Harley2004's Travel Blog

Thomasville, Georgia, February 8th, 2004 - Thomasville, Georgia

 This place was Average visited Feb 8, 2004

I knew the cold weather was following the rain and it was cold this morning. Freeze warning were out and the temperature was 31 degrees. We don’t ride in 31-degree temperatures, but warmer weather is coming. Last night a saw a real popular restaurant "Crawdaddies" so I figured we would lay low today and eat dinner tonight at "Crawdaddies" and be ready to ride tomorrow morning in warmer weather. Well guess what, "Crawdaddies" is closed on Sundays. So we didn’t put on many miles today, only 3. We’ll enjoy a warm night and hit the road again tomorrow.

posted Apr 10, 2005 | Comments (0)

Thomasville, Georgia, February 7th, 2004 - Thomasville, Georgia

 This place was Average visited Feb 7, 2004

All the rain and bad weather passed over us last night and this morning it was clear, windy and 20 degrees cooler, but at least the rain was gone. Out of the motel at 9:30AM with light Jacksonville traffic. Back on Interstate 295 north to Interstate 10 west to Highway 121 north into Georgia. Couldn’t get to the Georgia sign, due to its placement at the bridge over the river. We proceeded on into Georgia and turned west on Highway 185, which carried us to Highway, 94 west which carried us back into Florida. At that state line crossing we got the picture with the Georgia State sign. We continued west on Highway 94 into Echols County, Georgia and (got our "E" county sign) and then on to Valdosta. Peggy lucked out today as we found a Shoney’s in Valdosta. After lunch we continued west on Highway 84 to Quitman (got our "Q" city sign) and then on to Thomasville, our stop for the night. Of course we also picked up our "T" county sign at the Thomas County Line. Four more points today for a total of 46. Now it was cold today, a beautiful day to ride, not many clouds, windy, but not too bad, but it was cold. It was supposed to be in the upper 50’s today, but I don’t think it made it. And of course the wind made it seem colder too. Anyway into the motel 3:30PM after only 170 miles, 684 miles this trip, 120,664 total miles.

posted Apr 10, 2005 | Comments (0)

Jacksonville, Florida, February 6th, 2004 - Jacksonville, Florida

 This place was Amazing visited Feb 6, 2004

Wow, two beautiful days in a row. Weather was windy, cloudy but warm when we left the motel at around 9:30AM this morning. We spent today just chasing down some hard to get signs for the Touring program. First we headed north on Interstate 295 to Interstate 95, then north on Interstate 95 getting off on Highway A1A and headed east into Yulee. We stopped on I-95 at the Nassau County line to get the "N" county picture and the road was so busy it took almost forever to get safely back into traffic. After getting the picture of the "Y" city sign we headed west on A1A to Callahan then on south on Highway 301 to Interstate 10. We proceeded west on Interstate 10 getting off on Highway 121 and headed south to Lake Butler. At the Union County life we stopped and got our "U" county pictures. At Lake Butler we headed north on Highway 231 to Osceola National Forest to get a needed picture of a National Forest Sign. Had to take a little detour via Highway 231A due to road repairs. The road was nice, the detour only about 4 miles, but within that 4 miles, a deer ran out in front of us, then a dog decided to chase us, then a log truck came around a sharp curve with his wheels on my side of the double yellow lines. Time to head home via the same route to Lake Butler and then east on Highway 100 to Starke. At Starke we just followed the back roads back to our motel in Orange Park. It stayed cloudy all day, nice, warm but windy, a very nice day’s ride. Four more points for a total of 41. Couldn’t believe we made exactly 200 miles today, 514 miles this trip, 120,494 total miles.

posted Apr 10, 2005 | Comments (0)

Jacksonville, Florida, February 5th, 2004 - Jacksonville, Florida

 This place was Amazing visited Feb 5, 2004

Jacksonville, Florida, February 5, 2004. Another beautiful day to ride, clear skies, temperatures in the upper 70’s and lower 80’s with just a slight wind. Who could want anything more? Just a short ride today, only to Jacksonville to take care of some personal business. We departed Daytona Beach around 10:00AM, heading North on US 1. The favorite motorcycle locations along US 1 in Volusia County just don’t look the same as they do during Bike Week and Biketoberfest. We did manage to another picture of a county sign, an "F" at Flagler County line. Total of 38 points so far. More to come tomorrow. We switched to Interstate 95 in St. Augustine for the remainder of the trip all the way to downtown Jacksonville. After completing our business in downtown Jacksonville we got to join the rush hour traffic back south on Interstate 95 to Interstate 295 to Orange Park. Only 128 miles today, 314 miles this trip and 120,294 total miles). We’re in the Econo Lodge in Orange Park, costs $49.50 per night + $4.95 tax (Guest room tax of 10%). Not a real great motel, but I’m used to it and it is close to the Dog Track

posted Apr 10, 2005 | Comments (0)

Daytona Beach Shores, Florida, February 4th, 2004 - Daytona Beach Shores, Florida

 This place was Amazing visited Feb 4, 2004

Finally out on the road again. A little longer trip this time, and what a beautiful day to ride. When we departed this morning it was clear and warm, at least for the first half of the day. Purpose of this trip is to complete as many of the pictures of cities and counties for the ABC’s of Touring Program before we start on the longer trip next month. Trip today was mostly on Highway 1 North to Daytona. We stopped at the post office on Military Trail in Jupiter to get a picture of the post office sign, which reads "United States". It suffices for a country sign. We already did one bit Peggy missed the "United States" part of the sign. Now I’m caught up with her on points. Stopped in Vero Beach for a picture of that city sign for the "V" city and the got a picture of the sign for the Indian River County Tax Collector sign for a County "I". Then on to Daytona where we collected the "V" county sign,Volusia County. That’s three more points for today, for a total of 37. Miles today: 186. Total miles: 120,166. By the time we got to Titusville, the sky turned cloudy and it got quite cool, but still a beautiful day to ride. We’re staying in the Days Inn Tropical Seas, in Daytona Beach Shores. It is the one we use for Biketoberfest. We were into the motel by 3:00PM looking for a nice peaceful even in Daytona. Sometimes everything doesn’t go right. I had reserved an Ocean View room, but wound up with a side view room. After a lengthy discussion with the Hotel Manager we went on to check out the "side view" room. We found it smaller than the other rooms, they door was open and a crew was working on the balcony repairing the railing. A call from Peggy to the front desk again, with all the pounding and sawing going on in the background, netted us an "Ocean View" room they should have given us the first time. Anyway we have the Manager’s e-mail address now and he will make sure that we get the room we ask for anytime we return. The wheel that makes the most noise always gets the most grease!!!!! Cost of the room was $53.55 + $6.69 tax.

posted Apr 10, 2005 | Comments (0)