Chapter Two...

The Toyhauler and the Sporty have been sold but... Life is good for Phil. Rode my 2002 Road King Classic home today from Appleton. Electronic Fuel Injection, Security System and best of all... Electronic Cruise Control. We will ride in comfort now!! Ride on....

Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, then Home...

From St Augustine we headed north, Stopping at Crooked River State Park for a couple of days. A beautiful park with the worst sand gnat population in the world.. We intended on taking the ferry over to Cumberland Island National Seashore, but two bus loads of school kids beat us to the landing....
As a result, we took an hour drive west and visited the Okefenokee Swamp to do a little alligator hunting. http://www.lilburnes.org/Students/Habitats/okefenokee.htm

From there we headed north to SE South Carolina and spent two nights at Hunting Island State Park, another beautiful park on the seashore.
No sand gnats, but that was because a huge cold front came blasting through with winds blowing 20-30 for two days...

One day we went to view the historic lighthouse and have lunch on Hilton Head Island. After being denied access to the lighthouse by the exclusive Sea Pines Plantation Gate guard because we had kayaks on the roof of our truck (??!!$%^$&!!), we decided we had "had enough" and it was time to head home. http://www.seapines.com/
We stopped two nights in Asheville, North Carolina and visited the Biltmore Estate. Words can't describe the largest house in the US, completed in 1895 with modern plumbing, electricity, refrigeration, you name it. http://tinyurl.com/d84u96

We were a week or two early for the spring bloom but the grounds were a sight to see.

Woke up Monday morning and then drove 15 hours straight through to home, a great place to be, even though we woke up to snow this morning...

In total, the almost seven week trip was 4,725 miles by truck... and 418 gallons of diesel. There were also 1,860 pleasurable miles of riding the Sporty!! That's an average of 122 miles per day (I'm a numbers guy...)

St. Augustine

After setting up in the Indian River RV Park in St Augustine yesterday, we headed downtown to the historic district. This is the oldest house in America's oldest city.
One of the older found wells...

Today we headed west to Ravine Gardens State Park. http://www.floridastateparks.org/ravinegardens/default.cfm

A nice place...

A 1930's version of the current economic "stimulus" package...

From there we headed back east to St Augustine, doing a whirlwind tour.

They wanted $21.95 a head to check this place out.....

After the Alligator farm we were thirsty... http://www.fountainofyouthflorida.com/

Cathie got this peacock all excited.

Tomorrow we head north to Georgia. We will be in State parks so WiFi access will probably again be limited.. http://gastateparks.org/info/crookriv/

Bike Week Highlights!!??

On Tuesday it was cold, and Cathie looks it...


This bike was on display by a metal sculpter. a bargain at $35,000, compared to the $75,000 bike behind it.

We stayed at the Volusia County Fairgrounds in the most secure campsite you will ever see. The site was operated by ABATE of Florida, a motorcycle rights organization. All property was tagged, including us, and the toyhauler was inspected on arrival and when leaving.
One of the security patrols at the exit gate...




More security patrols....

It was no bull, really....

One day we went to a vintage bike show and auction with 100's of bikes. This is a 1951 Indian Warrior cycle designed for Wisconsin winter riding....

This is a V-twin Martin...

One day we went to "Cabbage Patch" to witness the cole slaw wrestling, quite a sight...

The bartenders were also quite a sight, too bad it was a little too chilly for them...

The ultimate winner of the cole slaw contest...

Saturday at Daytona Beach

For some reason, there weren't many people on the beach...

As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words...

Bike Week Begins

Welcome to Daytona Beach...

Keys Bike Trip

Monday morning we started a four day bike cruise to the Keys.

US 1 has been improved considerably in the last 2 years....

The main reason we wanted to head that way was to see some good long-time boating friends. They have lived on their boat for about a dozen years, having cruised the southern Caribbean in their sailboat and living in Key Largo the last 5 years. Candi manages a very nice 77 slip marina there and Larry is the Asst. Manager at the local West Marine store.

Here they are on their "new" very nice Albin 36 Trawler.


This was the view near our hotel room.

















Sunset after a great day with great friends...




Cathie snapped a photo while headed home today...

When we got back "home" this afternoon some neighbors came to visit...