This is a synopsis of our recent camping trip. Our travels took us to Torreya State Park west of Tallahassee and then to Salt Springs and the National Forest campgrounds in the Ocala National Forest. If you have something you would like to share with our readers just email it to us. I hope to hear about your adventure soon.
Torreya/Salt Springs Camping Trip
Trip Report-Day 1
We met Saturday morning at the Sunoco station on West New Haven Avenue/US 192 and I-95. Harold riding his Honda GL-1500 Gold Wing and pulling a small trailer. Harold's son Geoff riding a 1983 Honda Silverwing 650. Richard riding a Honda GL-1800 Gold Wing. Tom riding a Honda ST1300 sport tourer. Not a requirement but everyone aboard a Honda for this trip.
At 8:00AM we mount up to head north on I-95 with a planned stop at the rest area north of Titusville. As we head north I discover the rain cover over my luggage doesn't fit as tight as it usually does and is coming loose. Since I'm not carrying my usual amount of luggage there is too much slack in the cover allowing the wind to whip it loose. So an unscheduled stop on the side of I-95 to take the cover off and stow it. Everyone had seen me pull over so they pulled over ahead and waited for me. With the cover off and stowed we headed north again.
An uneventful ride on up I-95 to the exit at Ormond Beach and our first gas stop. This leg was 90.5 miles. After gassing and resting we headed west on SR40 and our planned lunch break in Williston. SR40 takes us through the Ocala National Forest which stretches from Astor almost to Silver Springs. It is a nice ride with a few curves and hills. We stop as planned at the Hilltop Restaurant in Williston for lunch. We parked in a vacant lot next to the restaurant. While we were eating another group of motorcyclists came in and parked all around us. They were from Brooksville out for a day ride.
The next leg takes us through Bronson, Chiefland and Fanning Springs where we make our next gas stop at 126.9 miles for this leg. Then on through Old Town, Cross City, Salem, Perry, Hampton Springs, to Wakulla for our next gas stop with 104.2 miles for this leg. Then it was on to Bloxham, Hosford and the destination at Torreya State Park.
High bluffs overlooking the Apalachicola River make Torreya one of Florida's most scenic places. The park is named for an extremely rare species of Torreya tree that only grows on the bluffs along the Apalachicola River. Developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's, Torreya is popular for camping, hiking, and picnicking. Bird-watching is also a popular activity. Over 100 species of birds have been spotted in the park. Forests of hardwood trees provide the finest display of fall color found in Florida. The main campground offers full-facility campsites and a YURT (Year-round Universal Recreational Tent). Primitive campsites and a youth campground are also available. Ranger-guided tours of the Gregory House, a fully furnished plantation home built in 1849, are given at 10:00 a.m. on weekdays and 10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m. on weekends and state holidays. Located west on County Road 1641 off State Road 12, 13 miles north of Bristol.
Torreya was a nice campground. We had a large motorhome on one side of our two reserved spots and a lo-high rv trailer on the other side. Most of the campsites are shaded under the large tree canopy. After unpacking and setting up our tents and airing up the air mattresses it was time to go into town for dinner. We headed into nearby Bristol to the Appalachee Restaurant for dinner.
It was really nice sitting around the campfire with no bugs or mosquitos after us. We broke out the wine for a toast to and in remembrance of our friend and riding buddy Darrell Claborn who lost his battle with cancer on September 17th. Our normal wine for our campfire toasts is Scuppernong. But being out of Scuppernong and the closest place to buy it is Georgia we opted for a bottle from Lakeridge Winery located near Clermont, FL. After the toast we sat around the campfire reminiscing about other trips we had taken with Darrell. He wasn't with us in life but his spirit was with us.
After an evening of reminiscing and talking about motorcycling and other trips we have taken we decided to turn in for the night. I slept really good only waking once to make the necessary trek.
Route for first leg of trip to Torreya State Park.
North on I-95 to Ormond Beach and SR40, left.
West on SR40 to Silver Springs and CR326, right.
Northwest on CR326 to US27, right.
North on US27 to Williston for planned lunch break.
Northwest on AltUS27 to Chiefland and US19/US98/AltUS27, right.
North onUS19/US98/AltUS27 to Perry and US98, left.
East on US98 to SR267, right.
Northeast on SR267 to Bloxham and SR20, left.
East on SR20 to CR271, right.
Northeast on CR271 to CR271/CR11641, straight.
North Northeast on CR271/CR11641 to destination, Torreya State Park.
Trip Report-day 2
I woke up around 7:10AM. Everyone got up around 7:30AM and Harold heated water for our instant coffee. We also had some OJ that we had
purchased the previous evening. After having coffee and OJ we packed up our camping gear and loaded up for the day's journey to Salt Springs. The plan was to travel to Chattahoochee for breakfast, then back to I-10 to head east. After either taking a wrong turn or missing one we ended up on US90 in Gretna. Having missed the route to Chattahoochee we decided to go east on US90 and find a place to
eat breakfast. After traveling through Quincy we came to the intersection of US90 and I-10 where there was a Waffle House so we decided
to have breakfast there. After breakfast we stopped across the road at a Pilot station to gas up before heading east on I-10.
