Ride around the Lake

[danh600]

Jamie

In another thread you mentioned riding around Lake Okeechobee. We should plan a trip. Keep in mind you are going to have 2.5 to 3 more hours of riding then I am. So pick the starting time since the ride will be easy for me.

Also your buddy in Lehigh could meet up with us in Clewiston or Moore Haven. Either would be a short hop for him.

There are plenty of places to stop, but the best restaurants are either in Clewiston or Okeechobee so we might want to time that.

I am not sure if anyone else on the forum is close enough to do this but all are welcome!

I am thinking one of the next two weekends. Sat or Sun are fine with me.

[v65infla]

I got your email Dan.  Give me a day to check and see what is going on the next 2 weekends.  I usually go up the east side of lake first and stop in Brewski's if I am remembering the name correctly in Okeechobee but that was a long time ago and may not still be there.  You are correct, if we go the west side first I can give Chris a heads up and see if he can meet up and go.  I really could you use a ride, I was just thinking last night that I haven't been on the bike at all since the nicer weather started.  You are correct, I would be about an hour from you.

You will have to remind me about how long a loop takes with appropriate stops.  I am usually good for 100 miles between stops but most people need it sooner than that so I am up for whatever.  

The only thing that might come up is my cardiologist appt. on Friday.  If I drop dead on the tread mill, I am out.   

[danh600]

The whole loop is only about 3 hours of actual riding. It's about 110 miles or so. So really stops would just be when we wanted.

Really there are no long stretches at all without places for gas, water, toilet breaks. Plus in addition there are several scenic stops. Lots of bikes stop on the dike next to the St. Lucie canal. As you know you have to stop and go up on the dike to actually see the lake.

Brewskis is still in Okeechobee, but I have never been there. I'll ask and see if it's still good. Tons of food choices in Okeechobee. It's grown in the last few years.

If you drop dead friday I guess you get a pass.

[dt]

As you know you have to stop and go up on the dike to actually see the lake.

Last time (only time) I looped the Lake, I drove my bike right up on the dike in a couple places. Not supposed to do that? Ooops. 

[v65infla]

The whole loop is only about 3 hours of actual riding. It's about 110 miles or so. So really stops would just be when we wanted.

Really there are no long stretches at all without places for gas, water, toilet breaks. Plus in addition there are several scenic stops. Lots of bikes stop on the dike next to the St. Lucie canal. As you know you have to stop and go up on the dike to actually see the lake.

Brewskis is still in Okeechobee, but I have never been there. I'll ask and see if it's still good. Tons of food choices in Okeechobee. It's grown in the last few years.

If you drop dead friday I guess you get a pass.

As you know you have to stop and go up on the dike to actually see the lake.

Last time (only time) I looped the Lake, I drove my bike right up on the dike in a couple places. Not supposed to do that? Ooops. 

If the reference is to Port Mayaca, I was there in June and you can drive your bike upon the dike towards Lock's but it is gated off going the other way. 

[dt]

That must have been the place! I didn't remember the name of the town, but there was a lock right there. Once you get up on the dike, you can get some good photos with the lake in the background.

[danh600]

Yep, that's the place DT. No facilities, but a nice scenic place to stop. There are almost always a few bikes stopped there on a Sat or Sun. This picture was in May but I am sure I probably stopped there some time in June. Small world.


 

I drove my bike right up on the dike in a couple places. Not supposed to do that? Ooops.

 

Yes, that tends to get the authorities going a bit. Actually there is quite a few areas authorized access points. Most of them pretty scenic. Much of the top of the dike is paved now. It's part of the Florida Trail. Foot traffic and bicycles only.

You have a thread on your travels around the lake?

[dt]

No thread, but that’s actually a neat ride from up here in West Central and you can do it in a day. My photo was around September 2009 iirc. I think I want to do that again sometime. 

[v65infla]

One of my favorite short rides is to run out Southern Blvd over the Lake, go north to Port Mayca.  I stop and hang out for a bit, in June I even laid down on bridge support concrete slab and took a short nap.     From there, I follow the canal over to Stuart and then bring Federal Hwy back into West Palm Beach. 

[danh600]

I saw them doing a big revival type church service under that bridge one day. Had a stage for the preacher and a bunch of chairs. Built in cover from the rain and sun.

[danh600]

No thread, but that’s actually a neat ride from up here in West Central and you can do it in a day. My photo was around September 2009 iirc. I think I want to do that again sometime. 

It would great if we could get a big group.

[v65infla]

No thread, but that’s actually a neat ride from up here in West Central and you can do it in a day. My photo was around September 2009 iirc. I think I want to do that again sometime.  

It would great if we could get a big group.

