Cedar Key Sunday

Midnight Sunday morning (or Saturday night for the average person), I randomly became inspired to take a trip.  I spent two hours in the garage in preparation for an almost two hour drive to the Gulf Coast.  The weather was in the mid 40's, so a cold weather prep was a must.  If you aren't familiar with cold weather motorcycle preparation, read about it here! 

I woke up at 8:30 and was on the road by 9:45.  It was a balmy 47 degrees as I headed towards Cedar Key.  For those of you who aren't familiar, Cedar Key is not part of The Florida Keys or associated with Key West.  The Florida Keys are located in the Florida Straits, with Key West being 90 miles north of Cuba.  However, Cedar Key is located on the Florida Gulf Coast and is mostly a fishing and boating community.  There are restaurants and touristy shops.   

The drive down to the coast was great.  I passed by the grave of legendary blues artist Bo Diddley in the town of Bronson.  I knew he was buried nearby, but to casually turn my head and to see it at just the right moment was quite a treat.  Definitely owe plenty of American culture to men like B.B. King and Bo Diddley!

The last time I visited Cedar Key was prior to 2003.  I cannot remember exactly when, but my grandfather was still alive and I remember him patting a Pelican on the head. I'll never forget that.  Cedar Key is not the same as it used to be.  Tourism is the mainstay of the local economy, so when the economy tanked in 2007-2008, Cedar Key was hit hard.  Many of the restaurants closed as tourism declined.  

I had lunch at the Pickled Pelican restaurant.  I sat outside and had a great view of the Gulf of Mexico and the nearby islands.  The menu was great, as was the pricing.  I certainly recommend it!

 The area is really beautiful and, in my opinion, really epitomizes what the Florida coast is all about.  Shrubbery, coastal inlets, and beautifully flat terrain.

I ended up putting 156.8 miles on the bike.  The weather was incredible, as was the ride.  Very little traffic and I was able to average a speed of about 70mph.  If you live in the Sunshine State and haven't made a trip to Cedar Key, I do recommend it.  It is a fun day trip and there is a large pier to go fishing from.  The food, scenery, atmosphere, and the people are wonderful.  Unfortunately, I won't be able to spend as much time on the road in the future as I would like.  I recently was hired by Veteran's Affairs on top of being a college student.  I'm going to be busy, but it is for all the right reasons.  Stay safe out on the road, fellow riders! Happy Halloween!

-J

Abroad Life: The Traveling Gator: Classics for Men

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Abroad Life: The Traveling Gator: Classics for Men

Stay Warm On Brisk Days

Today we experienced our coldest weather of this Fall season so far. The temperature fell to 48 degrees. For those of us who rely on a motorcycle as our main mode of transportation, falling temperatures are never something to look forward to.

I had to break out some warmer riding gear, and by "gear" I mean layers. I have a leather jacket, but really the only thing you can do in a pinch is bundle up. I'm an advocate of layering because it saves money. Why buy heavy riding gear if you don't have to! If you live up north, do whatever you must to stay warm. But in Florida, layering should suffice.

Guys, if your wife or girlfriend owns a pair of opaque tights, they work great! They are thick enough to keep your legs warm under your jeans (Hue makes great opaque nylon and wool tights & can be found at any department store). My wife has a pair of thick fleece-lined tights that I have under my jeans today. Thick enough to double as socks, so your feet don't sweat. They kept me warm on the bike, and are breathable enough that I'm not overheating while indoors. 

Now if you consider yourself a "manly man" and think that wearing tights is insulting to your manliness, then do what works for you. But don't knock it until you try it because it is a cheap and comfortable alternative to keep your legs warm on the road. 

Ladies, same applies. Wear some tights or leggings under your normal riding attire to keep you warm on those brisk days. 

-J

Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Located in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Spain, lies the Balearic Islands.  The island chain is comprised of Mallorca (or Majorca), Minorca, Ibiza, and Formentera.

Palma is the capital city of the province on the island of Mallorca.  The city was originally founded in 123 BC by the Roman Empire and was a major shipping port for Carthage and Hispania. Today, Palma de Mallorca is a huge tourist destination for mainland Europe, more specifically Germany, Ireland, Poland, Netherlands, & United Kingdom. Being a tourist destination, there are many cruise ships and ferry's that visit the island. In fact, the Costa Concordia was pierside during my visit.  Quite spooky, actually.  Not long after leaving Palma, the Costa Concordia tragically sank and took lives with her.

