Peace Enduro S.A.

Starting earlier this month I installed a GoPro HERO5 Session on my helmet and started using it on the trails, starting with the Devil's Creek Rally in Brooksville.

I quickly found that the file sizes of recorded video was much larger than could be shared on the sites I frequent, so I started a YouTube Channel to upload my video called Peace Enduro S.A. From this YouTube Channel I can do some minor editing (principally cutting down the video size) and share links.

The Channel will also include uploads of video that other fellow riders share with me as well.

Citrus Ride Report

Trail Information:
(Note: Red indicates a link.)

Site: Citrus Wildlife Management Area (WMA)
Addresses for Parking:
   Annutteliga Hammock Trailhead, County Road 491, Inverness, Florida
   Oak Park North Trailhead, Couty Road 480, Inverness, Florida
   Tillis Hill Day Use, 9231 South Trail 13, Inverness, Florida (Fee Required)
Total Area: 49,317 Acres
Camping:
   Holder Mine Campground, 3049 East Trail 10, Inverness, Florida 34452 (Bath House, Water,
      Electric)
   Mutual Mine Campground, 4771 East Trail 16, Inverness, Florida 34452 (Bathrooms/Water)
   Annutteliga Hammock (Primitive)
Bath Houses: Holder Mine, bathroom only; Mutual Mine bath house
Surfaces: Sand, mud, clay, gravel
Wet/Mud Potential: Medium
Overall Difficulty: Moderate
Tracks (Click for dot.gpx tracks. Viewer required.)
   North Track_CIT_1
   South Track_CIT_2
Total Track Recorded: North Track_CIT_1 = 29.4 miles; South Track_CIT_2 = 25.7 miles
Pavement Miles in Track: CIT_1 = 0.5 miles; CIT_2 = 3.6 miles
Forest Roads Speed Limit: 30
Nearby Trail Networks: Croom WMA, Richloam WMA

Fuel is readily available at three locations surrounding the WMA. See the map above for fueling icons.

Purple tracks are hiking and equestrian trails that are off limits to motorized vehicles.

Day use parking is not allowed in the Mutual Mine and Holder Mine Camping Areas.

The Oak Park South and Cowpen Trailheads have parking areas, but trailers are not allowed. Your best bets for trailer parking with a trailer are (i) Annutteliga, (ii) Oak Park North and (iii) Tillis Hills. Tillis Hill requires a fee and use of an Iron Ranger Box.

Click for a download .pdf of the Citrus WMA map.

Trail Network Overview and Review:

The Citrus Wildlife Management Area contains over 120 miles of publicly accessible forest roads in a broad range of conditions. Many of the roads around the camping and day use areas are hard, gravel surfaces for campers and equestrians trailering horses can get in and out. However, the vast majority of the forest roads are either sand covered (some very deep) or rutted, eroded clay-dirt surfaces. The clay can become very slippery in wet conditions even for DOT knobby tread patterns.

We split our track records into two sections for purposes of our review. The North Track (Red) starts and ends at the Holder Mine Campsites and covers 29.4 miles. The South Track (Blue) starts at the Annutteliga Hammock Day Use Area and tracks north up to the Mutual Mine Campsites and covers 25.7 miles. That leave about 65 miles of additional track to explore.

The overall moderate difficulty assessment arises from a combination of a great deal of deep sand and many surfaces that have eroded down to the slippery clay base. Dual sport and adventure riders will want to have their sand game up to par. These two points aside, the Citrus WMA overall is a very enjoyable forest to ride.

Photos

Videos

The following videos are available on our YouTube Channel, Peace Enduro S.A. 

These videos provide a good cross section of trail surfaces in the WMA. It should be noted that the video was made in the driest season. The wet season will bring flooding and slippery surfaces.

My apologies in advance about the audio. I'm just getting used to a new GoPro and need to work on the microphone.

Camping

I decided to start camping at the trail networks that I'm visiting and reviewing for this blog. Camping is available in four locations in this area:

• Annutteliga Hammock Day Use: Primitive, tent
• Mutual Mine: Tent, RV, Water, Toilet
• Holder Mine Campsite: Tent, RV, Cement Platforms, Water, Electric, Bathhouse
• Tillis Hill Campsite and Day Use: Tent, RV, Cement Platforms, Water, Electric, Bathhouse

I camped at the Holder Mine Campsite to take advantage of all the amenities; particularly electric. I also visited Tillis and Mutal during my travels; Mutual was actually closed. As for Tillis and Holder, I found them to be outstanding camping facilities. Very clean, very organized, and inexpensive.

