Rocket Ride to the Gulf of Mexico (December 2018)

This is a belated Ride Report that I just had to document.  It happened in December 2018. 

In short, a group of riders who owned Triumph Rocket III motorcycles met to ride the West Ozello motorcycle Trail - Crystal River at the Gulf of Mexico. For me it was a 250-mile ride.  

The ride began at the Flying J at State Road 52 and I-75 near San Antonio/Dade City and ended at the Pilot Travel Center at State Road 44 and I-75 near Wildwood. 

In between there were twisties, sweepers, and a lot of pretty countryside and even a wonderful view of the Gulf of Mexico. 

We all met at 9:30 at the Flying J Travel Center, 29933 FL-52, San Antonio, FL 33576 (I-75 and State Road 52).

Right away we were into the backcountry roads of Brooksville, headed to the Istachatta Road-Trails End-Withlapopka-Gobblerroads. It was just one great riding area blending into the next, culminating with some serious twisties on the Ozello Trail in Citrus county. The End of the Road sign announced we had reached the Gulf of Mexico. 

At the halfway point we enjoyed a good Mexican restaurant (Habanero’s) in the town of Inverness.   

The total ride took about 6 hours. The one-way portion, from the I-75 to the Gulf, was 130 miles. 

I took a straight shot back to the I-75 and arrived back home at about the 6-hour mark after a 250-mile loop. 

What a great ride! Thanks for putting this together, Paddy. Lots of fun. Great meeting you, Fingers.

And Paddy adds: 

The weather was perfect. Sunny and temps in the mid 70's. I believe the roads we went on today to be some of the best roads in the state of Florida for twisties, sweepers, rolling hills, and scenery. 

While all of the roads we hit before lunch were good, the most fun were Istachatta Road-Trails End-Withlapopka-Gobbler. Lots of twists and turns there. 

We stopped at a Mexican restaurant in Inverness named "Habaneros" to eat and it was very good. 

The last road we went to was Ozello Trail in Citrus county. Another rider (non-Rocket) and Fingers were very familiar with this road. Dandiego said that Fingers did not touch his brakes once on this road, he knew it so well! If you every ride this road you will realize the enormity of this statement! It takes a lot of rides to master this 

If you are interested in this ride I have a GPX file of the route.