St. Augustine Sunday

To cap off an incredible weekend, my wife and I spent Sunday in St. Augustine.  Following a 3-day weekend that consisted of movies on Friday, & Biketoberfest in Daytona Beach on Saturday, we mounted up and headed north to St. Augustine.

For those who don't know, St. Augustine is the oldest city in the United States.  Founded by the Spanish in 1565, it consists of incredible architectured buildings, a beautiful college, and the very famous Castillo de San Marcos - a 17th Century Spanish fort with an incredible history.  Find out more on Castillo de San Marcos by checking out the National Park Service link here.

The history of St. Augustine is one that is unmatched in the United States.  The area held firm for hundreds of years as a Spanish outpost, then as a staging point for British forces during the American Revolutionary War.  If you enjoy history, you need to visit St. Augustine!

Even though it is a college town, St. Augustine's primary source of income is tourism.  Cobblestone streets, horse drawn carriages, and a wide variety of food gives visitors that old town feel, while providing excellent modern amenities. Again, my wife and I met up with her sister and her husband for a new adventure.  We decided it'd be best to take a car this time rather than the motorcycle.  After a long day of riding the previous day, our butts couldn't handle it (literally).

St. Augustine is an enjoyable city with much to offer.  One of the most haunted buildings in America, the St. Augustine Lighthouse, is only a few miles from the main tourist hub.  The Alligator Farm is also nearby, giving visitors up close and personal experiences with alligators (yes, this is the same Alligator Farm featured on the TV show "Gator Boys").

At the suggestion of my brother-in-law, we traveled to Gaufre's & Goods Polish & Greek Restaurant, a literal "hole in the wall" cafe with an incredible atmosphere, food selection, service, and pricing.  We enjoyed a great bottle of Romanian wine, alone with shameless amounts of food.  I myself had boiled meat and cheese piorgies and a cup of cold Borstch.  So delicious!

 

Following lunch, we immediately headed towards the San Sabastian Winery.  Only a few blocks away, certainly walking distance, we enjoyed good conversation until we found ourselves doing some wine tasting.  I'm the first to admit that I'm a light weight.  I get drunk rather easily, and I don't pretend otherwise.  My wife and I enjoy the occasional beer or wine (I enjoy Vodka, rum, & whiskey), but we never find ourselves in a situation where we're just throwing back booze like it's water.  But on this day, we found ourselves sucking down more alcohol than we have in a very long time. 

The wine tasting was an incredible experience, and as we were leaving, I found the world around me slowing down as the alochol hit me.  Wine is one of those funny things that doesn't seem to be doing much until it hits you all at once.  After 3 glasses at lunch and sampling 9 wines at the winery, my world entered slow motion (and it was barely noon!). Regardless, we helped ourselves to two bottles of wine to bring home and enjoy in the future. You know, support your local economy!

As the animated bubbles of booze popped above my head from a strong buzz, we marched onward to the St. Augustine distillery!  As if wine wasn't doing me in, I was going to mix liquor on top of it.  Oh what smart decisions, right?  Well, thankfully as we awaited the start of the next tour, the heavy clouds of drunkeness began to clear, and my world returned to normal.  After a short walking tour of the distillery, we sampled some mixed drinks of Vodka and Gin.  Once again, we purchased a bottle of booze, St. Augustine sugar cane Vodka, to take home.  I'm telling ya, you must support your local economy!   As we paid, the cashier swiped my driver's license in her computer.  Florida State Law only allows 2 purchases from distilleries per year, per driver's license.  Good ol' government putting an economic growth limit on local businesses.  I think that's a ridiculous mandate.

Following our visit to the distillery, food was on our mind once again.  We made our way back to the center of town taking side streets to avoid heavy traffic.  We found ourselves at a Greek restaurant with beautiful hand painted & air brushed murals, and enjoyed a nice plate of Saganaki - A mixture of alcohol and cheese, set ablaze to carmelize on top.  A quick, yet delicious snack for the late afternoon.   