The website said that the cost of Holder started at $25 a day, but by time I got registered for two nights the total, including tax and fees, was only $36. I would estimate that under 25% of the sites were occupied.

I would highly recommend taking advantage of the camping facilities within the WMA. It was very enjoyable to have a camp set up right there in the forest.

Trail Network Summary

If you throw camping into your trip to the Citrus WMA, you'll enjoy two days of really good Florida forest road riding. The forest roads are, indeed, very rough and the sand is very deep in many places, but if you can deal with those surfaces it's a good dual sport and adventure location.

Battery Maintenance

So, today I'm thinking about batteries.

I made some "battery" observations at the last two rallies that I attended that got me thinking. First, at the Polar Bear, one of the riders in my group had a weak battery that caused him problems when we had to wait for a straggler. It was kind of annoying. Second, at Devil's Creek this past weekend, one of the guys I led through the swamp was carrying a 'spensive battery jump/boost device. These two guys should ride together. 😊

This is the mico-start that Revzilla sells for $99.99. There are some cheaper and their are some more 'spensive....

...but, here's what I'm thinking. Why is it that riders aren't maintaining or replacing batteries before they encounter issues, to the point that some think they need to carry jump boxes like the Micro-Start or roll into a serious rally with a battery that's half alive?

Let's get a fact on the table before proceeding:

Batteries do not last forever.

Is there any question about that? Here in Florida, we are particularly sensitive to this fact because the climate wreaks havoc on our battery lives: motorcycle, cars, golf carts, riding lawn mowers, etc. etc. etc.

The normal lifespan of a battery is generally 4 to 6 years. Here in Florida, we can expect 50% of that (i.e. 2-3 years) and that all depends on how good of a battery we start with. Taking for granted that all batteries are going to go bad and at a much quicker rate than the rest of the world, we just go ahead and change the dang things before they go tit's up.

Interesting though...

....owners manuals do not have a replacement spec for batteries. There isn't a replacement spec in the owners (or service) manual for my 2019 KLX250, nor is there one in about any other owner's manual I have around here for whatever. As to the KLX, there's a replacement spec for fluids, filters of all types, hoses rubber parts, but nothing about batteries. All those things wear out and so do batteries.

Don't try to say there's no spec for tires or brake pads either because there is. Any tire you put on that bike has a replacement tread spec. All your brake pads had replacement thickness specs. Nothing...nothing for batteries.

Don't try to tell me that you keep an eye on your aftermarket volt meter, because that has everything to do with what you stator is throwing off and nothing to do with your battery health.

Now, there is something on batteries in the service manual of the KLX. Essentially, your dealer is supposed to be putting your battery on a battery tester when they do a service. Seriously though, I used to work in a PowerSports outfit and they don't do that.

I guess the point is that we're really not getting a lot of good support from the OEM's when it comes to our battery health. I think they just assume when the battery fails (enough times) the owner will replace it. True, but why let that happen out on the trails? Why let that happen anywhere?

Rather, why don't we just pick a period of time that we are comfortable with and replace the dang battery?

Florida Trails and Tracks

The problem for many dual sport and adventure enthusiasts is that they simply do not have either the time or the money to participate in the rally circuits or riding circles. Most rallies are three days; perhaps those with significant work loads can swing one or two a year. Also, rallies are expensive. Devil's Creek alone was $180. When it comes to the riding circles, again, our busier dual sport brothers and sisters just can't always make the ride time/date.

We think that a very simple resource that provides comprehensive information (including dot.gpx tracks) of publicly accessible trail networks would set these enthusiasts up to hit the trails on their own schedule and without organizational cost.

Introducing Florida Trails and Tracks!

Florida Trails and Tracks Network is a "developing" association of regional, interconnected blogs designed to serve as a resource to dual sport and adventure enthusiasts by providing the information they need to access public trails on their own schedule.

The first Blog in this developing network is Florida Trails and Tracks-West Central. As other regional blogs come online, they will be connected using a process called link building. Ultimately, the goal would be a network with a footprint that covers the entire state.

Be advised that the Network builds it's site information contemporaneously under the direction of it's hosts. The Network does not use any existing tracks from organized events. Further, the network does not use any prior developed tracks of the hosts or others. Site information in the Network is developed by Network hosts and maintained as current.

Anyone interested in hosting a regional blog should review the Network Guidelines that are linked in the right column of the West Central Blog.

UPDATE:

Florida Trails and Tracks is temporarily locked down as we review guidelines.

Devil's Creek

Devil's Creek (Brooksville, Florida) is in the books.

