Day 11

Woke up around 8:30am and went downstairs, and fixed a cup of coffee. Then, thanks to Alex's mom, we had a nice little breakfast to get the day started well. After that, Alex took me down to see the USS Alabama, an old decomisioned battleship. It was really cool to be able to walk all around and in and out of this thing. The last time I'd been able to tour a battleship or anything similar was when I was in the Boy Scouts. There was also an old submarine, the USS Drum, there as well that we got to go through, as well as some planes. All in all, an awsome morning thus far; check out the pictures.
After this we drove up north a little ways to go eat lunch at this place called the "Stage Coach Cafe". Once again, awsome food. The catfish and fried chicken were just to die for! Also, I had this dessert that I've never had before. It was called buttermilk pie. Now, if you're not familiar with this, you have to try it before you die! As I told Alex, if I'm ever put on death row, this will be part of my last meal. Yes, it is that good!
Then we drove back to Mobile, and drove around downtown a little bit more. Saw Bienville Park, and went to see a bunch of really neat old houses around Mobile. Then, back to Alex's house to just hang out and relax a bit. This evening, his sister came back home from school (spring break), and we all went out to get some ice cream. Now the day is pretty much done, so I'm doing the blog thing and then going to bed.

Here are the pics:

Day 10

Knowing that I had an extra hour waitting for me about 45 minutes west of here (timezone change), I took my time getting ready this morning. I finally cruised out of Apalachicola around 9:30am eastern time. I followed along SR 98 west. It went back and forth between following the coast, to very commercialized beach resort type areas for spring breakers, to miles and miles of pine tree forests/farms. Eventually I made it to Mobile, Alabama, and met up with one of my former students, Alex. We went to his parents' house and dropped off my bike, and then Alex took me around for a quick tour of the city. A little later on we came back to his house, and his parents took us out for dinner to a seafood place; a place called 'Ed's Shed'. Totally my type of place; unasuming, but the food was great, especially the oysters! MMMMMmmmmmm. Well, I don't have to be in Houston for a couple more days now, and we're supposed to get rain tonight into tomorrow, and I've been graciously invited to stay, so I think I'll be hanging around Mobile for a day or more. That's it for now though.

Here's a few more pictures from today to tide you over. :)

Day 9

Hey, I have access to the internet once again! Sorry for the brief hiatus, but I am on sabbatical you know ! :)

Anyways, got up this morning and had breakfast with the Woodberry Lacrosse team that is down here for some spring trainning. Then I took off down the road to the local HD dealer to get a 2.5K service done on my bike. Thank you Orlando Harley Davidson for getting me in and out of there in less than two hours; you guys rock! Then back down the road to go check out the lacrosse team in action. I got there just in time to get a few action shots, and then they broke for lunch. Perfect time for a group shot! After saying goodbye, I hit the road heading north. First on the turnpike, but soon enough onto SR 27 North. It did not get interesting until I got past Ocala, and then it was beautiful. A lot a large horse farms around here. Who would have guessed that!? Anyways, I continue on up 27, and once in Perry, I turn onto SR 98 west. Takes me through a lot of pine tree forests, but I eventually end up going along the coast line of the pan-handle by the time the sun sets. Around 8:30pm I reach Apalachicola, and call it a night. Have a great dinner at this little cafe called the 'Red Top Cafe'. Well, that's about it, other than an hour and a half of downloading pictures and updating the blog. I hope you all enjoy!

Day 8

Yeah, it’s raining. Can you hear the enthusiasm in my voice? Well, looking at the radar, it looks like a big pile of rain just sitting on Key West and getting bigger by the minute. So I joyfully pack up my bike in the rain, say my goodbyes and head out by 11:00am. I had hoped to go back downtown and take some more pictures this morning, but so much for that idea. I still swing by the southern most point and get a picture of the bell. Then I start up US 1. By the time I reach Islamorada, I finally get out of the rain. It’s a good thing because my boots and socks are pretty much soaked through. Anyways, once I hit the mainland I cruise up SR 997, and the cut left onto SR 41 which takes me through Big Cypress National Preserve. It’s a gorgeous road; one lane going in each direction. I figured this would probably be a more scenic route that I-75, which is known as Alligator Alley, and that I could more easily stop and take pictures by the road side. After a while I turn onto SR 29 and start heading back north towards Kissimmee, Florida. I go up via SR 29, SR 27, then cut onto SR 70 across to Okeechobee, and finally up SR 441 up to the turnpike and into Kissimmee. There I meet up with the Woodberry lacrosse team who’s here for some spring training! Thanks to Lou and the other guys for letting me crash for the night!

Day 7

Woke up around 9:30am, and took some time this morning to repack some bags. Also took advantage of a free washing machine and dryer to do a load of laundry! By late morning Sean and I head out and go say hello to Joanne and Capt. Jim. From there we make our way to Schooner’s Warf for some brunch; Capt. Jim and Jimmy Myers meet us there. Then back to the house to just relax a bit.
Later that evening, Sean, Lisa and I all head downtown to catch the sunset on Mallory Square, and dinner. We spent a good deal of time hanging out and watching the Cat-Man. It’s this guy who’s trained cats to do trick like jumping through hoops and walking a tight rope! My hat is off to this guy! Have you ever tried to train your house cat to do anything!? After his show we watched this other guy doing some juggling and tight rope walking. Eventually we make our way down Duval street and have some dinner and drinks. Then back home to get some sleep as we all have an early morning ahead of us; I have to hit the road and Sean’s got a fishing trip leaving tomorrow.

Day 6

Today was a good riding day. Woke up around 6:30am, and had some cereal and danish along with a glass of juice and some coffee here in the hotel. Packed everything back up, and was on the road by 7:30am. It’s still cold this morning, only about 34 degrees, but I got a long road between here and Key West. Anyways, I cruise down I-75, until I hit the turnpike. Then I follow the turnpike for a couple miles until I turn off onto SR 27 which will take me down through central Florida. It was a beautiful ride; going past miles and miles of orange groves. By lunch time the temperature finally warms up to around 60 degrees and it feels great. Eventually I find myself in Florida City, and I hop onto US 1 and start my way down the keys! I pull into Key West around 6:00 pm and go find my buddy Sean at his house. I get a all my stuff unpacked, and spend the rest of the evening just resting at Sean’s house with him and his girlfriend Lisa. We have dinner and a couple drinks.

P.S. I’ve been coming to Key West regularly now since 1998, and for the first time I’ve finally seen a key deer when driving through Deer Key! About the size of a Labrador, but much taller!