Leesburg Ride 4-9-2011

[dt]

I made my reservations today for Leesburg. Planning on hitting main street Friday afternoon and riding on Saturday. I booked through Sunday in case some riding interest develops; otherwise, I’m heading back to Tampa Saturday late afternoon.

The Saturday loop I’d like to do this year is the West Loop, Ozello Trail that Don has on the Windy Acres website. Its 133 miles and about three hours. Let’s say kickstands up at the Sleep Inn at 9AM, lunch at Ramshackles and by then all the fun will just be starting down at the fest. Anyone interested?

[Zarticus]

Half of that run is on 44 to crystal river & then the last quarter is 301, 44 is 4 lane, straight & very boring. 301 is a little better.  I not sure about 494 but it looks better, I'm taking a ride out to homassasa this week to check out that motorcycle junk yard so I will take 494 on the way back to check it out. I took a ride yesterday threw astatula on 561, then up threw mountverde to old highway 50. this is a must do run since it has some of the best curves & hill's in central Florida. I ran with three of my friends who all have fatboys & I've never seen so many sparks from the floorboards dragging!!. The curves & S-turns are GREAT on that run. While I was nowhere near scraping my pegs I must say the fatboys hung in there pretty well

[dt]

Hey, if you know a better route, let's do it. Just trying to get things rollin' here. Curves are better than straight. I've just been meaning to get over to Ozello for a long time. mrbones got some cool shots of the place, so I wanted to see it, but it'll happen.

[dongalb]

The curves from 19 out to Ozello are the reason to put up with the straight run to there.  Lunch at the end is great also.

However, Sugarloaf and about the only rolling hills in FL are worth the trip Astatula/Howey direction.  The Hideway in Tavares is a great lunch spot also, but probably not that weekend.  Go there for the Wet Tee maybe, but the crowds are so thick they park you up the road and hay ride you in.

I will have a cold one for anyone who wants to stop in Windy Acres and say hello.  If I am not around, just mention BikerFlorida to my wife Janet or son Dylan.

[dt]

I'm taking a ride out to homassasa this week to check out that motorcycle junk yard...

Hey, if you would, report back on what you see over there. Might be an interesting place to go look for old restoration parts.

[Zarticus]

I'm taking a ride out to homassasa this week to check out that motorcycle junk yard...

Hey, if you would, report back on what you see over there. Might be an interesting place to go look for old restoration parts.

No problem, Think I'm going to go there friday & take that ozello run on the way back.

[dt]

...bump.

Still a ways out, but this could be a couple good days of riding.

[dt]

Moved over here...

You decided on going to Leesburg? That's closing on three weeks out.

Only three things can stop me now.  Either the bike isn't done and ready.  Finances or the wife.     So far she hasn't said no and my wife very seldom ever has a problem with me doing anything.  But with the FGT and the May trip, it is kind of pushing it for a 3rd trip in such a short time frame.

I found out yesterday that a good buddy and some of his fellow HD riding bud's are riding up on Friday morning and riding home on Sunday.  I will most likely tag along with them.  I hope I can stay awake.     They want to ride the Forest on Saturday morning.  I sort of volunteered Gary to lead.     But I did tell them that Gary had to have better roads than that up there.  I have no idea if we will hook up with them or not but it would be better to ride up and back with someone. 

I told Gary, I might get a bug up my butt and enter the 83' in the bike show on Saturday afternoon in the Antique unrestored class.   

Excellent. I have Friday-Sunday set aside for whatever...preferably riding, but I'm game for anything you all want to do.

[danh600]

The way I am reading that Windy Acres camping doesn't sell out? So on the outside chance I could get up there last minute I would have a place to stay.

[dongalb]

We are preparing for a big crowd this year.  I certainly do not expect to fill up though.  Come on in, should be worth the trip.

[dt]

Don's place is huge. I've got some photos in the Halloween thread in Events.

This trip is shaping up!  

[v65infla]

If I can finish "Storman1", I am riding up Friday morning 4/8.  I am riding in with an HD riding buddy and his friends, if I can stay awake.     For that reason I am not sure what time we are leaving yet but if it too late then I'll go on my own as I want to be in my 12noon at least.  I will be going straight to Gary's and then he and I are camping out at Windy Acres which is about 10 minutes from his house if anyone wants to join us.

The loose plan's we have right now is to go from his house and set up camp and then ride some of the more popular riding roads before they get too crowded for the weekend.  Then Saturday morning, ride out away from the area, maybe up towards Ocala or maybe over the west coast (Cedar Key area) and then back to downtown Leesburg mid to late Saturday afternoon(Gary lives there so I will defer to him on all ride plans.)  Maybe, hang downtown until early evening, 8 to 9'sh and head back to camp before the drunks start revving up their bikes to clear downtown when the concerts end.  No plans for Sunday have been discussed yet and might be left open ended depending on how much "Fun" we have Saturday night.    I will have to find out when my buddy is heading back Sunday afternoon to ride back with them but it is going to be near 4 hours for us so I would think 4pm is going to be my must leave by time.  If I am feeling really bad, Gary is going to have a house guest on Sunday night and I will just ride home on Monday morning.   

