Trans-Eastern Trail Florida section

[John65]

These next 4 shots are less than 2 seconds from beginning to end
I lost it, saved it, lost it, saved it, but the last save was in the ditch..
Guess you can't call anything a save when it ends up on the ground..







Think I'll just lay here and rest a couple minutes..



I lost it again about a mile later, but didn't get any shots of that one. I couldn't even blame it on the ditch the 2nd time. It all happened in the middle of the road.
I had been dreading the deep sugar sand on some of these roads, but believe me, sugar sand is a walk in the park compared to this stuff.

[FAW3]

Nice report - Thanks!

You never know what you will see while riding...I found a neat metorite once while laying on my side under my KLR.

[John65]

Now we're in the Osceola NF on NF road 234 which is just north of I-10 and about 15 miles east of I-75.
Grass gets slick too


Turning onto Molino rd
Now it starts getting' really good

Looks like it had been closed, but someone moved the barracade

Then a little further down

Probably another washed out culvert

Yep, this could be why it's closed


It just keeps getting better and better
Now we're on NE Gum Swamp Road
I renamed this road.but there's too many 4 letter words to print






When we started this road, we saw lots of bike tracks, but they're getting fewer and fewer

This is probably why the road is closed

We discussed turning around, just in case the other bikers knew what they were doing, but we didn't want to ride back thru what we had come thru, so,,,


This ain't gonna be good!!!!


Larry, who is usually the cautious one, comes barreling thru....


I couldn't even walk thru it. Try to pick up your foot to take a step and it won't come out of the MUCK


but back to Larry



It was lots of fun getting that bike out. He had to dig down to find the shifter to put it in neutral.

Now my turn, I ain't going where he went. I finally got my bike into the rut and made it thru.
Notice how he's standing by to help me if I get stuck.


After resting a few minutes, we continue

[John65]

If there's anything good to say about Florida Mud,
it's that 1 trip thru 12" deep water cleans the bike up just fine

[John65]

After a few more miles of that road, we get back to some easy ridin'
hard packed with standing water
















We finally get thru all these ponds, and while sittin' still looking on GPS for a place to rest and get some food

And Larry says he's not tired!!

[John65]

After eating (somewhere on US90),


we get back on the route. I think this is into GA



These are the longest log trailers I ever saw. They must have been over 70' long

This road looks a little rough, but comparitively speaking, it was a “piece of cake”


AHA, back to NORMAL roads




We left the TET just south of Screven GA, and began a route I had built back to Donalsonville GA
Most of the roads were unpaved and were “south ga red clay”, which is what we ride mostly, so I didn't run the camera much and what I do have is not worth looking at..

I know it doesn't look like it, but this was one of the 'Most Fun" trips we had been on.
Only the North Georgia portion of the TET might top it.

I may try doing a report on the north GA portion of the route at a later date.

[John65]

Originally Posted by Unclescar

Hope you had some good rain gear on!!!

YEP, we stayed dry, 'cept for the feet. I poured about 1/2 gl out of my boots a couple of times

[Liberia]

What a great ride and ride report. I think your video captures told the story perfectly and you surely wouldn't have stopped to take pictures as often if you'd been using a regular camera. (I'm guessing you were using a GoPro?)

I grew up in northern Florida along the Suwannee River and when the rivers are up the springs turn black. I think it's that the runs back up and the clear spring water can't keep the river water pushed out. Based upon all the water you rode through it must have been after heavy rains/hurricane. I've seldom seen that much water on logging roads in Florida.

I certainly can see why you thought this was one of the best rides you've taken. It looks like a blast. So many different road conditions, all that water, little to no traffic (except for log trucks).

Thanks so much for sharing your ride. It brings back a lot of really great memories of growing up in Florida.

[realpsi]

Depending on when this ride took place I know much of that area was subjected to heavy flooding due to a hurricane and took months dissipate.

[John65]

Originally Posted by Liberia

What a great ride and ride report. I think your video captures told the story perfectly and you surely wouldn't have stopped to take pictures as often if you'd been using a regular camera. (I'm guessing you were using a GoPro?)
Yes, GoPro Hero (the old one), and they did look better posted than I thought they would, and it does give you more selections to post

I grew up in northern Florida along the Suwannee River and when the rivers are up the springs turn black. I think it's that the runs back up and the clear spring water can't keep the river water pushed out. Based upon all the water you rode through it must have been after heavy rains/hurricane. I've seldom seen that much water on logging roads in Florida.
OK, now it makes sense to me..

I certainly can see why you thought this was one of the best rides you've taken. It looks like a blast. So many different road conditions, all that water, little to no traffic (except for log trucks).
It was a blast, rain and all

Thanks so much for sharing your ride. It brings back a lot of really great memories of growing up in Florida.

My first ride report. Now I understand why riders that do them take so long to complete it.
But it was fun reliving the experience of the trip

[John65]

Originally Posted by realpsi

Depending on when this ride took place I know much of that area was subjected to heavy flooding due to a hurricane and took months dissipate.

It was the 3rd week of August, (21-22-23) and it had been steadily raining across all of north Florida for 3 days (not counting the day we started the ride)

[rhino_adv]

Thanks for sharing your ride! I don't see many ride reports on the TET-S and was pleased to read yours. A buddy and I plan to ride the entire TAT-S in August of this year. I hope we don't run into as much rain as you guys did!

Brad

[toolguy1]

Looks like you and Larry got quite a workout on those KLR's! Haha
Good pics from the video. I enjoyed the report.
Now for the north section..........

[telejojo]

Good ride report.Is there a map or website like the TAT that you can go to and download the maps or how to find the roads?

[rhino_adv]

Originally Posted by telejojo

Good ride report.Is there a map or website like the TAT that you can go to and download the maps or how to find the roads?

Click HERE for info on TET-S




Brad