What a wonderful day for a ride! The temperature was about 68 degrees as we assembled in Plant City under a clear, blue Florida sky. We were a small group again this week as several of our regular riders were travelling back from their annual trek to the Blue Ridge Mountains (I am confident that Bill & Boyd will have a lot of great photos and footage to share in the near future).
Although Robert joined us for breakfast, he was unable to ride today. So it was that Lloyd, J.T. and I headed out on our planned ride to Dunnellon. While there are interesting roads and sights to see in whatever direction you head from Plant City, for me, north offers the best collection of roads, hills and scenery. Happily, today's route took us that direction.
After skirting Zephyrhills and Dade City and riding some nice roads north of San Antonio, we made a stop at Spring Lake Road and US-98,
No, Lloyd, yours is the one on your left.
And, we met a bunch of riders from the annual "Florida Coast-to-Coast" ride.
The next leg of the trip took us to Istachatta and Pineola (in honor of our friends returning from Pineola, NC) then up to the Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes, near the Flying Eagle Ranch. We continued on to Dunnellon and the Rainbow Springs State Park so Lloyd could explore future camping sites.
As it was then time for lunch, we headed southeast to Stumpknockers Restaurant. For those who may not have grown up in the south, a stumpknocker is a spotted sunfish.
The restaurant is nestled in a cypress grove on the banks of the Withlacoochee River at Hwy. 200.
They have both inside and covered outside seating. The atmosphere is rustic with nautical theme. The food was very good and priced on the high side of reasonable.
J.T. poses with his alter-ego.
The river's edge provided an idyllic setting for a couple of shots of my riding companions.
With the afternoon temperature nearing 90 degrees, we finished the ride with a nearly straight 84 mile run back to Plant City.
It was another great ride (208 mile total) with good friends and good roads. Come join us next time. Meanwhile,
RIDE WITH PRIDE
Gunny
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