Citrus Tower - Go All The Way!

Got to stop by this great old-school tourist spot recently.

On US 27, north of the intersection of US27 and SR50, is a tourist attraction that has been in operation since July 1956!  Predating Walt Disney World by nearly two decades, the Citrus Tower in Clermont retains that Floridian charm.

http://www.citrustower.com/   is the link to their website.  For less than the price of  six-pack of Blue Moons, you can go all the way to the top!  The elevator goes every bit of 15 floors up to the observation area.  Fully enclosed, the views in all directions are great.  Apparently the roof observation deck has been closed for years, but the enclosed area is plenty suitable to get your view on.    The old days of actual citrus groves surrounding the tower are just a fond memory now, the view is subdivisions a-go-go all around, but is still pretty cool.  Be sure and take some pocket change to drop into the low-tech tourist thrill coin drop tube, you can hear the coin roll down the tube all the way to the bottom!

Definitely worth a short visit, take a few minutes out of a future ride to pay your respects to this grand old lady of Florida tourism.  The entry is through Lilly's Gift shop in the lobby Lillys-Citrus-Tower-Gift-Shop.  The shop has lots of old photos, articles, and memorabilia from the opening in July 1956 to current day.  The old photos are great, as is seeing some of the old originial carrillion bell equipment.

In 2011, the Citrus Tower started doing Christmas lights and a light show.  Check their website for details for this year's shows, but with the recently announced demise of the Disney Osborn Spectacle Of Lights, you are going to want to find a new family tradition......

Howey-In-The-Hills, Dewey Road Run

Found another great local road yesterday.  One to add to the list for easy to get to, expand that menu of local roads that are within an hour of home....  somedays you just don't have the time to a proper long ride, so I'm always looking for that close-in local road I've missed before...

The DEWEYS up near Howey-In-The-Hills, fit that description.  Been riding past them since 2003, never went down one.. sad to say.  Just south of Howey-In-The-Hills on SR 19, watch for East Dewey Robbins Rd, follow that to South Dewey Robbins Rd, then it turns into Dewey Robbins Rd and finally hooks up with US 27.  Once you get on either DEWEY, just stay on the pavement, and you'll come out the other side just fine.  SR 19 to US 27, or the other way, same difference.  If you hit dirt, stop, turn around. 

Great extra little loop to add to your Leesburg, Tavares, Mt Dora adventure portfolio.  

 

Toss in a stop at the Yalaha Bakery, and you'll have a fine morning ride! 

http://www.yalahabakery.com/

 

  

The new circle near Sugarloaf Mountain is almost done.  Still tricky though since the intersections are routed around the circle and not the best to get through yet.

 

 Stopped off to pick up some 303 Aerospace Protectorant for the bike, and had this photo-op.....

Lid Covers Royal Star Venture

Found a picture on one of the Royal Star Venture web pages of these leather lid covers for the saddlebags on my bike.  Followed up by going to the web page of the business, and shortly thereafter have my own set of custom lid covers.

 Nanci, at Ace High Leathers was a pleasure to deal with.  For the stitching, she partners with a local associate, Jill, of Sheep Mountain Embroidery.  Jill did a great job working from emails and the result is really great.  The covers go on very easily with sewn-in clips.  Open the lid, line up the cover and position the clips.  There's a bit of stretch to fit, and that makes the whole thing fit snugly and nice.  Basic lid covers were $165 from Ace High Leathers, and additional art set-up and stitching costs would vary depending on size, complexity, and color.

Links to both business...
http://www.acehighleathers.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ace-High-Leathers/164529240257266

http://www.sheepmountainembroidery.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sheep-Mountain-Embroidery/233896227432

We named our bike Gipsy Danger, after the movie Pacific Rim...the front of the RSV looks like the chest piece on the Gipsy Danger jaeger in the movie....

Mound Builders - Crystal River Archaelogical State Park

Had a great time discovering more Florida History today!

Headed west to the gulf, out some favorite back roads and small towns...Mascotte, Tuscanooga, Center Hill, Webster, Bushnell, Istachatta, Floral City, Inverness, Hernando, Crystal River....

There are a lot of riding options through the area, all are good.  48 east from 41 in Floral City is particularly awesome with the tree tunnel just east of town.   Had a good time finding some great vintage items in Webster's West Side and Shirley's Antiques (Bushnell).  Then it was time to ride.

Made for the Crystal River Archaeological State Park.  Here's their link:
 https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/crystal-river-archaeological

The museum is easy to get to and well worth the three dollar price of admission.  Numerous artifacts on display, as well as the diagrams of the temple mound complex with burial mounds.  Amazing stuff.  Short 8 minute video loop gives you the story of the mound complex and scientific efforts.  These guys traded all the way up the Great Lakes!  And, there is distinct possibility they knew the major groups to the south, Inca, Mayan.  Being situated kinda in the middle there between northern and southern groups, their trade cut both ways.  Very cool.

 Standing on the platform at top of the temple mound, easy to let one's imagination wander.  So good.

 

Carved stone, image of a face with topknot of hair.  Just squint the right way, you'll see it.  BOOM, cool.

 

Heading back home, between Floral City and Bushnell, on 48, is an old roadside rest area, complete with historical marker.  This is a well manicured and cared-for spot, and the marker pays homage to the Battle Of Wahoo Swamp, during the Seminole-Indian Wars.   Just a little way south is the epic Dade Battlefield Memorial as well.  If ever you get a chance to read up on the Seminole Indian wars, it will be quite surprising for you. 

 Not sure what the story is with the Gorilla.  He looked lonely, so we did a photo-op to remember the good times, whatever they may have been....  He's just a few yards south of the Crystal River State Park entrance.  Can't miss him.  Literally. 

The Times, They Are A-Changing, For Sugarloaf Mtn Riding!

Good News And Bad News UPDATE:

Lake County is keeping busy up in the Sugarloaf Mountain riding area!
New changes coming include - Traffic Circle, Scenic Overlook, and a Turnpike Interchange!

The intersection of 561 and 455 is being turned into a roundabout.  This new traffic circle will greatly improve a historically challenging intersection.  It should be nice once it's all done!

Green Mountain Scenic Overlook & Trailhead:
Just found a new overlook and hiking trail county park addition.  Heading west out of Monteverde on 455, just before the drop to the traffic circle in the valley bottom, there is a new facility on the north side of the road.  Nice parking, restrooms, even a doggie-do collection box....  a short walk from the parking area opens onto an awesome new overlook of the valley.  A large deck is built out of the hillside, complete with a covered sitting area, and several flights of stairs down to the hillside level.  What a wonderful spot.  Deep in central Florida, with the feel of a Blue Ridge location!  You gotta go!   
Well done Lake County parks services!

 Minneola Interchange:
Saw this on a FDOT website recently....  apparently a new turnpike interchange will be going in to serve Minneola traffic, and an extension will be run through the scrub jay old orange grove lands up to 561A, west of Ferndale.  This will put traffic easier to the turnpike from the Sugarloaf Mountain area, and no doubt will help fuel an explosive round of subdivision construction in the area.  Lots of clearing taking place, and with the traffic circle at 455 and 561 almost done....

All I can say is get out and ride the area now, soak it up, before there are loads of subdivisions adding volumes of traffic to some of the best motorcycling area Florida has to offer.