Key West Ride Mar 1-7

[LAB3]

OK, we will hook-up somewhere / someplace down the Road. Hopefully later this year.

Jeff

That's quite likely to be possible in about 4-5 weeks as I start heading north, there's a good campground N.E. of Macon that I do my maximum 14 day stay at in the spring and fall. It's well within striking distance of Hotlsnta for a day trip.

[JeffH]

Update:

Rode 270 miles yesterday with a couple stops to do some Jumping Jacks. Mostly US 41 and some i75 to "get out of Dodge" sort of thing.
Didn't get rolling until 12:15 and got in motel before dark. Made it to the GA-FL Line. So I'll call that a good day.

Noticed some 8-10 ride groups, mostly Harley's heading north on i75. Guess they were at Daytona for Bike Week kick-off and heading home.
Over on US41 there were scant few cars. Trees in bloom, green grass, even saw a guy on riding mower whacking at his yard
Always see a lot of vultures soaring around looking for a meal, or biker down. Huge birds and fun to watch them circle & sniff for that next meal.


Leave here by 9am to go meet Don & Robert. Then backroads FLA to meet up with Eric for more backroads FLA to Lakeland.
We looking foward to meeting up with Rob tonight for some dinner & a good BS session with everyone at Golden Coral.

Weather looks to be cooperating for our time in South FLA and Key West.
It's been a few years since we last did that US1 ride down the Keys so we are really looking forward to doing that again.

Jeff

[LAB3]

Update:

Rode 270 miles yesterday with a couple stops to do some Jumping Jacks. Mostly US 41 and some i75 to "get out of Dodge" sort of thing.
Didn't get rolling until 12:15 and got in motel before dark. Made it to the GA-FL Line. So I'll call that a good day.

Noticed some 8-10 ride groups, mostly Harley's heading north on i75. Guess they were at Daytona for Bike Week kick-off and heading home.
Over on US41 there were scant few cars. Trees in bloom, green grass, even saw a guy on riding mower whacking at his yard
Always see a lot of vultures soaring around looking for a meal, or biker down. Huge birds and fun to watch them circle & sniff for that next meal.


Leave here by 9am to go meet Don & Robert. Then backroads FLA to meet up with Eric for more backroads FLA to Lakeland.
We looking foward to meeting up with Rob tonight for some dinner & a good BS session with everyone at Golden Coral.

Weather looks to be cooperating for our time in South FLA and Key West.
It's been a few years since we last did that US1 ride down the Keys so we are really looking forward to doing that again.

Jeff

There where several small "packs" of bikes out yesterday along US27 which is the LAST road you want to make time on! Arrived at the campground just north of Umatilla and there's two camps with guys down here for the rally. Like me they'll probably hit one or two days of the rally from here and enjoy the quiet the rest of the time.

[JeffH]

There where several small "packs" of bikes out yesterday along US27 which is the LAST road you want to make time on! Arrived at the campground just north of Umatilla and there's two camps with guys down here for the rally. Like me they'll probably hit one or two days of the rally from here and enjoy the quiet the rest of the time.

YEP, 20 years ago US 27 in central Florida was a beautiful, enjoyable and scenic ride. Now it is gridlock mess of congestion ..... and a place to avoid if you can. (but not many choices besides Turnpike, i75 or wandering maze of backroads that get into more congestion around i4) Glad to hear you got it Parked. And now all setup for awhile. At least US27 traversing West Georgia is still an A+ scenic & rural ride.

[LAB3]

YEP, 20 years ago US 27 in central Florida was a beautiful, enjoyable and scenic ride. Now it is gridlock mess of congestion ..... and a place to avoid if you can. (but not many choices besides Turnpike, i75 or wandering maze of backroads that get into more congestion around i4) Glad to hear you got it Parked. And now all setup for awhile. At least US27 traversing West Georgia is still an A+ scenic & rural ride.

From where I started out it would have been 40 miles further but still 1/2 hour faster to backtrack east and use the turnpike. Following 27 gave me a chance to grab a decent meal and restock supply wise since it crosses through mile after mile of STROAD (street road) The finest of American suburban planning, I call it "Anywhere USA"

[GNEPIG]

Ya"ll have a fun and safe trip= it is really crowded here this year...

