Guy
Boutin's Motorcycle Touring and Travel Pages
Adventures in Sport
Touring with the Honda ST 1100, 1300 and the BMW 1200RT
Exploring North America...One Road
at a Time
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Guy
Boutin's Motorcycle Touring and Travel Pages
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South
Florida and the Keys
I wanted a early start to the 2008 touring season, so with that in mind I mentioned to Debbie a few days before Christmas, "Look here, I'm thinkin about a ride in February." "Oh yeah? Where to?" "Key West. Think I'm gonna head out right after the Super Bowl." "Well ok, must be nice," with pouting lips. Winters in Central Alabama are mostly temperate, a few cold nights, a couple of cool days, and a lot of mild in between, so I get to ride most anytime I want. But nothing is like a long ride to distant lands. Even though it was only Christmas, and just 2 months since the Blue Ridge Ride, I was coming down with a bad case of cabin fever, and I knew by February I'd be pulling my hair out. "Well look baby, it'll be a short ride, 5 or 6 days at the most, but tell ya what, drive down to Destin, and meet me on my way back for a couple of days." "Now you're talking." By mid January I had the tour lined up and
planned. For each tour I The riding in Florida is not much to speak off. No curves to lean, tall mountains or wide open spaces. No, mostly urban sprawl, and I-75, you have to be creative to tour Florida, and I was. The trip began with a leisurely 500 mile ride down the back roads of Alabama, South Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle to Orlando to check in with fellow STer, and good friend Ron Epperley. After Orlando I rode to Miami to visit another good friend-Sal Landa. From there it was on to Key West. Before leaving the Mainland I made a quick pass through Everglades National Park. I was last there in 2002, but I failed to document it, and I wanted to improve on that this tour.
The ride back north was on state and local roads, across Big Cypress and more Everglade swamp lands. I've not spent anytime in that area of the State and was curious as to what I might find there. I'm glad I did, because I met some fascinating people, and witnessed several unique places. I battled a long dark ride on Central Florida
back roads on the evening The last 2 days of the tour I spent with my family in Destin. It was a great way to finish off a long ride. The ride for this tour was the RT. It was just off a service and a new rear tire. I put a new tire on the ST in November, so most of the miles lately have been on the RT, because I want that tire to make it to California and back in June. For that I need to keep the miles under 2000 on the Honda during the winter and spring months. Besides, the RT's heated seats and grips, and superb wind management, make it the better cold weather bike, although I never needed any of that on the ride. Like the last few journals I made a few short videos to help capture the tone and spirit of the ride, look for them, but not all days will have a video, the true heart of the ride remains in the text.
Folks, there is no place like South Florida in the dead of winter, I hope you enjoy the ride.
Guy- Feb 11, 2008 Coming soon Day 1! Riding Ala, Ga, and Fla backroads.
Day 1- Riding south through Ala, Ga, and Fla. Back roads and small towns Day 2- On the Turnpike to Miami, and Sal Landa. Day 3- Everglades National Park, the ride down to Key West on U.S. 1 Day 4- Big Cypress Preserve, back into Central Florida. Day 5- Trouble in the Panhandle, and family time in Destin Day 7- Riding home from the beach
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make a outline of the places I want to see, roads I'd like to ride, and people I
wish to meet. I fancy my tours to flow in a orderly fashion, so I can get
the most out them, and for the most part that worked well this tour, but a few
times it didn't. 
The
ride through the Keys on U.S. 1 was great, but you have to take it for what it's
worth. It is the only highway linking the Keys to Margarittaville, so it
can be busy this time of year. I didn't worry about that, but instead
focused on being out in the wind, and riding in the warm sun. Speaking of
which the weather for this tour was simply perfect. Warm sun, clear blue
skies, and not a drop of rain the entire ride. Could not have custom
ordered it better.
of Day 4, and a flat tire on Day 5. All the details of that will be
in the following story.
The
ride spanned 6 days and 2100 miles, and was just what the doctor ordered for a
guy with winter time doldrums. I invite to you join me on this winter's
escape to the land of the enchanted sunset and hungry alligators.