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Post by queenofslow on May 31, 2012 7:28:27 GMT -5
For anybody interested in riding Osceola: just because we are quiet about it, it does not mean we are not riding!
Last Saturday and Sunday we had really good rides taking advantage of the gnarly trails still dry before monsoon Beryl.
Mundy led on Saturday- excellent itinerary, but I do not know where we went. I was too busy hanging on to the bike and trying not to croak from heat stroke. Going for a swim at Ocean Pond afterwards really helped. It shall be repeated.
Alex led on Sunday- a mix of trails north and south of 10 which we seldom ride and are closing up. Some of them are single track now- really really fun.
This Saturday we are going to be riding- with inflatable rafts, snorkels etc. Just to get an idea of what is still above water.
Tags required.
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Post by axelgray on May 31, 2012 20:25:19 GMT -5
Hello Gia, Just got our bikes back from their tune-ups with Don Learn. Anxious to ride. Probably get together next weekend. Ax
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Post by queenofslow on Jun 3, 2012 20:33:52 GMT -5
Axel, you may want to postpone your trip to Osceola by one week or so. I rode Osceola on Saturday and some areas are off limits due to water holes. Unfortunately, they are the good trails for non-tagged bikes. The trails between Olustee Battlefield and I-10; and between Wiggins Camp and 209 are impassable. The trails north of the Mt. Carrie parking area are mostly fine. Normally too sandy for my taste but right now deliciously firm. Plenty of riding is still available for tagged bikes. Just watch out for downed trees AND for low hanging branches. A combination of the two in the same spot had my helmet scratched up and the contents of the helmet still rrrringing.... One more week without major rain and trail conditions will be good again.
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Post by queenofslow on Jun 7, 2012 5:27:54 GMT -5
Uh oh. I should have never said "one week without major rain". Looks like jetskis will be the vehicle of choice in Osceola for the next six months...
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Post by queenofslow on Jun 10, 2012 18:36:37 GMT -5
Report from Ms. Noah. Well, we had such a fabulous dry winter and spring that I cannot really complain. It was good riding while it lasted. As of this afternoon all forest roads in Osceola are dry and passable. All quadrants. No problem in zipping through my 70 miles today. Just a tour of inspection. Not a soul in sight- 2 or 4 wheels. The forest trails are a different story... best described as navigable waterways at the moment. Some with a slight current. If the forest roads get too boring, those in the experimental forest are the most interesting. They drain well and have good traction. (Note to the wise: Don't stop- for any reason. The mosquitos can bodily lift ya and carry you away. Bike included. I got a couple inside the goggles and almost missed a turn... ) But I got my fix of riding for the week and am HAPPY !
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2012 16:43:19 GMT -5
More rain.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2012 11:15:07 GMT -5
I-10 closed from Battlefield exit to Lake City!
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Post by queenofslow on Jul 1, 2012 21:03:40 GMT -5
OMG, it is hot! Is everybody melting? I am down south this week, running beach patrol on Jupiter Island. It is a miserable task, but somebody has to do it. I am looking forward to Newman Jr. and Newman sr. who will be joining us for the week. JR has gotten his driver license!!! YEAH!!! Motorcycle endorsement next. Soon. Right, Mundy?
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Post by scootergirl on Jul 8, 2012 0:18:34 GMT -5
Not too bad up here in New England...and you'd find the water here "bracing." I'll never forget the first time my little FL boy jumped off a NH dock at Cub Scout camp...did he ever get a shock. Sounds like the rain down there has abated some?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2012 6:35:52 GMT -5
RAIN===,YES, HEAT---NO!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by queenofslow on Aug 7, 2012 3:40:11 GMT -5
Recon this weekend in Osceola forest, in search of Noah and his ark. The fast patrol (Mundy and Mike) reported decent riding in the Experimental Forest and "more riding than we expected" in the forest north of I-10. (Whatever that means). The slow patrol got bogged down in one swimming pool after another in the very same trails. Plenty of exercise in turning the Husky and the DRZ around by hand in tight spots in sweltering heat and platoons of mosquitos. Yowsa. Lots of fun. Which leads me to believe that the fast patrol is full of it. They did not ride the forest. (For sure I did not see their tracks where they allegedly went). They must have splashed their bikes in the nearest puddles for effect, then went to play poker in air conditioning in the local VFW establishment. But that's just a guess on my part. The suspicious mind at work. Anyway, how does a restless Prez spend a rainy Sunday? By roaming in the land in search of rideable terrain, of course. A stop at Belleville Plantation. Photos do not do justice to this magnificent place. It would be a fantastic location for a hare scramble. It does have everything we need (except a willing owner). The search for rideable terrain brought us to interesting places: And the quest for a hare scramble location will continue...
