Florida Trip #1
April 3rd, 2012 | by mmb5 |In a blast from the past, I am taking a solo road trip, my first I believe since 2004. The target this time is the one state I really have spent no meaningful time in: Florida. OK, I haven’t really spent meaningful time in either Carolina, but that is addressed as well.
I’m finally able to extricate myself from work on a Friday afternoon and try to get as far as I can. So day #1 is a very uneventful drive, covering territory I have mostly covered before. The big highlight was the weather. I started the day in 48 degree rain, followed by hail in Milan. Northern Ohio has blinding rain, but once I get to the northern burbs of Columbus — temperature shoots up to 70. Hmm…cold front and all of a sudden 20 degrees warmer? Here come the tornadoes! I was able to beat them barely. I stop for the night in Ripley, WV: believe it or not.
Before hitting North Carolina, I decide to take a detour to Virginia Tech. I was disappointed that the football stadium does not honor the explosion of Lee Corso’s car. However, in struggling to find the stadium along with other recent incidents, I decide I need to get a GPS. I pick one up, install it in the car, and move on.
As I approach the VA-NC border, I need to fill up on gas (my first fill up actually). One thing about the west part of North Carolina — it’s mostly downhill. And since I wanted to stop and see Charlotte before heading over to the Myrtle Beach area, the part from Charlotte to Myrtle Beach will be on a US route that doesn’t exceed 60 miles an hour. Coupled with the GPS screaming at you if you go 5 over the speed limit, I was able to pull this off at the end of the tank:
I didn't realize the display also functioned as a mirror.
That beats my previous record by nearly 4 MPG. However, this little hypermiling activity did cost me some time. I got to South of the Border around dusk. For those of you unfaAmiliar, imagine the most cheesiest, borderline racist tourist trap you’ve seen. Take that image, and multiply it by ten. An homage to Mexico, made up entirely of things imported from Asia. Since the last trip, I have noticed I’ve really somewhat lost the appreciation for tourist traps. Now they more sort of disgust me, so I moved on. As it was getting dark, had dinner and played a good hunch to turn in a bit early. Hotels in the area were booking fast, so I was able to get a room to stay.
The next morning (Sunday), I decide I need a good workout. Hotel treadmills will not cut it. So I need to find an Anytime Fitness. I have two choices — Florence or Conway. Conway was a bit closer, so I chose that. Home of Coastal Carolina University, it’s a little amusing to see rooster-themed businesses. However, the choice cost me big time. This was way off I-95, and the few miles closer it was to where I was staying was more than lost trying to get through some of the lesser advantaged places in South Carolina to get back to the freeway. However, if I had not gone this out of the way path, I would have missed the restaurant that was made with me in mind:
However, this little detour caused me to get to the Lakeland area later than I wanted to, coupled with a “FOOD” sign on I-95 that clearly lied when it said a Subway was available. And then the GPS told me the Comfort Inn was on somebody’s farm. Once I got that straightened out, I was in for the night.
Monday’s activity was to be my first ever spring training game, followed by a long drive down to Homestead to set up for Tuesday. First, I have to say Lakeland is a bit of a depressing town. I was told that the area around the stadium was a bit run down. I didn’t really see that, but the downtown area was dead. The whole game experience was a bit weird. Mostly Michigan plates in the parking lot, and seeing a major league game in a minor league atmosphere. Well, at least the Tigers had the major league part. The Jays sent a B squad consisting of only the starting pitcher, two regulars, a few subs, and some people they picked up at Home Depot. The Tigers got off to a quick 9-0 lead in the 2nd, only to slowly fritter it away, requiring a save to be picked up for an 11-8 victory. Omar Vizquel homered for the Jays, I’m always happy when players older than me are still active. It was also a good microcosm for the upcoming season — Fielder homered (off a lefty!), Cabrera made an error, the most versatile player was starting at DH and the bullpen doesn’t really have effective long men. Plus I actually found annoying Canadians.
Tuesday was to be devoted to seeing the Florida Keys. Here is some advice to the Metro Key West Travel and Tourism board. They have these things called buses. You could buy a few, and have them travel between the tourist area and some parking lot in the outskirts of town. Parking in Key West is very difficult, and having an already crowded area congested with lost cars does not help.
My left hip has been giving me intermittent problems. And today was probably the worst. Here I am, dressed like a 22 year old, and walking like a 62 year old. That, and the absolute no-longer-cool-to-me kitsch of the downtown area was putting me in a foul mood, despite my 64 MPG getting there. I was really getting conched out. However, walking around some neighborhoods cheered me up (and somehow my hip got better too).
What I did not know that Key West was a favorite of Harry S Truman. US-1 is called Truman Road, and there is also a Margaret Street honoring his daughter. Key West honored the first lady in some interesting ways:
 The White House sent their laundry there from 1945-1952. |
 Oh Bess! |
I left earlier than I had planned. I felt just looking at the sea in relative solitude would be better. I headed off to a state park: the Bahia Honda Park just west of Marathon Key. Do not fret, it is not a state area succumbing to a corporate sponsor, it’s Spanish for Deep Bay. In the distance in the park (actually pictured from the car) is a railroad bridge that was damaged in a 1935 hurricane. The other picture is a nice shot of what I guess is technically still the Atlantic Ocean. It’s facing south from the beach:
 The Zombie Bridge. The beach pictures really didn't show it. |
 A conch eating tree. I would assume this would be during hurricane season. |
Up next, Marlins stadium opener, Frozen Four and the Rays home opener. From what I’m hearing, I’m going to have to drive to Little Havana tonight so I can park for tomorrow.