Central Florida Lakes

And we go more than once to the town called Mt. Dora. A mountain? Actually, Mt. Dora is located on what other parts of the United States might call a plain, somewhat higher than surrounding areas, and the hills of Howey aren’t percipient. This central area of the Sunshine State is hospitable to bikers in many engaging ways.

Gentle terrain makes for easy pedaling, frequently alongside the lakes that mark the landscape and horse farms that are another feature of the area. The weather is likely to be inviting. And while Mt. Dora doesn’t actually have a mountain, it does have a flea market to write home about. The flea market is called Renninger’s and is set out among oak trees hung with Spanish moss. It includes produce stalls and clothing shops along with other stands classified simply as “oddity vendors.” Oddities can encompass surprising things. We will visit Renninger’s on our first morning.

You might not expect an outstanding German bakery in central Florida, but there it is, in the town called Yalaha. The Yalaha German Bakery makes Old World tortes and pastries along with traditional German breads and prides itself on using organic natural ingredients for all its products. The bakery includes a deli/restaurant, featuring traditional recipes. We will have lunch there the first day we’re out on the bicycles.