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SpringBreak2013

Page history last edited by jerry 11 years ago

SpringBreak2013

 

 


 

Introduction/Definition/etc

 

Part of being a student, even part time, is Spring Break,

which for most people means going to Florida,

and drinking to excess at the beach,

which I don't do, but went to Florida anyway.

Also there is BikeWeek, which some call TrailerWeek....

 

 

Body

 

 

BackStory

 

Back in High School, Spring Break was over Easter holiday,

which is this week, but in local college, it seems to be

the week before, after midterms, and while it's still rather cold,

wet and snowy, at least in the MidAtlantic, USA...

 

Having never been to Florida, I thought I would try...

Actually, I'd tried before, when working many decades

ago, and only had  three day weekend, only got to South Carolina

before deciding I'd run out of time and had to come back.

Nothing much as far as I remember, but probably got to

Charleston, SC,

 

The Black Crowes

 

and the Black Crowes music was out then,

(something like She Talks to Angels

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a76FeV2-Dw

Hard to Handle or Remedy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CE6bgj-hx4

Greatest Hits

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deQeKuvXdqs

)

and some reason associate my trip with that,

probably bought the CD and played it along the way...

 

I probably saw swampland for the first time,

maybe hit Georgia before having to turn around...

 

It also dates my experience, early 1990s

shortly before a "breakdown", needing a real "vacation"

from business suit to straight jacket, figuratively,

if not literally, as training in a private psych hospital about then too...

 

 

Motivation

 

While busy trying to do school, only 5 credit hours,

aka Part Time, as much or more than I can do,

to learn Welding, locally without much travel,

lots of commuting, purchasing, and a text book,

in one class that makes little to no sense,

like in a foreign language, starting at Chapter 15,

for that type of welding, and doesn't define terms well at all,

just took the exam online with Blackboard and got a 64,

not very good, just above failing,

but hadn't read the chapters the test was on,

luckily the test grades are only 30% on the test(s) and mostly

LAB.   The other class is completely opposite,

mostly lecture with instructor reading the chapter slides to us,

and we do homework exercises, with math,

fractions, mostly, and getting more complicated.

exponentially, actually, so it will get harder.

 

FrankenTrailer

 

I'm so far in expense wise into this welding, but hadn't got a trailer project

started, nor approved, and it's only weeks to the end o f the course.

We are to do simple projects, which completely sidetracks my

intention for doing Welding, my FrankenTrailer, or WheelChair,

as I sometimes call it, with the  disability angle...

 

 

ThePlan

 

So try calculating out the expense of going,

gas, food, lodging, in this case camping, and maybe a hotel

if raining badly, or something, something in case of emergencies,

etc...

 

Putting a number to the miles, estimating 1000 down,

1000 while in Florida,

It's a Big State, and 1000 back up...

 

Camping, $40/ night, max...

 

Food, $20 / day, which means going to grocery stores,

not eating out, even faster type food, or for me diners

and interesting places, not always healthy, but convenient,

as cooking oatmeal at a camp stove takes forever vs microwave

at home...

 

Site seeing, t shirts, souvenirs, misc, set aside a little for that,

as I know it's going to happen,

and come to think of it, the routes mentioned Tolls, add that too...

 

T Minus Yesterday

 

We had a storm, snow storm here, right after exams, last classes,

so my trip was delayed, thinking I could not go at all,

and getting very impatient, upset, frustrated with not leaving

at  the very first opportunity after school...

 

But I also had all the planning and prep to do...

 

Sunday

 

Saturday filled up, not ready, no viable plan,

and still had not done laundry...

 

So take dirty laundry and use the time off the bike,

resting to do laundry?  Then I have to carry soap,

dryer sheets (light) and quarters too???

 

 

Laundry

 

Was on the back burner, no burner at all, actually,

just procrastinating, lots of homework might have gotten it done,

but not even good at that...

 

What's the point of school, if you can't avoid doing school work,

and do some basic anxiety reducing, housekeeping procrastination

instead???

 

So very early morning, hoping for first light, but up hours before,

and do laundry while waiting for the sunlight, as it is more visible,

and warms things up too, might be slippery with the cold,

icy otherwise, I've forgotten...

 

Go

 

Finally, later in the day... Get started...