The largest visible structure from downtown Palma is the Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma.  A very beautiful Gothic Roman Catholic cathedral that was built between 1229-1601.  Renovation and restoration was between 1901-1914.

The city of Palma is very beautifully maintained.  Fall was also in the air, so the crisp, cool temperatures and clear blue sky really added to the magic of Palma de Mallorca.  I don't use the expression "magic" lightly.  I've been all around Europe Africa, and the Middle East, but Palma de Mallorca truly was magical.  I loved it!  I could not get over the wonderful people, the food, the Sangria (oh my God, the Sangria was life changing), and just the overall setting and vibe of the city.  I could live in Palma.  I'd love to live in Palma.

I had a great couple of days hanging with good friends, taking in the sights and sounds of Palma de Mallorca. I can see why this is one of the most popular vacation destinations in Europe.  Great beaches, great food, great night life, great culture, great history.  Palma de Mallorca is in my top 5 favorite places that I've visited. 

I'll end this post with a picture of me enjoying an amazing glass of Sangria and a good smoke, proudly representing Manchester United.  I'd revisit in a heartbeat.

-J

Fall Photoshoot

I've said it countless times so far this year, but Fall is my favorite time of year.  It is my favorite time to ride, and it is my favorite time to photograph.  I'm an amateur photographer at best, but the best thing about Fall is that the weather is so beautiful, nature cooperates with the camera almost by default.

Living in Florida, we don't have the wide variety of beautiful trees that explode colorful leaves every Fall, but we do have the Sycamore.  Sycamore's are the quintessential "Fall tree" for the Sunshine State.  When their leaves fall, I just want to stop what I'm doing and just take it all in.

The neighborhood I live in is a golf course community.  When the economy tanked, the course owner cut his losses and left.  The course has not been operational for many years, and it wasn't until the past year that landscapers started a monthly bush-hogging of the fairways.  No idea when the course will re-open, but in the meantime, the overgrowth allows for great photo opportunities.

Turkey Creek is also a beautiful natural water feature that courses through the neighborhood.  The way the light hits the water in late afternoon makes it difficult to pass up taking some pictures.  I wanted to drive down into the creek bed for some great shots, but I did not want the attention that came with an entire family that lives next to the creek.  They all happened to be outside and wouldn't stop starting at me.  People in this neighborhood have become very rude and nosy.  The last thing I want is for someone to call the Golf Cart Police (Homeowner's Association), even though I wouldn't be doing anything wrong.  Just isn't worth it.

Perhaps I'll get window that gives me a chance to spend more time in the creek bed.  Only time will tell.

-J

Rota, Spain

When we picture Europe, what comes to mind? Cobblestone streets, houses and apartment buildings crammed closely together with thousands of people on scooters and tiny cars zooming past each other with no regard to traffic laws. I was fortunate to find a great city that doesn't have all of that crazy hustle and bustle that we associate with mainstream Europe.  

As of 2012, Rota has a population of 29,094 & is located near the Straits of Gibraltar (Atlantic side).  With such a low population, it would seem obvious why Rota doesn't have the overcrowded streets.  However, Rota is also the home of a joint U.S./Spanish Navy base.  The first thing I noticed was the city not being defined by the military base. Unlike other military-based cities like Naples, Rota has been able to maintain its independence and rich cultural history. Castillo de Luna is a beautiful ancient fortress which currently houses the local municipality. 

O'Grady's Irish Bar was the local hotspot for visiting Sailors.  They have an excellent setting, and the coolest bar I have ever seen.  The walls are completely covered with $1 bills written on by visiting service members. Aircraft squadrons and ships (some long since decommissioned) gives you a window to the past.  Some were dedicated to family and girlfriends, others were disgruntled messages regarding a specific deployment or cheating lovers back home, but the majority had the name of ships or squadrons and the Sailors that wrote them. I really enjoyed reading what people wrote on these bills.  The oldest dollar I found was from the 60's.  The drinks were great, as was the staff and setting.  I highly recommend stopping by!

Stay tuned for a future posting about Palma de Mallorca! 

