2008=60 TOUR

SCOOTER CYCLE DIARIES

DAY 5

I was rudely awakened at 6 am by a clock radio blaring out country in western music. I was slightly confused as I am usually up before 6 and no one had set the alarm clock. My best guess is “Scoot” and done it to get me going. Another one of the mystic things that have been happening on the this trip. So, I loaded up me and “Scoot” and at 7am rolled off Pine Ridge Dr. and out of Manchester in a light rain.

If you are wondering about day 4 there was not one. It was spent with family and friends and you have your own stories about that. “Scoot” did try and pickup chicks while I was out roaming around.

The rain did not last long and we where rolling along under partly cloudy skies and a

comfortable temperature. The landscape began to vary more as we moved north in Georgia. Not quite as much timber and more open fields and farms. The homes started to improve and I went long stretches without seeing other cars. We circled the courthouse square in Thomaston and bypassed Burnsville, but not on purpose.

I stopped for gas outside Burnsville. Everywhere I stop people ask about the gas mileage.

Today I met Willie and he and I talked for awhile. He was the first to admit he had never seen

a scooter in person.

In Forsyth I made my first stop at a fast food joint on this trip. I needed a coffee and it was the only place open. Back on the highway pretty quick and traveling through some pretty areas to arrive in Monticello, Ga. Monticello is most proud of the home town girl, country and western singer Trisha Yearwood and have named a road “Trisha Yearwood Parkway”. I am more impressed with the fact that they filmed a lot of My Cousin Veny, with Joe Pesci at the courthouse, Daves BBQ and Soul Food, and a few other locations in the county.

In the rural south, everything closes on Sunday so I had to ride around town looking for an

open gas station. The 4th one, officially out of town in the wrong direction, was open. Fueled up and headed back into town. Just as we passed the city sign a big deer slowly loped across the road, over a fence through some ones yard, and disappeared.

 are a different bred and mindset. Some posts are trying to adapt and change to attract the younger veterans but I am not sure it is working.younger veterans but I am not sure it is working.younger veterans but I am not sure it is working.

In Eatonton, we ran across some interesting things. I had passed the VFW 6686 but the

condition of the old anti-aircraft gun caught my attention and I turned around and went back. The gun was falling apart and had seen better days. The POW flag was tattered and torn reflecting the condition that the VFW, American Legion, and DAV are starting to find

themselves. Sadly their membership is dwindling as the old soldiers die off and present day soldiers are not joining. They

Right next door there was a sign for the Uncle Remus museum. Unfortunately, being Sunday, it was closed. I may come back this way just to see what it is all about.

From Eatoton we headed for an old friends house on Lake Occonnee. To get their house we got to do some “no line” roads and a goat track. The pictures do not do justice to the condition of the this road as we became “dirt bikers”. I am just glad it was not wet and muddy. It was well worth the adventure because at the end Roxanne and her husband ,Andy, where waiting with lunch and Roxanne's own home grown watermelon. Roxanne and I had learned to fly the Airbus together and I must say she was the most fun sim partner I have ever had. I had not met Andy, but he was eggar to meet me as we is on the opposite ends of the political spectrum. I had a great time talking to him. He owns a large successful veneer mill had has first hand knowledge about economics and government regulation. They have done a fantastic job of redoing a good old boys cabin. The down stairs had his and hers bathrooms with stalls. Lots of stuff had been ripped out and redone with Roxanne doing a lot of the tile work and other projects by herself. We said goodbye after several hours and a great visit, and I hit the road again.

A planned possible stop was Washington, Ga and I hit it at my desired quitting time of 3:30 pm, however, despite having several B&B's and an old restored hotel, it did not have the “feel” that I wanted to spend that night. So I continued on to SC and arrived at the McCormick Inn a little after 5pm. This was a much better choice.

A lot of history here. The town is named after Cyrus McCormick, the inventor of farm
machinery, though he never sat foot in it. He bought the land as a real estate speculation and it paid off. He was able to establish a cross roads of to railroad companies and their tracks on the property and the town of McCormick grew out of that.

The McCormick Inn was built in the 1800's as a hotel and been one most of it's life until the 1980's when a descendant of the original owner dead. The town took it for taxes and sold it for $200 to a local business. Lots of money was spent in restoration. It has passed through several owners and the newest owner is Paul and his wife who came from Washington state to try his hand. Everyone I have met on this trip has been friendly, but if I had the friendliest it would be the people of the McCormick Inn. As I was the only guest, got all the attention. The dinner was great except that being Sunday in SC there was no wine with the honey and pecan crusted brieor the mustard sauce pork chop. Thank you Paul, Mickey, Amy and Fred.