We enjoyed the evening air as the temperature began to drop. A nice leisurely walk through the main tourist street brought us to another wine tasting event where we sipped casually on some raspberry, blueberry, & coconut wine among others.

 

While deciding what to eat for dinner, we stopped by a shop that offered olive oil and vinaigrette tastings along with a bar that offered various alcoholic & coffee beverages.  We sat down inside and watched the world outside turn dark. 

For dinner, we ended up venturing next door to the Centro Piano Bar.  The atmosphere was pleasant, but the biggest challenge was enjoying dinner with family while having to listen to a terrible singer.  The guy could play the piano very well, but was an awful singer.  His voice reminded me of Burt Bacharach, which isn't a bad thing, but his attempts at singing Billy Joel, Elton John and Journey were thwarted by the fact that he didn't know all of the lyrics to the songs, and he kept trying to hit notes that were clearly out of his vocal range.  It really was quite a chore having to endure it.  He sang for about 2 hours straight.  Only 4 other people came into the Piano Bar during our visit, and that lack of attendance might be contributed to the fact that a tone-deaf piano player was the nightly entertainment.  Considering the overpriced menu and less than desireable entertainment, I don't foresee that restaurant staying open much longer. 

But our service was excellent, the food was good (albeit still overpriced), and the Sangria we shared was absolutely phenominal.



After dinner we parted ways and headed home.  It was a great weekend spent with family that we don't get to see very often.  Between Biketoberfest in Daytona on Saturday & St. Augustine on Sunday, I was incredibly exhausted once we headed home Sunday night.  But it was certainly worth it.

-James

Biketoberfest 2014

This past Saturday, my wife and I were laying in bed in the late morning.  Having stayed up until almost 2 AM the previous night playing video games & watching TV, we certainly enjoyed the extra sleep.  We've been wanting to take a ride up to St. Augustine the past few weeks, but could never get the timing right, or when we did, I didn't feel up to the drive.  As we laid there still half asleep, browsing Facebook, Twitter, & other oddities, my wife's sister called and asked if we'd like to meet them in Daytona Beach for Biketoberfest.  I didn't even know the festivities had begun, so I was surprised.

Since the passing of my father this past March, my sister-in-law & her husband (both avid motorcyclists) have hounded me to meet up with them to take a ride together, but this being Florida, it's been way too hot or too wet to take them up on their offer.  The weather on Saturday, however, was flawless.  So I said "let's do it".  They live in Jacksonville but had already arrived in Daytona when they called us.  We quickly got ready and were out the door by 11:30.  Our trip took about 2 1/2 hours, with the majority of the journey taking us through the Ocala National Forest on Highway 40.

This past weekend was also Homecoming for the University of Florida in my hometown of Gainesville.  Traffic was a complete nightmare, and our route South took us directly by campus.  Naturally we were stopped by every traffic light, drunk college student, and city bus you could imagine.  Multiple instances of hard breaking met us head on before we even got out of the city.  Certainly not an enjoyable experience.  Once we got out of the city however, the roads cleared drastically.

Thankfully, the posted speed limits on the road to Daytona are reasonable.  65mph with drops to 45mph through the smaller towns along the way.  Taking after my father, I tend to travel about 10 over the speed limit if conditions allow for it; and on this day, it certainly allowed for it.  Traffic wasn't bad at all as we headed towards the coast.  While in the Ocala National Forest, I caught up with group of other motorcycles and I figured there was safety in numbers, so I decided to stay with them until they peeled off.  I have never made the drive myself.  In fact, the last time I went to Daytona, was for Bike Week in 2003! Back then, I was the ripe old age of 13. 

The trip down was a pleasant one, ran into many different bikes both coming and going.  We even passed a 2009 Kawasaki Versys! I was so excited because I have never seen another Versys on the road.  It was certainly a great surprise to pass one.  As we drew closer to Daytona, the traffic volume dramatically increased - primarily the number of bikes on the road.

