First of all, I am one of those damn yankees, and proud of it. And I do miss my home in Maine. However I am a northern redneck. I was brought up in the woods around drunkin' bon-fire's, bottles of Jack, and taught to hunt all that walks,flys,swims,or crawls. I have lived down here for almost 12 years, and I love it. All of you do the same sh*t we do up there, you just get cold a little easier, and I grumble about the heat a little more. I couldn't move back up north if I wanted to. I have met some of the nicest most laid back drunks down here, and plus you all can cook some seriosly intense food! Southern cookin' should be outlawed because of it's addictiveness!
    Oh yeah, dirt bike/atv... that is just stupid. I've ridden everything under the sun, and atv's are just the way to go hands down. And good point, I won't spill my Jack, and I can drag back my drunkin friends! When I am a drunkin friend, I have a place to sit.
                                             Miracleman

   Well, I feel pretty out numbered already. I am a die hard gm fan. I am actualy partial to gmc over chevy, but prefer either over dodge or ford. I have owned all three of the top dogs, and have had better luck with gm than any other. I have to admit I have not owned any thing long enough to put more than 175k on it, and don't plan on it.
   I will say this though... I have an '87 chevy 4x4 short box with 295k on it, and the motor is all stock, never been opened up, and she runs like a champ. No smoke, doesn't leak a drop, no "rappin", The ac is even cold. The axles,springs,and all the running gear has been changed to 3/4 ton. The trans is an all GM 4 speed manuel with 4:11 gears. Now, all that said, the reason I have tied up alot of money in this old truck is the motor and the body. I already bragged on the TBI 350, but the body is just as impresive. I had it painted last year, and the guy that did the paint said there was not one hole to fix, and no rust to sand. Sorry, I just love GM, always will.
   Don't forget, if the debate is longevity, toyota will outlast 'em all!                
                                               Miracleman

      lol... I'll keep my eyes out for a pump. I was told those crack ladies work cheap, we can round some of them up with straws...just a thought.
   As far as parking, I don't know. I haven't seen a ranger station around there. Unless it is at another area on the river...I don't know. I am wondering though, on the north side of the bridge, on the opposite side of the road from where we usualy unload, there is a couple tote road looking things where they have done a little clearing. I don't know who owns it, or how many vehicles could fit there, but it could be an option for some parking. Myself, I've got a pretty stout chevy, and I am going to try to pull trailer and all down to the bed itself. If I am succesful, than I will hook up to anyone elses trailor while I am there and do the same. I will most likely be hauling 5 atv's, so if I make it, than I should be able to get most of the others down. We'll figure it out, I want everyone to be able to ride! Happy trails!
                                                Miracleman

   OOH, OOH, pick me pick me! I like to answer easy questions I can't srew up! " What I do for work", yeah I can handle that without hurting myself...lol

     I am jeweler, have beem for 13 years. I have my own shop, and do work for other jewelry stores. I make it, design it, fix it, sell it and..... sometimes break it,lol.  Recently I have been thinking about selling campers and rv's. A friend of mine runs a dealership, and I thought it would be fun. Something different, and I get to flap my jaw all day. Other than jewelry, I seem to be good at that. I will keep up being a jeweler, it has always brought great money, and required little time unless I was in a retail store.
    So, need some gold? Need some campers or motor homes? How about at least a tent and a watch? I'm your guy!
               Happy trails to all!
                                                  Miracleman

       Hey kawa, I already got after him about the dodge, I don't like 'em either. I was scrolling down all these serious responses, and seeing all this educated, intense brain power us guys have pooled to answer this awesome question that will get any guys brain moving.... and then I saw your response and laughed I disagree off!

  Happy trails!
                                                      Miracleman
 No offense snake!  (shoulda bought a chevy)

   Damn it jim, I'm a rider not a construction worker!  No, realy, that is cool. I was there two weeks ago with my wife and daughter, and started to move some fallen tree's out of a trail. Another guy came along, and said " Hey, we are not suppused to mess with the natural occurance of mother nature." I scratched my head and said "uh huh". I cleared the trail anyway, but it agrivated me. Then I was paranoid like I raped the neighbors cat or something. I think if everyone helps out a little in the problem area's, we can keep a great riding area. It will also show our devotion and lengths we will go to have a nice place to ride.
    Happy trails!                            Miracleman

     Damn Vegas, your great on the reply's! I just got done responding to you on some other question somewhere else!
  As far as the gps, funny you say that. My wife got lost two or three times at croom. She however, can get lost in the kitchen. We already discussed getting one for her since we don't always stick together. I do pretty good in the woods, I've been in the sticks my whole life, and have a good sense of direction.
    I will keep you posted as to when I go. I like to have someone to bullshit with, and love to meet new people. Sorry about the girl thing. Three years, hell you just got her broke in! If I can find someone, I'll try to bring a few for you to try and scam!
     Thanks again vegas, I'll be in touch
                                                 Miracleman

