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#1 |
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: FL, GA, NC
Posts: 771
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Florida State Park Quest
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
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2016 Honda CB500F......2017 Triumph Street Twin 2014 XT 250........ |
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#2 |
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Deerfield Beach FL
Posts: 1,410
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Very cool!
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#3 |
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Redmond, WA.
Posts: 534
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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.
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2017 BMW F800GS Adventure |
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#4 |
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: FL, GA, NC
Posts: 771
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Oh!
One more thing. It is a good idea to be careful where you go swimming......... ![]() jb
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2016 Honda CB500F......2017 Triumph Street Twin 2014 XT 250........ |
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#5 |
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: George West, Texas
Posts: 4,097
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I'm glad I learned not to swim with alligators
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***************************************** 2015 Bashan"Blaze" BS250GY-31 (DB-07K-250) GONE 2017 Suzuki V Strom 650 XT "We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid." ~Benjamin Franklin~
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#7 |
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: FL, GA, NC
Posts: 771
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Where in FL are you located?
jb
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2016 Honda CB500F......2017 Triumph Street Twin 2014 XT 250........ |
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#8 |
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: FL
Posts: 95
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Central. In Polk Co, just east of Lakeland.
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2016 RPS Hawk 250, exhaust, Uni Filter, Mikuni VM-26 clone w/ 120 main & 30 pilot, MSR shifter, 17/45 sprockets, JT chain, digital cluster... |
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#9 |
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: FL, GA, NC
Posts: 771
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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
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2016 Honda CB500F......2017 Triumph Street Twin 2014 XT 250........ |
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#10 | |
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: FL, GA, NC
Posts: 771
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Quote:
![]() 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
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2016 Honda CB500F......2017 Triumph Street Twin 2014 XT 250........ |
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