Made a later start to-day, so partook of the excellent included breakfast for a change. As I was visiting a retirement development, I felt the neighbors would not appreciate reveille to the tune of a pair of Vance and Hines pipes. It was a nice day for a ride, warm but no humidity. My steed seemed to feel it as well. We met very little traffic on the Turnpike, and eventually turned off on SR27 for about 30 miles. It runs through many retirement towns, all very nicely done, obviously fairly new, and very nice roads. Golf courses included. After a great visit, I made tracks for the local Harley dealership in Ocala. My oil was getting gungy, and as I was close to 5000 miles for the trip, and the bike had been running through very hot weather, I hoped they could do an express oil change. Better than that, they also cleaned my air filter. I mentioned it had been blowing oil a couple of times. They got right on it and had me on the road in no time. Fantastic service. What can you say except “many thanks David Bailey, the Service Manager, and his crew”. I really appreciate it. If anyone rider reading this is out that way, be sure to drop in and say Hi.
So it was off up I75, to I10 (where have I seen that name before?). Decision time. I had originally planned to run up I95, but this would now mean I10 to I95. I had felt a need to avoid Atlanta, but timing was good. It meant I75 then NE to Maryland, or I95 and NW. So I decided to run I75, and made camp in Macon. I’ll cut across to I85 then I77, and see if I can do some Blue Ridge riding before Maryland.
Not much in the way of scenery to-day, so ones mind looks for other things. It is interesting to see how various States regulate billboards, seemingly regarding height, and content. Louisiana and Georgia seem to be pretty liberal. Quite a lot of the adverts are for sex shops, adult entertainment places, and strip joints. In Georgia there seems no limit on the size of the board, so you get these adverts smack in the eye. Many are open 24 hours, and have truck parking. So mister driver, if you cannot sleep, you can go park your truck at any time.
It is also interesting to see how many State Patrol cars are out and about in each State. In all the time I was travelling up I10 through Arizona and Texas, I hardly saw any. In fact I think the count was 2 for Texas. Once I hit Louisiana, I saw more in the first 20 minutes than all the rest of the time. I guess they were ready for those arriving from Texas who had got used to the absence of same. Florida, both I75, and the Turnpike, had an abundnace. So far in Georgia hardly any.
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