The only rally in the State of Florida that dares take on the swamps in west central, Devil's Creek is the premier dual sport rally in the State. It marks the fourth rally that my new 2019 KLX250 has participated in and was put to the test.

Being my home track, I lead groups on three days of dirt, mud and sand. While some other super fast groups passed us from time to time, the two fiddy held its own with the bigger bore thumpers in my groups.

Following are a few photos from the event. Enjoy!

I have an older (1995) enclosed utility trailer that my son bartered into for some plumbing work many years ago and use for a toy hauler/camper. Inside I have cot and table with a hot plate to whip up coffee in the morning. Not so much necessary as they feed you pretty good at Devils Creek.

The campground was really jammed up like sardines this year and right next to my utility trailer a guy set up a really interesting hammock. Hammocks seem to be coming on the last couple years and I've been seriously looking into them lately.

Tech inspection:

This is an AMA Event and is permitted with the Florida Department of Forestry. All bikes are inspected for sound levels, tires, lights and things like that. You have to pass a tech inspection "before" you can register.

Riders meeting:

The event is limited to 170 participants, a very small portion ride the adventure category. However, that's usually due to skill level. This event doesn't attract those big adventure bikes because of the level of sand.

My friends from Ft. Lauderdale, Howard looking the wrong way.

My buddy Howard Alexander (K-Toom 350). This dude is into it.

My newest friend, Brian (DRZ400) from Plant City. Brian rode with me on Friday and Saturday. We're gonna be hitting some of the area trails this summer.

Time to roll but everyone is like where the hell's my bike.

Oh, back to Friday was actually on your own so Brian and I visited the Croom and Citrus WMAs. We only made it halfway up Citrus and ran into a controlled burn...i.e. forest fire. We backtracked out and then rode a bunch of gravel/dirt roads near the campground before we headed back to camp. 137 miles clocked; not bad for a Devil's Creek Primer.

Lol! First obstacle on Saturday morning; there always something early in Devils Creek to get your blood flowing. Last year it was the eight inch sand trail on the Graveyard Trail. This year they decided we needed to get wet.

Yes, that is a blow up doll floating in the water. If you're over there apparently you're in really big trouble. 😐

Brian, like a champ!

A new friend and ride partner, James (DRZ400). So Saturday morning I met James (camped next to me) and he'd loaded up the adventure track and roll chart. We talked him into joining us in the swamp and the dude kicked it! Mud, sand, water...he did awesome!

So as we rolled into this water crossing, guys were totally chickening out and turning around. I don't know what they heck they thought they were going to encounter. No one made light of the terrain in there. I pushed my group quickly to the front, passing those that were sitting there procrastinating, 'cuz I new that water crossing was going to be a lot different by the time another 25 bikes went through.

Another new friend, Jason (Husky 350) from Tampa.

Lots of people dumping the water out of their boots at lunch! I was high and dry until the very last water crossing on Saturday...the last one!!! It wasn't event that bad, but it filled my boots. Dang.

Saturday night dinner is an event. Vintage bikes, games, prices, raffles, vendors, lots o' drunk dual sporters! 😊

Not me, of course.

Orange koolaid served over in the corner.

Dr. Ray...drowned it. 😩

Brian and I at the Withlacoochee River.

More from the swamp.

I rode Devil's Creek on a 2016 Kamo KLR650 in March 2016. Then I rode my DR650 in 2017 and 2018; much better. My son ✝ rode the KLR650 in 2017 and 2018. In 2018 he rode it 2-up with his girl friend. Lol!

Someone else went for a swim. 😩

Video Alert!

I was running a GoPro for the first time and won't bore you with a ton o' film, but this one particular clip is only 3:38 minutes long. We were waiting for one of my riding buds in the longest, deep sand track on Sunday and a lady comes flying by hootin' and holerin' and proceeds to dump it. She was okay. I had lunch with her later that day. It was funny........

     *     *     *     *     *     

Oh man, sad it's over. I almost skipped Devil's Creek this year. It's really the most technical track that you can have here in Florida; we have no mountains and not much in the way of rocks to deal with. Tree stumps galore, though.

At once a year, I'd just forgotten that invigorating feeling coming out of the Devil's Creek weekend.

Until next year for #24.

p.s. I had three falls. One on Friday, which was a spectacular endo and two on Saturday, which were a couple low sides. No carnage to report except the left mirror extender on Friday. Jason has the second fall on video. I'll get it and post it later.

p.s.s. Thanks to other riders for use of some their photos in my blog post.