North Florida motorcycle trip

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On a Sunday morning on December 17, 2006, Michel and I, along with our good friends and riding buddies, Steve and Jill Gaylor,
took a beautiful ride in North Florida. I will try to give a short history of each town or area we past through, (some places I can
not find a single thing about the town.) Around 10AM we got started from Alachua, FL. and found US highway 129 north from
Alachua. At Branford, we took a right on 129, I have never been Branford, I didn't know it was that big. Branford is said to be the
diving capital of the world, wow I didn't know that either. Continuing north on 129 we went through O'Brien, can't

central Florida town, with a Saturday farmers market and turn of century historical architecture. The roads we took, in and
around the Live Oak area were rolling , curvy and peaceful. Lots of old farms with old farm houses and barns.Traveling on
north still on US 129/ St Rd 51, we passed through Suwannee Springs home of The Spirit of the Suwannee Park. Continuing on
north we get to the town of Jasper, FL. Jasper is also rich in history established in 1830 as a trading post by families from
Georgia and South Carolina. Jasper was named for Sgt. William Jasper a revolutionary war soldier, the area is cradled by the
are peaceful, rolling and curvy. Heading out of Jasper we took 51 or Bakers Mill Rd., to Bakers Mill, not much there, the road
turns to a dirt road which borders the Florida Georgia line. We headed back to Jasper to get back on 129, but decided to take a
dirt road, I think it was NW 25th drive, to cross over to 129, don't do it, lots of sugar sand. Anyway, before we got back to Jasper
we stopped and visited the Hebron Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery. Here is a interesting website about Baker's Mill. Steve
tells the story of a Small Pox outbreak there in the 40's I think. Getting back on track, we backed tracked to Jasper and
proceeded north 129 north. Then you take a left on 150 passing through Avoca and on to Jennings Florida, where we took a left
on 141 which turns into 143 and then take a right on 152 passing through Octahatchee and Bellville, 152 is also called Bellview
Rd after passing through Bellville. 146 and make a right which is 150/146 then a short distance up the road you will make a left
on 150, and go through Maysland, and Bailey. Follow 150 until you get to US 90/SR 10 and make a left to go to Madison.Just a
short note on the quaint city of Madison. Madison was founded in 1838 by cotton planters. When cotton was king it had the
largest cotton processing plant in the world. The oldest house in town is still occupied, which was built in 1849, and a small
wooden Episcopal church built in 1843, still stands and is in use today. In the center of Madison is the Wardlaw-Smith-Goza
house, a mansion that served as a confederate hospital during the Civil War. Also, in the heart of downtown Madison is the
Four Freedoms park, where the Four Freedoms Monument stands and is in honor of Colin P. Kelley, a former Madison resident
who became one of the 1st US hero of World War II. The city of Madison is a great motorcycle riding destination, and deems a
day of exploring in this rich in history town.Our plans were to eat dinner in Madison at O'neill's Country Buffet, but as we got
there they were closing, So we headed out for Live Oak, via 90, and ate at the Golden Corral. By this time it was getting dark so
we opted to take I-10, to I-75 back to Alachua. It was a great day of riding, with good friends.