    Hey vegas, thanks for the info, great help. I will try to let all of you know when I am going, and maybe I can put some faces to the names and machines.
    My gen is pretty quite, I hope quite enough. Come warmer weather, I like my a/c! My wife said something about going this weekend, and I know the nights are still comfortable so I supose I'll live. I am originaly from Maine, so heat and I don't bond well!
    Robb, you mentioned the riding being pretty bland. Have you been to croom, and if so compare the two for me. I have been told scrubb is much bigger, so I know that. However, the different types of terrain at croom, I thought were pretty good. I like climbing anything, is there anything for hills or ridges?
    Thanks again for the help, happy trails

                                                   Miracleman  

       Yup, still flooded. All this damn rain is not helping. This after noon I am headed to the back yard to do a backwards rain dance. Like I said, I am like 5 or 10 min. away, and beleive me, I am checking all the time. The group ride sounds great! I look forward to puting a face and machine to all the names.
    Some one said that they heard that they are going to try to put a stop to riding there. I hope not. Recently, they started enforcing some rules though. No riding on any of the banks, and parking is now sort of a pregnant dog. You have to actualy pull your truck down into the river bed since they no longer allow parking on the right of way which is pretty much everything outside the river bed. So please, when any of you do go, try to be respectful of these pain in the ass rules. For now, we can at least still go there. The rules they have are because of the certain idiots that end up everywhere that ruin it for everyone. People were going over the banks into peoples farm land, and the parking was stopped because of littering and tearing up the state maintained raod sides. We don't have much left around here, so we need to do some ass kissing to try and keep what we've got.
      I'll keep all of you posted, happy trails!

                                                  Miracleman

       All of your replys have been great! I knew I came to this damn sight for a reason! Really, thanks.
   How about rules? Are there any? If so, what are they, and how strict are they about inforcing them? For example, someone said you have to shut your gen down at 10PM. Is this the case, or does that only pertain to the gens that sound like a freight train? And prices or fees... Is there a charge to get in, or for a sticker like croom? And how much is camping for a motor home compared to just a tent?
    I know, a thousand questions at once, sorry. I just like to try to be prepared. Like I said thanks for all the replys, I look forward to more.  Happy trails!
                                                       Miracleman

    Hey mars, I hate to ask, but can you tell me all the rules for big scrubb? My wife and daughter and I are wanting to go and check it out since we have not been there, and I don't know much about the place. I need to know as much as I can about taking my motor home. Also any prices involved would be great. I was told that you have to shut your gen down at 10pm, is this so?
   Anyway, any info would help me out alot thanks, happy trails.
                                                   Miracleman

     Hell snake, if you have got some pulling years with you and you feel confidant, than your set. Like I said, for the set up that you are referring to, that dodge should pull like a champ ( shoulda' bought a chevy lol). No, really, the new dodge trucks pull like an ox, I give credit where it's due. Go ahead and get the bigger of the two trailers, you'll be fine. The stab. bar I would wait on personaly. Try yanken' everything around for a while a since you know what you are doing, than you will be able to make the right decision as to whether or not you will need it. I just try so save $ whenever possible.   Happy trails snake, and good luck!

                                               Miracleman

    Thanks vegas. If I get the bearings finished in my motor home, my wife and I are planning to go this weekend. The cabin sounds cool as hell. If I can get the rest of my "clan" together we will probably try that rather than the camper. Can you take any trails from the cabin to the riding area, or do you have to trailer from there? This is important because when all of us get together, there are 5 or 6 quads and carting them around is a pain in the ass.
     Anyway, thanks for the reply, and happy trails!

                                                       Miracleman

     I need to know whatever can be told. First of all, I will be coming down 75 from north florida,Where to next? Also, what is the camping like? Does it cost any thing, is there electric,showers,water? Is it a good place to bring my family? Like I said, any input is good.
    I just went to croom, and we loved it. Is it better, bigger?

                                                    Miracleman

      Ok, in reality, from the way it sounds, you don't need to worry about what your truck can handle. The usage that you are speaking of .... 20',24',quads,car, whatever, that Dodge will take it. I don't even like Dodge, but trust me it will be fine. I have driven,hauled,towed,and pulled my whole life. Your only concern is your ability. As long as you don't get nervous, and do everything in slow motion, you will be ok. Just remember, whether it is a 20' or a 24', an enclosed trailer will catch alot more wind. Just let your truck have her head, guide it where you want it, don't fight it where you want it. Good luck, and in the end get what you feel more comfortable with despite all of our opinions. You are the one that has to feel good pulling it.

