa-Cola plant right under the SR429 overpass.  Turn left (north) on 441 and head towards Zellwood.  Coming into Zellwood, watch for cr48 aka Duda Rd.  If you miss Duda Rd, a bit further up is Sadler, it's a little more scenic and takes you to same spot.  Go left (west) and it will come to a full stop sign where you go right and head through Lake Jem and swing towards Tavares at CR 561.  Cross over to the SR19 intersection.

Here's a great spot for food and beverage and great lakeside setting - Lake Harris Hideaway.  You turn right and go a short distance up to pick up Lane Park Rd, the place is just in a little ways, nestled on the shore among the tall trees, it's great!

Head down SR19 across the lake into Howey In The Hills, eventually picking up cr455, a favorite route back through Ferndale and Monteverde.  You could stay straight on SR 19 and hit US 27 or later on SR 50 as well, all are great rides.

Cherry Lake Rd - 478

Another hidden treat in the area.  A great little road to add to your list for those Lake County >  Clermont, Minneola, Groveland loops.

CR478 touches SR19 on the west, north of Groveland, and dances to east through some outstanding nurseries, open hills, curves and lakes on it's way to meet up with US 27 in Minneola.  CR478 is named Cherry Lake Rd, and going west to east, watch for Wilson Lake PKWY breaking off to the left (north).  That rides up through some of the highest elevations in the area and gives some nice views on the high ground.  If you don't run on Wilson Lake and stay straight on Cherry Lake towards US 27 and Minneola, watch for East Apshawa Rd,and it will dog-leg you to US 27 just south of the Lakeridge Winery.  Lake Wilson Rd comes out on US 27 just north of the winery. 

Great, now I'm thirsty for wine...have a good ride!

Moss Bluff And Duck's Dam Diner

Had seen a recent Facebook post about a small local business...and the biker in me had to see...

Awesome ride up into the Ocala National Forest.  Found the locks on the Ocklawaha River and found the Dam Diner as well!

The dam and lock at Moss Bluff presents nice shaded picnic areas on both banks of the river.  The Ocklawaha River is beautiful.  Moss Bluff Lock In Ocala National

My culinary timing was off today, so all I had was coffee and a simple egg sandwich, it was really good.  The diners around me seemed to really enjoy the breakfast potatoes, so I gotta come back and give them a full trial soon!  Facebook page Dam Diner 
            Aug 01 2014 update -  did the ride again, timed it for breakfast...did the three eggs, sausage, bacon, home fries...really good.  Just great, quick, attentive and pleasant service too.  Gonna be back again and again I'm sure...

On the way back south, just a little west of the path shown on the map here...is the scene of the big FBI shootout with Ma Barker.  It's private property, so no tresspassing, but you can see the place clearly from the road.  Here's an article:  Ma Barker Shootout    The property is between the two points where CR 464 intersects on the top of Lake Weir with route 25.


Have fun, watch out for bears crossing the road....

 The Barker Place......

History Just Around The Corner

Time for a short ride, bad weather sliding in, let's see...what can I do for just the small window open today...

In honor of it being Independence Day, first stop, the local White House museum attraction, The President's Hall Of Fame.  http://www.thepresidentshalloffame.com/  Only had time for a quick photo op with Abe and the boys, and once around the gift shop to get a small taste.  Overheard the lady giving a paid tour, and got the sense that she was really into the subject matter, quite energetic and enthusiastic and from what I overheard, I'd like to go back and pay for the full monty...er, Clinton, er...Reagan...you know what I mean.

Nestled in the parking lot of the world-famous Clermont Citrus Tower, this attraction has been in business for many a congressional session.  

Next up, roll north on US 27 a short sprint and go west on cr561 for a few short miles, into the backside of Clermont, around the big lake, sneak up on downtown from the water side.  Discovered a cool little converted rail stop to museum operation and was sad they were closed on the holiday..  Clermont Historic Village

There is a WWII museum there too sharing the same parking lot.  Some historical buildings and a wonderful spot by the big lake, it looked just the place to spend a cool fall afternoon...
.http://clermontvillage.org/quonset

 

Then off to the back roads NW of Disney property, Marsh Road to some great little small roads off Avalon Rd.    Don't underestimate the power of just putzing about, you never know what overlooked treats you may find in your own backyard!