-J

Motorcycles & Cooler Temperatures: What You Need To Know

As Fall kicks into high gear, and the weather gets cooler, a number of concerns arise this time of year.  Be sure to properly use the choke on your carburetor as the temperature dictates when starting your bike.  Also, it is imperative that riders maintain as full of a tank of gas as possible. With the fluctuating temperatures between the outside air and inside the tank, condensation can easily form inside the tank and that is a real problem.  The engine will spit and sputter, and die frequently. Water in the fuel is a simple fix, but inexperienced and uneducated riders will think something is terribly wrong and will let a motorcycle waste away because they don't want to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars that they think it will cost to repair their ride. 

Drain the carburetor. Takes 5-10 minutes to do and you can do it yourself.  You should not have to remove your carburetor from your motorcycle.  Find a clear cup or Tupperware container that is the proper size to fit under your carburetor.  If your motorcycle has an accessible pepcock (valve that can turn on/off your fuel), turn it to the "off" position.  Place the clear container underneath your carburetor where the drainage port is located. Directly above that port, is a small screw.  Ensure that you carefully loosen the screw (my carb doesn't require the complete removal of the screw) and the fuel should begin to drain into your container.  If you have water in your fuel, it will be obvious to see.  The water will settle to the bottom of the container and collect in a bubble.  Do not add the contaminated fuel from your carburetor back into your tank, dispose of it properly.  Re-tighten the screw on the carburetor, return your pepcock to the "on" position.  Top off your tank with fresh gasoline, and ride.  Your motorcycle will return to normal with time, the best thing you can do is ride frequently to run clean fuel through your engine.

Another very important aspect of motorcycle maintenance involves your tires.  Cooler temperatures causes air to compress, so keeping an eye on your tire pressure becomes increasingly vital during Fall/Winter.  It is a normal safety practice to check your tires before every ride, but this becomes a true necessity this time of year.  Riding a motorcycle with low air pressure can be deadly.  A simple 30-second pressure check before you ride could mean the difference between life and death.  Use a tire gauge.  Do not use the "kick the tire" technique, as it does not give you an accurate reading on tire pressure, and it can also be misleading as rubber tires tend to stiffen in cold weather.

These simple (and basic) checks are very simple, and very vital.  Keep an eye out for a future post regarding Winter riding and proper long term motorcycle storage!

-J

Fall is Upon Us

While the official start of Fall was last week, the weather in North Central Florida hasn't made any drastic changes until the past few days. Typical of Florida, a rainy day brings along a cold front that stays in the area until another the cycle repeats. As a result, riders have to dust off their warmer riding gear.

Riding in the early weeks of Fall is my favorite time of year to ride.  The leaves are changing, the skies are a beautiful blue with few clouds.  There's almost always a nice breeze that causes the leaves to fall from the trees.  The outside temperature is cooler, but not cold enough to make the experience a hassle.  With the season change comes a reduction in bugs, pollen, dust, dirt, and the overall grime that is associated with the Summer months.  Washing and detailing the bike can be done much less often as a result.  I love detailing my DRZ.  The bike just seems to ride better when it has that showroom shine.  People assume my DRZ is a brand new, but when I tell them it is a 2006 their reaction is always priceless.  "No way!" or "Oh, wow!". That never gets old.

Out On The Road

I decided to go for a little drive-

The weather was perfect and I really needed to get my mind off of college. I ended up putting about 100 miles on the bike, and during that trek I broke the 8,000 mile mark. I traveled through the local counties and visited the various rivers, creeks, and parks that surround the area.  Traffic was minimal, and I was able to pull off the road and take almost any pictures I wanted.  One of the prettiest places I discovered was a farm on West County Road 18 headings towards Ft. White.  A massive green field with a white and red two-story house, and a large barn.  I pulled off the road, took a picture, and circled back to take another.  The owners were probably thinking I was crazy, but I loved the view.  I spent some time in Ft. White, Worthington Springs, Booker, and High Springs.  I stopped at the Santa Fe River boat launch just outside of High Springs and tried to get some good shots, but there was too much activity.  I also visited my old, old stomping grounds, my middle school, to see what has changed.  It is nice to see the Corsair is still out front, at least the Democrats haven't had it removed yet.

While in High Springs, I found an old service road that shadowed an abandoned train track.  Nature had overgrown the tracks to the point that they couldn't be seen, and the grass was as high as my handlebars!  I could only imagine how frequent those tracks were used at the height of the railroad industry.  The service road was a great "off the beaten path" ride.  I've checked out the Northern areas enough, so the next time I hit the road, I want to head in a different direction.  Maybe towards Newberry/Bronson.  We shall see.

-J