Florida State Park Quest

[jbfla]

I am always looking for new roads to ride.

Here in Florida, I have half a dozen loops, 50 to 200 miles, that I ride regularly...on auto pilot.

Sometimes clockwise, and other times counter clockwise.

It's surprising how different a road can look riding the "other" way.

But having ridden the same roads for 50+ years....it gets old.

I recently discovered that Florida offers an annual State Park Pass, similar to the one offered by the National Park System.

State Park admission is from $4 to $10 per vehicle, depending on the park...it used to be free.... in my younger days...

So for $60 US for a single pass, or $120 for a family pass, you have unlimited admission to any of the State Parks for one year. That's a bargain if you regularly use the park system.

https://www.floridastateparks.org/

Here's the pass, and a passport to collect stamps from each park:




There are 174 Florida State Parks in the Passport.

I doubt that I will get to more than a fraction of them.

But it gives me a destination to aim for.

So far I have been to the 14 nearest to me.




I don't think anyone wants to see all the park signs, but I will post a few as I travel.

I have been to this one a few times for lunch. They have a cafe that makes pretty good cheeseburgers.




Homosassa is known for the springs that is home to a manatee population.



A slightly enlarged manatee...




Highlands Hammock SP is near Sebring:



And is home to one of the CCC museums (Civilian Conservation Corps).




I hadn't realized that the CCC was active in Florida (during the "Great Depression" in the US).

Coincidentally, my cabin in North Carolina is in a former CCC camp, where the workers lived while building many of the TVA dams.


Crystal River has a museum and archaeological site where native indian mounds have been excavated:



I went a short way down a side road but quickly returned when I was swarmed by mosquitoes:




As the parks become farther away, the "other bike" is more often the choice:



I learned not to always trust the GPS.

This was down an unmarked dirt (sand) road to what was supposed to be Lake June-in-Winter State Park in Lake Placid, FL.

But it wasn't.



This is the real Lake June-in-Winter, but it was getting late, and I never did find the State Park.




Dade Battlefield State Park was where, in 1835, Major Dade and his 108 American Army troops were massacred by the Seminole Indians (only 3 survivors).




I will post more as time permits.

Perhaps you can visit some of your state's State Parks.

jb

[Adjuster]

Very cool!


/

[fjmartin]

That's awesome. Here's to making them all! I'm hitting up ORV Park tomorrow. We have our state parks pass also called the Discover Pass.

[jbfla]

Oh!

One more thing.

It is a good idea to be careful where you go swimming.........



jb

[BlackBike]

I'm glad I learned not to swim with alligators

[Bill1]

Not a bad goal at all! I might try to copy your idea.

[jbfla]

Originally Posted by Bill1

Not a bad goal at all! I might try to copy your idea.

Where in FL are you located?

jb

[Bill1]

Originally Posted by jbfla

Where in FL are you located?

jb

Central. In Polk Co, just east of Lakeland.

[jbfla]

Originally Posted by Bill1

Central. In Polk Co, just east of Lakeland.

You should be able to get to the parks that I have ridden to without any problem.

I'm just west of Lakeland, but spend a lot of riding time in Polk Co., south of Mulberry and Bartow, cruising around the phosphate mines, orange groves, and cattle ranches.

jb

[jbfla]

Originally Posted by fjmartin

That's awesome. Here's to making them all! I'm hitting up ORV Park tomorrow. We have our state parks pass also called the Discover Pass.

Joe, There's an ORV park in the area I usually ride in, appropriately named "Bone Valley". . .....but I'm not as brave as you.....so I generally stick to the pavement.

I doubt I'll get to all the state parks. Some are on islands, and John Pennecamp, in the keys, is underwater.

And I also try to stay away from major population centers.

For example, a week ago, I was headed for Weeki Wachee Springs on the Florida west coast....to see the mermaids.

https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Weeki-Wachee

I became stuck in 6 lanes of bumper to bumper, stop and go traffic, and quickly changed destination.

If I have to ride in that kind of traffic, I would rather stay home.

jb

[fjmartin]

I agree completely on traffic. HATE it worst than anything on the bike. Don't like it in a car but hate it on the bike!