Riding BlogThis weblog at mikeuhl.com is the personal web site of Michael "Mike" Uhl. Entries to this weblog and web site represent my personal opinions. The site is not owned, operated, or affiliated with my employer or any organizations other than those owned and operated by Mike Uhl.
Photo (right): That's Lisa and me stopped along US 550, "The Million Dollar Highway," in southwest Colorado on our way north into Silverton, July 2017.
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FYI: I ride a 2015 Harley-Davidson FLHTK Ultra Limited Special Edition.
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Our plan was to take two days to reach Key West and use three full days to get back. The reason Cutter and I wanted three days on the return trip was because we planned to cross the Florida peninsula by way of the Tamiami Trail (US41) and ride north through Naples, Fort Myers, Sarasota, and St. Petersburg/Tampa before angling back northeast to the Jacksonville area, Savannah, GA, Charleston, SC and then on to home.
Last week I wrote briefly about the first two days of my ride with Jeff "Cutter" Northcutt to Key West. This week I'd like to share with you some of our experiences in Key West itself the night we arrived.
As I wrote last week, overcast skies stole the beautiful sunset we expected as our reward for crossing the Keys. By the time we arrived on the island of Key West, we were tired and a bit cranky. Riding down Flagler Avenue through the middle of the island revealed very little about the true character of the place. We saw people on scooters and a few pedestrians here and there but it seemed pretty quiet. That seemed logical, given it was a Thursday night around 8:30.
I had been desperate for an out-of-state ride all year but money has been hard to come by and time off from work has been just as scarce. Fortunately, June 6-10, I could afford the privilege and joy of taking five days off from my day-to-day life and join my friend Jeff "Cutter" Northcutt on a ride to Key West, Florida. It was a great break from my day-to-day reality and an opportunity to remind myself why I've devoted so much time and money to my Harleys. Over the next few weeks, I'd like to share with you some of the highlights, stories, and lessons learned that you might find useful or entertaining.
Like any large group of people, even ones focused on a specific activity such as motorcycling, opinions can vary. Bikers differ on just about every aspect of our lifestyle. Perhaps the biggest hot-button issue these days is what to wear and when. On one end of the spectrum we have the ATGATT (All The Gear All The Time) people, who argue that riders should strive for maximum safety by always wearing full body armor and a premium full-face helmet. On the other end of the spectrum we have people who routinely ride in shorts and flip flops and no helmet. I even once saw a fellow in Tennessee pull up to a gas station on a street bike shirtless with shorts and barefoot! (I don't recall whether or not he was wearing a helmet.)
When touring the western section of North Carolina, I recommend you stay overnight in Bryson City. This small town offers a great location for day trips to points of interest such as the Tail of the Dragon, Cherohala Skyway, and Cherokee, where the Blue Ridge Parkway ends and the site of a casino. If you plan well, you can reserve a room or house for October when the leaves change color and the vistas are especially beautiful. I've also rented a house in Bryson City in September during the "Rally in the Valley" at Maggie Valley, NC, now called Thunder in the Smokies Rally.
Michael A. Uhl