If someone had told me I'd be taking a 3200 mile trip BY MYSELF-ON A MOTORCYCLE a year ago, I'd had thought they were on crack! But life has a funny way of sometimes taking you where you'd never expect. And I guess one does what one has to do. My previous trips to Key West & Eureka Springs, AR gave me the confidence to believe that, what the hell....I can do this!!! IF I can find a home sitter!
Had been talking about knocking off an item on my bucket list (that of driving from MO to FL on a motorcycle) with my bud Susan H., after our previous adventure to Key West. We had hoped that she would be able to fly back to MO from FL & then ride her Shadow Aero 750 back with me. Kinda like a Thelma & Louise thing, but with alot less drama & a much happier ending.
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| 2 chicks' bikes on a road trip |
But she couldn't swing it so I could either solo it or forget it. Anyone that knows me, probably would guess what I would do.Planned accordingly to leave MO on the 1st of October & return home the 15th of Oct., weather permitting.
Set the dates with Susan, who was able to take off from work (YEA!) the whole time that I was down there!! Then thanks to the wonderful generosity of my Dear Kid, Stacy, the most important home sitting job was filled!
Tried so very hard to get new tires & a radio installed before I left (safety first!) but never would have guessed it would take 6 weeks just to GET the tires to my service techs (Larry's Honda in Jeff City). Jeez.....so the tires finally arrived at Larry's on 16 OCT, the day AFTER I return home from my trip! Great.Onward, hoping the tires hold out. Printed the Mapquest route maps of my deliberately planned, scenic routes, packed my bag & away we go!
In keeping with my goal of striving toward, "Its not the destination, it's the journey", I was determined to:
First, be safe & expect stupidity;
Second, NOT be in so much of a hurry that I didn't enjoy the road & the scenery;
Third, take it easy on myself & savor the adventure.
I believe I succeeded.
First Memphis, familiar, comfortable. Did my usual drive by the marina, exit 1, Mud Island drive by, stop at the Miss Cordelia's, remember living here, drive down the river & head for Millington. Navy Lodge-always great! Clean, fresh, crisp sheets, quiet....except in the morning. No need for an alarm clock for the fire proof doors to each room "clunk" very loudly. So after about the 3rd guest letting their door swing closed, one is awake.
Panama City was next-my longest run of the trip. Got there after dark, about 12 hours. Was tired & there were alot of bikes on the road AND cars. Had a guy think about pulling into the road & probably t-bonin me, but he swerved the side of the road after I flashed my brights at him a couple of times. Probably too many lights on the road.
He & another motorcycle dude were the only two "issues" I had on the road-which I think is nothing short of remarkable! The other guy was a motorcyclist of all things! And he passes me to the right, with my turn indicator ON & in the exit ramp. O K.....If it hadn't been for his loud pipes, I'd have pulled right in front of him, when exiting on the ramp.
Anyway, finally met up with Susan H. in front of the Tyndall AFB. She didn't have her driver's license in hand so getting her to our mutual room on base was not gonna happen. Susan decided to spend the night in her own room. After about an hour of catch up, we agreed to meet at her place the next day, to try to get me into the free breakfast.
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| Susan at hotel, loading her gear. |
The next day I just walked in to the hotel like I owned the place. No one was at the front desk either, which was definitely an advantage. One of the staff was getting something to drink at the juice dispenser & asked me how I slept. I thought that was funny. Little did she know I hadn't spent the night there.
Susan & I ate breakfast & then took off via hwy 98 for Carrabelle to see her (soon to be former) sis-in-law.
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The beautiful view from hwy 98, Carrabelle FL
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Was beautiful driving along this Coastal Hwy! The sun was out, temps were comfortable & the scenery was fantastic! Pine trees wherever the water wasn't!
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We decided to stop for lunch & stowed all our gear in anticipation for rain. Hadn't been inside very long & it just poured!!!!!!! We were soooo glad to be inside. But after lunch, had to get on top of wet bike seats & then head into the storm we just watched pass.
