Coast to Coast on the RX3

[jbfla]

Here's an interesting thought:

2,500 miles in 34 hours...... hmmmmm



Last time I rode west it took two weeks of non-interstate travel.


The real plan was a 5 day trip on the east coast of Florida, from New Smyrna Beach (south of Daytona) to Fernandina Beach (north of Jacksonville), then wander back south through the central part of FL.

Things don't always work out as planned.

Due to an unexpected battery problem, I lost a day of travel, and the trip needed to be cut short.

Here's the route....it's still “coast to coast”....





The reason for the zigzag course was to add a few more FL state parks to my passport.

Here's the RX3 ready to travel:



On the way to the starting point in Flagler Beach, I crossed the St. John's River on SR44 near Deland.

Parts of the ride were quite nostalgic since I lived in the Daytona, New Smyrna, Deland area for 5 years....a long time ago.

This is a draw bridge across the river, still in operation.



Many years ago I launched my Boston Whaler here, and piloted north on the St. John's to Jacksonville, then south along the Intercoastal Waterway to Daytona....






Sadly the boat hasn't been in the water for +/- ten years.


On to Ormand Beach and Hwy A1A

That's the Atlantic Ocean.



And a stretch of A1A that had to be rebuilt after being washed away in a storm last year.



Turning inland at Flagler Beach, I wandered to Palatka and several small towns I had never heard of, even after living in FL most of my life.

Towards the afternoon I arrived in the small town of Micanopy (Mick-a-no-pee).



Then on to Payne's Prairie, a wildlife refuge, complete with a herd of bison and another herd of wild horses....no photos...the herds were not being cooperative.



There are also a good many wild pigs, that are reproducing faster than they can be eliminated.

My brother-in-law lives on the north side of the Prairie, and is the state licensed hunter for the wild pigs.

He shoots about 100 a year, and the population is still increasing.




I spent the night in Chiefland, and in the morning visited a couple more state parks before heading to Cedar Key.


To get to Cedar Key, you ride across a concrete causeway (low bridge) surrounded by salt flats that are scattered with islands that change in size with the tides.






Cedar Key is billed as a mini-Key West....but IMO that's a bit of a stretch.

It's a mix of artist colony, commercial fishermen, recreational fishermen, vacation homes, and tourist trap.

Second Ave is the historic main street. Some buildings date from the late 1800's.












Here's the Cedar Key Airport, an unattended asphalt strip.

It's a good test of your piloting skills, especially on a windy day.

In the past, I landed a Cessna 152 here, and was advised in advance, to land “short” and stand on the brakes....if you wanted to avoid ending up in the water.




Lunch was at Tony's, where a cup of clam chowder, and a fish sandwich (not even local fish) will cost you $22. US.








And finally the other “coast”, the Gulf of Mexico:




It took another day to wander back home (near Tampa).

Overall, a better than average trip.

The weather was outstanding.

And after the new battery, the Zong never missed a beat.

jb

[GSC]

very nice writeup jb. i enjoyed your pics of my youthful tromping ground. i am a graduate of seabreeze high, home of the fighting sandcrabs.
that's a big boar, i remember them being a problem back in the 60's.

[BlackBike]

I followed along with Google maps. Great pics and monologue as usual. Thanks !

I like the food places best.

[jbfla]

Originally Posted by GSC

....... i enjoyed your pics of my youthful tromping ground. i am a graduate of seabreeze high, home of the fighting sandcrabs.......

My youthful playground as well. DBJC, then on to Stetson.

The friend I stayed with in Ormand went to Seabreeze also...don't know which years.

jb

[ChondaChondaChonda]

Great pictures!

The IronButt guys have a ride called a "50CC". That is coast to coast in under 50 hours: http://www.ironbutt.com/rides/50cc.htm

It's always been on my bucket list... I've even looked for bikes in the area so I could fly down, buy a bike and do the 50CC on my way back home. Time to ride all the way out and back just never seems to happen.