Some relief in actually going, but still very worried about

a low budget trip, will I make it there?, safely?

get back?, without running out of money?,

or having other problems...

 

SOB

 

Stop second or third time that day for gas, very tired,

says a Campground, but after hours,

look for some late checking procedure,

says go to Hotel/Motel registration, find that,

young thing with attitude at the desk says No Tents,

can't register a tent, she will get in trouble,

where does it say that?  It doesn't say any such thing on the website,

we have motel rooms though at $$$ much more money,

would you check with the manager?

right next to security office,

and guess who is coming around,

I'm on the phone talking with someone about

the tourist trap that is SOB, and wondering how appropriate

the acronym... Been signs for literally a hundred miles or so,

over advertising, stereotypical characterization,and likely

not good for me, but didn't realize how bad until stuck near there,

and couldn't find anything else...

 

At this point so tired, and now angry,

at what seems like discrimination, ironically,

how can it legally be called a campground and not allow tents?

Shouldn't it be called a RV Park instead?

 

Just because they have motel/ hotel and the counter help,

probably drunk with power, and opportunistic exploitation

thinks she has some will to force me to something

too expensive?

 

I leave in a huff, but really want to tell them off...

Only it's the only thing in town, and rent a cops there,

so just leave quietly, relatively...

(and know I'm going to "blog" about it)

 

Try finding something else...

 

Just a little further , interstate Rest Stop, bars on the machines,

seems like a jail, which is probably how they make their money

in those parts...

 

Continue driving/ riding, well past when I had the energy,

getting later and later, and more remote less likely to have

evening check in/ places open, even gas and fast food stores...

 

Monday

 

Camping

 

Various camp grounds, find  a state one, might be more welcoming,

less commercial there...

 

See possum? / raccoon and deer on the way in the campground,

ride around trying to be quiet, and find a place, put up tent?

Nope, stay off the ground where things can't crawl into the tent,

setup bed on picnic table...

Blessed sleep, now if I can...

 

Woken

 

Something under the picnic table try making noise, moving around

half asleep, dead tired really, and get it to go away,

or just don't care anymore...

 

Early

 

Pre-dawn birds are noisy, and more alerting when they don't sound like

local birds do, more kaw sounding than chirping so maybe parrots?

Just can't see them?

 

Pickup Truck

 

Pulls up into the spot, doing something, seems to be the camp rangers/

staff... Try to stay sleep but the birds already took care of that,

not like an alarm, but really alarming...

 

Might as well talk to the guy, who says go back to sleep,

he's getting my plate or something, I'm a late arrival,

and they want my info, do I pay him?  No they don't trust

him with money,  so I have to do more...

 

Guy wanders by, turns out toe be the host,

I'm on the moss in the trees,

Spanish Moss it's called, and the start of Palm type trees,

even the plants have changed, so must have gone far,

but not far enough, have 3 states to get into,

out of this one, and through Georgia, and then Florida...

 

SC Doesn't Like Me

 

Woman at the office, has attitude towards me,

there was a line, that moves a little, I have to put stuff

down, heavy and can't leave things out,

too much stuff really, but can't buy things so have

to carry more with me, instead, looking homeless,

upscale homeless, but campy really...

 

Overcharged?  What about the disabled rate?

It would be about half?  Not for non SC residents,

but the park takes federal money, this was not on the

website, show me where it says that,

it said disabled on the website, but no fine print,

now getting there, and forced to pay more?

how can I afford to get there with all these traps?

 

"I'm going to talk to the Governor about this..."

 

Then I'm made to feel not welcome,

then leave the state, I'm told, she has worked there

for 8 years, too many in my opinion,

long enough, I say, and it's always been that way,

well, she wants to know the disability, but I don't say,

and it's not something she needs, even if she thinks

she does, that is something I know, if they want to

play doctor and know better and be nosey they probably

don't know enough about the law, ADA and disability

rights...

 

Pay too much, keep the receipt she tries getting it back

from me, but it's my proof of being overcharged,

she says she can void it, now I'm pissed off,

it's a coverup, and I've got proof, a scam...

 

Talk to someone else outside the office, as leaving,

and he thinks it's her way, and he works there too?

 

Three other good people there, met at the site,

host OK, other staff OK, maybe they should just

fire the office?

 

Research complaints, state laws, and public policy and procedures,

wasn't SC the last to approve Civil Rights too?