Looking at weather.com it say's mid to high 70's this weekend and it only goes out to a week from Thursday but it say's 73 so it looks like it might be dipping again after that.  I never understand how they can forecast 10 days out anyway.  My buddy Chris def cannot make it this weekend and the following might be touch and go and for him.

I have learned from the past just to pick a date and go.  I have had many turn out and I have ended up riding alone but waiting for a bunch of people to settle on one day just get's ridiculous sometimes.  

Dan, I will leave it up to you.  Just a pick day any day and I will most probably make it work.  By the way, I work for myself and although I am not anti weekend riding, I try to reserve weekends for the family so in all goof off activities (Riding, Golf, etc) weekdays work best for me.  Like I said though just pick it and I will be there.  

Ps, I sent Chris the link to join the forum so hopefully he will piping up here sooner or later.

[dt]

It would great if we could get a big group.

Right now I’m trying to work in a boondoggle down to the Keys before xmas. I have my own business too, but everyone seems to need everything before the Holidays. Probably won't be able to pull it off. Weren’t you guys planning a ride/event down that way in February? Thought I’d go…maybe some others might too. We can visit J&S Fish Camp  which was somewhere going around that lake.

[v65infla]

It would great if we could get a big group.

Right now I’m trying to work in a boondoggle down to the Keys before xmas. I have my own business too, but everyone seems to need everything before the Holidays. Probably won't be able to pull it off. Weren’t you guys planning a ride/event down that way in February? Thought I’d go…maybe some others might too. We can visit J&S Fish Camp  which was somewhere going around that lake.

I am hoping to pull off a Florida Get Together in the Sebring area the 3rd week in Feb.

[danh600]

Dan, I will leave it up to you.  Just a pick day any day and I will most probably make it work.  By the way, I work for myself and although I am not anti weekend riding, I try to reserve weekends for the family so in all goof off activities (Riding, Golf, etc) weekdays work best for me.

I can do a week day during the late summer or early fall, but the rest of the year I have to be at work M-F. So pretty much has to be a weekend for me.

[danh600]

We can visit J&S Fish Camp   which was somewhere going around that lake.

J&S is just north of where the other pictures were taken. It's a great place to stop. I wait till I park the bike for the day before I crack open a cold one, but it's still a great place to stop. They often have some decent live music, clean bathroom which is important to the wife. Always a bunch of bikes there. Normally some colorful locals hanging around. It's just kind of a unique place.

[maureen]

Anyone riding this weekend?

[dt]

Anyone riding this weekend?

I’ll be at a charity muddin’ event  kind of the 4wd equivalent of a toy run.

[maureen]

Anyone riding this weekend?

I’ll be at a charity muddin’ event  kind of the 4wd equivalent of a toy run.

Sounds interesting! Have fun 

[v65infla]

I DID the lake ride today!     I sent you an email, late last night Dan, although I do realize it was very last minute I figured I would take a shot anyway.  I only stopped for gas, food and well, you know the rest.     I went up the east side first and stopped at the McD's in Clewston for a late lunch and to put the liner in my jacket which I def needed by then, on the way back around.  The phone said it was 56 with a 26mph wind at 4pm.  I was smart enough to wear long underwear under my riding jeans but my hands froze most of the day even with the liners in the gloves.  234 miles in 6 hours, although a bit cold it was a great post holiday stress relief.   

[dt]

 

Another member has looped the lake!

[danh600]

I DID the lake ride today!     I sent you an email, late last night Dan, although I do realize it was very last minute I figured I would take a shot anyway.  I only stopped for gas, food and well, you know the rest.     I went up the east side first and stopped at the McD's in Clewston for a late lunch and to put the liner in my jacket which I def needed by then, on the way back around.  The phone said it was 56 with a 26mph wind at 4pm.  I was smart enough to wear long underwear under my riding jeans but my hands froze most of the day even with the liners in the gloves.  234 miles in 6 hours, although a bit cold it was a great post holiday stress relief.   

Oh man my timing was terrible. I didn't check my emails this weekend. Didn't see it till this morning. I did the same thing. I long ride after Christmas. The problem is I went south and missed you. You went right by my house.

Wasn't that wind fun!!!
I was going straight into it on the way home.

[v65infla]

I am sorry we missed each other Dan, especially knowing that you were out riding also.  I made a poor decision to go the east side first, which I believe might have kept me riding into the wind longer than if I had gone to the south and up around the west side first.  Primarily because I was ass'ing an attempt to go up to Avon Park but when I got to the top of the Lake it was already after 2pm and the farther north I went the colder it was getting.  I knew then that I would not have a happy ride home if I had decided to head up that far and might have been tempted to get a room for the night, which would not have made the missus very happy, at least without prior planning.

The wind only really bothered me a few times and mostly came into play when meeting semi's.   Flat tracking the bike at 70mph is always fun times.