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

Angel's Diner Ride

Another fine day of riding.  This trip was up to Ormond Beach, Destination Daytona, visited JP Cycles for a little bit.  More cagers than bikers, bike week crowds have passed.  You can actually pull right in and get to stuff and store personnel can help you.

Headed on up to Bunnell and over through potato country, to Palatka, I wanted to go see if Angel's Diner, the Oldest Diner in Florida, was still there.  Is is, and has been since 1932.  Classic diner, shows it's age, but the service was prompt, the place was crowded on a Tuesday at 2pm, and the burger, fries, and chocolate shake were perfect.

Then down SR 19, side trip to the dam, pretty neat, for Florida!  After the dam, stopped in Eustis at their waycool lakeside park, really excellent work there, great sunset spot.  Always nice driving through the Ocala National Forest.  This afternoon the rangers were doing a prescribed burn, fire right up to the road right-of-way, and me without any hot dogs.... 

Then on home.  Tired and happy.

Ocala Rd

Gorgeous day after a long week of rain, headed out for another wonderful loop north...

Today I found Ocala Rd.  CR 450 locally known as Ocala Rd, going off SR19 at the McDonald's to the west, eventually hooks into SR42, running along the bottom of the Ocala National Forest.  Today I looped back to the east and back towards home on SR19.  But from up there, one could make any sort of other combinations work well, it's all excellent riding in the forest and nearby.

On the way I stopped at the locally infamous Thrill Hill (see map position marker #4 to #5 Thrill Hill Rd and Thrill Hill Rd North) and reflected on all the great hills in this part of Florida, which will be another post soon.