 

 

Get Out Of The State

 

I have to get gas, but don't want to spend any more

than I have to in that state, if state employees treat people

like that, and policy, procedures, etc are so unfriendly,

so much for Southern Hospitality, grace, manners and charm,

much less legalities, not that IANAL...

 

To top if off, double police cars at least 2-3 places along the interstate,

luckily not speeding nor stopped...

 

I think the guy mentioned/ implied that, watch the speed,

or something, so at least that was fair warning or something...

 

Must have a lot of people driving through and easy source

of income..  Real hospitality works better though, IMO....

 

Georgia

 

Tourist information along the interstate.  Stop in and

be glad I'm out of the other, previous state,

am I staying? where are you from?  Please sign our log book,

well I can give some information?, She won't give me maps,

You want that one too? Signing a guest book is not mandatory..

 I asked for biking and scenic maps,

maybe I'll come back sometime, we don't just give

those to anyone?  Can't you see,  I'm here in person,

but most people would send for literature ahead of time,

tourism gladly sends maps, no?

And costs postage though builds a marketing database of addresses?

 

Vending, ice cream, but don't buy, don't remember much

frozen stuff in machines, just candy...

 

Parking Lot

 

Guys want to talk to me, about stuff, about trailers, about bikes,

old guys, with bikes, on trailers, or just nosey,

 

Talking takes too much time, not time I'd planned for,

and not why I was there, I talk for a while, but have to keep moving,

he tries keeping me there, until someone arrives?  Why?

What? Get out of there...

 

Storm, weather on computer inside turned sideways showed a front

coming, and I need to keep going into bad weather forecast?

 

Florida

 

Information Tourism closed, it's now after 5 pm,

and various places looking more Florida, but why don't they

have stands selling oranges, citrus, etc in the tourism/

information in the interstate rest stop?  Save the trouble

of getting off the main road?  More welcoming?

 

Maybe a vending machine $0.25 for an orange, tangerine, or

grapefruit?

Says Welcome to Florida to me.. No?

 

Teens, girls, 4 in a car with dad and mom,

while Harley biker couple stop and try taking a photo of me,

I say no, and look away, and they do it anyway???

 

Gas

 

Lots of stopping and planning when and where to stop

for gas...  Will I find it? Will I run out?  What is the best place,

do I need to stretch my legs?  Or combine with food break?

Where?  How much?

Can I do it without getting off the bike?  What card?  Or cash?

Or trap type won't print receipt, have to go inside where the candy isle is???

 

 

Daytona

 

J&P Cycles seen along the highway, must be the place,

tented type places, early stop before the Beach Proper,

so pull off, then take a photo of the sign, talk with delivery guy,

who offers to take the photo, but I'll get a better angle,

go up and  come back, then need to find a place,

get the lay of the land, so to speak...

What are my options?

Not much no reservations made, will I be trapped?

Stuck?

 

Drive/ Ride Thru

 

Lots of bikes, bother waving?  or just like saluting in a battlefield,

don't do it, for safely?  Most are not like mine, Harleys and other

muscle bikes, clubs and colors, avoid?

 

But made it there, now what?  Where to Stay?

Keep going to a campground?  Park well away?  Can't find anything,

nothing along the road, might have helped to look at a map,

but wanted to see it, went along Rt 1, beach road type business,

but no actual beach, just cross streets, A1A?  Other parts of town?

Follow other bikers, where are they going?  Getting off the main drag,

going left here and there, but dark and not sure, go find a place to crash,

before I crash...

 

Commercial

 

Talk to an old guy, walking his little-ish dogs

just find a place, late check in, come by in the morning,

knows where?  Up front, seems noisy, or in the back,

found a place looks like a spot, but not really,

go see the office in the morning, I really have to go,

I need to find a spot, set up tent, get some rest...

 

All this talking takes too much time, and I don't have the

energy....

 

Tuesday

 

Time gets weird with little sleep, and travelling,

starting a day in a different place each day,

or a couple of days, intending 3, but not what

was paid for at the desk...

 

2Days

 

Weathers bad, was raining / overcast whatever,

and wet overnight, have to let things dry out at least a day,

so sign up for 2 days, I said 3 but she did 2,

at least at a tent rate, the spot didn't have electricity

working, nothing household anyway, so charged tent

rate $30/ night, plus tax, within budget and these

people are rather nice, much better, this trip might work out,

will see about the third night later, go see the town...

