Vacation ride to Apalachicola NF

OtownMike · 02-07-2013, 05:04 AM

After 14 days in New Orleans for the big game, its time to decompress and get the f away. Im heading up from Orlando Saturday AM via Goethe / backroads. Going to ride in the forest Sunday, then head home monday. If any of you FF's are going to be riding there this weekend let me know. Ive got my route all laid out, nothing too crazy I think. If anyone knows of any "dont miss" spots up there Im open to suggestions. I would be glad to send links to my route if anyone is interested (no FEE).........

sanjoh · 02-07-2013, 06:19 AM

Family Coastal Restaurant

Buzztail · 02-07-2013, 06:20 AM

I can probably ride Sunday if the wife is feeling better.

scsykes · 02-07-2013, 07:45 AM

If your travels take you anywhere near the Kentucky / Virginia border, you need to visit the Breaks Interstate park. It is along Route 80 and 460. Good winding and twisting roads, perfect for touring. I live in the area and think its one of the best kept secrets.

The breaks is the largest canyon East of the Mississippi River and it has a great facilities. You should be able to stay at one of the new cabins nestled around the lake in the park and take a couple of days riding and touring the area.

On the Kentucky side there is the Hatfield/McCoy riding tour that takes you to the exact spots where the events took place. If you enjoy live theatre the Artists Collaborative Theatre has award winning productions with all local talent.

Have fun and ride safe!

Check out the web sites:
www.breakspark.com/
www.act4.org/
http://www.tourpikecounty.com/upload...rivingTour.pdf

OtownMike · 02-07-2013, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanjoh

Family Coastal Restaurant

Hmmm, happen to be passing by there. Will have to time that out for an early lunch. Thanks for the tip.

Buzztail · 02-07-2013, 08:29 AM

They open at 11:00 and have beer now

OtownMike · 02-07-2013, 09:11 AM

Anyone have local knowledge of the Tates Hell area? I was planning on following the river north and then cutting across, but I see there is an archery hunting season ending on sunday. Are there likely to be many hunters out? If so I may just cut straight across from carrabelle.

Jack Daniel · 02-07-2013, 02:03 PM

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...highlight=hell

Chicken Helmet · 02-07-2013, 02:29 PM

lol!

edpittenger · 02-17-2013, 10:34 AM

Where's the pics and vids bee-otch??? Glad u got to decompress

edpittenger · 02-17-2013, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack Daniel

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...highlight=hell

That's funny!

OtownMike · 02-17-2013, 02:27 PM

FINE....heres a few pics. Did stop by Family Coastal, excellent lunch spot. Didnt see anyone in Tates Hell, guess all the hunters were done.

Tates Hell:

Somewhere north of Steinhatchee:

Apalachicola NF:

Goethe:

edpittenger · 02-18-2013, 01:06 PM

Did you trailer it up there behind the Tundra???

dbern · 03-03-2013, 07:40 PM

I will be heading to do about the same stretch of riding. The roads and trails in the pics looks exactly like what im looking for... Is that par for the course in the Nat forest's down there or?? Now that you just did this ride anything you can say should not be missed?? What roads were the pics on?

Thanks

OtownMike · 03-04-2013, 07:22 AM

That is what most of Apalachicola looks like. The bigger roads are hardpack dirt roads, smaller trails are 2 track jeep trails. None of what I rode was very difficult or sandy. I have found some more technical trails out there in the past. Nothing really stands out as a fantastic trail. Scenery is very similar. Just look for the curviest trails on the map and go for it.

Tates Hell (south part of forest) is a good way to cut across to the south west side if you want to hit Family Coastal for lunch. River Rd that runs N/S along the river (oddly enough) is a cool road. That is where the pic by the river was. I ended up heading west on Gully Branch. Expect a water crossing (two actually). There are no bridges across the creeks. It was less that a foot deep and hard packed when I went through. If you cross further north there may not be water, and there may be bridges on Buck Siding rd to the south.

Plan your fuel stops if your riding a lot in Apalachicola. Fuel is scarce on the west side. There are not a lot of bridges to get over the river to civilization.
There is fuel in Crawfordville and Carrabelle on the east side, the only fuel I found on the west side was in Bristol, north of the woods.

If your going to be farther south, check out Goethe state forest. Just grade roads, couple of smaller jeep trails, but good scenery. Keep it cool in there though, you may encounter some 4 wheel folks. Very tempting to twist the throttle....

Apalachicola was fun, but this was my second vacation trip up there. Its all very similar. Next time I may just cut through there and head over to Blackwater.

02-07-2013, 05:04 AM	#1
OtownMike ^OP Electron Pusher Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Otown Oddometer: 252	Vacation ride to Apalachicola NF After 14 days in New Orleans for the big game, its time to decompress and get the f away. Im heading up from Orlando Saturday AM via Goethe / backroads. Going to ride in the forest Sunday, then head home monday. If any of you FF's are going to be riding there this weekend let me know. Ive got my route all laid out, nothing too crazy I think. If anyone knows of any "dont miss" spots up there Im open to suggestions. I would be glad to send links to my route if anyone is interested (no FEE).........

