I did a 377 mile ride to Lake Wales and back yesterday, Dec 9th, with MSTA. This was my first ride since Ilse's passing. Many of the riders knew her and knew she and I were together. They all knew she had passed. MSTA had announced her passing as they do for all members who pass. It was a bitter/sweet time. She was friends with several of the female riders who were there. Two of my riding buddies from the Orlando area were there. itwas good healing time for me.
I departed from home at 06:50 just before sunup. The temp was 68F/20C under partly cloudy skies. Traffic was light and once I got to US 27 there was almost no traffic. I set the cruise control on 74 mph/119 kph and let sugar cane fields fly by.
The map below shows US 27 which is a four lane, divided highway. It runs through the drained Everglades and sugar cane to the south side of Lake Okeechobee. There are no backroads to take until one gets north of Moore Haven towards Lake Placid. At that point, I can find rural backroads that take me north and keep me off of US 27. That's where the extra miles of my trip come from. Going back home, I opted to stay on US 27 for speed.
Below are some segments of maps that show the lack of backroads. All of the green is Everglades sans sugar cane.
In the photo below, you can see the blue circle which is my home. The orange blob to the southwest is where I pick up US 27. Notice that the streets are laid out perpendicular and parallel to the ocean and not north-south, east-west.
Lake Okeechobee area
At Venus is where I start finding rural country roads.
When I got to Moore Haven, I met four riders coming from the West Palm Beach area. This group included the MSTA Florida State Coordinator. We had 28 riders turn out for this lunch]. Good, well prepared food, inexpensive prices and top notch, quick service. The friendship and comradery were awesome.
I departed from home at 06:50 just before sunup. The temp was 68F/20C under partly cloudy skies. Traffic was light and once I got to US 27 there was almost no traffic. I set the cruise control on 74 mph/119 kph and let sugar cane fields fly by.
The map below shows US 27 which is a four lane, divided highway. It runs through the drained Everglades and sugar cane to the south side of Lake Okeechobee. There are no backroads to take until one gets north of Moore Haven towards Lake Placid. At that point, I can find rural backroads that take me north and keep me off of US 27. That's where the extra miles of my trip come from. Going back home, I opted to stay on US 27 for speed.
Below are some segments of maps that show the lack of backroads. All of the green is Everglades sans sugar cane.
In the photo below, you can see the blue circle which is my home. The orange blob to the southwest is where I pick up US 27. Notice that the streets are laid out perpendicular and parallel to the ocean and not north-south, east-west.
Lake Okeechobee area
At Venus is where I start finding rural country roads.
When I got to Moore Haven, I met four riders coming from the West Palm Beach area. This group included the MSTA Florida State Coordinator. We had 28 riders turn out for this lunch]. Good, well prepared food, inexpensive prices and top notch, quick service. The friendship and comradery were awesome.