Istachatta Floral City Sleepy Hollow

Dade Battleground, Istachatta Rd.,  Floral City, Sleepy Hollow, Leesburg, Ferndale.

One of my favorite rides.  Some of the best central Florida has to offer, and you'll be deep in the woods before you are through.....

Start out west on Route 50, go though Clermont, Groveland, Mascotte.  As you are leaving Mascotte, keep it slow going by the cemetary on your right....and take the right turn at the end of the cemetary property - Tuscanooga Rd.  This excellent road will drop you off on the way to Center Hill, go right at the dead-end stop...going left will take you back to 50..  Continue west on CR48 into Bushnell, cross over US301 and watch for the signs to see the Dade Battleground. 

Go left into the battleground park.  Spend some time learning about this horrific battle that started the Second Seminole War.  The Seminole Wars were the costliest for the US and this small museum right off the road does a great job for a modest $2.00 fee in educating the public about this massacre (over 100 soldiers killed) and the saga of the Seminole War.  The monuments are there right were the soldiers fell, similar to Gettysburg, you are right there on the battleground, imagining the soldiers pulling the logs together hastily to form a rudimentary defense as the attack commenced.....

From the park, keep heading west, through Nobbleton.  Watch for Lingle Rd (at a recreational/park area), and go right.  This troad turns into Istachatta Rd and will drop you off right behind Floral City.  Enjoy the twisties and be cautious of the bike trail running alongside the road, the road turns and crosses the old rails-to-trails bike path in a few spots.  Once you run out of this road, at the dead end, take a left and roll leisurely into Floral City.  This entrance into Floral City offers one of the best southern-style canopied stretches anywhere, go slow and enjoy the few blocks of old time southern elegance.

Now, go right on US 41 and head towards Inverness.  Just a little ways up, at a Circle K store on the right, is CR39, aka Gobbler Drive.  Turn right and run down this road to find a great spot to cool off, get something to eat, enjoy an ice cold beverage while the band plays....Sleepy Hollow Web Page

Once done at the hollow, come back out to US 41 and head on up to Inverness.  Pick up SR44 and shoot east to Leesburg, going south back to the Clermont area on US27.  My last loop is to watch for CR561 (just a few mile south of the Lake Ridge Winery), go left and just out from underneath the turnpike, take a hard right to get to Ferndale, home of Sugarloaf Mountain.  Once you hit the deadend by the church, turn Right to run through Monteverde and come back to old SR50 in Oakland, a block away from SR50 and the Kangaroo gas station....

Dade City, King Citrus, And The Joy-Lan

Another great run through the Green Swamp.

Route 50 in Clermont to CR 561 south, south on SR 33 Green Pond Rd.  Green Pond turns into Rock Ridge, which eventually gets into US 98.  Go north through Dade City, cut the corner through Lacooche and back onto SR 50 to complete the loop, about 90 miles.

Some of the best central Florida has to offer in beautiful vistas, little to no traffic, old structures tumbling down, wildlife management area, an obelisk in tribute of citrus, great old historic downtown in Dade City, and even an operating drive-in theater along the way!

Green Swamp Ride

Here's a ride through some of the most beautiful scenery Central Florida has to offer...

The best portion of the ride starts at US 27 and Deen Still Rd.  That's just north of US 27 and I-4 at the Haines City exit if you are coming down I-4 from Orlando.

Travel west on Deen Still Rd, cross over SR33 and watch for Rock Ridge Rd taking off on the right, where Deen Still makes a sharp turn to the left heading off to Lakeland.  There is a pull-off entrance for the Green Swamp WMA there, and another WMA entrance about 5 miles up on Rock Ridge Rd.  Go right, which is a turn to the NE, up Rock Ridge Rd.

Rock Ridge eventually turns intop Green Pond Dr and then dead-ends into SR33.  Turn left, north, to run back up to Groveland / Clermont.  I like the CR 561 break to Clermont, for some more great scenery.

Early mornings you may see hot air balloon launches and this time the glider flights were being launched.  Pretty nice. 

Have fun, watch out for swamp critters!

Green Swamp Wildlife Management Area LINK