The Georgia Loop

As I had previously mentioned, I am having to stray pretty far from Jacksonville in order to find some decent roads, and this one fits the bill rather perfectly. Whenever I would look at the map of Florida, I always wondered what was in the little nook in the northeast corner. Well, this entire ride pretty much encompasses that entire sector, and let me tell you, there is nothing out there. If for any reason that you need to get away from the world and have it be just you and your machine, this is the ride to take.

Heading west from Jacksonville, take the super exciting I-10 and take the first exit for Macclenny that you see. Follow this until you reach 121, then make a right and prepare yourself for a whole lot of nothing. This Okefenokee parkway is about as desolate a road as I have ever been on. As you can tell from the map, it is nothing but a straight shot ALL the way down to our next road. I thought that I may get lucky with a side road or something, but the most exciting thing that seemed to be along this road was a gigantic recreational mud pit as soon as you cross into Georgia. Other than that, be prepared to spend a lot of time contemplating the meaning of life along this stretch. Don't worry about missing 94, which you're going to take a left on to, because it just so happens to be the only legitimate paved road that you will come across. Take your left, and head down this nicely paced road with lush woods lining either side. The only breaks in the trees were by the occasional house and a giant timber harvesting factory that will be to the left. 94 has some gradual sweeping curves to save you from the monotony of Okefenokee as well. The next paved road that you will reach is 185, where we take another left. This road was great, as there were finally signs of civilization, since I was soon to be low on gas and there were some great views along the way. It's mostly farmland, but for some reason I found it quite nice to look at. Decent curves and some menial grades grace 185 making for a nice finish to quite a long ride. Follow this all the way down until 185 dead ends back into Okefenokee and head right, to come back home. This will lead you all the way back to the highway where you can grab a well needed bite to eat and gas up before the trek back to Jacksonville.

Not including the time it will take you to reach the starting point, this ride is a hefty 52 miles and will take roughly over an hour to complete.

Starting out, I was not going to give this ride a very high rating since Okefenokee parkway almost lulled me to sleep. After a while though i found myself enjoying it more and more because of the nearly complete solitude that this ride offers. I think I may have seen a whopping 10 cars total when I wasn't in or near a town. This gave me time to think about things that I haven't had time to think about lately and become a little more intimate with my motorcycle. I would highly recommend doing a good service or looking over of your ride before heading out on this one (as I had done), since the desolation that is so nice on this ride can also be your undoing if you were to break down.

A solid 4 out of 5 for this one. Definitely recommended.

The Hanna Park Ride

I'm not sure what my hopes were for this one, but in the back of my head I knew that I shouldn't be expecting too much. This is a good change of pace to get to the Mayport area, but I wouldn't go out of your way for this one. The destinations along the way are more interesting than the ride itself.

We will start going east from 9A on Merrill road. In all reality, you could take this road all the way down to where we will be ending, but where is the fun in that. Head down Merrill road first for a little bit after you get off the highway towards Fort Caroline road. This stretch will be your standard byway complete with regular traffic lights and idiot drivers. Take a left when you get to Fort Caroline and prepare yourself for the most enjoyable section of the ride. The first time I traveled this road, I was surprised to find that there were actually substantial hills, which added a little variation to the standard flat curves that I'm used too. Keep an eye out for Fort Caroline Park, which has a few nice walking trails right along the outlet of the St. Johns River as well as a real historic fort that you can take a look at. A little bit further down Fort Caroline on the left is Theodore Roosevelt park that has some more lengthy but excellent hiking trails that are so hilly you wont even feel like you are in Florida. After you pass the Monument road light, this where you might be able to open is up a little bit but there are a few neighborhoods and driveways to look out for. Enjoy the hills regardless. Follow this all the way down to where Merrill has turned into Mt. Pleasant road that will eventually turn into Wonderwood Dr. and head left. Here is where the fun stops, since you will take this all the way down to Hanna Park. There are a few nice views from the bridge over the start of the intra-coastal. If you do plan on actually going into Hanna Park, make sure you have a couple bucks to cover the entry fee. Look up the park's website for more detailed information. You'll find some nice hiking trails as well as beach access if that is what you're in the mood for.

A bit of a short ride at 11 miles from start to finish, it will take you about 21 minutes depending on the traffic. Depending on what time you choose to take the ride, traffic could be pretty bad since this road is a straight shot to Mayport Naval Base.

I'd have to give this ride a tough 3 twists of the throttle out of 5. The Fort Caroline loop saved it from a 2 as well as the views that the bridge offers. Nothing too exciting this time around. My next ride will reach out pretty far into the surrounding Jacksonville areas, so don't get too bored with me yet.

The Sawgrass Ride

I had high hopes for this ride. A riverside road followed by a nice winding section finished with a beach side cruise was expected, but that didn't happen. This is a ride to take if you are absolutely bored and just happen to be in the area. Wouldn't be one that I put on my list of regular cruises.

