Due South Sojurn

[bill lumberg]

I made an impulsive decision to bail and head for warmer climes. Saturday, I rode direct to Key West.

It was pretty damned cold. Route said around 14 hours, but I think I came in under that. Even finally hitting 60F temps on US1 didn’t erase the chill from the day.

Sunday was good. Warm and sunny. Took the obligatory buoy photo. There was a line of polite, well behaved people seeking photos. So I parked the bike a bit to the side, snapped and bailed.

Rode to the Old Town Gym. Rustic, rusty, dark, and cool as shit. Lifted for a bit. Got back on the bike and headed back to the hotel.

The key has a heavy population of scooters. But whether scooter or bike- I think mine was the only helmet in Key West, and I didn’t wear mine Sunday. I felt naked without mine, even though speeds were pedestrian and distances minimal.

Walked around 7 miles. Temp was just over 70F, but it felt more like 80 in direct sun. Went for short run and then did some shopping. It’s a lovely place to wander.

Good dinner, nightcap, and some sleep. Around 2 hours, according to my Apple Watch. I think it was actually double that, but I’m not sure (a noisy neighbor severely impacted sleep quality). Wheels up around 2am this morning….

Heading to or from Key West from the mainland adds around 2 hours of slow, heavily enforced speeds. And I was rolling at prime drunk driver time, so enforcement was augmented. This made it a superb time to test the capabilities of my top shelf, recently acquired radar detector.

I lost track of the times, between the Key West exfil, and the rest of the (interstate) trip home, that the valentine alerted me to the presence of radar, and/or corroborated a waze report.

That was a surprise. In my normal habitat, I don’t encounter much traffic enforcement, and when I do encounter it, they usually aren’t running traditional radar. But there are a lot of pockets or regions where radar is the norm.

I think a lot of detectors detect fairly well. But the top ones detect further and deliver fewer false reports. (Falses from the valentine border on nonexistent).

Temps were much more moderate returning to North Georgia. Traffic was surprisingly light.

Filthy bike. Rider not much better. Time for a hot shower, big steak, and a rye whiskey.

Ride safe.

[SkooterG]

Reading this mad me happy. But.... where was my invite ya bastard?

[wheatonFJR]

Reading this mad me happy. But.... where was my invite ya bastard?

Stuck to your bike with a piece of snot.

[Hppants]

It's past time for me to replace my old Escort R/D. Thanks for the reminder. Christmas is coming....

Nice ride report. Your words were certainly descript enough, but a couple of pictures wouldn't kill ya. Oh I know.... pictures take time and you've got miles to go!

Right on, man....

[bill lumberg]

I don’t have hosting any more, and I don’t take many as it is. I took one in front of the buoy. It’s on the FB forum.

One I wish I’d stopped and taken:

When I was leaving in the wee hours of the morning, the crescent moon looked large. It was perfectly horizontal, with the curve down and the ends up, and it was bright gold.

It looked exactly like the Cheshire cat’s smile, lingering after the cat disappeared. I stared at it for most of two hours.

[SkooterG]

Photo assist for Senor Lumberg.....

But!!! I think he needs to go back for a proper photo: One with his ugly mugg in it with his FJR!!!

[bill lumberg]

Evidently it costs a mere $16 to travel the Florida Turnpike end to end. lol.

[wheatonFJR]

Photo assist for Senor Lumberg.....

But!!! I think he needs to go back for a proper photo: One with his ugly mugg in it with his FJR!!!

Are you kidding me? No need to attract the black helicopters.