Florida-Georgia Line 2019

[JeffH]

I've been thinking about what to do for our XSSE 2019 Winter Rally. I called some of the riders too ………….
Over the past ten years we've ridden on about every good bike road in Florida. There sure are many great backroads & byways, both paved and sand. Looking back at my notes & routes I think about 10,000 miles of good XSSE Rolling Rally riding just in Florida. We've zigged & zagged N,S,E & W around the state missing the cities. (Well, guess we did go to Miami Beach / South Beach once for tour, a walk-about and French bakery sandwiches) We've stayed at the Spanish Gardens Key West multiple times and also stayed at the Looe Key Reef Dive Shop & Resort on Ramrod Key. To-From HQ was usually Florida City. The couple years we stayed at the Transylvania Ave BoatTel (the sinking motel) on Largo Sound; now that was a hoot. Great eats there at the Hideout. Cheapo Key West motel rooms now pushing $300 per night so that's out. (and in 2013 we did that Gulf Coast run to Galveston Texas)

Maybe try something like this for XSSE 2019 Winter Rally:
Dates: April 5-6-7 with bonus day Thurs 4th or Monday 8th
Location: Kingsland Georgia (i95 Georgia exit 3)
Motels on GA40 East: Days Inn (we've stayed there before) or next door at RedRoof or next door Comfort, BW or Microtel

Ride Plan: probably Jekyll Island, Saint Simons Island, stop at Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation on the Altamaha,
maybe ride over to Okefenokee Swamp to wrestle some alligators. If Kurt can go maybe he can get us on a submarine at Kings Bay.

Why Apr 5-6-7? April 15th is Tax Day and that's bad for some. April 21st is Easter. Later is alligator mating season. By late March spring is in full bloom so that will be nice except for the thick yellow / green pine pollen everywhere.

Hope you can join us

Jeff

[thumperjsa]

Hey Jeff. I was actually thinking about it's time to discuss a rally in the South. April may be a good time for me. I've been doing a lot of personal travel lately and not much time for riding in 2018. Hopefully 2019, I'll have more time. I'll talk with Phil although I'm sure he'll chime in soon. My older brother is buying a house up in Jacksonville near the St. Johns River so it would be a chance for me to see the new place perhaps too. I'll let you know as soon as I can.

[JeffH]

FWIW: I just booked a room for Brent & I, Fri Apr 5th to Sun Apr 7th.
Will add either Thurs night or Monday night later as we finalize a plan.

Days Inn Kingsland
1353 GA Hwy 40
ph: 912.330.6444
$75~$80 a night with tax

fyi: if you'd rather book something else, next door to Days Inn is:
Magnolia Inn, Red Roof Inn (AMA discount), Microtel, Comfort, Best Western and Kingsland Inn

Restaurants within walking distance too. However, if we want to 'make a run for it' across 5 lanes of traffic we can get to Ruby Tuesday, Longhorn, Sonny's BBQ or the OPS Pizza kitchen. BTDT …….. A good run in front of cars before & after dinner is always sporting.

Seems Kingsland a better place than Waycross or busy Jacksonville area. Fernandina Beach is nice but more expensive with few options. Same for Jekyll Island $200+ a night. Sea Island at St Simons $250 a night. And not biker accommodations.

Story: I was riding around out there one night (tide marsh & very dark) and stopped to get a room.
I asked for a room for one night. Lady very politely said "I'm sorry sir, we don't have rooms, we have Villas" I ATGATT up then left.
Drove to Brunswick to be with my peeps

Jeff

[JeffH]

I talked with Don yesterday. He has booked a room at Days Inn.

Jeff

[Huron52]

If I was going to be closer to Florida I would think about this but I just won't be. More like the west coast of Canada.

[MPittma100]

I'm game. Got home from out of town this evening. Will be booking a room tomorrow.

[bikerphil]

Sounds good to me, count me in.

[MPittma100]

Officially booked at Days Inn in Kingsland. Ready to go!