02-07-2013, 06:19 AM	#2
sanjoh Purveyor of Light Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Sandbox, FL Oddometer: 3,667	Family Coastal Restaurant __________________ Model 60 LED 3600 lumens . . LED thread in Vendors Dualsport Fairing w LED...Dirt Ninja Build...TAT 08...

02-07-2013, 07:45 AM	#4
scsykes n00b Joined: Feb 2013 Location: Eastern Kentucky Oddometer: 1	Kentucky Virginia Border If your travels take you anywhere near the Kentucky / Virginia border, you need to visit the Breaks Interstate park. It is along Route 80 and 460. Good winding and twisting roads, perfect for touring. I live in the area and think its one of the best kept secrets. The breaks is the largest canyon East of the Mississippi River and it has a great facilities. You should be able to stay at one of the new cabins nestled around the lake in the park and take a couple of days riding and touring the area. On the Kentucky side there is the Hatfield/McCoy riding tour that takes you to the exact spots where the events took place. If you enjoy live theatre the Artists Collaborative Theatre has award winning productions with all local talent. Have fun and ride safe! Check out the web sites: www.breakspark.com/ www.act4.org/ http://www.tourpikecounty.com/upload...rivingTour.pdf

02-07-2013, 02:03 PM	#8
Jack Daniel See Ya At The Scrub Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Weeki Wachee, FL Oddometer: 11,811	http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...highlight=hell __________________ Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans JOHN LENNON The Scrub The Swamp

02-17-2013, 10:34 AM	#10
edpittenger Adventurer Joined: Dec 2010 Location: Kissimmee, FL aka "Flatistan" Oddometer: 23	Well.?.?.? Proof that u went? Like the dude with the gator? Where's the pics and vids bee-otch??? Glad u got to decompress __________________ “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Benjamin Franklin

02-07-2013, 09:11 AM	#7
OtownMike ^OP Electron Pusher Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Otown Oddometer: 252	Anyone have local knowledge of the Tates Hell area? I was planning on following the river north and then cutting across, but I see there is an archery hunting season ending on sunday. Are there likely to be many hunters out? If so I may just cut straight across from carrabelle.

02-17-2013, 02:27 PM	#12
OtownMike ^OP Electron Pusher Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Otown Oddometer: 252	Proof..... FINE....heres a few pics. Did stop by Family Coastal, excellent lunch spot. Didnt see anyone in Tates Hell, guess all the hunters were done. Tates Hell: Somewhere north of Steinhatchee: Apalachicola NF: Goethe:

02-18-2013, 01:06 PM	#13
edpittenger Adventurer Joined: Dec 2010 Location: Kissimmee, FL aka "Flatistan" Oddometer: 23	It's so clean?.?.?. Did you trailer it up there behind the Tundra??? __________________ “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Benjamin Franklin

03-03-2013, 07:40 PM	#14
dbern outsider Joined: Jul 2012 Location: West by god Oddometer: 24	Im heading there now I will be heading to do about the same stretch of riding. The roads and trails in the pics looks exactly like what im looking for... Is that par for the course in the Nat forest's down there or?? Now that you just did this ride anything you can say should not be missed?? What roads were the pics on? Thanks

03-04-2013, 07:22 AM	#15
OtownMike ^OP Electron Pusher Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Otown Oddometer: 252	That is what most of Apalachicola looks like. The bigger roads are hardpack dirt roads, smaller trails are 2 track jeep trails. None of what I rode was very difficult or sandy. I have found some more technical trails out there in the past. Nothing really stands out as a fantastic trail. Scenery is very similar. Just look for the curviest trails on the map and go for it. Tates Hell (south part of forest) is a good way to cut across to the south west side if you want to hit Family Coastal for lunch. River Rd that runs N/S along the river (oddly enough) is a cool road. That is where the pic by the river was. I ended up heading west on Gully Branch. Expect a water crossing (two actually). There are no bridges across the creeks. It was less that a foot deep and hard packed when I went through. If you cross further north there may not be water, and there may be bridges on Buck Siding rd to the south. Plan your fuel stops if your riding a lot in Apalachicola. Fuel is scarce on the west side. There are not a lot of bridges to get over the river to civilization. There is fuel in Crawfordville and Carrabelle on the east side, the only fuel I found on the west side was in Bristol, north of the woods. If your going to be farther south, check out Goethe state forest. Just grade roads, couple of smaller jeep trails, but good scenery. Keep it cool in there though, you may encounter some 4 wheel folks. Very tempting to twist the throttle.... Apalachicola was fun, but this was my second vacation trip up there. Its all very similar. Next time I may just cut through there and head over to Blackwater.

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