South for spring

[trbig]

Before we left on our trip, I bought a new pair of Tourmaster WP (Waterproof) boots from Motorcycle Superstore. I put them on and stood in a tub with water up to the ankles and the left one immediately leaked. MS said no return because I dunked them.. not meant to dunk, blah blah. I wrote a lengthy response defining the term "Waterproof" vs "Water resistant". I wrote the company (Tourmaster) and finally, after 5 days, got the same response from them. I angrily (But professionally) wrote a response telling them what I thought of their product, their company, and their customer service, and told them that I would make sure that every website I'm part of and every website that lets me write a review, I'd make sure to try to steer others away from their company, and asked her (The company rep) to pass that along to her boss. The very next day, I got a lengthy apology from one of the product managers telling me that dunking the boots is one of their tests they do on them. lol. He asked me to send the boots back for replacement, and I told him I couldn't, that it was too late, and I needed them for the trip we're now on. He told me that wasn't a problem.. wear the boots, see how they perform and work for me, and when I get back, ship the boots back to them and they'll replace the boots for a new pair that he'll personally make sure perform as promised. So.... Hopefully they will fix some things, because I am also going to point him to other reviews that say the boots aren't waterproof as well. Some say yes, some say no. Sounds to me like they need to look at some people in product testing..

ANYWAY.. So Thursday night, Bob and I were walking across a ditch to go to dinner. No signs up about "Danger: Quicksand" or anything.. My new boots didn't leak mud anyway.. It would have been higher on the boot, but I now have a pair of pants where the bottoms resemble those boots..






I was going to wash them, then saw we were riding into this, and thought it unnecessary.






Luckily, the rain died off at about the same rate we were travelling, so all we hit was some misting. And my boot still needs washing. The bikes ready to roll out...







Eskimo Bob. It was in the mid 50's, so we just kept the rain gear on, though that stuff messes with your system of doing things. With the extra pockets, you always forget which pocket you put whatever you're looking for in.







Here's a shot of Bob while going under the tunnel in Mobile, Alabama.







We were heading to Ft. Walton Beach, but decided to go down to Pensacola, FL, first, then ride down the shoreline to Ft. Walton. This is from the bridge heading into Pensacola Beach.







Bob at the beach. Not the best weather I've ever been here for, but as I told others, it still beats the heck out of work! Surf was up higher than I've ever seen it here.











A shot of the bikes under the Pensacola water tower.







We had a celebratory beer at the beach to say a final farewell to winter, then hopped back on the bikes for the 45 minute ride along the coast to Ft. Walton Beach.







After checking in to the hotel, we grabbed a quick bite to eat, then grabbed a cab over to Destin to the Harbor Walk. I was here just a few months ago, and the change is so drastic, (For the better) I didn't recognize things at first.







We walked down to the end and found a few small bars that the locals gather at. Better atmosphere and cheaper drinks than the main "touristy" places had. Live bands and assortments of types of music. Bob at one of the local watering holes, trying to pick out a souvenir koozie.







After sufficient antifreeze was had, we wobbled back towards the spot the cab dropped us off. Along the way, Bob stopped and had some mighty big dreams... lol.







And final shot was a heron hunting... I like taking thse night shots where you have to let the camera sit for a while gathering light and hope things don't move and blur the pic. At the end of that dock to the right, there was a sign on the last pole before going into the water saying, "No alcoholic beverages beyond this point.. " lol.









Bikes are running great, though I've got a small seep from my left crank seal. (Leaking onto my new boots I'll be returning.. lol) I'm having my wife ship me a crank seal to Key West. I may change it out really quick when we get there.. and I may not.

About to go grab a bite to eat. Here in Ft. Walton Beach for another night. Sitting here finishing this up in the room and the sun has popped out. Forecast for low 70's. Surely there's some trouble that needs causing somewhere..

[JeffH]

Glad to hear you are on the Road again, excelente!

Ah, so this is what Harry is missing?

Just don't get too wobbly on Duval and get hooked up with the Pink Cadillac convertible guys wearing the boas.
They are trolling for converts.

....... but this ain't your first rodeo in KW. Keep us posted.

Jeff

[MaximPhil]

Hi Tod,
Hope you have charged that camera 'cus you know how much we love pictures Have fun and keep the story going.
Phil

[BA80]

Quit thinking about Bob's legs.

[trbig]

I left the house this morning with a dead camera, so no pics, but @ 550 miles later and 5 states, (Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi) I've met up with Bob Falter from Iowa here in Jackson, MS. About to go get a bite to eat and a beer or three, then headed to Destin, Florida tomorrow where it looks like we're going to get rained on a while, but supposed to let up by early evening. There for a couple days, then to Orlando, then down to Key West for a few days to do the Duval wobble : ) He had a rough winter in Iowa this year, so I'm taking him to get his pasty white legs in some warm saltwater.

Springtime is here in the south. Wildflowers line the roads and the trees are in bloom... and gators are out in the watery spots in Louisiana. Low 70's temps for most of the day, though I left at 41 degrees.

More to follow.