I actually went riding ! ! !

[Davidld98]

Went ridin down at the ranch Sat night, how bout the other 171 riders on here. Or is it politics as always.

[digginfool]

Just waiting for a little cooler weather and then we'll be there most every weekend.  I've got lots of work to do on my camp.

[ScooterB]

I'm still nursing a broken hand, hopefully will back on the bike by November..

[jrpro130]

I still need to get my property!

[Davidld98]

So do I , but spent all my time ridin instead. Maybe next time I'll go w/out the 4wheeler.

[EIGER-MUDDER]

waiting for my bikes get out of shop, then its on have not rode 5/mos 

[dannyboy]

As soon as it cools down ill be at RR at least one weekend a month

[MadMudder]

Went out saturday. Had allot of fun. Front end is tore up in the bike. 4wd only works when the front tires arent under strain. If it gets in deepish mud or something like that it quits. Useful I know. Anyway more stuff to fix and whatnot. I dont get all the hate on politics. I ride every weekend with my family and friends. Then at night during the week or whatever I like to get on and discuss politics. Not impossible to do both.

[dannyboy]

I could care less, I just want to ride and meet people at the ranch so I have other camps to visit and people to ride with.

[EIGER-MUDDER]

im going out there oct22-25  im me  well meet up and ride thats if ur in to mud riding

[jrpro130]

waiting for my bikes get out of shop, then its on have not rode 5/mos 

yea mike what the heck.  we need to ride asap

[mrbones]

When is summer going to be over? Riding is good for the soul.

[MOTOCROSS MAVERICK]

When is summer going to be over? Riding is good for the soul.

You are right Mr. Bones! People seem to be up tight right now on the fourm. Maybe we do need to be riding more to ease tensions and relax. I konw i am one who need that! 

[Anoriginal]

What about another group ride? The only question is....where?

The Plex would make a fun destination for a giant atvflorida.com ride.

[renmus]

Madison is just too far for me.  I am heading out to Polk Co in the morning.  Will be able to get some riding in this weekend.

[digginfool]

Unfortunately, the Plex is a very long way from South Florida.  I've only been up that way once with my ATVs since it opened and that was on my way back from Colorado.  Now that you have to have a membership, don't know if I'll ever make it up since it seems the specials are usually during a holiday weekend.  Guess it will have to be the Ranch or SE for me.  Those of us that belong can certainly make a ride there!

[pywacket1955]

WE WILL BE GOING TO RIVER RANCH THIS WEEK END.  CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE
BBQ.  BUT GIVE IT HELL ON SUNDAY.  I HEAR THERE IS LOT OF WATER OUT
THERE. 

[Anoriginal]

I need to head out to RR. It's been a long time since I was there.

[Davidld98]

Was out there again Sat night in my jeep, wet and dry depending on where your at.

[Anoriginal]

I'm leaving in the morning for my place in the Big Cypress. However, I am taking my buggy. It's still a bit too wet for the ATV and I have a bunch of stuff I need to haul in.

[Keeter]

 

[Anoriginal]

Keeter:

I know...I know...

We had a full house and it was a work weekend thrown together in a hurry. Managed to make it out one day for a long buggy ride into a part of the Big Cypress I'd never traveled to. Water was pretty high in places.

The NPS was out in force too. We were stopped on the way out by a ranger who checked our ORV stickers and licenses along with the hunting licenses of those of us with guns. She flat out told us that she was out there looking for ATV's and that the ATV's are their biggest problem.

I for one, am glad to see the stepped up enforcement and hope that the increased presence will curb the idiots like those that closed the holeylands for us. According to what I hear from the ORVAC folks, we're looking at a ban on 2x4 ATV's in the Big Cypress real soon. I say GREAT!!! It's not a sport bike place. And, if banning the 2x4's keeps it open for more people in the long run while cutting back on problems...why not?

[digginfool]

I need to head out to RR. It's been a long time since I was there.

When you're ready to head out there, give me a heads up.  My camp's not ready for entertaining yet but I'll meet you at the swimming hole to tip back a couple cold ones.     I was planning to go to the Ranch this weekend to start work on the roof but the wife sabotaged those plans.  I'll be putting down a wood floor in my son's room instead.     We'll defintitely be out there the weekend of Nov. 7 to finally start on the repairs. 