Mike

[speedlimit85]

I'd like to ride with you guys like last year.

[JeffH]

Originally Posted by Huron52

If I was going to be closer to Florida I would think about this but I just won't be. More like the west coast of Canada.

Tom,
Too bad. It would be fun if you could have joined us.
But BC is always a great place to be any time of year.

Have a great 2019. Hope to see you along the byways at some point during the year.

Jeff

[JeffH]

FYI,
Looking like we will have 6-7 bikes on the 330 mile ride from Atlanta to Kingsland.
So we will need some meet points to help us get rolling.

Friday April 5th:
9:00 AM Shell at Holcomb Bridge and Spalding Dr (Jeff, Mike, Scott maybe Chuck)
9:30 AM Chick-Fil-A at Turner Hill / GA124 (Brent, John)
10:15 AM Chevron at intersection GA212 and GA81 (Kurt) (would meet at the Cotton Pickin Chicken in Ola but it is too early to be having lunch)

Anyone else that is interested in joining us, Please Do (post or PM so we know to be looking for you)
We can add another meet point say in Soperton in east/central Georgia where we will likely stop at the Boneyard for lunch

FWIW, for the other attendees:
The Atlanta group will plan to arrive at Days Inn Kingsland about 5:45PM on Friday April 5th.

I have a couple of great back roads routes in mind for the ride down from Atlanta. Navigating around the Oconee and Altamaha basins makes for some great riding.
No riding on sand roads will be required (intentional or unintentional)

Jeff

[JeffH]

to confirm our FL-GA Line Rally plans

Consensus is arrive Friday April 5th and depart Monday April 8th
Days Inn
Kingsland, GA
1353 Hwy 40 East
ph: 912.330.6444

fwiw, I have booked my room for three nights to arrive Fri 5th and depart Mon 8th.
I think Mike & Phil have done the same. Don too.

Will have Ride Plans for group ride both Saturday and Sunday to include things like Jekyll Island, St Simons Island, maybe some Brunswick Stew in Brunswick,
Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation on the Altamaha, Folkston and Okefenokee Swamp etc. etc. and riding some scenic backroads.
optional event: wild alligator wrestling in the Okenfenokee swamp

Join us if you can

Jeff

[JeffH]

Originally Posted by speedlimit85

I'd like to ride with you guys like last year.

Eric, YES for sure. Please do ………………………..
We look forward to riding with you again too. Sure had a blast last year.
If like last year, you want to ride up and meet us Saturday morning we will be hanging around the Kingsland Days Inn until 09:15 or something like that.
EZ 100 mile ride for you up US301. Stay over Saturday night if you can at Days or one of the nearby motels. That would be awesome.

Jeff

[JeffH]

75 Days till we ride

I have put together a 200 mile Saturday Ride touring swamps, salt marsh and maritime forest, a plantation and some barrier islands. Depart say 09:30 and get back by 7pm (or do whatever floats our boat that day). EZ riding - mega scenic. Of course we could also decide what we want to do once we all meet up in Kingsland GA on Friday night. Also have a 140 mile Okefenokee Swamp ride for Sunday. Walk or paddle in the swamp a bit if we want.

Remember Chef? The Executive Chef at the B&C Seafood Restaurant in Vacherie Louisiana.
Heard a rumor Chef might now be Executive Chef at a new restaurant in Folkston or in the Okefenokee Swamp.
Great 'Chef' but a very messy eater!! Makes a mean turtle soup.


XSSE Rally
April 5-6-7
Kingsland Georgia
Days Inn
(or if you prefer, one of the nearby motels like Red Roof or Comfort)

Good opportunity to meet up with other XSives and have some fun.

We hope to see you there,
the XSSE gang

[MPittma100]

Looking forward to the ride. Always nice to leave the City and get on those back roads that lead to the rural communities and small, forgotten towns. They are slowly disappearing. Have not met the "Chef" and have not tried the turtle soup. Maybe one day...........See you guys in April.