Black Bear Wilderness Area

Boars and Birds! Had my first visit to the Black Bear Wilderness Area yesterday, it was awesome! The area is near I-4 and SR 46 in the Sanford Florida region. Nesteled against a curve of the St. John's River, it presents a variety of terrain to explore. The path follows closely the ridge of the canal excavation spoils from years and years ago. The typical top of mound is frequently cleared and maintained in wide clear fashion at many conservation areas...but not this one! The trail follows the mound top, but has seen decades of vegetation growth not removed. The current condition is one of a fairly wild walk, roots and elevation changes, going around, over, and through many tree obstructiond for the length of the 7 mile loop. Once you start on the loop, deciding how far that you want to walk is important, as its just a loop, having no interior short-cuts back to the parking area. Once started, its go all the way for 7 miles or stop partway and backtrack. The majority of the hike is in forest / jungle canopy, well shaded. Short stretches in full Florida sun, so of course be prepared with your Florida compliment of hats, sunshade, water, bug repellant, etc.... The path is not presented for biking, it would be very difficult to bike this path with the tree obstructions, drop off edges and root crossing so prevalent, not recommended. The wildlife seen yesterday was nice: Boars, Barred Owls, Great Blue Herons, Little Blue Heron, Pileated Woodpecker along with many other smaller birds- heard - not seen- in the canopy and brush. It was great.

Cemetery At The Grocery Store

 A Florida Story:

This time, it’s about a cemetery in front of a grocery store!  This feels like one of those “Florida” stories, but it’s actually a tale of dedication and respect.

Original area settlers, in an area pre-dating Orlando, called VINELAND.  They settled and lived long lives, coming to be interred on the property eventually.

The location remained agriculture and part of the Florida Frontier for years, and began to grow as the Orlando area later became the Theme Park Capital Of The World. Now, in the shadow of roller coasters and high speed highways, the little town of Vineland is long gone, but the two soldiers remain...

Property changes owners down through the years and eventually lands in the hands of a man possessed of a strong moral obligation of respect and conservation.  When big-time development eventually came to these lots, he stood firm and arranged for care and maintenance of the two graves, grounds, markers, and Memorial.  SO GOOD.

World Of Micah clip >>    https://youtu.be/S8zuwutlKYU?feature=shared

FOX 35 article >> https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/civil-war-cemetery-will-be-surrounded-by-development

Photos taken 05/31/2024, just after Memorial Day 5 days prior.  Lots to work with here regarding the grocery chain motto, but we'll leave that to others and stay properly respectful.

Pasture Preserve And Bay Lake

Another close in treat for when you don't have all day for a ride from the Clermont area....

Find your way out to Bay Lake.  When you take Lake Erie Rd, you will pass by the county park called Pasture Preserve.  Really pretty road, and a short tree tunnel in the bargain!  Love those.

Going west out of Clermont on 50, go south on CR561.  You can stay on CR561 into SR33, OR take a couple of cross-over options, Pine Island Rd, or Florida Boys Ranch Rd.  Ride it a few times and try all the CR 561, CR 565A, CR565B variants out that way, they are all good.   Once you dump into SR33, just a short way south you'll pick up Lake Erie Rd going west.  You'll know that you are there when you see Smokey Bear warning you of the day's fire danger and the fire observation tower.  Lake Erie Rd goes into the Green Swamp community if Bay Lake, and you can turn north to get back to SR50 from there.

Have fun, watch out for Sandhill Cranes!

Ferndale, Still Good, Change Is Coming

With the new turnpike connector, growth coming into the Ferndale - Monteverde area can't be far behind.

They put up that new traffic circle on 561 a while back.  A new Publix just opened where 561 dead ends into 19 in the west edge of Tavares.

They are building a hotel on the west shore of Lake Apopka (near The Gourd), on that old Scott's Fertilizer property that turned into an upscale mansion community in Monteverde.

But, the riding is still good.  The Green Mountain Scenic Overlook was a huge win for the area, always beautiful.

Green Swamp Sugarloaf Mountain Loop

Need a quick ride, don't have all day to do it?

Here's an 80 mile ride through some of the best geography that central Florida has to offer:  the Green Swamp and Sugarloaf Mountain.

This area is rich with variations, lots of different roads go through and around these areas, this is one loop that works well for me.  This ride offers excellent swamp vistas, cool shady tree-tunnel runs, and finishes out with the always nice highland view of central Florida from the top of Sugarloaf....see it before the growth kills it..... 

Perfect for a quiet morning, before the sun heats the day too hot to ride!