We took I-10 east to US19 where we exited and headed south to Capps. We traveled through Lamont and Eridu to Perry. From Perry we took US27 east through Mayo and Alton. Here we took a little detour and went to Troy Springs State Park. Geoff wanted to show us where he lived for over a year when he worked at O'Leno State Park. He stayed in a cabin at Troy Springs before it was improved 
and upgraded with parking and facilities. So we got the tour of the park and cabin he lived in which is now the Visitor's Center.
The depths of Troy Springs contain the remains of the Civil War-era steamboat Madison, scuttled in the spring run in 1863 to keep it from
being captured. A recent addition to the state park system, Troy Springs now has an entrance road, restrooms, an accessible walkway,
picnic tables, and a riverside dock for canoeists and boaters on the Suwannee River. This 70-foot deep, first magnitude spring offers
opportunities for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Only open-water scuba diving is permitted and divers must be certified; no solo diving is allowed. Trails for hiking and horseback riding are being developed. Located off County Road 425, 1.3 miles north of U.S. 27.
After the park tour we headed southeast on US27 through Branford and Fort White to High Springs where we made a pit stop at Floyd's Diner
for a little dessert. As we looked over the menus's Geoff saw they had pie for $6.88 so he asked the young lady we had for a waitress if
that was for a whole pie. She told him that it was for just a slice. He told her he hoped it was for a large slice. She asked if he wanted a slice and he said no that he could make a pie better than theirs for less money. Since we weren't quite ready to order she left
and returned a little later. Richard made his order then Harold and then Tom and when it came Geoffs turn the young lady looked at him and said are you ready to order pie boy. So for the rest of the trip Geoff was referred to as "pie boy".
After leaving Floyd's Diner we stopped and gassed up and then headed south on US27 through Newberry and Archer to Williston. We planned on taking CR316 east to SR19. When we turned on CR316 we went a short distance and it dead ended into another road without any road signs for guidance. Geoff was leading so he shrugged and turned north. We traveled a ways and came to CR318 which went east so we took it. This took us to Citra where we took US301 south to CR200A which took us to CR316 which put us back on the original planned route. Then east on CR316 to Ft. McCoy and Eureka to SR19 south to Salt Springs and the National Forest Service campground.
After arriving at the campground we registered and went to our campsites. We set up our tents and aired up the air mattresses. Then Harold and Geoff got their fishing gear and headed for the water. Richard and I walked down with them to watch them catch the big one.
The only bites were from mosquitos. Quite a bit different from Torreya as we were swarmed by mosquitos. Richard and I headed back to
the campsite and sprayed with mosquito repellent. It wasn't long until Harold and Geoff returned without any fish. So we decided to go
to the nearby restaurant for dinner. The restaurant is in a little center on SR19 just north of the campground. We had dinner at the Knife Fork 'N Spoon restaurant.
After dinner we returned to the campground. Our official fire starter Geoff got us a nice fire going. So we sat around the fire having
the rest of the bottle of wine for our toast for the evening. We had bought some beer at a local store so we shared a beer around the
fire. As we sat and talked Richard's chair broke. So we took a break as we tried to figure out if it was repairable. So then we ate
Fritos and drank beer and told war stories. Then it was time to turn in for the night.
Route for second leg of trip to Salt Springs.
East on I-10 to US19, right.
South on US19 to Perry and US27, left.
East on US27 to High Springs and US27 south, right.
South on US27 to Williston and CR316, left.
East on CR316 to SR19, right.
South on SR19 to Salt Springs, left.
East into destination Ocala National Forest Service campground at Salt Springs.
Trip Report-Day 3
Another nice peaceful night under the stars. A good night in spite of having a mosquito in the tent buzzing around and hiding so I
couldn't get it. Since we were in the primitive area of the campground we didn't have any close neighbors so we could use a local tree during the night instead of having to make a trek to the necessary room.
Rise and shine around 7-7:30AM. Harold's heating the water for coffee. Deflate air mattresses, pack up the tent and gear and head out
for breakfast and then home. We ate breakfast at the Square Meal in the same area as the Knife Fork 'N Spoon. The Square Meal restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch and the Knife Fork 'N Spoon is open for lunch and dinner. A good breakfast and it's time to head for home.
A short trip over to I-95 and then south to US192 arriving home around 1:00PM. A nice trip through some nice areas of Florida. Let's do it again soon. Thanks Harold for planning the trip. A job well done.
Route for third leg of trip to Melbourne.
South on SR19 to SR40, left.
East on SR40 to Ormond Beach and I-95, right.
South on I-95 to Melbourne and US192, left.
East on US192 to destination, home.
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