The economy in Daytona is strongly tied to the motorcycle & auto racing communities.  The majority of bars, shops, hotels & restaurants are only open a few weeks out of the year to cater to the tens of thousands of bikers and spectators that come in from all around the world during these events.  They are able to generate enough revenue during these that they are free to do other things during the year.  Not too long ago, local politicians and city leaders tried to put an end to the Bike Week & Biketoberfest festivities because they didn't think it gave the city a clean reputation. Needless to say, that proposed legislation was met with powerful opposition from business owners and locals because without Bike Week & Biketoberfest, the only other big money maker is NASCAR.  Thankfully, the locals persevered and the motorcycle festivities continue!  Daytona doesn't completely throw respect out of the window, they ask for our support in return.  Signs everywhere say "Welcome back, bikers!", "Ride Safe", "Ride Quietly", etc..  It's only fair that the locals asks for respect from the motorcycle community, Daytona is opening up their doors to thousands of strangers every year offering some of the greatest biker experiences East of the Mississippi River.  As civilized people, and as adults, we should be courteous and respectful.

The locals are always welcoming to the motorcycle community.  Of course they don't want a bunch of foolishness in their city.  As long as the majority of Bike Week & Biketoberfest visitors continue to be respectful and supportive of the local community, I don't foresee drastic changes coming about.  I also have to acknowledge the Daytona Police Department and their policies towards these events.  As long as people aren't being completely ridiculous, they've been really easy going.  There will always be those cases of fights, wreckless driving and such, but they're fairly tolerant to the daily events that occur. I also couldn't help but notice some of the motorcycle cops were riding on Suzuki V-Strom 1000s.  It was quite a scene to see matte gray & black police bikes on the road.  They easily blend in with the crowd.

We met up with the family at the BMW-Ducati-Triumph dealership, exchanged pleasantries & decided where we should eat. 

We followed their lead and had lunch at the Oyster Pub a few blocks away off A1A.  Not too many positive things to say about the Pub, as the service was somewhat inconsistent and the food was average.  However, we were just so hungry that we didn't really gripe too much.  It did however have a great atmosphere and the staff was pleasant, even if they were a tad spacey.

After a late lunch, we walked a few store fronts over and enjoyed some Turkish coffee at a Hookah Bar owned by a friend of my sister-in-law's husband.  Great guy, great shop, & if we could've stayed longer, I definitely would have enjoyed some Hookah.  Unfortunately, I made the mistake of not packing my clear helmet visor & I wasn't about to risk driving the entire trip home in the dark with a blacked out visor.   We had to cut our Biketoberfest adventure short after only a few hours. 

Traffic was heavy on the return trip home, and there were plenty of foolish (& probably drunk) bikers that made parts of the trip unnerving.  I heard of one fatality, hopefully there weren't more.

Overall, my first experience with Biketoberfest was a great one.  I enjoy the ride down to Daytona, and I appreciate the concept of bikers coming together for various events.  It will be a mad house, but perhaps next time I'll venture towards International Drive & the International Speedway.  That would certainly bring back great memories.

Ride safe.

-James

Georgia On My Mind

I apologize for the delay, this post was supposed to be added last week, but life intervened.  You all know how that goes.

On October 11, my wife and I threw on our gear and headed up to Georgia.

Initially, our plan was to ride to St. Augustine and enjoy the Atlantic Coast.  However, due to a late start, we decided to remain inland and travel up to Georgia.  Couldn't ask for better weather on our journey, high of 83 with a nice breeze, few clouds. 

To start out our trip, we had lunch in nearby High Springs at The Diner.  Throughout my childhood, this restaurant changed ownership a couple of times.  When I was in high school it was known as Floyd's Diner - a 1950's classic cafe.  It still maintains that 50's vibe today, with reasonable prices and a decent menu.