[Anoriginal]

Sounds good to me.

[Keeter]

Keeter:

I know...I know...

We had a full house and it was a work weekend thrown together in a hurry. Managed to make it out one day for a long buggy ride into a part of the Big Cypress I'd never traveled to. Water was pretty high in places.

The NPS was out in force too. We were stopped on the way out by a ranger who checked our ORV stickers and licenses along with the hunting licenses of those of us with guns. She flat out told us that she was out there looking for ATV's and that the ATV's are their biggest problem.

I for one, am glad to see the stepped up enforcement and hope that the increased presence will curb the idiots like those that closed the holeylands for us. According to what I hear from the ORVAC folks, we're looking at a ban on 2x4 ATV's in the Big Cypress real soon. I say GREAT!!! It's not a sport bike place. And, if banning the 2x4's keeps it open for more people in the long run while cutting back on problems...why not?

I hope. 

[Anoriginal]

Me and you both.

Things are starting to get out of hand down there with the same bunch of idiots who ruined the Holeylands. Luckily, the NPS is all over them so, we'll probably "nip it in the bud" so to speak.

As an example, on Saturday night around 6:45 p.m. we heard a group of ATV comes riding into the NPS camp just north of ours. I walked over there to see what was up since nobody is supposed to be trespassing on the private property.

I walked up and found four ATVs with three guys, two women and two kids. None of the bikes had inspection/ORV permit stickers (that I could see) and at least three of them had to be riding double (illegal in the Big Cypress).  They told me they were trying to find their way out to Monroe Station.  I pointed them in the right direction and walked off.

The next day, the people running the game check at Monroe Station told me a gorup of ATV's came out some time after 9 pm the night before and knocked on their trailer door to unlock the gated area where people park their vehicles. They told the game check folks they were lost.  I felt bad for the kids. It was cold that night and they were really wet and covered with mud. I hope they at least had jackets.

 It really pizzes me off when people just blatantly break the rules down there. I don't care if someone thinks the rules are stupid or not. They fact is....they're the rules! It's a National Preserve. Not a state or private recreation area. We have no "right" to ride in there. The more people continue to disobey and act stupid, the worse it gets for all of us.

Eventually, I think ATV's will be banned in the Big Cypress. Honestly though, I can't say I'd disagree with the decision either. Almost all of the trouble we have down there somehow gets back to ATV use. Trespassing, vandalism, theft, trail abuse, off trail riding.....almost exclusively an ATV problem.  All I can tell you is that, before the heavy influx of ATV's in the Big Cypress, we NEVER had these types of problems.

[AintSkeered]

Amen!

[Anoriginal]

Amen!

Ain't....I know it's sad. But it's true. Those of us (like you and me) that understand it feel frustrated and helpless.

I've tried.

[foreman1]

Almost every time I've driven by that gate its wide open.
I went thru it a couple times last week, locked it only to find it open when I returned.
Some of the guys putting in at Monroe and going north arent locking the gate.
Now that the water's way down ,Donahue's road /I-95  is dry and with temperatures
going down its only gonna get worse ...especially during the holidays.

One area thats getting used alot by street legal 4wds as an offroading area is Bear Island .
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bear+island++jeep&search_type=&aq=f
Jeep Clubs have been riding there for sometime unfortunately the trails are degrading and a much
faster rate than normal.

Those who have traditionaly run these areas werent lookin for a challenge, just merely tarveling point A to B.
When ever I'm riding my buggy , I'm not lookin for a challenge like you would when you're muddin.
I'm looking for high or hard ground at all times , feathering the throttle when needed, the idea is to NOT spin a tire vs muddin where slinging rooster tails is the objective.
Its very important to understand that this isnt an offroad park.

[Anoriginal]

Good points Robert.

The only thing that seems to be saving us down south is the prohibition on street registered vehicles. Also, we've got some new NPS rangers on staff who are VERY aggressive when it comes to ORV's. So, hopefully things will improve.

Regarding the Monroe Station gate, you're right. I've seen it open countless times. I always lock it. Even had people ask me for the combo before while loading up at Monroe. They didn't have ORV licenses or stickers. I refused to give it to them. They got mad at me but, I could care less. Those are the types of people the gate is designed to kep out in the first place.