Touring - Florida Safari Tour

Around the 4th of July weekend I did a 5 night tour exploring more public lands on the Palm Bch/Martin Co. border area(taking a shortcut on a levee through one) then making my way westward across the state just to the north of Lake O(cheechobie) across the long desolate stretch to the central highlands areas of Lake Placid/Sebring.After mossying around the backroads between Sebring and the Peace River town of Wauchula I finally rode into Wauchula my ultimate destination after what had seemed like one setback after another designed to keep me from arriving there.It was a bit of a dud of a town actually and as it was the 4th I headed on down the Peace R. valley taking some scenic remote western backroads to Arcadia a more happening town.From there I started a long remote stretch south and east to Rt. 27 and the Lake O town of Moore Haven.Near there I picked up the Lake O Scenic Trail a levee running clear around the lake for 110 miles.I did the southern section around to South Bay.After a side trip to Belle Glade for a food stop I headed on down 27 through the agricultural areas then the everglades.As evening approached I took to the levee running along 27 and the wildlife was magnificent as it had been the previous evening along the Lake O levee.Next morning I cut across the glades on a levee as a shortcut back to SoFl. and was back home.

Here are a few more details by day:
Day1 Rode north along the everlades/agricultural areas on 441 cutting around the edge of Wellington a subdivision that borders on some horse farm areas.This led me to Seminole/Pratt Rd. which runs north to the J.D. Corbitt WMA.It was neat when the road turned dirt bordering Corbitt and the views were outstanding.I had envisioned taking some levees through Corbitt to Rt. 710 which would take me to Ocheechobie(the town)but with the fees and uncetainty of the route I took the levee along a bordering public land instead and this area was a real gem I will definately be back to explore it ie no fees, no crowds,hunters,rv etc. and beautiful scenery.On 710 there was one bad section(I had apparently forgotten about from a prior tour) where I walked the bike on the grass a few miles due to heavy holiday traffic and stealth camped somewhere between Indiantown and Okeechobie hidden by large weeds not far off the roadway near the fence for a ranch.
Day2 In Okeechobie I hit the Golden Corral breakfast buffet and while I put quite a dent in it (6 desserts for example)I was hungry again and buying snacks shortly after at the fish camp along the Kissimmee on 70 the Rt. I took from Okeechobie across to Rt.27.As I said before this is a long desolate stretch of cattle ranches and then orange groves as well and I was glad to reach the incline leading up to the plateau of the cental highlands that Rt. 27 runs along through this area.It was a steady diet of gradual ups and downs up to just outside Sebring where I stealth camped in a small clump of live oak trees complete with hanging moss in the middle of a field.I was definately in a different part of the state now from So.Fl. and was enjoying the differing scenery.
Day3 Next day I picked up Rt. 66 headed to Zolfo Springs a town 3 miles south of Wauchula that is a popular put in spot for canoes and kyacks floating down the Peace to Arcadia.This was a scenic road with good shoulder and seemed like a steady gradual climb.I was real enjoying the elevation changes in this area (at least as compared to the long flat roads further south in Fl).After a while the shoulder ended and there was a real remote road headed north and I knew further north there was another road that headed to Wauchula my destination rather than Zolpho so I went for it and the series of backroads I took connecting to Rt. 64 were nothing short of fantastic(I was kind of winging it too as I did not really have a good map with me.I did this quite a few times on the trip and only got it trouble ie 2 or three miles out of my way one time) .When I hit Rt. 64 to Wauchula I soon hit a V and 636 headed to Wauchula had no shoulder while Rt.64 on to Zolpho did so I rode to Zolpho then up to Wauchula. As Wauchula seemed dead I took western backroads one a total wing but one of the nicest of the trip eventullly down to 661 into Arcadia.This road enters Arcadia over by the two canoe outfitters on the Peace River and the popular campground and that campground was packed for the 4th with kids riding along the frontage road on ATV's and the smell of food cooking everywhere.On my first tour we stayed there but as this choice was totally mine there was no way I would consider it so I rode through town to the Walmart where I needed to get a couple of items and luckily on the way noticed a Hungry Howies Pizza buffet which I destroyed(very timely).I actually watched firework for awhile from the Walmart parking lot you could see them from three directions.It seems to me Arcadia,Wauchula and Gainesville Fl. are all very similar towns archetecurally but while Gville has a thriving student population and Arcadia has a growing rep as a hip outdoorsy type town Wauchula seems to be kind of left behind but truthfully it is probably very popular with grandmothertly types so I guess all is well.Anyway this night for the first time it was well after dark when I headed south from Arcadia on Rt. 31 finding a stealth spot after I got a decent ways out of town.
Day4 This day my route would be 31 south to 74 east to 27.I new from a previous tour there was only one mexican store on 31 (it was closed for the holiday) but this was one more store than on the long stretch of 74 across to 27.Pretty country and good road traffic wise but can you say desolate (and hot for that matter).By the time I finally reached Gatorama a tourist joint I was rationing my water and barely had any left and of course their bathroom water stunk to high heaven and they only had a few sodas and candy but a sprite did hit the spot.I filled up my water later at a rv park where I didn't see a soul (apparrently populated by snowbirds all in N.C. now.If only we can figure how to convince them to stay lol). When I rode into Moore Haven I was craving a fast food joint and there was a BK and then a huge steep bridge and while my energy levels were low I headed across the bridge hoping like a fool to find a McD's instead(man what a fastfood junkie this cycle touring turns you into).Of course there was no town on the otherside of the bridge but a backroad 72(can't read last digit as my map is torn)headed over to Lake O and I hoped to get on the levee there to camp and ride for awhile perhaps at the fish camp I saw a sign for.It was a long ride to the fish camp which had seen better times judging by the snacks or lack thereof the proprietor had available but I was able to get on the levee and ride an hour or so as the sun was setting and this was glorious(on this part you had the elevated levee then the canal below then much wetlands and tree islands which are dead looking clumps of trees in the glades but here they streached for miles along the canal and are very popular with birds then finally in the far distance with the aid of my walkman/monacle I could barely see the lake itself.Farther east the next day the lake came into better view but imo the wetlands are more scenic.).At one point a bass boat is coming up the canal so I start speeding up and up ahead here comes a couple on horseback riding on the grass between the canal and levee towards us.We all time passing at the same time and stop and chat awhile.Then I head on to Clewiston which seems a kind of hopping place right on the Lake so I ride about two blocks to a Mex grocery pick up cheese,crackers and apples and feast then head back out along the levee and camp down on the grass by the canal.This was a long day probably close to 100 miles while the others were closer to 80 except the last more like 20(estimates as i don't use a bike computer and don't really like to focus on miles when I'm riding rather experiences the moment,places etc.)
Day 5 As the levee around Lake O is also part of the Florida Trail I decided to do some hiking the next day pushing my bike along for long distances then cycling some to make time.Actually I tried to hike a few miles at least each day as its good crosstraining particuarily if my knee starts getting a few twitches.In particular I actually walked a good part of the road along Corbitt the first day and the levee that same day.When I reached South Bay I got back on Rt. 27 but headed north to Belle Glade to find a McD's (I usu. avoid the place like the plague but found they had a $1 chicken sandwich that I started craving on this tour p.s. these cravings ended with the tour for those interested).Now those of you that know Fl. know Belle Glade is not the nicest neighborhood but I managed to eat and run actually one guy made some comment behind my back as I was leaving (probable because the cute Hispanic chicks in there were all digging me not him)but out by the bike two younger hipper dudes came up asking questions and had more genuine interest in what I was doing than anyone on the trip.Anyway back on Rt. 27 through South Bay again and into the everglades agricultural area(read sugar cane and sod farms) and eventually into the everglades proper and for the last few hours of the day along the levees along 27 (I found some kind of expedition/safari hat along the road that I donned for this)and here the birds were out of this world.I noted at the Palm Bch/Broward Co. line where levees ran westward to two WMA's that I plan to explore in the future and levee's ran east to Loxahatchee WMA as well which would be the shortest route for me back but i did not have my levee map of this section so I went on.I camped along a levee about 2 miles north of where I would cut east across the glades the next day at a airboat/tourist attraction.
Day 6 I actually slept in longer today than any other day(I don't wear a watch but I'm usually in my tent by nightfall and out by daybreak or shortly thereafter ).I think I was trying to extent the tour as much as possible at this point but anyway at the airboat place some french tourists ie. three french chicks and one in particular took a liking to me or was it the last of the cheese and crackers that I was feasting on .As they headed off into the glades on the airboat I headed by cycle.This was a route I had done before on a beach cruiser and plan to backpack in the future so I knew it well then I hit the urban area and nonetheless decided to keep my safari hat on instead of my bicycle helment but it only seemed fitting for this tour .

