Two Up Motorcycle Touring

Tail of the Gecko

July 6, 2009


Motorcycle Ride Directions

Tampa Bay Area Motorcycle Rides near the Sunshine Skyway - Ride Route Map

Hidden away in Central Florida this motorcycle road will take you back to a time when roads followed the land and Florida was better known for citrus farms than theme parks.

This motorcycle ride is fun either north or south bound, however the north bound ride from Florida State Road 62 to County Road 672 takes you through the twisty bits first then provides a quiet shaded area to pull over and enjoy the solitude as the road narrows to a single lane.

The start of the ride on State Road 62 is also easier to spot.

Traversing this ride south from either County Road 672 or 674, you'll start on the narrow portion then work your way through the twisty portion.

Either way you'll enjoy a fun ride on nearly empty Old Florida back roads.

 

Tail of the Gecko - Northbound Motorcycle Ride Route

 
 Access the northbound motorcycle ride from Florida State Road 62 between County Road 579 and County Road 39 in Manatee County. 
1Turn NORTH onto Bunker Hill Road. The intersection oh SR 62 and Bunker Hill is easy to miss and is just east of the Duette Volunteer Fire Station. There is a blue Bunker Hill Missionary Baptist Church sign at the intersection that is easier to spot than the actual street sign. 
2Follow Bunker Hill Road to Taylor Grade Rd.
3Turn LEFT onto Taylor Grade Road.
4Follow Taylor Grade Road which becomes Keene Road as it twists its way from Manatee county to Hillsborough county.
5Grange Hall Loop gets narrower and prettier the further you go. You'll need to make room for oncoming traffic and it is not unusual to encounter a smei trailer rig hauling citrus from the fields to market in season.
6About 2.5 miles after crossing the county line the road will narrow at a three way intersection. The main (wider) road will go to the left but STAY STRAIGHT onto the narrow one and half lane road (Grange Hall Loop). 
7Grange Hall Loop winds itself through agricultural and mining lands. Watch for te picnic spot on your left about 2.8 miles past where the road narrows.
8Continue on Grange Hall Loop to CR 674. Just before CR 674 the road will widen back to a narrow two lane road.
 At County Road 674 you can bypass the Owens Lake Road portion of the ride by using CR 674 to return to your route in. 
9Turn LEFT onto CR 674.
10Take CR 674 approximately 1.7 miles to Owens Lake Road. 
11Turn RIGHT onto Owens Lake Road.
12Take Owens Lake approximately 2.7 miles to Sweat Loop Road. 
13Turn RIGHT onto Sweat Loop.
14A short distance down Sweat Loop turn LEFT at the first intersection. This is the continuation of Sweat Loop.

The road straight ahead dead ends at a storage area or graveyard for old forklift equipment.
15The ride ends at County Road 672.
 Last edited July 7, 2009