2008=60 TOUR
SCOOTER CYCLE DIARIES

 

DAY 3
Today is a short day so me and “scoot” got a late start. We said our goodbyes at the Richland
City Hall and blew out of town at 8:30 looking for unmarked highways. They where hard to
find but we found a few and they where not really unmarked, just the markings had worn off
over the years. The marked roads ran from just pine trees to some nice pasture land. Rode
through several small towns with town hall in the square and lots of empty buildings
surrounding it.

There was not much interaction with locals today as I saw nothing interesting enough to turn
me off the highway. I did stop and enquirer to these two gentlemen as to what they where
doing. Not real talkative, but they said they had just laid the new track and they where
measuring the distance between it and the parallel track. I guess I would not have talked much
knowing that I had miles and miles of track to walk.

Almost to my destination of Manchester, Ga I passed this cemetery with the Confederate flags.
Whipped an U and went back to investigate. The cemetery was very neat and trimed with
many interesting head stones of civil war era. One was broken and I could not read all of it.
The first line was something about volunteers but the second line read:
                          ALLAN MCWOMBLE
                           SEPT 9 1830
                            OCT 7 1962
“he done for all his country any man could could do”

Rolled in to Manchester just after high noon. I will now wash “scot”, the clothes that the birds
hit and we will be back on the road Sunday



2008=60 TOUR

MOTOR SCOOTER DIARIES

DAY 2



The plan for today was wait around till 7 am when the coffee shop opened, but I was ready at 6:50 and

me and “scoot” headed north on US-19 for Georgia. It had rained over night and the road was damp and

producing a light fog that made for a great sunrise. Reached downtown Thomasville, Ga. about 7:30

and began to look for eggs and grits, but none where available. I did find a nice junk and coffee shop.

Got coffee and a bagel and sat down at “the table”. You have to be from the rural south or maybe the

north also, to understand “the table”. It is only for the long time locals, usually at least second

generation, but the owner invited me as these where just local lawyers and a radio person. We had

some discussion about the Vespa and things went back to local interest. Of course that included Hilary

bashing and how worthless the ethnic workers at town hall where and where they where keeping they

their 357 magnum pistols in their trucks.

Downtown Thomasville has been redone and every building looks great, even though half of them are

empty. Their claim to fame is their 327 year old tree.

Leaving town I took a wrong turn and thought about just working it out ahead, but whipped a U and

got back on course. Today would be just about all 2 lane back roads, GA-3,37,41 and these where great

until between Meigs and Pehlam I ran into a road block. I figured the boys at the coffee shop had

called ahead that there was a fat liberal lose on the back roads. Actually it was just a license check by

Officers Miller and Jones. We visited awhile, with questions about my sanity on the Vespa. They have

been restricted on their gas usage by the state but are required to write the same number tickets. So,

unfortunately, they are having to do it on the back roads. Nice guys and a great visit.

Wheeled in to Camilla, Ga and stopped at a very nice coffee shop. I called it an Oasis. I always find

these interesting as I almost got into this business a few years back. The owner was very interesting

and had a wonderful place. They have started roasting their own beans and selling them on the

INTERNET and that is the larger part of their business. Two billboard signs on US-19 she says brings

in lots of business. I found the INTERNET and billboard an interesting mix.

On down the road I stopped to watch a tower constructed. They had put this whole thing up piece by

piece in one morning. All 4 workers where from the same town in Mexico and they had 4 more towers

in line to assemble at various sites down the road Like everyone else on this trip they where glad to

stop and talk, even the guys up the tower.

There are lots of large homes in southern Georgia in the small towns that I traveled through. The

further north I rode, the poorer the land and the people looked. For you realtors this brings great

opportunities for “flip that mansion”. You have to have a dog to ride in truck though. I took the dog

picture while dodging the trash falling out at 50 mph.

Today was abbreviated when I ran to Officer Vicky the cop in Richland, Ga and was arrested for going

to fast. Of course in this town, things are so slow they may consider walking to fast. Fortunately, I

have connections in this town and they threatened to make the police department, all 4 of them, ride

Vespas if they did not let me go. I quickly ran in city hall and thanked Shela and my niece Wanda for

bailing me out. They said it was only a scare tactic as they don't even have a jail.

This afternoon was all good old south with lots of food and good neighbors. It brought up some

interesting things. Nobody “lives” anywhere; they “stay”, as in “I stay up in Shellman”. Next these

people will travel for a buffet. We rode about 30 miles to Shellman, a small town I had come through

earlier, for a seafood buffet. What started as a nice dinner out with my niece turned into a nice dinner

out with 10 other new friends. When I came through Shellman there where not 10 cars in the very little

town. For the buffet, there must have been 50 if you count all the motorcycles. Of course, everything

including the lettuce was fried.

