Starke Road Trip 8-27-11

[dt]

I’m making a run up to Starke (speed trap capital of the world) for the Bike Fest…Saturday, August 27…just for the day. Post up if you’re interested in riding up. Two and a half hours each way of which about an hour and a half is on the Interstate.

Website: http://www.starkeflbikefest.com/
Tread from last year: http://bikerflorida.com/forum/index.php/topic,654.0.html

[dt]

One week from this Saturday...

[v65infla]

Don't forget to try the Fried Dill Pickles this year!!  They are the bomb!   

[dt]

Haha…that ^ just reminded me, when we were in Telico Plains on our way to the Cherohala, we stopped at Telico Fish Camp for lunch and bagobones (left, front) had fried dill pickles! Blech!! 

[v65infla]

Apparently you haven't tried them yet? n    Ask Gary, I ordered some as an Appetizer for us on our to Wheels Through Time and he thought they were great.   

[dcameras]

fried dill pickles! Blech!!  

I have tried them a couple of times(from different places) and I didn't care for them either!!

[dt]

Hah! Photo from last year's bikefest





Key Lime Pie on a Stick  

[bagobones]

Haha…that ^ just reminded me, when we were in Telico Plains on our way to the Cherohala, we stopped at Telico Fish Camp for lunch and bagobones (left, front) had fried dill pickles! Blech!! 

Well, I liked them. You could fry a dirty old rag and it would taste good IMHO.

Damn, that was a fun day. Miserable weather and all.

That turned out to be the ONLY road trip I took all summer long (and technically, it wasn't really summer yet.) BUMMER

[dt]

2 days away...

[dt]

Yesterday was some of the worst weather I’ve ridden in a long time. Did Hurricane Irene circle back and no one tell me? Coming back the rain and wind gusts were too much at times and I had to get off the road and wait for the weather bands to pass. My shoulders are still aching from fighting the gusts. Very tough riding day.

I can’t say too much about the bikefest either. I guess if you wanted to go someplace and drink beer it was okay, but there were very few vendors and food places (no fried dill pickles either). Nothing really to look at in terms of interesting motorcycles. Really hard to call it a bikefest this year.














I stopped south of Starke and got another photo of one of the famous AAA Speed Trap billboards.

[danh600]

You just didn't feel like a pirate since you weren't on your harley.

Funny thing we go to lots of bike events. We end up walking around about an hour then hitting the road. Taking the long way home.

[mrbones]

Pretty sparse event. The journey is better than the destination?

[dt]

The journey is better than the destination?

Usually, but not that one. It could have only been worse if it dumped hail. 

[mrbones]

We hit some really bad weather coming back from Leesburg 2010. Super heavy rain and wind. I could feel the SV pushing sideways. This is where dirt bike experience comes in handy!

How did the new bike handle the elements compared to the XR? Has to be better, right?

[dt]

How did the new bike handle the elements compared to the XR? Has to be better, right?

It’s got a pretty sophisticated traction control system that keeps the tires gripping the road in bad conditions, but there’s nothing that helps for those strong wind gusts. It’s also got unified ABS so you can’t lock up one of the wheels and go slipping sideways. On the other hand these features are kind of like autopilot and it’s a little disconcerting sometimes when your bike takes over the driving. Like if I want to throttle and it doesn’t…it doesn’t.