I got to Duffy’ Thursday afternoon while Werner and FiFi arrived late Friday afternoon. The plan was to leave around 7:00am on Saturday, weather permitting. The weather was not permitting and we didn’t depart Duffy’s until around 9:30am in a light rain. All that changed after we got on the interstate heading south. We took I75 south out of Atlanta and then got on I16 east/southeast towards Savannah and it rained most of the way. The problem with the rain is that it would pour for about 5 minutes and then become that annoying light rain … just enough to keep the gear on but still open your visor.
When we got into the Savannah area we stopped at Hooters for lunch which was right next door to a Harley dealer. We talked about parking under the Harley awning or in front of the Harley sign for a photo op but decided otherwise.
After lunch we were back on the road and picked up I95 on the outskirts of Savannah and we turned south …. bound for Florida! Somewhere between Savannah and Jacksonville the rain stopped. We stayed on I95 until just south of Daytona and took I4 to Orlando which was to be our final destination. Duffy has a brother in the Orlando area and he was kind enough to let 4 road weary travelers spend the night.
Sunday Duffy’s nephew took us to a real nice little diner for breakfast and then we said goodbye as we headed towards the Florida Turnpike. Sunday the sun was out the entire ride south. This is one of those days, and one of those roads, where as you continue it just gets hotter and hotter. After about 10hrs we found ourselves at the LaQuianta in Cutler Ridge …. about 30 miles south of Miami. After a terrible dinner at Applebee’s we called it a night with a planned departure for about 8:30am Monday.
I was up around 6:00am and getting something to eat in the lobby when I noticed the weather channel saying that there was bad weather headed towards Miami and the Keys. I passed the word along to my fellow travelling companions but circumstances were such that we did not leave until almost 9:00am. The weather was holding as we got to Key Largo and it looked as though we may make Key West without an incident but that was not our fate. Just as we got on the 7 mile bridge it started to rain so 6 miles later we pull over to put on rain gear, etc. From that point all the way to Key West we there was rain … sometimes light, sometimes heavy but there was rain.
We pulled into Key West around noon and proceeded to look for someplace to eat. We originally pulled into a Checkers but I, leading the pack, was unaware that Checkers is only a Drive-thru. Fortunately there was a BBQ in the strip mall so that is where we had lunch. While there, Duffy’s friend Roger, who assured us that the weather was to be sunny, showed up to greet us. He had made arraignments for us to rent another friends house for 2 nights and save us around $100 …. the house is in Old Town 1 block off Duval …. SWEEEET! Around 2:30pm we parked in front of the house, let ourselves in and proceeded to unwind. Duffy, Werner and Fifi went with Roger on a guided tour of Duval street while I had some me time.
Now for some pics ......
Werner & Fifi in Duffy's Garage watching it rain
Lunch Stop
Werner places his order ...
The Sun is out .... no more rain!
Motoring towards Orlando ....
Sunday morning heading out
Heading south on the Florida Turnpike ...
Werner
Fifi & Duffy
Monday morning ... loading the bikes.
Heading south on US1 to Key West!
The GPS Points the way!
The house in Old Town ... Key West
Duffy & Fifi on the front porch
