Day 2 - Daytona/Key West

Columbia SC to Sanford Florida - 384 miles.

Got up after a good nights sleep. The guys were already up and downstairs for coffee. Met them downstairs for breakfast and ate lots of good stuff. Starting the day like this will be a good thing for riding. Can't ride on an empty stomach.

Rolling down the highway we needed to stop for our second or third time today. Found a gas station along the road and left the interstate. Pulled into a convenience store and pulled up to a  gas pumps. I got off and pumped my gas. I thought it was very quiet at the station and wondered what happen to the guys.

Just doing my thing.

They were nowhere to be found. I looked around the area, we were out in the country and nothing much around. Suddenly I found them. Please look at this picture.

See the bikes across the lot!

I rode over and entered the building to fine the guys. The clerk said they were in the back. I went back to find them in the viewing booths. I was going to say "Hey! you perverts come out of there" but I was scared I would see more then my two relatives. I said nothing and all of a sudden the guys appeared out front. They were laughing cause they had setup me up with the clerk telling me to go into the back room. Anyway I gave them a little lip and we left and  they gassed up like good boys.

At our next stop we gassed up and  I saw a restaurant across the street that featured good old southern food. I pointed to the restaurant and the guys said yes. Parking out front we noticed to Sheriffs cars and the lot was pretty full.  Went in to sit down. I noticed they had a buffet up front. I walked up and  saw two old  guys sitting there with rather full plates. I asked if they had the buffet and  they said yes. I was impressed. I walked closer  to look at the food. I was convinced I was having the buffet. Sandwiches were some $8.00 and the buffet was the same cost. It did take a little prodding to get the guys to have the buffet too. But we all did and had several plates full. I  had four pieces of fried chicken and it was finger  licking good. Driving down the highway with all that good chicken sitting in the old stomach was  just one of those "sell my clothes I have gone to heaven" moments. Love southern food.

Ran into a four mile back up just shy of the Florida boarder. Seems two cars mixed it up on the highway just over the border into Florida.  Being stuck in traffic today was painful since it was very hot and the sweat was running down inside my helmet. Also the container trailer in front of me had a nest of bees of some sort buzzing all around us. I closed my helmet visor to keep any wayward bees from getting inside my helmet. That would be awful.

Finally got to Sanford Florida but I misunderstood what the GPS was showing because I could not hear the voice announce the instructions and I did not have my tri-focal glasses on since it was sunny. I could not read the printing on the screen. After missing the turn off I stopped to tell the guys and would proceed to follow the GPS to our hotel. It was a very round about route but we did get to the hotel. Got to the hotel around 6:00 pm after some 10 hours on the road.

Checked in to the Sanford Best Western. A nice looking place. Carried all our stuff up to the room since we would be here two nights and  the lock on my trailer fell off again. We walked to a 7-eleven for beer and I got a sandwich cause I was still full from lunch. The guys went out to the Wing House for something to eat. They will have to describe that experience.

I showered and hit the hay! Man I was beat. I slept like a stone. I never heard them come in close to mid night.

It was  a good day for all of us.

TTFN

Off to Daytona/Key West

Today is the day.

Up early at 4:00 am. Start coffee and shower. Do some banking prior to leaving. Breakfast and pill taking.

Next pack the trailer. If you remember from last posting the trailer as well as the bike are outside since the drive is full of shingles from our new roof. It was misting and everything was wet. Fortunately the bike was covered with a tarp and the trailer was closed. Carrying out all the gear (I never thought I would be taking that amount but it added up quick). Packed trailer and bike with some room to spare for others luggage.

Kissed the wife good bye several times and started off. Drove to Carlisle to meet the others.

Once luggage secured and all are ready we quickly drive to Walmart for lunch items for today.

Finally off to the wilds of Florida and the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Via US 81 and US 77 today.

Did a total of 589 miles the first day. About four stops for gas and one or two butt breaks. All things were going fine until US 77 somewhere in North Carolina a ten mile back up due to an accident. It was hot and very uncomfortable in the stop and crawl on the freeway. But eventually the incident was cleared and we were back to our usual speed and formation. Just cruising down the highway. After a 12 hour day on the highway a nice stop for the night was something all of us were looking forward to. Good old Best Western to the rescue. I had made all our reservation several months ago.

