Motorcycles and moonshine: Riding Richloam, Green Swamp and Howey-in-the-Hills

I recently met up with two of my friends, Lee and Beau, on a crisp, clear and dry Friday. Lee had planned a ride around the Richloam and Green Swamp areas, with a promise of a late breakfast or lunch.  Spoiler alert: It turned out to be dinner!

We met at a Dunkin’ Donuts in Lutz and discussed the day’s ride over coffee.  Lee was on his shiny green Versys 300 and Beau was on his BMW R1200GS; I was on my big BMW GS Adventure.    

Contrary to my claims of being an Iron Butt Rider and putting on thousands and thousands of miles a year,  Lee felt it necessary to point out some cobwebs on the side of my bike! I was able to brush them away before he could obtain photographic evidence, but the damage to my pride was done.  I drank my overpriced and under-caffeinated java in shame…🤨

We fueled up and headed east for Richloam.  Beau hadn’t been there but I had.  We hit some dirt roads before making it to the Historic Richloam General Store, a very cool place indeed. We had a drink as we shopped for goodies before heading out to some more backroads that Lee knew of.  I appreciated his knowledge of the area as I was seeing country roads I wasn’t aware of. 

We stopped at the Yalaha Bakery and German restaurant in the little town of Yalaha.  We grabbed a table outside and talked about bikes and future rides while we ate some sweet stuff we bought.  

We then went right next door to the Yalaha Bootlegging Co. for some moonshine at their distillery.  After samples of almost everything, we settled on an Apple Pie Moonshine Cocktail and a Moonshine Bloody Mary.  What a cool place!

Our stomachs were growling as it was almost 4pm and we still hadn’t had the breakfast we were promised! Lee then led us through some very nice backroads to JB Boondocks Bar & Grill located in Howey-in-the-Hills. While it was a little too brisk to eat outside, we sat at a window overlooking Little Lake Harris and enjoyed drinks and a nice meal.  

We made plans to ride together part of the way back, splitting up near Lakeland.  Riding back through the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve area, Lee pulled off the road at the Colt Creek State Park so we could stretch our legs and say goodbye.  It got dark and we got a little traffic but made good time getting home after 10+ hours of riding.

Another fantastic day of riding some cool Florida backroads with good friends.