Phew......
I was amazed that the trip to Dayton Beach had been so smooth - the cardboard packaged bike was gi-normous and needed special special handling at Gatwick, but it arrived at Orlando in perfect nick, 20 minutes after the doors opened. Then it just fitted into the minibus to Daytona for the 90 minute journey, dropping me off at the motel.
First day started with the usual faff: phot, buying phone card, going to beach, stopping for adjustments, getting stove fuel at Walmart (!!) and then swinging west through central Florida. Hadn't reckoned on stiff headwind (stiff for me means over 15 knots on the nose, and there it stayed for the ...... whole 70 miles. So this middle-aged puffer got first real intimation that he is no longer 25. In fact, it led to cursing, total depression, more cursing and steadily speeds, from progressive 14 mph to dismal 9 mph. But the road was great - typical well-maintained 2-lane, with broad hard shoulder throughout with smooth road surface (you rarely find these on any road in Blighty). With my new arm mirror from Kate I could see stuff coming from miles back, although it has left spectacular sunburn mark on my left arm.....
Spent the night in another (dismal-ish) motel but aiming to camp tonight. Next post a few days away.
Well done Skipper..Sounds like a good distance for the first day ...and name a trip we've been on where we don't get lost on the first day !! Cheers John
ReplyDeleteWhere are you now? How's it on the road to Hicksville?
ReplyDeleteWeather looks better for the weekend. Hope the journey going well. When will you make New Orleans, I could zoom down on the Harley!
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