The hotel staff are always ready to offer suggestions for a meal and where the closest place is to buy beer. so off we went for a nice diner at Outback Steak House. The "bloomin onion" and a nice fettuccine with shrimp was something that caught my eye. Then off to the convenience store for a six pack for me and one for nephew. Brother doesn't drink so a gator aid was his choice.

Well at the motel we were talking about what we wanted to do in the morning as far as what time to get up and head out. Remembering that the last time we rode together it took forever for the guys to get their respective shit together and ready to travel. I mentioned this. Well it must have inspired them because the next morning they were up before me and in pretty good shape for doing breakfast and hitting the road.

Tomorrow is another day.

TTFN

Tomorrow morning we leave!

Well finally the day is just about upon us intrepid travelers. The three musketeers, three amigos or just something like and old fart and two soon to be old farts out living their collective boyhoods all over again but on a grander scale.

My bike is cleaned, gassed up, spare gas tank is in the saddle bag just in case. Need to check tire air pressure yet this evening. There is a slight problem. I had a new roof put on yesterday and all the old shingles and trash are sitting in two very large bags waiting on Waste Management to come and pick it up. Problem is the bags are in my drive in front of garage door. Parking the bike outside early yesterday was a wise idea but not putting the trailer out was not good. When the roofers were finished and I gave them the last installment for the job I insisted they help carry my motorcycle cargo trailer out of the garage just in case Waste Management was not here before Wednesday morning. So the trailer is sitting outside with the bike.

Men at work on roof

more men at work

Sitting outside, see trash in driveway.

I plan on packing up tonight and connecting the trailer to the bike. So in the morning I just will need to place the last few items in the truck on the bike and just take off for Carlisle to met my riding buddies( the not yet old farts).

I sure hope I can get some sleep tonight. I am really excited about hitting the road again. Can't wait.

TTFN

Two Days to wait!!!!

Well it is Monday of the week we are leaving for Daytona and Key West!. I had some issues sleeping last night cause of this trip being so close. Wife says the three of us are just like kids. I think she is right we are just a little older than some.

Anyway, plans are about to be executed and miles driven. Great!!!

Had been working on a picture frame for my United States map. The map is 40" X 60" and was hung on the wall in front of my computer. I just had to make a frame for it so it would have some protection from falling off the wall. It also allows me to sit back and imagine being on another ride or reminiscing about the previous one/ones.

Wall map in picture frame I made.

Got to do a little shopping for items for this trip. Wife suggests I purchase some air freshener for our Motel room since there will be three big boys sharing the john. I wonder what she thinks?

TTFN

Ride to West Virginia - 10/5/2013

Saturday ride to West Virginia started out at 8:00 am. Beautiful day today with no rain in sight.

Started down US 15 South from Dillsburg. Entered into Maryland. Just past Thurmont got off on MD 77. This road has a sign that says not trailers allowed on this road. That is due to being a mountain road with lots of twists and turns. That is why motorcyclists love this road. It goes to Catoctin Mountain Park (which is closed due to US Government shutdown). After the park you continue on winding and twisting roads. Then some straight away's which you can go faster. Eventually you end up at the bottom of the other side of the mountain. MD 66 takes you to US 70.

Getting off US 70 at Hancock MD and going towards Berkley Springs on US 522 in West Virginia. Past the US Silica sand mine you enter Berkley Springs and at the first red light take WV 9 towards Paw Paw WV. It is a winding twisting road over two mountains and in between some really nice strait away's that allow for fun riding. But at the top of the first mountain you see a pull off with a spectacular view. I will show you a few pictures. BTW there is a restaurant there for anyone who might want to linger over a meal and watch the view for a while to relax and enjoy life.

Sign at top telling you about the view. You can see three states from here. Pa, WV, MD

View to the right

View to the left

View of trusty bike waiting for me.

Old Farts

That is correct! I am a member of the Old Farts Group. We get together once a month for breakfast at a different restaurant. See the picture of some of the bikes in attendance. There were about 15 of us there on Wednesday.

My bike is first of course!

Next weekend the Goldwing Road Riders Association will be having a Gathering at Bob Evan's in Carlisle. 

Seems the motorcycle club eats just as much as the Harrisburg Bicycle Club does. Only difference is the bicycle club burns off the food while riding and we on motorcycles just sit there and enjoy the scenery.

TTFN.

Ocean City Bike Week

Just had to go since it is a wonderful ride down and back. Met my brother at Sheets here in Dillsburg Pa. Supposed to be at 5:00 am but we both got there early since neither one slept that well. We both love to ride and it has been a while since we did more than a 100 mile ride in one day.