[dt]

I'll probably get up there mid-afternoon Friday.

I'll shoot up to Windy Acres and hook up with ya'll for the evening festivities.

[Croz]

Anyone planning to go up Saturday?

The wife and 1, and 2 other riders can only do a day trip to Leesburg and will be riding up from the Riverview area in the morning.

Wondering if anyone else is planning something similar? Know any good routes that go up via 301 or 41?

[danh600]

I have two very tentative set of plans at the moment.

1. If my wife wants to go. We will ride up to Lake Placid on Fri, then just do a day trip to Leesburg on Saturday.

2. If she doesn't want to go I will probably ride up to Leesburg Sat. and camp Sat. night and come back Sunday.

It's pretty much a straight shot up US27 for me.

Jamie which way you guys going up?

[v65infla]

I have two very tentative set of plans at the moment.

1. If my wife wants to go. We will ride up to Lake Placid on Fri, then just do a day trip to Leesburg on Saturday.

2. If she doesn't want to go I will probably ride up to Leesburg Sat. and camp Sat. night and come back Sunday.

It's pretty much a straight shot up US27 for me.

Jamie which way you guys going up?

I don't have a clue yet as I haven't talked with my buddy.  I don't have anything set in stone with him.  I just mentioned I was going when I took Storman1 over to show him and he invited me to ride with them.  I detest highway riding, not because of safety but because it is so damn boring but I am torn between taking a more scenic route and just getting there as soon as possible.  

Streets & Trips is saying 223 miles from Boynton Beach to Wildwood (Where Gary lives) at 3 hours, 17 minutes drive time taking 95 to the TPK in Ft. Pierce and then straight up.

Putting Belle Glade in between and going up the east side of the Lake added an hour and 23 miles.  Going up the west side, is one minute faster but added 32 miles.  

Since you are not coming up until Saturday either way, I would be open to riding back with you on Sunday. 

[dt]

Know any good routes that go up via 301 or 41?

If you get an earlier start, here’s a route that avoids most all of I75. It’s about the same miles, but adds an hour. The key sights are riding along Lake Thonotosassa, the twisties on Old Dade City Road and then up through the Withlacoochee Forest. This is part of a loop I ride quite often...

Remove the asterisk after the “h” and paste this googlemap in your browser…

h*ttp://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=214362644914940423860.00049f912eb2719c631ed&ll=28.542307,-81.981354&spn=0.969927,1.234589&z=10

[dt]

Sounds like the common time everyone is going to be there at the moment is late Saturday afternoon. Maybe we can all meet up at Windy Acres for a photo op. This is who I’ve got on the list, plus accompaniments…

Jamie (V65inFla)
Dan (danh600)
Croz (Croz)
Larry (Magnaone)
Gary (Zarticus)
Don (dongalb)
Bill (dt)
mrbones

[mrbones]

I'm in. 

[dt]

 

[v65infla]

Sounds like the common time everyone is going to be there at the moment is late Saturday afternoon. Maybe we can all meet up at Windy Acres for a photo op. This is who I’ve got on the list, plus accompaniments…

Jamie (V65inFla)
Dan (danh600)
Croz (Croz)
Larry (Magnaone)
Gary (Zarticus)
Don (dongalb)
Bill (dt)
mrbones

I think we are going to be downtown late afternoon, checking out the bike show and the music and whatnot.  Pretty much the only time all weekend we planned to go down into the mess.  If you make it early afternoon say 2'sh, we could stop by on the way back from the morning ride??   

[Zarticus]

I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!. made my resevations at windy acres yesterday. Going to load up the Magna with a tent, sleeping bag, chair & gear & look like I traveled cross country but I'm actually not even 10 min from my house . 

[magnaone]

any idea  on time and where your leaving from sat  morn   planning on being there by 8 or 9

[danh600]

Since you are not coming up until Saturday either way, I would be open to riding back with you on Sunday.

Yea, I was kind of thinking about Sunday. Depending on which way you guys go and what time I might ride out with you.

[v65infla]

Since you are not coming up until Saturday either way, I would be open to riding back with you on Sunday.

Yea, I was kind of thinking about Sunday. Depending on which way you guys go and what time I might ride out with you.

Like I said, I have no real commitments to them.  Sunday is going to depend a lot on Saturday night.     You and I can take off and go whatever route we want back home.  I will NOT be in a hurry to get back here.