This video covers a portion of my Florida Loop 2026 Day 8 21 mile ride from Glen St Mary to John M Bethea State Forest on Florida State Route 2, just south of Georgia.
This video covers a portion of my my Florida Loop 2026 Day 8 68 mile ride from Palatka, Florida to Glen St. Mary, Florida.
Day 8 was the final day for Florida Loop 2026 starting in Palatka, Florida and ending at my home in Douglasville, Georgia (arriving shortly after sunset). The weather for day 8 was fantastic riding weather and the best weather I had during this trip. Also, the motorcycle riding on day 8 was great with low traffic volumes (until I entered the Atlanta Metropolitan Blob that is LOL) and the scenery was fantastic in several areas.
On Day 8 I also discovered that there are rural, low traffic and virtually people free areas of Georgia. I rolled into Georgia on GA Highway 94 just south of Fargo, Georgia in a heavily forested area and virtually almost no traffic, it was fantastic after many days of rain and at times heavy traffic in Florida.
There will be more Day 8 riding videos posted soon, along with my summary of Florida Loop 2026.
This video is part 2 of Florida Loop 2026 Day 6 covering some of US Highway 27 south of South Bay, Florida and the ride from South Bay to Dupuis Campground near Canal Point, Florida.
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This is video is part 1 of Florida Loop 2026 Day 6 covering some of my departure from Key West, Florida up to the Seven Mile Bridge on US Highway 1 – Overseas Highway.
On Day 6 I rode from Key West, Florida to near Indiantown, Florida where I camped for the night at the fantastic Dupuis Campground. Another day with more rain and at times quite heavy. But the real weather pain in the butt today was the wind. I am not sure of the speed that the wind was blowing but some of the wind gusts (all day) were intensely producing some white cap waves on the ocean and giving me quite the workout keeping Bruce aimed correctly in the lane.
The ride over the ocean in the Florida Keys was as epic today as it was yesterday on Day 5.
Total Miles for Day 6 = 250 Miles.
Day 6 Part 2 video will cover some of the ride on US Highway 27 to South Bay, Florida and the ride to Dupuis Campground.
As announced in an earlier posting, on April 28th, 2026, I purchased a new to me 2006 Honda VTX 1300S that has been named Scarlett. On the early evening of May 8th 2026, I will be flying out of Atlanta, Georgia to Orlando Florida, and then taking an Uber to my hotel in Deland, Florida. The following morning, I will pickup Scarlett from RC Hill Honda in Deland and ride Scarlett home to Douglasville, Georga.
As also stated in my Scarlett Introduction Post, Scarlett is now my thrid Honda VTX 1300, When I started riding for realish in 2015, I had a 2007 Honda VTX 1300C which I sold in October 2015 as I scuffed it up in a low side. At the time, it was easier for me to replace the bike than to repair it. In February 2016, I purchaed a 2004 Honda VTX 1300C that was named Jolene. I brought Jolene with me to my move to California from Minnesota in January 2017. Sadly, in August 2017, I had a high side crash with Jolene and she was totaled. In November 2017 I doubled down on my interest in long distance touring and purchased a 2005 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic named Dexter which was traded in for Bruce, a 2025 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special in October 2025 that is now my primary touring bike.
With all these bikes 2 up ridiing is possible but frankly sucks with the Pan America, Scarlett will be the primary for adult 2up riding and local cruising. Bruce, the Pan America, is primary for touring but will still see action locally as well.
With the exception of the portion from Deland Florida to Daytona Beach, Ironiclly, 99% of the route I just rode with Bruce, my 2025 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special, during my Florida Loop 2026 Motorcyle Tour that I completed on April 11th, 2026 this route will be nearly identical. During that tour, I rolled through Daytona Beach and the Ormond Loop (fantastic short route) during Day 7, April 10th, 2026. I had no idea at the time I would be back so soon, let alone on another motorcycle. 🙂
From Daytona Beach, Florida to Douglaville, Georgia the route is the exact same is my route during Florida Loop 2026.
