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lucky
03-11-2004, 09:33 AM
Hi all Arkansas X'ers. Just got back from Florida!

Spent a Day in Cleremont (west of Orlando) unloaded the bike and met some friends from Chicago. Left on Monday for the Keys...what an excellent 8 hour ride from Orlando. I was not as protected in the sunscreen area and paid for it the rest of the trip.

We stayed in Marathon Key at the Holiday Inn (outstanding TIKI Bar)...guess other bike weekers had the same idea as us because there were thousands of bikes in the Keys. We spent Tuesday in Key West and the weather continued to be excellent.

Wednesday we headed back to Cleremont (another 8 hour ride). Ran out of gas in St Lucie (169.2 miles on tank) two miles short of the fuel plaza. Guess I had been pushing it too hard (80+ mph into the wind). The harleys I was with were getting much better gas mileage.

Stayed in the Abate campground in Volusia Thurs-Sun and ran back and forth to Daytona. Spent a night at the Iron Horse, a day on Main Street, and hit every booth we could. Saw an excellent wet T-shirt contest at Dirty Harrys (what can I say?), and a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert on the Beach.

I also stopped by the HDL Booth and saw the VTX chopper (excellent) talked with Wilbur and Hal. Also saw the VTX Concept bike and the Jesse James VTX at the Speedway Honda exhibit.

Recovered the next two days in Orlando at the In-laws house and made the run home :cry:

If I had to do it all over again I would have reversed the trip and finished with the Keys as well as spent less time in Daytona. Don't get me wrong it was fun but Its less ride and more party than I remember (went to bike week in 1984).

Can't wait to get together and ride in Arkansas...the trip to Florida without the wife may have convinced her to ride more with me ...she also wants to go on a ride!

Lucky in Russellville

03-11-2004, 03:12 PM
Sounds like ya' had a good time... runnin' out of gas & all :D . Glad ya' made it back safe..

kdog
03-11-2004, 06:57 PM
running out of gas???? sheeeeeeeat man.....Glad your back man, sounds likes you had a good time.....welcome home......kevin

03-11-2004, 08:57 PM
Dang, I hate to hear about all that suffering.HEHE. I've allways wanted to go down there and hang out w/ a bunch of hardheads. I was a hardhead for years. Can't hang like I used to, but I damn shore ain't done yet. Florida is perfect right now, but god help you in about 4 months! Lived in FT. walton back in 67-68. military brat. I'll get in touch w/ you when I get right. Glad you had fun. Remember Life is for living. Don't ever forget that. All the rest is excuses for what you missed. Take care, you lucky dog.....Wildman out.