Our starting point today is shortly after you head south from JTB at Solana road. Get comfortable since you will be on this road a good portion of the ride. This is where I expected to be right alongside the intra-coastal, and in a way I was...only I was blocked by some impressively large houses. The speed limit here is decent, but there are tons of houses right off of the road. More than enough reason to take it easy to keep some of the older folk from pulling out in front of you as they leave their mansions. That is really all you're going to see here anyway, so you might as well just take your time and take a good look. I heard that there is a pretty good sea food joint by the name of Lulu's that is near the beginning of the straight section along the river. Follow Solana all the way down and follow the signs to get to Mickler's road. This is perhaps the most interesting stretch with some nice curves here and there, but again you'll have to handle blind driveways and neighborhood entrances. Basically you'll stay on this until you reach the beach and veer left. At this point you will be heading north back towards Jacksonville. On the map, this stretch looked like the promising beach side ride, but again you will be blocked by enormous houses and condos. While these are impressive to look at, they completely take away from the ride. Since there are so many and the road also runs alongside a golf course, the speed limit even gets reduced down to 15 mph for a long while. Follow this trail of unnecessary demonstrations of money until you reach Solana road again and take a left. This will take you back to 1A and another right will take you back towards JTB. If you miss Solana, don't sweat it since Ponte Vedra Blvd leads straight to 1A after a while.

If you do decide to go on this one, you're looking at 15 miles round trip with a run time of about 30 minutes depending on how aggressive you are and traffic. If you want to make it a little more interesting, try it at night. The dark can be quite enveloping in some areas.

Like a said before, I had high hopes for this one but I think this will have to be my first 1 out of 5. Boring roads with potentially good views blocked by enormous houses does not make for a good time. More posts are sure to follow, but I think my search for roads is going to have to extend more into the "surrounding areas" of Jacksonville now since I feel all leads have been exhausted now locally. Until next time, keep the shiny side up and be safe since we are well into the cold season now.

The River Road Ride

I was looking over all the rides that I've posted to date and realized that the majority of them are on the east side of Jacksonville, so here is a really great one that encompasses about half of the western area that I was looking to find a decent road in. My fiance' recommended this one since she had to take a bus ride to a farm out in this area for a field trip with her students. She said that she was enjoying it a lot, even on a school bus of all things, so there is no reason to believe that it wouldn't be great either on a motorcycle or in a car with the windows down. I've been chomping at the bit to do this one since she told me about it. Depending on which end of the route you decide to start on (301 or Lem Turner) it is a bit of a trip to get there or return to the city, but it's definitely worth it either way.

Today we will start on 301, right of of I-10 west. Keep to the left when you come off of I-10 and take a left onto 301, then another left shortly after it dead ends into Lake City Road/90. Follow this for a little bit then take a right onto C.R. 121. Keep your eyes peeled for the sign for this road on the right, as it is very faded and could have a tendency to sneak up on you. Take a right onto 121 and enjoy the ride on this beautiful 2 lane road. Here you will travel up the Florida/Georgia border and enjoying nice curves and an overall lack of other travelers. Seems that this side of Jacksonville is more rural farmland and ranches than anything else, and makes for some great views along the way. The speed limit here is also surprisingly high, which adds to the fun as well. Continue on 121 until you reach river road. You want to look out for a run down gas station to your right after passing a sizable church, also on the right. After you take your right onto River Rd., you will find more great photo opportunities. Plenty of farms, ranches, and rather large houses to keep you entertained. Once you reach the railroad tracks you will be reaching the town of Callahan. Not a whole lot going on here. Since it is quite a small town, there is bound to be a decent mom and pop restaurant there if you decide to stop and grab a bite to eat. Take your first right a the first major intersection where River Rd. and South Kings Rd meet, stay on this for a short while, staying to the left. When Kings Rd. begins to veer right, you want to head left onto Lem Turner Rd. If you miss it, take a left at 5th Avenue and you should merge right into where you need to go. Lem Turner has a few nice curves itself, but is much more residential than 121 and River Rd, so keep an eye out for folks in front of you. If you are ever participating in a motorcycle picture game, a nice tag that you can make could include the giant golf ball you will see along the way back to 295.

This ride will add a decent 46 miles to your bike, plus the distance it takes to get to the start. I would make this the center point of a weekend ride since it will take about 1 hour and 15-30 minutes plus however long it takes to reach the start and get back home. Pack a lunch or plan on stopping somewhere along the way.

I'll give this one a 5 out a 5 due to its hefty distance, wonderful views, and quiet, curvy roads. The only thing I could say that it is missing are hills or some sort of grade here and there, but I highly recommend this one!