[JeffH]

Need to get out the laptop and post a couple Pics 📸

Wednesday we rode out to Everglades National Park then to Flamingo. Had a can I say more than nice ride with about zero traffic. zip-zip

Yes, Keys and Key West more crowded than I have ever seen it. I was talking with Justin a KW Local that grew up in KW. He is shift supervisor at Southwinds Motel. He says it is sad that every time a tree blows over they build a building. More people .........

Spanish Gardens where we stayed for years now part of neighboring old Southwinds property. Pool has been removed (where we used to do our XSSE Awards Evening) and now there is a funky little kiosk type looking truck on that corner that sells Donuts and Ice Cream. All the Spanish Garden rooms where we could park in front of the door where rooms were 2 twin beds, well all those rooms are Kings. Parking on the street or in the Alley isn't the same as "Bike at Door" for EZ load & unload plus security.

yep, quite crowded. Walked down to Southernmost Point and about 60 people in que for their Photo Op. My car count was about 1 car every 2 seconds so 30 cars per minute going by. Steady hour after hour. It's crowded.

Times Change. Sure glad we had so many great and memorable Key West rides over the years. A Buck List Trip for many Retirees and they wanna burn their money down there.

Jeff

[JeffH]

Bit of a Ride Report:


Got to the Meet Point in Mayo


but after meet & fuel Don had a mechanical issue and had to return to Tallahassee



Eric & Rob had to change their plans, but met up the next day with BikerPhil and Jonathan

[JeffH]

Met up with BikerPhil & Jonathan as planned in LaBelle then rode FL29 down to Everglade City for late lunch. (call it Lunper i guess)



Jonathan & Phil's bikes are still in excellent A+ riding condition, running strong and ready for the Miles




US41 across the Everglades then to Florida City



Next day we rode into Everglades National Park and out to Flamingo

[JeffH]

End of the Road at Flamingo










Took the scenic Boardwalk at Royal Palms
(mama & junior)










Nice way to end a perfect day of riding with long time XS11 friends




Sunset at Florida City motel

[bikerphil]

A few more pics...

[bikerphil]

[JeffH]

Back in Atlanta ......

Decided with rain forecast for Sun & Mon that I would skip going to Don's in Tallahassee and just ride home.

So rolled off 558 miles today. Started this AM in Sarasota and decided to ride the Skyway (Tampa Bay Bridge) and to expedite the ride, took the Sun Coast toll road. Too scenic a ride to not do that. Plus it was a better route set up to dodge some rain in north Florida.

Got into Georgia and hit a sunny 80°. Stopped a couple times for gas and eats but mostly kept rolling.

Good trip to Key West. Odo says 1,981 miles which isn't a bad seven day ride, in March.

Jeff

[JeffH]

Interesting the changes on the corner of South St and Simonton since our last Key West Rally.

Our beloved Spanish Gardens was 'absorbed' into the old Southwinds next door. Over the years we sure had some great FUN riding the Keys
and doing the "Walk About" to Mallory Square and A&B Lobster House. The row of rooms with parking in front are now all KING.

The pool where we used to hold our Awards Evening is now gone. Yep, gone. A mock roach coach truck selling ice cream and mini-donuts is now on that corner.
The office at the end of the building where Joey the desk clerk hung out is now a bar.

Place is still nice but not really biker friendly anymore as the customer base has changed. Seems owners tapping the thousands of new retirees that have Key West on their Bucket List.
Rooms now priced accordingly.

Anna's Grocery across Simonton St is still the same.





I guess CHANGE is inevitable .........

[JeffH]

Now where the two Queen bed rooms are. Don't think they have the 2 Standard Twin rooms anymore.

But still great walking down Simonton or Duval to Mallory Square for the great sunset. With a chance for the famous Green Flash.

The 90 Miles marker a couple blocks down South St from Spanish Gardens is still a tourist draw.
In the 'old days' we took group pics there and could park our bikes in front for a Photo Op. Now about 60 people in que to get a pic.