Got plenty of extra sleep last night, as we wanted to stop by the Gainsville Harley Davidson dealer before we left town and they don't usually open until around 9:00AM. Plus we only had 173 miles to go today, and we don't want to get into the new motel until after 3:00PM. A little cool this morning, felt good to me, but Peggy was cold. Not a cloud in the sky and little if any wind, a beautiful day to ride. Out of the motel and onto Interstate 75 North again, but getting off at the next exit to visit the Gainesville Harley Davidson. It is a beautiful store, sits on top of a hill. Large, inside with a great selection of motor clothes, and motorcycles. I was impressed with their prices on new and used bikes and Peggy said they had the greatest selection of women's motor clothes that she has seen. Our business finished in the Harley Davidson dealer, we headed back to Interstate 75 heading North again to the Interstate 10/75 interchange. We turned West on Interstate 10, the road that will carry us West for the next many days, until we get to California. What else can I say, the road was great, a lot of traffic, but not too bad, great weather, no clouds, no road repairs, just a nice comfortable ride with a couple of stops for gas. In Tallahassee we first visited the Capital City Harley Davidson dealer. This was another great Harley Davidson store. Again, this one sat on top of a hill and was loaded with a great variety of motor clothes and motorcycles, both new and used. This dealers' prices were every much as great as the one in Gainesville. I'll have to check out both when we are ready to buy. Next stop was at our motel for the night, which just happened to be very, very close to the Harley Davidson dealer. It is a Sleep Inn, at 1695 Capital Circle N.W. and just like the Harley Davidson dealers, it sits on top of a hill. Nice motel, clean room, wireless internet did not work, but they had the ethernet backup which works better anyway, so we're happy. After checking in to the room we rode over to fill up the motorcycle and get some supper. Closest place was a Waffle House. Some are good and some are bad, this one was just 'so so'. One thing we've noticed, whenever we sit down in a Waffle House or a Wendy's, somebody always decides it time to sweep the floor. Today too, no customers, the three employees were doing nothing when we arrived and just as soon as we got our food the waitress decided it was time to sweep the floor. Gonna have to upgrade my eating places. Anyway, back into the motel around 5:30PM, after a nice day and a really nice ride of only 173 miles today, 434 miles this trip, 149,226 total miles. Total charges for the motel were: Room charge was $63.00, then $4.73 for state tax, $2.52 for what they listed as city/county tax, for a total bill of $70.25 for the night. You have to watch them also, if there is a safe in the room, they will charge you an extra $1.00 plus tax unless you ask them to remove it. Saving $1.07 on the bill for a safe I didn't want, didn't use and sure wasn't going to pay for. Nice motel, but the rooms in Sleep Inns are usually a little small.View from the Rear by Cubbear42:
What a wonderful day. We didn't have to rush this morning as it was only a short trip for our ride today from Gainsville to Tallahassee. Actually had time to read the newspaper this morning - typical USA Today. It was going to be warmer than yesterday but I decided to wear one of my long-sleeve tops which happened to be my Nikken one I purchased about 5 plus years ago - a non-biker top, lol... I forgot how soft it is. But it just made the ride more comfortable and it wasn't as windy either. It was about 64 when we left and got into the mid 70's so not as warm as Southern Florida.
The sky was a bright blue and I looked around and saw 'my' jet/s flying high up above. It's something that really caught my attention last year while riding as I saw them flying every day that it was not cloudy. It really gave me a comforting feeling. The sky is so big that they can't be missed.
As we had continued North on I-75 I noticed there were many areas that still had huge piles of brush piled up in the center of the fields - these are still remnants of last years Hurricanes. Sometimes I wonder how all of these pastures were cleared of so many trees - now I see much of it was due to bad weather thoughout the years. Forgot to mention all the tranquill horse farms we passed yesterday in the Ocala area. They sure are pretty and plenty of horses are very fortunate. Also saw numerous 'herds' if that is the term of goats grazing. The goats weren't very big size-wise.
We rode North until we reached I-10 where we turned West which will bring us through the Florida Pan Handle. Saw more Spring flowers dotting the landscape; tiny yellow ones; more pink and white flowers with some real pretty reddish/puplish (sp) flowers spead thoughout the median. This area is more rural so alot of open spaces. We did ride over the Suwanne River after we passed the town of Live Oak.
At one of our stops - Jackson or Jefferson County - the low-lying bridge we had just passed had a great amount of water running pretty fast through it. Also noticed some sort of a fence going down the embankment which was about 4' high (the fence) and this was pretty much covered with water as the banks were overflowing. Believe Mac heard over the TV tonight that that area is pretty dangerous because of the rising water due to all the rain that was in Georgia these past few days and in fact a couple of dams may be in trouble. We'll have to watch the news.
Stopped at the Harley shops in both Gainsville and Tallahassee. Both are huge and have a big display of motorcycles and clothing/gear, etc. Each had a great selection which you don't see everywhere and to top it off both had great, friendly personnel. I loved the variety of tops they had for us females - many I hadn't seen before and I really, really don't need any more, lol...
Tonight we are staying in a 'newer' Sleep Inn. It's okay and clean but their rooms are always smaller than the regular motels we stay in. Not an extra table - they figure the built-in desk that has the TV on it is enough room. It, too, is sortof out in the country and not much else around.
We rode out for gas and I suggested we stop at the Waffle House. Yep, that was me... First of all, they have new menus with not much on them - then I think they (no, I know they did) shrunk their portions of the food they serve. I looked at what I had, just the stuff for a patty melt minus the bread and onions. It looked so lonely on that plate and the hamburg was so thin I had to pick at the cheese to see if the hamburg was even there. In my mind I was looking for this big, juicy hamburg - not what I got - a piece of dried up whatever... And I swear, I must have lettering on my back that says 'It's time to clean...' - Never fails, that's when they decide the floor needs to be swept or they have to wash off the adjoining tables using a spray bottle not containing just water.
Now I say, the heck with the diet, laughing - the girl at the front desk said they have Krispy Creme donuts as part of their breakfast - I can't wait...!! I hope they are big and fresh and delicious...
Have a longer day of riding tomorrow so have to be cumfy...lol. Just remembered, we'll be riding as far as Mobile, Alabama - I think they have casino's... Will have to check out the slot machines.