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Arcadia, Florida
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This place was Average
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Out again for our 2nd trip around South Florida to pick up some more pictures of signs for the ABC’s of Touring Program. Out of the house at 9:00AM, with clear skies and temperatures in the low 50’s and while it did make it into the 60’s, it still felt cold most of the day. Took PGA Blvd to 'Bee Line' expressway, Highway 710 North and picked up our first photo at the Martin County Line. Then on to Indiantown for our 2nd sign. Back on Highway 710 South, we turned West on Highway 76 through Port Mayaca to Lake Okeechobee. I’ve been down this road many times, but now it has been cleared and across the canal on the North side of the highway you could see a huge marina for boat storage for Lake Okeechobee. On the left side of the Highway were miles and miles of Orange groves. I noticed today that several of those groves were grapefruit instead of oranges. I noticed also that several of the groves had been cut down and it appears that someone intends to develop some of the area and build a residential area. I sure hate to see farmland converted to residential land, but I guess that what we call progress. At Lake Okeechobee we turned North on Highway 441 where we picked up pictures of two more signs, Upthegrove Beach and Okeechobee County. In Okeechobee we turned West on Highway 70 towards Highland County, but not before stopping for lunch at Los Cocos, one of our favorite Mexican Restaurants. I tried to get Peggy by it, but she remembered in time and we had to stop for an early lunch. The Highland County Line sign was right at the Kissimmee River Bridge with no place to pull off to take the picture. On Westward where we turned South on Highway 721 to get a picture of the Glades County sign. No problem here, only a few miles, but there was no Highland County sign across the road from the Glades County sign. Back north again and then west again on Highway 70 to DeSota County. No problem here either and this time the elusive Highland County sign was right across the highway from the DeSota sign. We continued West on Highway 70 to Arcadia our stop for the night. But we weren’t done yet, turning North on Highway 17, we traveled the 20 miles to Zolfo Springs for our 'Z' sign, then back the 20 miles to Arcadia. Stopping on the way back at a Florida State Patrol Station for get a Florida 'state' sign. We frequently use Highway Patrol stations for state signs. But we still weren’t finished and turned East on Highway 72 to Sarasota County for about 15 miles for another county sign picture. Finally finished with picture taking for the day we headed for the motel around 2:30PM. Our motel for the night was the Best Western Arcadia Inn, 504 South Brevard (US 17 South). Although the motel was clean, it’s rooms and bathrooms were small and certainly not worth the AAA discounted rate of 59.00. Plus the 11% tax drove the nightly room rate up to $65.08. Although according to Peggy, they did have a nice continental breakfast, I am accustomed to a much nicer room for the same costs. Having checked into the motel and unloading our bags, we headed to the DeSota County Library to use the computers. This is something we do when we travel without our laptop computer or when we cannot get on line through our motel. We have used many county libraries, and it always works. Have never had any problem with public libraries, even in Canada. But not in DeSota County. Seems you have to have a library card. The librarian Elizabeth M. Kerney gave me a copy of the Library Patron Polices dated January 2004. This policy stated that a non-resident could be issued a library card for $20.00. I placed my Florida Drivers License on the desk and asked her to issue me a Library Card. She refused. Meanwhile Peggy was checking out about using the computers. There was nothing in the Patron Policies governing use of computers. Peggy was told that (1) computer users would be allowed one hour on the computer (2) you had to be on the list (3) the computers were all in use (4) she didn’t know how long individuals using the computers had been on line (5) she didn’t have a list and didn’t need one. Maybe she just didn’t like bikers! By that time it was 4:30PM and I decided to visit the County Administrator James Chisholm and file a complaint against the Library. He wasn’t in but a lady in his office took my complaint and my address. Haven’t heard from him yet, but if I don’t, I’ll send him an open letter about his library and post it on this web site. Too bad this small county library is not up to the standards of more modern libraries. Arcadia is a nice little town though; we had supper in Wendy’s and visited the local Wal-Mart store for some goodies to take back to the motel. Not a bad day, pictures of signs for 6 counties, 4 cities and 1 state, total of 11 points for the day, 26 points total and only 208 miles.
Posted
Apr 10, 2005
by Harley2004
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