We quickly realized that we'd hung in Carrabelle just a little too long. The storm that I left one step ahead of in Mo had finally caught up with me. If we hadn't have stopped for a couple of hours, who knows?
Made it to Perry & started scrounging for a room. First place, Hampton Inn, WITH a military discount was $106, down from $169 because of a Tallahassee football game. A what?
Susan thought that was steep. I was just pooped. But her cool head prevailed & she found us a Holiday Inn Express, almost right across the street from where we stood, with a room for $92 (with a military discount)! And with free breakfast AND happy hour, 18-2000!!!! Oh.... Yeah....Can't say enough great things about this place! They even let us park the bikes directly in front of the entrance doors, under shelter & where anyone would see any mischief!
Next day, after our free breakfast, we followed hwy 98 all the way down to Tarpon Springs, where we dined with dolphins & fishing boats, & along the water.
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| Just two wild & crazy girls! |
Then onto Tampa, thru a zillion non-sequinized stop lights. But we made it to Bradenton & chill-laxed! Susan was very hospitable & showed me the town! We had a great time. Some of the things we checked out were:
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| Mangrove Trail Kayaking! |
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Boat shopping!
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| Beverages! |
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| Firehouse tour! |
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| Waterfront dining! |
Susan was a fantastic hostess & everybody down there was just great to me. Gotta love the South. Thank you my Friends.
After a few days, was time to head West to NOLA. Spent an extra day, driving just to Perry from Bradenton. Had to stay at the fantastic Holiday Inn Express for that free happy hour & breakfast! Then off to Ocean Springs, MS.
Another long day & a Cruisers Convention in town so NO hotel rooms!
I must have really good karma-which I am eternally grateful for-because a complete stranger wanted to give me a room! Some French gentleman noticed that I didn't get a room because of their convention so offered me a room he had already paid for, since the usual occupant wasn't going to be there that night. I went directly to the closest ATM, got him some $ & paid him $10 more than he wanted ($60) for the room. Then armed with my Heineken 'dinner', I took a hot shower & crashed.
Next day NOLA!!!
Gioia & Alan live in the Quarter. Always a trip to party in the Quarter. I drove right down Bourbon Street on my motorcycle. Only other person in the street was a bicyclist! Kinda cool!
Found my way to Gioia & Alan's place & spent the next 3 days with them, catching up, eating Gioia's sinfully delicious cooking & seeing some of their friends. Got to go to the Hong Kong Market, out toward Harvey. Looked at a recently purchased 'retirement home' Gioia's Dad is refurbishing. Last night there, hung with the Johns. A couple that I've met a few times previously. Was another really fun trip & I am so grateful to be able to keep my friendship going with these dear friends!
Next stop Memphis....
I think I will always love Memphis. Have always known that I'd be back there repeatedly & have only good memories of times there. Home away from Home.
Came North via 61, which I don't recommend! Major cotton fields & chemical smells, poverty, few gas stations or places to piddle.
Came into TN & Memphis & had a very light drizzle. I had to smile, since I've felt sooo very lucky to NOT have the rain most of the area has experienced almost every day since I'd been gone!! Cleared up almost immediately, long enough for me to git some friend green tomatoes, friend chicken & the fixins, plus a Heineken & a Memphis Flyer at Gus' Fried Chicken on 2nd Street. GREAT FOOD! Have been going here for years. I felt just like a local!
Crashed at the Navy Lodge in Millington, then on the road the next day about 0630, headed north for home. Was looking forward to checking out the scenic route 19 North, all the way home but of course, missed some sign so drove about 1.5 hrs out of my way on a not so scenic ( & very frickin windy!) hwy 63, thru Rolla. By the time I got home, was shot. Had a headache so went directly to bed.
Lesson learned....don't be afraid to challenge yourself & DON'T listen to the nay sayers! All went great & many adventures were experienced.But more importantly, I drove 3200 miles by my damn self! One can do whatever they have the courage to do.
We then went inside to put our knowledge to work! Deborah showed us her inventory of various herbs & the equipment she uses when preparing her concoctions, tinctures & poultices for her family & friends. 