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Post by queenofslow on Aug 13, 2012 5:43:06 GMT -5
Report from Osceola.
The forest continues to be flooded. No signs of drying up, and in fact, some sections are the worst I have seen since the rain season started.
The high water conditions are taking their toll on the forest road. Even "highways" such as 235, 205, and 284 have long sections of teeth-shaking washboard and sections of deep bogs. Be careful on 284 and 286, where in places the road has collapsed.
I hope the Forest Service has the budget to fix this mess before hunting season starts, or the trucks of the hunters will finish the demolition job. Some hunters are already out there checking out the game, which is abundant everywhere. I don't know whether this is a good year for deer, turkeys etc., or we simply see more of them as they come out of the flooded areas and feed on the roads.
All in all the side west of 250A and Big Gum Swamp is the driest, at least as far as forest roads go. The trails are swimming pools everywhere.
All of which means one thing:
:)OCALA, HERE WE COME !!!!
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mwien
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Post by mwien on Aug 17, 2012 16:14:29 GMT -5
I'm interested in riding the Osceola... but do not know where are the good riding trials, areas, etc. I have a dual sport DRZ400, and a YZ 250... so if anyone is heading out there, please contact me. I prefer Sunday's, any time. Mark (Lake City) 386-466-1871
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mwien
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Post by mwien on Aug 21, 2012 13:21:07 GMT -5
Hello Geovana! Yes, I can truck my YZ. I prefer to ride it (but no tag). Sundays are much better for me. I have no idea what to expect, so speed is not high on my list.. getting lost is! Let me know if you guys are riding this Sunday, or in the weeks to come. Thanks.
Mark
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2012 12:28:56 GMT -5
Osceola is probably a lake still!!!!
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mwien
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Post by mwien on Aug 22, 2012 14:45:08 GMT -5
You are probably correct.. I do not need to ride there this weekend, but I sure would like to tag along with someone who knows the ropes, whenever they go out.
Mark
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Post by queenofslow on Aug 26, 2012 21:30:18 GMT -5
Rode Osceola today. Grand tour on forest roads from one end to the other. The water is still RISING in almost all parts of the forest. Forest roads continue to deteriorate. A ranger advised caution while riding in waterlogged areas. The soils are so saturated that the roots are loose. The foresters are expecting quite a few trees to come down , especially if we get any significant winds with the fringes of Isaac. The experimental forest remains the driest part of Osceola. Careful when riding on the forest roads there because the roads have collapsed in places. There are new holes hidden in the tall grass. See them at the last second and oops! you may find yourself sitting on the handlebars. Just saying...
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Post by queenofslow on Sept 7, 2012 23:37:39 GMT -5
Suffering from a bad case of riding deprivation. No riding last weekend (beach patrol) and have to work Saturday 8. Have fun guys in Ocala!
I will be doing a "tour de slow" in Osceola on Sunday9 morning, rain or shine. (Probably rain). Tagged. Itinerary will depend on weather and company.
May take off 8;30-9:00 from the ranch. Forest roads and whatever trails above water I can find. Nothing exciting but hey, it is riding in the forest. And I need seat time to bond with my pumpkin.
I will have internet until 2 on Saturday, then I go dark. Phones only after that.
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mwien
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Post by mwien on Sept 12, 2012 14:55:28 GMT -5
Is anyone riding Osceola this Sunday (9/16? Mark
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Post by queenofslow on Oct 27, 2012 6:10:15 GMT -5
The weekend of November 3 and 4 is going to be "DARK".
= no hunting
= last opportunity for bullet-free riding for the next couple of months.
Weather permitting, we are planning a very mellow/sorta boring ride in Osceola (still flooded) on Saturday 3. Forest roads. Tagged bikes only.
I will know more about the condition of the forest after riding today "post-Sandy".
(If you don't hear from me, I will be somewehere in Osceola crushed under a fallen tree).
Anybody interested, please contact me for times and meeting place.
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