At 5:00 am it is dark and riding would be safer if we used Interstates instead of the back way to US 83 (too many deer trying to hitch a ride in the woods). US 15 to US 83, US 695 around Baltimore, US 97 to Bay Bridge across Chesapeake Bay, US 50 to Salisbury MD.

In Salisbury we stopped at both venues to look around and see what might be new or exciting to check out.

Brother is looking for horns to replace the ones on his Suzuki

Nice old car taken good care off

It is beautiful

Some unconventional trikes

Another home made one

Brother with his new helmet!

These shots are all from the first venue in Salisbury. We stopped at the second one across the highway for something good to eat.

BBQ with horseradish sauce

Me with my BBQ and horseradish sauce and fries

I bought an event t-shirt and a pair of waterproof gloves. I hate to ride with my hands wet and in leather gloves. They would come in handy later today.

Next we rode to Seaford Delaware to the next venue at Harley Davidson's there. Seemed there were fewer vendors there and since it was only Thursday the crowd was not a large as last year. We decided to go back to Salisbury to check into our motel. Comfort Inn was a reasonably priced motel with breakfast the next morning. We decided to take a nap prior to heading out to Ocean City. That was a great idea. 

The weather report said something about severe rain and winds after 9:00 pm that evening. Off to Ocean City anyhow since we figured we would be back prior to that time. Rode there without any incidents. Found a place to park. Had to use credit card to pay for parking. Machine in middle of block and you used your card, told it how long you would be there and it charged card and gave you a parking pass that had to be placed on your windshield. So only took up one parking space and took only one ticket.

Walked down to the boardwalk and ran into brothers best man. Seems he is everywhere when there is a bike show. Took a few  pictures on the ocean.

Kites on the beach

Brother and the ocean walk-way

Ferris Wheel on the beach

View of beach and boardwalk

Other direction

Pier into the ocean

Little waves coming ashore

More waves

We were very hungry so we walked down the boardwalk looking for a place to eat. I wanted seafood. No real seafood houses on this part of boardwalk but found an Irish Pub. 

Menu

Two crab cakes!

After eating this wonderful meal we discovered there was lighting and thunder making its presence known. Looking at each other we decided we had better get back to our motorcycles. They were about a mile away down the boardwalk and two blocks in. Needless to say we walked fast the entire way. It is a 45 - 50 minute drive back to Salisbury from Ocean City on a four lane highway. 

We started out and ran into sprinkles after about 10 minutes on the road. My brother was leading and stopped to see if I wanted to take off my hearing aids since they shouldn't get wet. I thought they were safe at the time so we continued on. After two minutes back on the road it started to rain and rain and rain. It was pouring. My brother was getting soaking wet since he has not protection from the elements on his Suzuki. I however have much protection on my Goldwing with the fairing and all the plastic that covers the engine and front forks. I hunkered down some and was pretty well protected. 

We found a gas station with a canape over it and pulled in. There were several other bikes there before us and many joined us for the protection in the half hour we were there. Also decided to put on our rain jackets for the rest of the 20 minute ride to Salisbury. The rain slowed down and off we went. Arriving at our motel and parking the bikes. I covered my with a tarp since I have cloth seats. The Suzuki has plastic seats so rain doesn't really bother it. 

After the rain back in motel

We took off all the wet clothing and dried out some. Took a nice hot shower and hit the hay. I forgot to mention when we stopped at the gas station I bought several beers for back at the motel. One has to stay hydrated! Although both my brother and wife tell me that it doesn't work that way. 

Next morning we took our time getting up after a very tiring day yesterday. Went down to the lobby and had a very good hot breakfast. Met some other retires at breakfast and chatted about how wonderful it is to be retired. I don't want to rub it in but it is wonderful.

Rode home with out any issues. It was dry today, much cooler than yesterday. Riding around Baltimore is always thrilling and today was no exception. Meanwhile back in Dillsburg we split up and I went home and brother rode onto Carlisle and home. 

I was very tired so I took a short nap and the phone rang. Stayed up and prepped the Martini's for when my wife comes home. Supper ready and just had to wait a little and we enjoyed the Friday evening chatting, eating, drinking and watching an Aliens movie. 

What a great two days! It don't get better than this!

Next up is Ride to Daytona and Key West.