    Hey scoob, thanks for the reply. Sorry about the delay, I am not the computer guy in the family, so i don't get here much.
   I checked out the oceola since my last post, and I wasn't impressed. I am sure there are places there, but where I went in, You spend more time loading and unloading from trail to trail than you do riding. You are restricted on alot of area, and the area's that you aren't are not connected.
  Now Croom is a different story. I went there with my wife and daughter last weekend, and we loved it. There are tons of trails of all types of terrain, and tons of really nice people of all ages riding anything you can think of. In case you don't know about it.... It is off exit 301 off 75. It is right off the exit so it is easy to find. You buy a sticker for your atv for $40, and that is good for a year of going. They have a camping area if you want to camp, and that is $13 a day. Make sure you get there early fri morning because the sights they have are gone right off the bat. If you don't want to camp, there are countless places to park and unload and you can ride all day and not cover all the terrain. I really had a ball.
    I am going to check out Big Scrubb next. I am told that is better than Croom. When I do, I will let you know. Also, if you haven't heard, the alapaha river is a ball too. It is flooded right now, but it dries up and makes for really cool riding.

                       

    I don't know where the humps are, probably will never get there, but this breaks my heart.I am originaly from Maine, and you can ride pretty much any where.There are clubs that are state approved and everything. You can ride from one end of the state to the other od club maintained trails, stop at gas stations, and even pull into an occasional diner for some food.
   Since I have lived down here, the atv restrictions I have seen just kill me. Unless you own 100 acres, or want to trailor your machines for 50+ miles you can't ride. It is all due to disrespect of other peoples land, property, and just being plain rude. The people that you are speaking of that are tearing everything up are the ones that ruin things for everyone. I agree with all of you. Call the cops, call the warden, do something yourself....whatever. Just get it across to these pricks that these areas are welcome to those that respect it, and others just will not be tolerated. And trust me, as far as the guns go, 99% of the people that pull one don't have 1% of the sand it takes to pull the trigger. I say this from experience. I for one would stand my ground. Besides, it is how you aproach people. Aggression is usualy answered with aggression. Don't be sweet, but polite and firm, any cop will tell you this, it is part of training.
  Like I said, I don't know where the hell the humps are, but my heart goes out to you. Stick together, and don't let your spot go down without a fight.

    Sorry to make you look for nothing. I live right down the road from it, and told a lot of you I would keep you updated....well, it is still flooded.
  If you are determined to ride there, you could probably unload, and scoot around some of the immediate bank trails since there is some of the river banks that are showing through. To me this would be a waste. For those of you that have ridden there before, you will agree that doing this is not a way to get the full enjoyment of the alapaha. And really, it wouldn't be a lot of riding anyway.
   Like I said, I live right down the road, so I will give updates once and a while. When it is dryed up, I will send out an all caps yee haww to everyone so you will know.
   By the way... I don't get on this damn computer very often, so when or if you reply, just be patient, I will get back to you sooner or later.

 Thanks for looking, and remember always fight for atv rights!!!

  Thanks for the replys. I don't get on this damn computer very often, so sorry for the delays.
  The oceola forest sounds pretty cool. I have heard from others about it. Are there maps available, are they strict,can you camp...fill me in.
   Tallahassee sounds good as well. I don't know if I am closer to it, or to lake city. If you can, take me from 90...then where?
   Where in Maine..let's see... I spent some of my tiny years in Raymond, then Windham. My teen years were in the Limington Standish area. Lisbon Falls? It sort of rings a bell, but it has been a good 12 years since I have been up there so things are a little foggy

    Alapaha Update.....
It is still flooded.

I went by there yesterday, and it is still flowing. There is some sand visible on the banks, so you could probably unload under the bridge and scoot around some of the imediate bank trails (if you are desperate). If you have been there before, you know this will not give you the full effect of riding the river. I live right up the road, and have been checking it religously. I will send an all caps yee haw to all of you when it is dry... I am getting pretty damn anxious myself!!

    ok, so maybe I am new here, and maybe I don't don't know what the hell I am talking about...I don't even know where the
hell you are talking about, but....
    The places we are aloud to ride are getting scarce, we all know this. It is dew to people being disrespectful of others, a handful that give all a bad name. I have ridden my whole life one any machine imaginable, and I like to play, I think we all do. But riding down the road like a lunatic is endandering others. If you have to get to another trail or something, be gentle as to not make people angry while doing it. I like to raise hell and ride like an idiot to, but there is a time and a place for it. As for the helmet, well, I don't like the either, and I feel it is my worry as to whether or not I want to crack my melon.
     But please, don't give the wheelers more of a bad name, we get enough already...so I have to say I agree with kawgirl's gripe.

     My whole family just got quads, and we are taking turns killing eachothers grass! I am from Maine, and up there, we could ride about anywhere. Down here, I am having a hard time. I know about the alapaha river bed, and that is good riding, but is there anything else? It seems like all the land is hunting clubs.Help, I need suggestions!

    Yeah, the alapaha river bed at the intersection of state road 6, and 41. It is a great place to ride. It is full of water right now, but it is dropping... If I remember, I will give you a shout when it is dry.
  They are sort of strict about you going on the banks because of erosion reasons. Other than that, they don't bother you over much of anything. There is plenty of sand to play in, and even on the dryest days, you will usualy come across areas where the river still remains and you can play in the mud. Pack the grill and a cooler, so you can make a day of it.