A Thousand Miles From Nowhere: Republic of Seychelles

The absolute most remote place I have ever visited is the Republic of Seychelles.  Seychelles is located on the East Coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, 1,000 miles away from the next closest land mass.  A true gem in the Indian Ocean, and a "off the beaten path" tourism location for Europe, Africa, and Asia.

 

The best way I can describe Seychelles is to compare it to Hawaii (think Jurassic Park).  Large mountains and valleys enveloped in low hanging fog and mist. I had never heard of this nation until I set foot there.  The economy is largely based on tourism and fishing. The food had a very American and French influence, which allowed for a nice taste of home, but still maintained the exotic feel of a far away place.  My visit kept me in the capital island of Victoria for 4 days, and this allowed me to get a glimpse of what the future holds for Seychelles and what they strive for.  

The center of town had a really cool 4-way intersection with a clock in the middle.  Plenty of open air markets, store fronts, restaurants, and places of worship.

The main attraction for visitors to Victoria Island is the Berjaya Resort.  A very beautiful resort that has prime real estate on the coast.  Beautiful beaches, towering mountains, and unbeatable views.  Open bar(s), a pool, live music, all on the beach.  

The Indian Ocean is the warmest ocean I have ever swam in.  When I wasn't in the surf, I was kicking back on a beach chair with a local hand-rolled cigar, just taking in the sights and sounds of the beach.  A wedding took place and I really enjoyed watching that.  That resort beach is a great place to have a wedding.  I wouldn't mind renewing my vows there myself.  

  

 To end my last day on the island, I was blessed to see the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen before.  The clouds cleared out in the late afternoon, giving way to a stunning sunset.  I took about 10 pictures of this sunset, but this one is my favorite.  I would certainly return to Victoria Island, Seychelles.  More specifically, the Berjaya Resort.  It is certainly a costly venture, but one I would highly recommend if given the opportunity.

-J

St. Augustine Beach

Good afternoon, readers!

I decided to take a ride to the beach with my dad for a mini family get together.  The weather cooperated beautifully for the 200 mile round trip adventure.  We stuck to the back roads (as any motorcyclist knows, that's the only way to do it!) and really enjoyed the drive.  This was the farthest trip I've ever taken on the DRZ and surprisingly, my ass didn't hurt until I got off the bike!  Putting 200 miles on a single cylinder motorcycle does indeed sound like quite a feat and truth be told, it really was!  But with brand new chain and sprockets, I really had a comfortable, smooth ride.  I was really enjoying myself and it felt great to share this experience with my dad.  My DRZ 400 did struggle with keeping up with his Triumph 675, but dual sports aren't built for speed.  The traffic was marginal until we hit Palatka, after that I really had to keep on my toes.  The most pleasurable part of the drive was A1A.  A great stretch of highway that runs along the coastline all down the Florida Atlantic Coast.  Speed limit wasn't more than 45 mph, but the setting of a coastal highway with all of its sunshine, coastal breeze, beach goers, and restaurants was really enjoyable.  We met up with family and friends and enjoyed a beautiful day in the surf.

After 4-5 hours at the beach, we decided to grab some lunch before heading back home.  This is Florida, and there's no guarantee that it won't rain on you.  Leaving the beach was quite an experience.  I was on a dual sport and even I struggled in some of the areas of soft sand.  My dad had an even more difficult time on his Triumph.  We never lost control, but the transit back to pavement seemed to take forever.  We had lunch at the World Famous Oasis Restaurant.  If you haven't been there, make it a point to!  Amazing food and a great menu selection.

The weather had turned sour, but luckily for us we managed to stay behind the storms as the passed through, so only the roads were wet.  We never got rained on directly.  Typical of Florida, once we returned home the sun began to shine again.  I stripped out of my sweaty, sand-filled clothes and proceeded to wash down the motorcycle (and myself).  So much sand everywhere but it was certainly worth it.  I forgot how much fun the beach can be, especially if you enjoy it on a motorcycle.  For me, the journey was just as enjoyable as the destination.  I will certainly be making that trip again.