 

Pizza

 

Like a senior center, had activities on a white board,

which had fallen down overnight, wind or something,

or just taken down for the night?

 

Pizza at noon, in the Hub?  Where is the Hub?

 

Pull up, park, mid day, late start, stuff wet anyway,

OK to leave there?  Safe?  Parking behind,

some food traffic, but not like near the bathrooms

in other campgrounds, more private, not really less

quiet, but commercial, RV and trailer land...

 

Women lined up and guys sitting down,

looked like a Sadie Hawkins dance,

so I said so, being funny, trying to fit in,

what about starting on the snacks and drinks?

Pay first?  No we wait?  I pushed and got it

started, appetizers, was going to be 30 minute

wait, too much to go back home and rest,

wanted to get started with the day, now high noonish,

haven't seen/ done anything but drive thru at night...

 

Pizza is going to be late.

Talk with people, learn from their experience,

when was there first BikeWeek?   1980's

different before the 50th, blew up,

had heard rumors of people sent away,

asking people to leave, the weather,/ storm?

Or some trouble?

 

Go through again, pay $3 more, to eat enough,

good price, and I'm eating for several days,

hadn't eaten much, maybe go get citrus?

Need t shirts, go look...  Find the beach,

find the activity, go to the speedway?

 

Beach

 

Turns out you can ride on the beach,

history said they raced on the beach before

speedway, some maps said so, history museum or something...

Show disabled ID and get on free, nice woman there,

and I have unique tracks, tread...

 

Go back on, out of gas, go get gas, don't want to be stuck,

pulled out of the sand, or whatever, pushing would be difficult..

Take photos...

 

Ride

 

All the way up and down the road to see it all before deciding

where to stop and spend time/ money...

 

 

Eat

 

Beach food, ice  cream, banana split, at a stand near the bridge ramp

that didn't look open, while older biker guy talks to me,

where am I staying, has friends, etc ...

 

Somewhat odd encounter....

Friendly enough, if not too friendly...

 

Pause

 

Writing, get back to it in a while, after some rest, long to write,

longer, it must feel, to read...

Now imagine on your butt on a bike for

days on end...

 

 

Wednesday

 

Heading out of town, keep going,

start rather early, missing Donuts and Coffee,

I ask some people hanging outside the office

about Drive/Ride Thru, but they don't get the hint,

and I keep going without food, free or otherwise

 

I 4

 

Advised against it the day before talking with a woman,

but I'm following bikes, it seems to make sense to have

more bikes travelling together, we can judge speed,

distance, and general camaraderie 

and it makes a statement to cars/ trucks, etc

we are not alone...

 

State Farmer's Market

 

So this is like a State Fair? a super farmer's market?

Pull into one, took a wrong turn somewhere, and it

looks like a warehouse area, nothing vaguely reminiscent

of a tabled place to buy lunch...

 

Stop at a Texas Roadhouse type BBQ likely chain

restaurant and climb off and get in, looking like I can't

pay, police show up, they are eating, and then stopping

people across they way, I could pay, and did...  But constantly

having them around is annoying.  I'm sure they want to keep

an eye on people like me, but it feels like harassment after a while...

 

Maps, start looking at them vaguely, do I just go south through

the middle of the state,cutting out time riding and see some of

the back roads?   Or keep going to the left coast as it were,

of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico?

 

 

St Petersburg Bridge

 

Handout in the booth and toll woman at the tool booth tells me

I might get  a SunPass, (an EZPass like electronic device)

and not have to stop, try CVS, or some other retailers,

but where am I stopping?

Some locally might have them, maybe not elsewhere...

 

SunPass

 

Might want one and only $5, so why not, eh?

 

CVS

 

Eventually want a stop, gas and break, so pull off,of mostly boring

road and look into SunPass...  Not the $5 one the toll booth woman

mentioned, that doesn't work for MotorCycles, you need the $25

version and then you need to add money to the prepaid thing,

call a number, and there is a line, while standing in a parking lot,

people coming up talking to me, one old guy, raced motorcycles,

tells me a model I don't know, I don't know most of the,

I'm not up on that sort of thing, I don't window shop for them,

and only have ridden a few demo models, so know of those,

but not others...