Another great day with great weather.

THE 2008 = 60 TOUR

THE SCOOTER CYCLE DIARIES

DAY 1:

Up early to do the last packing, weather check and a strong cup of coffee. Saddled up at 6:30

am. Surprisingly Vicki was up to see me off and take a picture. It was much lighter than the
picture shows. The big concern was escaping the St. Pete area and rush hour traffic. My route
all day would be US-19, but I choose an alternate route for the freest 74 miles that kept me on a
four line divided highway, but much less commercial development than US-19. I rejoined
US-19 south of Spring Hill and made my first gas stop in Spring Hill. It had been a “no stress”
ride through rush hour.

Not a lot of traffic now as I whizzed through Weeki Wachee, Homossa Springs, and skidded to
a halt at the Crystal River International airport. It was time for a break and I new this was a
nice shady place with good bathrooms and a water fountain. A few phone calls, map check,
weather check and I was off again passing Wings Ln and Gen Clare Cheanault Dr.
I took a left towards Historic Crackertown (that is the real name) and Yankeetown. Both are
just old, small groups of houses on the Withalcoochee River. When I made the turn I came
across this sign. I consider it a sign from the spirits that this is a trip that I had to make.

There has been much to about Yankeetown and it's future. I think the economy has taken care
of any rampant growth in that area. There are a few fishing boats left, but not many.

Back on US-19 I continue the ride and arrive at Chiefland with a low fuel light on. I will have
to change the mind set on gas. I see a sign that says 40 miles to the next town and I think “that
ain't to far”. However, it is half my gas tank to get there. Think I will fuel more often now.
Stopped here and stopped there just for curiosity but found nothing unusual until I came to the
Dakotah Winery. One of those places I had seen but never stopped. I was presently surprised
that the wine was good. The main wines are from Scupanon grapes that they grow on 17
acres. The winery is run by Max Rittgers and his son Rob. Rob was tending bar today. He is
quite the salesman and very interesting person. Harry and Beth of Arkansas came in in the
middle of my private tasting. They where very nice people and we discussed the wine and the
high waters in their home area. Rob was glad they showed up as they not only drank wine like
me, but they bought lots to take home. I would have bought but had no place to carry it.
After they left Rob, who just got a scooter, and I told lies to each other for a little while. His
previous job had been in the Peace Corp in St. Vincent. Unfortunately, we did not get to cover
that subject as real customers showed. I will stop in again and maybe we can finish that story.

I left the winery, sober, and continued the journey. You would never know it, but the road
begins a very, very gradual climb here. I realized it when I found at times I was wide open
throttle and just maintaining 50-55 mph, my target speed.
As you, know I usually take the Princess some place like Paris, Italy, etc., etc., for her
anniversary. But that has not always been true. One year we spent our anniversary in the big
city of Cross City, FLA. The only thing I knew Cross City was famous for was a beer drinking
pig at the airport. He either drank himself to death or some on decided that beer made for
tender pork. We where headed from the Pan Handle to Daytona Beach and our friend Bob
Pender was testifying in Cross City as an “expert witness”. He had encouraged me to drop in
and witness what he thought was one of the biggest lawyer time padding trails he had ever
seen. He did not like it but he was making big bucks just sitting there. When I walked in the
court room the only people present where the judge, bailiff, court report and lawyers for both
sides and Bob. I think everyone was asleep but the lawyer speaking and his witness. The
bailiff was passed out and the judge was nodding off. Long story short, we wound up at this
wonderful motel in the parking lot drinking beer and sitting on all the Cadillac's rented by the
lawyers (only one of the five was local).

Next stop is the wood capital of FLA, Perry. I gassed up again and took off for Poncey's
Restaurant. To my dismay, it was closed for vacation or some such thing. Not sure what was
ahead, I doubled back to Goodman's BBQ. Not what I had in mind, but better than fast food.
The road to Monticello was like the most of the rest of this ride had been, very little traffic and
lots of pine trees

Pull into Monticello around 2:15 and no one was home at my first choice of B&B, so I backed
up to the Cottage Bed and Breakfast. This was meant to be. The owner is French and after
negotiating about a 30% discount including wine, I checked in.

Monticello is a very nice quite town which is one of the highest towns in FLA at 300' (wow)
and in 1922 it was the largest producer of watermelon. That is all great but it ain't got but a
Mexican and Pizza place to eat in town.