South for spring

[trbig]

Not much time, headed out to eat, but thought I better post an update. Yesterday, we split up and checked out the town on our own. Nothing exciting, but got this beach picture...





And the obligatory HWY1 Mile marker zero.





We went down to Mallory square last night with about 3/4 of the town to watch the sunset. Not quite as romantic with Bob.





Saw some more shirts/signs last night...











Today we headed out on a snorkel trip. I got a shot of Mallory Square from the other side.





Just a shot of the water.





A few pics of the fish we saw.





























And one of Bob and me afterwards.





Off to get a bite to eat and hopefully out early tomorrow morning headed back the 1500+ miles to home. A little further for Bob.

[jwhughes3]

Missing the update, friend.

Hope all is well.

John

[MaximPhil]

Hi Tod,
Another nice story with pictures.Almost like being there.
What is the name and location of the aircraft museum?
I visited this one in Titusville http://www.vacwarbirds.org/ where many of the plane still fly.
Phil

[IanDMacDonald]

If you ever take a trip up here, the Warthogs are up-here at Selfridge AFB. Very cool jets, and the heroes of the Gulf War.

[trbig]

The next day, we headed out bright and late. Just the liner under our mesh jackets, but by the first stop, we'd succeeded in our mission... WARMTH! OK, at some points it was starting to get hot, but Bob was loving it. Sunshine, and blue skies finally. We filled up at the last travel stop on the turnpike just before Florida City, and continued south. Finally leaving the mainland...





Until you arrive at the first Key...





We continued on. Speeds are limited to between 45 and 55 mph, so it takes a while to get to Key West, but it's also great for gas mileage. From our fill up north of Florida City to our next fuel stop at Key West, my odometer read 140 miles, and Bob's said 144. Either way, that's a long way on a tank full in a Special. He didn't hit reserve until 129 and still had a ways to go. It's a record for him anyway.
Anyway, some shots along the way...

















And finally the sign we'd been looking for...





The bikes getting a well-earned break in front of our room.





We got changed and headed the next street over to Duval Street. Before heading out, Bob asked if there were any bars close by.. Ummm.. About every other building?






I saw this shirt for Bob...





And then I saw one that fit me...





We did the Duval Wobble back to the room. Somehow, I managed to keep Bob out of the drag burlesque shows that Marty seems to be quite educated and experienced about. lol.

Now sitting here on the front porch, drinking coffee in shorts and 75 degrees, listening to the birds and smelling the tropical flowers, and watching lizards hunting for breakfast. Yes, winter is gone, at least down here in lovely Key West.

[trbig]

We left Fort Walton Beach on Saturday, heading to Kissimmee, and just a few miles north of town, and went by the Air Force's armament museum. I innitially pulled over for the static display of the SR-71... One of my favorite planes in history. Had I known this was here, I would have made a visit, but it was closed on Sunday. Aircraft weapons was what I did while in the Air Force. I'll be back...
The SR-71.








Then I looked around a bit and saw the three beauties I mainly worked on all parked together... From right to left, the F-15, the F-16, and the A-10.




The F-15. I heard pilots tell stories of firing the big AIM 7 missile (Radar guided, @ 70% kill rate, cost of $50,000) that's mounted against the engine's intake, to get enemy jets to turn so they could hit them with the smaller AIM 9 missiles.(Heat guided, @98% kill rate, cost of just $9,000)





And probably my all-time favorite of jets: The A-10. An airplane literally designed around a 30mm gun. A tank killer that is really a flying tank itself with arguably the best survivability of any plane ever made. There's a bathtub shaped area around the pilot that can take a direct hit from a 37mm round, and with the backup systems it has, theoretically, with half a wing missing, half the tail and one engine gone all on the same side, it should be able to fly home. 11 stations to load whatever kind of bombs or missiles you felt like you needed, and a load carrying capacity that if they could somehow hook one up, it could carry another A-10.





Ever stare death in the face? lol. We had one of these guns go off in our shop one time. It made world-wide military news. Not in a good way. lol.





So we rode away and headed to Kissimmee. My favorite restaurant of all time had closed down, but there was another that had all you can eat lobster on the buffet. It was calling my name... I didn't actually count, but at least a dozen of these were mutilated for my enjoyment.






Then I thought I'd take Bob to Downtown Disney. Quite the happening place with lots of shops, stands, restaurants, and bars. He hated it. Too much walking and too many people.








But we did sit down for a few and drink a beer while listening to a guy play the steel drums..

[IanDMacDonald]

Pics are great! I need time and a nearby riding buddy to have this much fun. Thanks for sharing!

[trbig]

Safe in Key West. Several pics, will try to post tomorrow.

[CRXSi90]

Looks like a fantastic trip. Thanks for sharing the pictures! I'm envious!

[trbig]

Not much to report... 460 miles of superslab with overcast skies. Highlight of the trip was tucking in behind a string of cars travelling anywhere from 100 to 110 mph for close to an hour. My bike is a little buzzy from @ 75 to 85, but 90 and above is smooth as glass now that I put this OEM exhaust back on it. Bob didn't partake and I had to wait a while at our turn off.

Safely made it to Kissimmee, FL, and put a dent in the population with about a dozen lobsters at the buffet. Then I took Bob over to Downtown Disney where he hated it. lol. Too much walking on bad knees. Back at the resort for a few hours, then leaving for Key West in the morning.

[MaximPhil]

Thanks Tod. Keep those pictures coming.
Phil

[BA80]

I knew you would end up with one of those fruity drinks sooner or later. It's missing the little paper umbrella though.

[trbig]

Didn't really do much today. Just took it easy and enjoyed the warmth. I rode into Destin for a while. I know some of you are ATGATT people, but it felt pretty nice cruising around town a bit without a helmet and in a t-shirt and jeans.

There's two bridges you cross to get from Fort Walton Beach to Destin. This is just a shot of the water tower as you cross the first bridge.








Along the way to Destin, I saw some people kite surfing, so I turned in to take a look.















On in to Destin...







And here's where we were last night.







I rode down to the beach and took a few pics...















I met back up with Bob at a Fort Walton Beach for dinner and a "Bacardi Bucket". We sat and chatted for a bit and bikini watched. Actually, the funniest part was watching a little girl throw sand on her littler brother, then the older brother blasting her in the face with sand like, "How do you like it!?" Of course she cried to mom and got him in trouble. Women are trouble makers from very young...















And just to prove I was actually there too.. Note to self.. Take the 50 lbs of stuff out of your pocket for pics.








I had been planning for weeks to take Bob to a place called Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin. It's a really nice spot.. family oriented, but still had several restaurants and drinking establishments. Sunset out on the wharf is one of the best vantage points down here. I rode out there to make sure I could find it with Bob later, but when I rolled up to the guard shack,I was told that because of loud motorcycles, NO motorcycles were allowed in. More proof of the "Loud pipes lose rights" thing. So here we sit in the hotel, enjoying a few cold ones and getting ready to head out to Orlando/Kissimmee in the morning. Sorry not too interesting a report, but at least you kind of get to see the area if you hadn't before.

[trbig]

Always just a little ray of sunshine aren't you Tod?

Great pics, too bad the weather is sucking so bad.

Always here to brighten someone's day!

Weather may not be perfect heading out, but it dang sure could have been a whole lot worse, and today is pretty dang awesome!

[BA80]

Always just a little ray of sunshine aren't you Tod?

Great pics, too bad the weather is sucking so bad.