It seemed like the perfect plan...

I woke up early this morning, scarfed down my Continental Breakfast, packed and was on the road, all by 7:30 (Eastern time, so that's like 5:30 to us mountain folk).

The temperature was perfect (low 70's), the route simple (stay on highway 98 until after lunch), the riding easy (like-new pavement running flat between lines of tall trees, speed limit was reasonable (65 all the way), and traffic almost non-existent. 

I had started, like yesterday, in short sleeves so as I flew down the road it felt great and gave me time to think how I could minimize my exposure. Because of the tall trees I was able to ride in the shadows of the left lane. I locked down the cruise control so I could put my right hand behind me when there was no shade. Because the traffic was light and the road straight, I was able to put my left hand behind me too!

So I rode for about an hour and a half then took a break and changed into my long sleeves. But wait, there's more! Today I went back to wearing my gloves so, instead of burning the entire back of both hands I have a red band around each wrist. So if you get called to come and identify my body in the morgue because I was riding with both hands behind my back, just have them check for red striped wrists and you can save yourself a trip!

So, like. I started out saying, the plan was simple. So simple that I gave The Girls the morning off. I had one stop on the agenda and it sounded like a real good one. Just north of Tampa is a nonprofit group called Big Cat Rescue. They take in old and ailing big cats from all over, mostly where they were found to be mistreated or no longer wanted (for example a couple thought it would be really cool to have a leopard so they bought one. All was fine until they wanted to vacation on the French Riviera and no one would cat sit for them, so they turned it over to BCR).

The morning had been, as I said, nearly perfect in every way. But north of Tampa I had to get off of highway 91 to go to BCR. So I stopped, turned The Girls loose and took off again. First thing they did was put me on a Toll Road, where I had to stop and pay every 10 miles or so. This is really inconvenient on a motorcycle because you can't prepare in the least until you have come to a complete stop. Then, and only then, can you search for neutral with your left foot, then let go of the clutch with your left hand so you can take the glove off our right hand, so you can put your visor up so you can ask how much the toll is, so you can stand up, so you can reach into your pocket for money to pay the toll, so you can get your change, so you can put it back in your pocket, so you can put our glove back, on so you can sit down and grab the handle bars, pull in the clutch, select first gear and release he clutch to roll forward to get out of the way of the guy behind you who has been blowing his horn because you took to long!

And that's just the first toll booth!

While I am approaching the second toll booth The Girls tell me to "use the two right lanes to exit". The signs are telling me it's a toll booth, The Girls think it's an exit. I'm thinking it's like the toll booth in South Beloit where the toll booth is on the exit ramp. So as I pass just to the right of the divider, committing me to the "exit ramp" I see that this path is only for Sure-Pay passes, or whatever they call it. There is no one in a toll booth to collect my money. So I sailed right out there, keeping up with the other traffic as if I had a pass, and kept going right pass the sign that said they would mail me a bill for $100 for not paying. I hope they don't mind waiting awhile.

There were 4 toll booths  the roughly 40 miles I was on the highway. In 3 of the 4 plazas I went through the procedure above, the fourth one I'll have to figure out when I get my mail.

As I neared my eventual exit the skies turned very very dark. I was really surprised because when I left Perry there was not a cloud in the sky and the forecast was for a 0% chance of rain and a high of 95 degrees. Fortunately, in Tampa neither of those predictions held. I found the BCR, after 3 u-turns, at the end of EasySt., literally. Easy Street ended up being a 1/4 mile long, pot hole ladened dirt path. While I was taking my helmet off a nice lady came out to see if she could help me. I told her I'd like to do a tour and she informed me that there was a tour in just over 3 hours and the next one was the day after tomorrow. I really wanted to wait but that would put me behind the eight ball as far as my proposed schedule. The day had gotten off to such a nice start; I had covered nearly 200 miles before lunch. But I still wanted to do another 100 miles if possible and, although I didn't know it yet, it would take me nearly 2 hours just to get to the south side of Tampa Bay.

I went in and browsed around the gift shop and asked a couple questions, bought a souvenir and had to leave. As I stood next to my bike putting my helmet on I became aware of a low rumble. My first thought was one of the cats roaring, but it didn't change pitch. While I looked around I realized it was coming from the gift shop area. It had started to rain, HARD! It was several seconds before the rain made it across the tiny parking lot to where I stood. I rode carefully back down Easy Street through the freshly forming puddles and pulled into a gas station next door. When I got inside I realized how wet I was. Could this all have been part of my tour guides plan to get me off the highway before the rain hit?

There happened to be a McD in the gas station so I ate lunch before continuing (it had stopped again just as quickly).

The rest of my day went downhill with the weather. Although I managed to stay dry until I pulled off the road at 5:00 and it has rained ever since. 

Another typical day in the Sunshine State?

The afternoon was filled with wrong turns, u-turns, dead ends, a search for a gas station, and at least a half dozen toll plazas. I did make it across the Sunshine Skyway (I think I got that right) that runs for nearly 14 miles north and south across Tampa Bay. That makes over 30 miles of bridges and causeways in the last four days!

I also found this huge sculpture of a famous photograph titled "Unconditional Surrender". It sits by the marina in downtown Sarasota.

 I also flew past the exit to Zepherhills where my Grandparents lived for many years.

Tomorrow I'll be within easy striking distance of Miami and will probably venture out onto the Keys! This is really exciting because it is probably the most remote portion of the lower 48. I'm still working on the locations of my next couple night's stays. I think the first thing tomorrow will be to find a drug store to get some sun tan lotion!