Number Two Road - Howey In The Hills

An interesting side trip - a small connecting road called "Number Two Rd" runs from downtown Howey In The Hills to just west of Yalaha.  The road is narrow, and paving used to be rough-textured, but re-paved throughout a couple of years ago, very smooth now.. 

Its a 45mph speed limit or less for the 6 mile ride.  Find the base of the water tower in Howey-In The Hills and go west....you pop out on CR48, at the intersection with Stone Mountain rd across the other side.  Turn right to go back into Yalaha and experience the wonderful Yalaha Bakery  http://www.yalahabakery.com/  and back into Howey Past the Mission Inn, OR go left and continue on out to US 27 just south of Lake Harris in Leesburg.  One MORE option, come off Number Two rd, turn right  hit the Yalaha Bakeery, come out going right, and watch for BLOOMFIELD Rd, which will shortcut you back over to Number two Rd, short and pleasant as well.

The ride is great, excellent views, some nice elevation changes and it's great in both directions.  Been riding past it now for ten years, and it makes me wonder what other great roads am I missing by not doing more map reviews before heading out.....  Update, April 2018, been riding the road a number of times every year.  It never disappoints.  Spring time in central Florida, great temperature, clear sky and the green and blue on this road can't be beat.  Just wish it was longer.  The good news, there is always a delicious Bee Sting awaiting at the Yalaha Bakery, so there is that.

 

Howey In The Hills is always beautiful, go down to the little lakeside park east of the one light downtown....beautiful.  Find your way out towards the route 19 path and see the old mansion crumbling slowly away that was the home of the founder...apparently old Howey himself?  Was this his mansion?  Were these his hills?  Wikipedia shows us that William John Howey founded the place back in the 1925, and those were indeed hills he was fond of.  Very Cool.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howey-in-the-Hills,_Florida

The place is great, full of photo-ops for crumbling nature reclaiming her own shots.....

And awesome because it's in the central Florida "backyard" and is easy to get to!