 

Getting late in the day, and only part way down the state,

most of the time was going across the state,

so maybe his the Everglades by night?

 

Maps say some campgrounds there...

Better keep moving...

 

Alligator Alley

 

Toll road of 75? or 41 a slow go?

 

Stopping at the end of the Interstate south,

stop for gas, buy some frozen custard, and give away

someone part of a parking space, I'm not using all of it,

so might as well pull into the rest, only a few spots,

most are at the gas pumps, a disabled/ wheelchair one,

I don't have plates for that, so pull in next to it,

and next to hat is the owner/ worker of the station,

so only one spot, a guy with woman in the car

I motion to move up and park me partially in,

I can get out the side...

 

Cuban, but speaks English, he tells of the virtues

of technology, an iPhone in particular, but can't read

the screen, too small, and even then knowing the names,

it might tell you where you are, I'm looking at a paper state map,

can't be hands free unlocking zooming, scrolling, etc,

a paper map I might have time to glance down to

from time to time, or pull off quickly...

 

Well, 41 isn't here, his wife helps, with an iPad

and police pull up behind them,

I'm wondering about parking, or my baggy nature, on a bike,

but nothing said nor done, AFAICT... 

Keep going, gassed up, Last Gas/Services sign,

and I wasn't empty but didn't have 100 miles left in me...

 

Ask again at a stop light at 31, maybe 41 is nearby,

it is next one up, turn around as I was in left lane,

go through residential, and seeing family playing in the gully,

interesting, they are having fun, in a concrete drainage area

more like a curb elsewhere...

 

Glad someone is having fun, don't see that much

on the interstate...

 

41

 

Eye out for alligators, everything on the side of the road,

tires from trucks, sticks, etc might be, eventually worried

I might be running over one, or emergency stop,

posted different day and night speeds,

maybe 50 or 60 daytime, but 40 or 45 night...

 

Campgrounds, where are campgrounds? 

Nothing named to lookup, on the map but plenty of tent symbols...

 

Big Cat Crossing Signs

 

After having pulled off for literature in a closed information booth

area, missing a map specific to the Everglades and parks system,

worried about alligators at my feet, and learn more later about snakes,

quick stop, see no literature available and keep going...

Swamp boat in glass display seen in an outhouse type

thing from the parking lot...

 

 

Everglades

 

Sunset photos as pulling into the 90 miles or so across the Everglades,

looks developed starting out, with new strip mall type stuff, disappointing,

but eventually get into park, and less commercial... But getting dark,

and don't have a place to stay yet...

 

Commercial

 

Within a park, pay the weird intrusive night guy at the gate $20 cash,

no soda machine, laundry, put up right at the bathrooms,

close in, had lights, and laundry, still not done laudnry the whole

trip, didn't want to spend the time/ money, and had plenty of clothes.

bought some t shirts, 5 at Daytona for Bike week for $40,

two long sleeve, 3 short, not what I wanted but real cotton,

and different colors, no skulls, guns, nor alcohol...

Just boring t shirts with big American only bikes...

 

 

Thursday

 

Getting to be weekend, so don't want to risk not finding a spot

for the night...

 

Key West, drive / ride there, follow some Ontario bikers,

one trike on regular.  Miss stopping at the American Indian

stores and Air Boat places along the way...

 

Farm Stand

 

Low on food, didn't really eat any breakfast,

didn't bring a can opener for the tuna cans packed,

so stop at roadside Farm Stand

 

Keys

Gas $4.44 / gallon, but wanted a receipt from Key West...

 

Key Lime Pie

 

Stop and have Key Lime Pie,

police park down the block near the Sloppy Joe's

saloon, one of the places people recommended I go,

but I'm low on money and want to keep an eye on the bike,

etc...

 

Tastes Just Like Chicken

 

Entertainment has arrived, Chickens / Roosters

are feral / wild according to the nice pie sales guy,

leaving for end of shift or something...

 

Take photos, talk with people, generally be weird,

slightly happy, but sad and poor by comparison

to most of the upscale tourists nearby...

 

Drove around the Key West area and as leaving

a scooter guy, scuba student/ instructor directs me out,

I hop scotch/ leap frog with him all the way out,

talking a while along the way...

