Winter/Spring 2021 Ride through Florida.

[carolinarider09]

I posted this in the General Board and it was suggested I might post it here as well. 

A friend I use to ride with says that, now since he is retired, he is interested in doing some riding.  We did not get a chance this year, mostly due to Covid and some kneee surgery he had done (both knees).

One of the trips we took a few years ago, in late winter early spring was to Florida.  My wife and I did a trip down there early this year. 

The only goal is to to enjoy the ride and try and avoid hight traffic areas with urban sprawl.  Traveling down the west coast was sort of the plan and then coming back up the east part of the state. 

I wanted to include a ride through the Everglades and then up around Lake Okeechobee.  The last trip we did with my friend was around the western part of the lake.  In all our trips to Key West we did in the 2004- 2010 we went up the Eastern side.  So. I thought I'd try the western part again. 

Just wanted to see if there were any comments on the route, trip and suggestions on why I should not follow the route I have pictured below. 

I have provide a GPX file of the route if you would like more detail to comment on .

[Farside]

Well it will be a fun trip but if you want to see parts of S. GA & N. FL that are spectacular while you're near Valdosta head west to Quitman then south to Tallahassee. Great ride down in this area and not much in the way of traffic. Then go south of Tallahassee to Hway 98 and go EAST. It will get you to Perry which will then run into your planed route, 27/19. So a little out of the way to take my suggestion but not bad at all for the curvy canopy roads you'll see in S GA and Tallahassee area. Just a thought, heck maybe I'll meet you there and show you the best roads.    

[OLDFRT]

Keith,

     US 98 runs East to Perry from South of Tallahassee. You are right about more curvy roads through that area, but 98 West will take him to Panama City. Personally, I would much rather run any kind of roads other than Interstates.

[carolinarider09]

Well it will be a fun trip but if you want to see parts of S. GA & N. FL that are spectacular while you're near Valdosta head west to Quitman then south to Tallahassee. Great ride down in this area and not much in the way of traffic. Then go south of Tallahassee to Hway 98 and go west. It will get you to Perry which will then run into your planed route, 27/19. So a little out of the way to take my suggestion but not bad at all for the curvy canopy roads you'll see in S GA and Tallahassee area. Just a thought, heck maybe I'll meet you there and show you the best roads.   

Thanks.  I will keep this thread updated. 

Will look at your suggests. 

[carolinarider09]

Keith,

     US 98 runs East to Perry from South of Tallahassee. You are right about more curvy roads through that area, but 98 West will take him to Panama City. Personally, I would much rather run any kind of roads other than Interstates.

So would I.  The only problem I found, but its probably just lack of knowledge, is that on one of our trips to Key West I did my best to avoid interstates so, took some "local" roads in central Florida, headed south and they were just full of stop lights and traffic and what I sometimes call urban sprawl. 

[OLDFRT]

I took I-75 most of the way to Key West, via Miami a few years ago. Coming back, I rode up US 27 and then cut Northwest on US 98. Other than Sebring, and the Auburndale/Lakeland area, the stoplights weren't that big a problem. However, if you run parallel to the Interstate, fairly close to it, you will have tons of stoplights.

[ridingron]

How are you getting from Kissimmee/St. Cloud over to 33(?)?  192 is stoplight after stoplight from St. Cloud to I-4. It is everything Disney off Disney property. I would take the financial hit and use 417 (toll road) unless you're stopping by Disney/Universal/Sea world. 192 isn't too bad from I-4 to 27 (~10 miles). 27 north to 474 (~10 miles) then 474 to 33.

If you are using 33, paralleling 27, to Groveland, be aware it is a 2 lane road with heavy semi truck use. But believe me when I say they won't be slowing you down.

[Farside]

Keith,

     US 98 runs East to Perry from South of Tallahassee. You are right about more curvy roads through that area, but 98 West will take him to Panama City. Personally, I would much rather run any kind of roads other than Interstates.

Thanks Don, Absolutely right. I should have proof read. You'd have to go east to get to Perry. Sorry for the confusion.    

[OLDFRT]

No problem, Keith. I just didn't want him to be going out of his way, and possibly causing problems with his trip.

[Pappy!]

When you are coming back through Okeechobee you might want to stop at Lightseys restaurant. I haven't been down that way in a while but they normally serve great Florida Seafood dishes.

Take a look https://www.facebook.com/lightseysrestaurant/

[carolinarider09]

Thanks Pappy!, but seafood is not my thing.  Now BBQ........  that's my thing. 

Still working on the trip...

My initial plans were based on riding with a friend but I have since decided that, rather than plan an trip he might like, I am going to plan a trip I might like and ask him to tag along. 

I really just want to ride.  Florida is nice in the late winter and early spring so, first of March is the target date. 

I like Lake Oakachoobee (sp).  I like  the upper north western part.  After that its just getting down there and back.  Trying to keep to rural roads. 

[OLDFRT]

I agree with you about the trip planning. If you are doing the planning, plan "your" trip, not one that you think he might like.  If you are sitting together and planning, then you both have input.

[crow]

When  riding  north,  and you  get  to  Floral City, just South  of Inverness,  take a right  (East) at the stop light (the only one)  and drive out of town a mile, then just turn around , head back to Inverness.   You won't  regret it.

[carolinarider09]

Thanks crow, I will keep that in mind.