Your were almost in my back yard as I live in Avon Park. I see some tour bikes on 64 from time to time. I don't get over to 66 as much any more. I know every road you were on probably. Next time your up this way e-mail me if you need a place to camp. I am east of A. P. off of 64 East.

Well I finally got back up that way to explore the backroads around Sebring it just took longer than I originally planned lol.I took 66 quite aways out until the land started opening up into cattle country with some pretty good views.Where I turned north in fact I began riding along a cattle ranch and the cows all gathered into a big herd running along in front of me.I felt like a cowboy herding cattle or something lol. After awhile I saw a sign pavement ends and thought oh no but it was just a short dirt stretch around a wooden plank bridge one of many I would see in this area and around Arcadia as well.Then a sign pavement narrows and it narrowed to old pavement with grass growing in the cranks in a few spots.I finally took a left as this road seemed to start heading a little east as well as north and headed into orange groves and I come to an intersection where two ways were dirt but luckily the north direction was paved and eventually took me to 64.I think all these road had a person's I had never heard of first and last name for the name of the road.Anyway I really enjoyed these roads and one just west of Zolpho Springs near the intersection of 64 and 64A that headed south towards Arcadia eventually joining 661 near Limestone.

Near term I will probaby be doing mostly weekend trips around here exploring the glades and perhaps around Lake O or down to the keys then later this fall or winter perhaps a trip northward where I would probably pass through Sebring/Avon Park at some point.Perhaps we could ride some at that time on backroads(perhaps that century route you mentioned before) if a slow touring bike won't hold you up too much lol.

touring bike will not slow me down . I'm in the stage of my life where i go slower at 51. I ride at about 14 to 16 and enjoy the trip. I usually do 15 to 20 miles minimum just to bend the legs a bit in the afternoon. come on up when you get a chance. this is a nice place to ride. haven't done a century in a while. i stick close to home with my family and do long day rides on the weekends. I would like to tour but being self employed i must be here so i do as i can.