The San Jose Ride: Updated

Depending on the time of day you choose to do this ride, it can either be rather enjoyable or a nightmare. It can be a pleasant late evening or Saturday jaunt, but avoid making it part of your Sunday list of things to do since there are loads of churches along the way. The Friendship Fountain, a prominent Jacksonville landmark, is where we will be starting today. It isn't that hard to find, but if there is any confusion, try looking up The Museum of Science and History or River City Brewing Company, as they are right next to it. There are plenty of picture opportunities before you even get started here. Now we go around the roundabout and head south on San Marco Blvd. At the start, this road will be quite rough going over railroad tracks and dealing with lights, but it won't last that long. For the time being, there will be detours that take you around some construction on San Marco, but it is acceptable since there are nice houses along the way and it takes you by a great vista of the St. Johns River. Once you get to San Marco Square, you will know. I recommend that you stop and take a look at some of the local Jacksonville businesses or maybe even stop for a bite to eat depending on when you're passing through. Continue on until San Marco merges into Hendricks Ave and follow this for a bit. Now you can either veer right to go on a nice curvy section of San Jose or choose to stay on Hendricks. The San Jose bit is fun, but if you are making this a night ride, there is an impressive stained glass display on a church that will be to your left if you stay on Hendricks, but you can always figure it out to where you can see both if you'd like. Regardless of which way you choose to take, you will end up back on the main stretch of San Jose. For a while now, you will have to deal with a standard busy boulevard until we reach the next nice section. There are plenty of shopping centers and restaurants along the way if you feel the need to stop and take a breather from Jacksonville drivers. Keep heading south until you see Roberts Rd. This is where the second nice section begins. San Jose goes from six lanes across down to two and leads to an excellent windy stretch, with the signs to prove it. There isn't much to see here, as it is quite sleepy and wooded, but still fun nonetheless. The end of our ride is at the junction of San Jose and S.R. 16. Taking a right will lead you to Green Cove while going straight will take you the back way to St. Augustine.

Roughly 28 miles with be added to your bike if you stick to this route and can take you about 50 minutes to an hour if you make it a straight shot and depends heavily on the traffic along the way between San Marco and Roberts Rd.

I think this one will be our first 2 out of 5 twists of the throttle. If the middle section could be removed and the San Marco and area south of Roberts Rd. could be butted right up next to each other, it would make for a much shorter ride, but much more enjoyable overall. Still one to take if you are absolutely itching for a ride.

Update: A Jacksonville is growing, the infrastructure needs to grow with it. There is plenty of construction (which translates into unwanted traffic) in the northern stretch of this ride. Be patient. Even the locals don't even know what to do sometimes. I have also included a waypoint that is worth stopping for once you get further south. Twisted Compass is a locally owned cafe and they serve up a pretty mean latte'. More development is happening south of Switzerland, too, so be wary of construction vehicles leaving and entering the roadway.

Happy riding!

Click this link to get to the .GPX file on dualsportmaps.com.

The Doctors Lake Road Ride

Doctors Lake Road is one I used to take in order to beat traffic on my way to work when I had my car, but the first time I took it on the motorcycle, it became my regular route. Head down Peoria Rd from College Dr. and take a left after you go over the railroad tracks to get to the start of our ride. This road is very quiet and in great shape. No need to worry about runners or bicyclists getting in the way on this two lane road since they have their own rather large path off to the side. Subtle hills and pleasant curves grace this small stretch of road as well as great tree cover the majority of the way. The speed limit is reasonable and allows you to take a look at some of the impressive houses that are places along the banks of Doctors Lake. Be wary if you do decide to speed, as the police like to hide behind trees and just over hill crests, and do so on a regular basis. Keep this a weekend or late evening ride to minimize frustration from cage drivers of all ages, the worst of all being teenagers, since there is a day school along the way. There will only be one light to negotiate on this stretch as well. Take this all the way down to Kingsley Ave. and head right the Roosevelt Blvd. From here you can take a left to 295 or continue going straight down to aptly named River Rd. Take a left and head up to Wells road, enjoying some beautiful views of the St. Johns River and Buckman Bridge. A left onto Wells Rd and a right onto Roosevelt will take you back to the highway.

A meager 7 miles will be added to the odometer today, with the ride lasting anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes, traffic permitting.

3 out of 5 twists here since it is another overall short ride and traffic can sometimes be quite frustrating at particular times of the day.

The Mandarin Road Ride

Not much to this one here. It is just another little aside route that you can add to your day's longer ride or take just to get some fresh air if you are in the area. To get to the start of this ride, head south on San Jose Blvd from 295. You won't have to go very far to reach the right that needs to be taken onto Mandarin Road. Low and slow is the idea here, simply staying on this residential loop and taking it all in. The first part of the ride offers some nice tree cover and a small church here and there that are prime for photo opportunities. A few subtle curves can be found along this stretch as well, adding some fun to your ride. You will eventually pass Walter Jones Historic Park on the right, although I have personally never stopped there. The rest of the ride is just a relaxing cruise. From what I have been able to see, there are some ridiculously large houses along this route placed along the river. If you are feeling adventurous, you might want to pull down one of the side roads to get a closer look at these behemoths. The road itself is very nice with little to no rough spots. Since this road is so relaxing even though it is so short, there is a high tendency to become distracted. Remember that this is quite the residential area and it seems that there are a few older folks that live here. Beware of the blind puller-outers. Follow Mandarin Road all the way around until you get back to San Jose and take a left to head back to 295, or take a right for the back roads to St Augustine. There are a few parks in the inner area of this loop, but most of the roads are located in actual neighborhoods, making them no fun by default.

This loop is a mere 6 miles around and will take roughly 15 minutes.

This one will get 3 out of 5 twists of the throttle. Aside from some nice photo ops and a few curves here and there, it is much too short. By the time you start to enjoy it and get into a groove, you realize that you have already come back around to San Jose.