 

B Something Honda State Park

 

Check the park on the way north,

rude gatehouse guy, insulting, etc...

 

Kept going, angry and pissed off..

 

Pull into next park sing up, no camp sign,

or anything, just a park.

 

Hospitality

 

By comparison, as closing, at 5 pm or so,

the friendly but cautious woman

says there is a spot, but $43

made to promise I'd not leave int the middle of the night,

and would pay, don't piss off the grandmothers,

or similar.

Sunset, set up in a gravel spot on the Atlantic ocean,

explore the new facilities, only a 25 spot campground,

worried about a whole right next to the electrical,

RATS?  Someone left early/ for some reason, likely

a problem, maybe they are getting into the camp trash?

 

 

Friday

 

Sunrise

 

Up early, little sleep, pay at the guard desk,

someone lost a welder, the construction guys and other

park staff are chatting away...

 

Trailer

 

Talk with nice neighbors at the campsite,

an engineering professor from Michigan,

travelling around in a VW microbus type thing

shows me the custom trailer he built

on top of a Harbour Freight (big wheel option),

with plywood, and rails, and stuff, camp water heater,

and other good stuffs.

 

 

Yellow Honda Trailer

 

Leaving the Keys I let a big yellow motorcycle pulling trailer

in front of me, in stop and go traffic, likely Friday change of

week rentals, or work week, not sure,...

 

I'm slow and we look out for each other,

he's Cuban by accent and friendly, I tag along avoiding

stop and go traffic and we go on side streets, I see how the

trailer turns, asking questions at stopped lights and backed up areas,

he says he's going to friends above Miami and then NJ,

has to be there Sunday for Work Monday, might tag along,

but I still want to sight see, I'm not due until Tuesday...

Miami I haven't seen, along the coast, etc...

Pull off after going through Rt 1 keys to South Miami

Starts to be competition, electric gloves, he's got heated grips,

vents, deflectors, talk about his trailer, suggest maps

of stickers in the shape of a map, Alaska he wants to ride,

I've got Denali lights that haven't seen Denali, and have wanted

to go, but money, feeling the crunch of money,

and can't be away form subsidized housing long enough

(month plus?) to go cross country and then up to Alaska

and back...

 

Miami Beach

 

A blur of wealthy shops, and high rises,

nothing of the Miami Vice type hows I'd seen,

but weird color water, and palm trees, etc...

Lots of stop and go in the near beach areas,

I'm not living the high life...

 

Cape

 

Try to make the cape.

Seems like a policeman is fallowing me,

after a traffic stop, likely drinkers near St. Patrick's Day,

pull into a Hotel/ Motel 6 or 8 or something like that,

and buckwheat type hairstyled woman inside

gives me attitude, Got a Reservation? No

What is the rate? $60?

where do people camp? Since you are full?

but 3 people are staffing a front desk with

a bank teller type bullet proof glass,

and young people walking by calling me Sir

 

Kept going

 

County Park

 

Kept going, found a camp sign way up further

accidentally honk my horn getting off, walking around

looking for a night box or late night self checkin,

someone comes out asking if they can help me

She's friendly, if not cautious, come by and pay in the AM...

Another one by the bathrooms, don't bother putting up the tent,

too tired, asked about it, and they would just look at me weird,

her brother bikes, so she's not worried much about me...

 

Saturday

 

Cape Canaveral

 

 

By day, go looking, now mid day, talked with people about a trailer

hitch on the back of a pickup truck that expands/ shifts on turns,

walked around ,saw lizards, more lizards,

 

Stop in $10 parking, attitude, mild from the gatekeeper,

you can't afford it...

 

Turns out to be $50 entrance fee, not sure I'd want to,

person in front of me yelled at by the woman behind

the bullet proof teller type glass...

Nothing about disabled discounts, only local residents,

and 65 and over, strollers, bag policy (for your safety),

search problems, etc...

 

Go up to the same parking kiosk woman, ask about a refund,

she doesn't have a manager available, but  says I can drive up to the

gate, go through the way I walked, someone yelling at me, in a golf

cart, can't do that...  Starting to feel very unwelcome and

sick already, trouble with the walking the parkling lot

in mid day sun/ heat or something...

 

Argue with the guy, who needs to stop yelling at me,

customer service is a foreign concept here...

 

 

North, not far...