After lunch, we proceeded North on US HWY 441.  The plan was to take 441 all the way up to Georgia, passing through Lake City, White Springs, & Jasper.  The traffic was fairly light, especially for a Saturday.  Only ran into trouble as we entered Lake City, there's always that one driver who doesn't understand the concept of cruise control on their vehicle, and they continuously sped up & slowed down. This particular vehicle kept crawling up my back side and then dropping off.  I wasn't in a rush, nor was I going too slow or too fast.  Just kept going 65, but pulled off once I got into town to allow him to pass me.  I wasn't interested in having to deal with that.

The country side really opened up just north of Lake City, limited traffic allowed my wife and I to take in the sights.  I'm lucky enough to live just south of the Suwannee River Valley, and the geography of that region is very enjoyable.  Crossing the Suwannee & Ichetuknee Rivers almost makes you forget you're in Florida, as the topography gives way to hills and curved roads.  There aren't too many places in Florida like this, & discovering them is a real treat.

North of Lake City is the town of White Springs.  Founded at the turn of the 20th Century, White Springs gives visitors a great experience of "small town USA".  Massive Oak Trees line the roads, with the focal point of the town being the White Springs Bed & Breakfast, which was founded in 1905.  White Springs even comes complete with a volunteer fire department!  While we didn't stop, the sight seeing tour was enjoyable.

It seemed that every "wrong turn" I took lead us to better sights and better roads.  Couldn't go wrong with that trip.  It's a short 2-3 hour trip, but it's a nice way to burn a Saturday afternoon.  The road into Georgia was long and empty on this day, and as I stood there on the State Line, I found myself being drawn into Georgia.  While I didn't really venture across, I stood there looking down that lonely highway wanting to know what's down there.  Where would this road take me?  With nothing but swamps & fields as far as the eye could see, I wonder what was at the end of that lonely highway.  Perhaps one day I'll venture further North to see what lies ahead.

 

 

 



On the way back home, we stopped in Live Oak to stretch our legs & to give our butts a rest. A nice cold slushie from the local Burger King did the trick as we rested in the parking lot under some trees.  If you've lived in Florida as long as I have, you pretty much know where the most enjoyable places are.  Florida has an abundance of small towns, but the majority aren't worth the trip.  The Atlantic Coast is preferrable to the Gulf Coast (in my opinion), even though the Gulf does have a few hidden gems.  Just a quick shot north of Lake City opens up an area of Florida that I find most enjoyable. 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading.  Ride safe.

 

-James

Ready To Ride

I picked up the bike from the shop last Saturday -perfect timing.

The weather has been truly spectactular the past 3 days.  Low's in the upper 40's, reaching 80 degrees at mid day.  Fall seems to be kicking in earlier than usual here in the Sunshine State, and I'm perfectly happy with that!

I had a complete inspection and tune up done on the Versys.  It was due for it's first annual inspection, and it was in the shop for 2 weeks.  The valves weren't too bad, they needed a little adjusting, but barring any unforeseen issues, the bike should be good for another 12-20,000 miles. 

I did an oil change yesterday.  Even though the bike didn't need it, I had to do it.  The last time that oil was changed, my dad and I did it together, and it was the first time I've ever done an oil change.  Yesterday, I changed it to "get over the hump".  I wanted to prove to myself that I can move on after his death and take care of the basic maintenance a motorcycle requires.  I know he was watching me do it, and I hope I made him proud.  The truth is, I broke down in tears after I finished.  There's so much more I wanted to learn from him, I swear he knew everything.  But he gave me the tools (literally) and a good sense of direction to teach myself what I need to know.  I miss him terribly, but he's with me every time I put the helmet on.

The bike is ready to ride.  I look forward to taking it on a long ride some time soon.  The weather looks like it will cooperate this week, so if I'm able to ride to work, I'll be satisfied with that for now.


-James