Route Parts One and Two will both occur on the same day, May 9th, 2026. The route is brown down in two parts only due to the fact I used Google Maps to plot the route.
Total Planned Miles = 488 Miles Should be very doable but Scarlett does have that crappy stock seat, I have already ordered the Ultimate Seats Big Boy Ulitmate X seats and plan to install them in June.
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For Florida Loop 2026 Day 5 Part Two I continue to roll south to Key West, Florida via US Highway 1 – Overseas Highway. The riding through the keys in many areas was spectacular, despite some heavy traffic in some of the town areas (with Key West having very heavy traffic).
Day 5 Total Miles (Part 1 & 2) = 221 Miles
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On Florida Loop 2026 Day 5, I rode 221 miles from Everglades City, Florida to Key West, Florida. This video for Day 5 Part 1 covers some of the 84 mile ride from Everglades City to Homestead.
I rolled out of Everglades City on Calier Avenue / Florida Highway 29 to US Highway 41 and rolled east (US Highway 41 South) through some of the Everglades and turned south on Florida Highway 997 to Homestead, Florida. In Day 5 Part 2 I continued south and turned onto US Highway 1 / Overseas Highway to Key West.
Shortly after turning onto Florida Highway 997, I found myself needing to take a break and stretch my legs. At the junction of US Highway 41 and Florida Highway 887 there was a gas station / convenience store but I it was on the other side of the highway and decided to keep rolling to find a gas station easier to get in and out of (yeah, I do that lol). 9 miles down the road and all I encouted was produce stands and farm fields.
I was in desperate need of break to stretch my legs, cool off and hydrate so I pulled off at one of the produce stand on what looked to be a paved street. This was a “street” in a rural, agriculture area and as I turned in, the street itself looked like it was bombed and not in use. I actually almost dropped the bike in what was left of the pavement before the “bombed” out section. I was at a full stop and was preparing to back up the bike a little to turn around to face the highway and park. I looked and did not see the loose pea size gravel on the deteriorated asphalt, it blended right in and I could not see it. When I transferred weight to my root foot, it was like I was standing on marbles and my foot began to slide to the right as the weight of the bike started tipping to the right. A nice panic shot of adrelene and I was able to quickly shift my weight to the left and centered the bike. Then it was baby steps to turn around Bruce on the mess they called a street.
Crazier yet, people were driving through the bombed out area to I am guessing a residential area beyond. Even a Tesla 3 series came driving through. What really ground my gears though, was about 4 miles or so down the road there are about 6 gas stations with nice flat paved lots LOL. SIGH.
This part of the ride was uneventful and fairly chill. Rolling through the Cypress trees again was enjoyable. Once I reached the sawgrass area of the Everglades, it was like riding in the plains states, complete with a pretty roubust crosswinds as well.
This is part 2 of 2 of my Florida Loop 2026 Motorcycle Tour. Today is April 6th, 2026 and I am continuing my day 3 trip from Perry, Florida to Chokoloskee Island, Florida. In this video, I roll south from Bradley Junction, Florida on Old Highway 37 to Ona, Florida. Then I ride towards Punta Gorda, Florida on US Highway 17, and take a much need break and a fabulous, Gourmet, gas station meal in Cape Coral, Florida from US Highway 41. This video ends with a brief ride (in the rain again) on Interstate 75 and back onto US Highway 41 on my way to Everglades City, Florida and ultimately onto Chokoloskee Island, Florida
Florida Loop 2026 is the not so clever name for my motorcycle touring trip, riding a loop of the state of Florida…. hence the name of the trip
Florida Loop 2026 Total Miles = 2,261
Day 3 Part 2 miles traveled = 229 Miles Riding south mostly on Old Highway 37, US Highway 17, and US Highway 41.
Total miles for Day 3 (Part 1 & 2) = 386 Miles. Not too bad with rain, and the numerous breaks taken today. Had I started at a more decent time (I overslept and woke up in a panic about 20 minutes before checkout at 11am LOL) I would have most likely arrived in daylight instead of rolling the last bit in the dark. I very much prefer riding during the daytime, more to see and safer.
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Wanderlust Lyfe 