 

Daytona Again

 

Considering the Speedway, where most of the BikeWeek

was happening, but tired, poor and been around,

maybe explore the Georgia Coastline instead?

 

T Rex

 

Odd three wheel bike type thing on the interstate,

pulling off at Daytona, in ramp, take a photo of it...

 

Keep going

 

Campground

 

Looking for a place to take photos of Pelicans,

my one big regret of the Keys, not stopping, getting off

and photographing them on the bridges, old bridges,

parallel to the new ones, clever, keep them, make them

pedestrian, good use, but broken links ,can't bike/ walk all the way

around, someone later said, boats with masts can get thru...

 

Ask about entrance, written about further down in this

too long verbage...

 

Overnight

 

They want to make grilled cheese sandwiches after midnight,

so up for that too...  Look up weather and other stuff,

(Rain and Snow back forecast back home) what route,

what stopping points? what speeds, timing, etc)

have to be awake with rude neighbors, holiday lights bleeding

out over the drive to my space and well, really annoying,

but don't say anything, would like to have coughed,

yawned, but drinking people, especially teens when you

are their parents age won't take a hint...

 

 

Sunday

 

Talk with neighbors at the spot next to me,

from Maine, Bar Harbour, yes, I've heard of it,

I've probably also been there, say I have,

it was a long time ago, but then they (yellow lab/

golden mix) don't want to talk, too busy,

I had mentioned / asked if a pop up pickup

tent/trailer counts as tent camping, he's trying to change

spots and wondered how I got in, reservations,

waiting and stuff, and I'm lucky, try different camps

along the way, one really nice one, and then this,

bigger, older, near an Old Town, was going to keep

going hadn't done many miles, but there was an opening

and at the end of the day, closing time 5 pm ish start

thinking and it fell in my lap, the one ranger pushed me

into it, but the other didn't want me there and it was Jeckle

and Hyde ranger, seemed like a nice couple, gay couple

or parkies or something IDK... But not a legal way to treat

customers,

 

Campground is kids razorblading and generally loud,

and I'm still hoping to get photos of pelicans before

I leave the state/ ocean area, but none to be found, need bridges,

and no stopping areas apparently to find pelicans...

 

SC Warm

 

SC is warm, and accidents, people bored tired, inattentive,

whatever, and we all have to stop, for accidents, for miles,

backups...

 

NC Cold

 

Notice as sun going down, starting getting cold,

I might make northern Florida to Virginia in one day,

saves money, gets to my own bed, blessed rest and

not having to put up a tent in rain / cold, check on home,

etc...

 

Virginia Rain

 

Virginia started with rain, first rest stop, trying to warm up,

office closed, but I know where I'm at, just not very welcoming,

it's a incoming state Welcome Center after all, but has vending,

and an attendant, with port a potties, / chemical toilets,

and a hand washing area, with real water, and soaps,

likely allergic, but mostly cold, as trying to warm up...

 

Butterfinger warm stuff, not coffee...

 

Later find it's cappachino, so it is coffee, and likely

high test, chocolate and coffee... Damn...

 

 

 

Conclusion

 

Summary of experience or similar

 

Been there, done that, paid the price(s),

have a saddle sore but, and a hurt wallet,

been to the end of Route 1, in Key West, FL,

been to the Everglades, didn't take an air boat tour,

nor see much of any gators, didn't do a lot of  the touristy things,

bought some t shirts (7? ) and have lots of photos

to prove I went, someone said that's the poof after the t shirts wear out...

 

Say my first Pelicans, one of my favorites of the trip,

odd bird, soars near the water, sits like a duck other times,

Big Bird too, wingspan, almost teradactle (sp?) prehistoric like...

 

Go back sometime, maybe with the FrankenTrailer,

stop other places, plan better, have more money,

don't burn so bad, my whole face not covered got

sun / wind burned or a reaction or something , sun poisoning?

 

And Reentry to live at home, rain, snow, and school

has been tough, I haven't really been rubbing people's noses

in it, most don't care, don't want to hear it, so just leave it be...

 

Been there, done (some of )  that, got the T shirt...

 

 

Discussion

 

A place for feedback on the page presented

 

Ever been?

What's your favorite?

 

Oddities

 

Spanish Moss

 

Disney mouse eared power lines

 

Cement telephone poles, hurricane proof towers?

 

 

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