Up at 6am again today, I'm now used to getting up at that time. I'm like a little kid at christmas looking forward to the gorgeous sunrises! I pack up and head to the beach. I find really warm water and shades of color in the sky I've never seen before! Nobody is there I walk the beach in peace, do some yoga stretch out. It's going to be an amazing day!
I find a slow leak in my tire but I'm hoping to just keep pumping it until I get to key west. I also found a broken spoke but it's not too bad I just loosened up my brake cable so the wheel doesn't rub. I'll get the tube replaced when I get the spoke replaced, sometime next month in Philly! I just double checked my distance and it's only 35 miles from here, what a breeze! I can't believe it's going to come to an end today. I'm kind of excited for it!!
So I ride through my final leg of the journey. It's a remarkable ride with aqua blue/green water on both sides. Looking out occasionally and spotting sea turtles coming up for air. Halfway I find a donut and coffee stop. I need to take in some calories. I find the wind pretty still with a slight breeze against my back. As the miles count down to 20, 17, 10, 6, 5,...I find myself in key west. I arrive to the hostel and unpack.
I find a big man sleeping inside the room, hairy as a bear with his shirt off. He mumbles at me to sleep in the back room because he snores. Ok thanks I say...haha. This hostel is one of the crummiest I've ever been at and it's 40$ a night. I hit shower and change, then hit the bricks in search of what key west has to offer. I find overpriced food, crowded trashy tourists, rude European staff everywhere, and really am kinda let down. I do find slamming key lime pie on a stick though. I walk the whole town and head back to the hostel.
I talk to bear and ask him about the local hangouts. That's what I'm after forget the crappy touristy shit. I didn't ride this far to see tourists, I want the local flavor. He recommends me some stuff and said he'd be glad to show me around. I lay down for a nap, I get about 1.5 hours in and then.... Some rude ass stupid French dudes come in and start talking and yapping loudly. I mumble "for real shut up" bear backs me up and tells them to get out of here and let me sleep, I just rode down the east coast...haha. Ya bear!!
I wake from nap and hit Mallory square for the sunset party. Good times!! Lots of happy people, nice view, artists vendors. Then I catch a meeting at anchors a weigh, it's kind of boring and I almost fall asleep but I meet some good guys afterwards. They point me towards the sports bar where I catch the phillies win! I talk to some girls from atlanta and we trade sunset pics. I ask them about snorkeling amd it sounds like its not worth it, its expensive and theybsee the same stuff ive seen in the glass bottom boat. Then onto wendys for a late night snack. I've been eating all day today and am still hungry! Something is weird!?
Now onto the port to watch the Disney magic ship sail off at 1am. It's quiet down here and lit up nicely. This ship is massive! Not just a cruise ship but a mega cruise ship! Wow! This is going to be something. Then I'll catch a pedi cab home for a good night of sleep. Tomorrow I wake up and get to see my parents! Amazing! I'm so looking forward to seeing them pull up and the look on my moms face! I guarantee she will start crying for no reason as this happens alot! Hahah. God I love her, thank you for my parents. I would probably not be here if it wasn't for their persistent tolerance and love for me, putting up with my crap. But I've got to tell ya some of the best things in my life has come against the advice of my parents. So maybe sometimes momma doesn't know best, as I remember her pleading with me to not take this trip!...haha. Love them so much though!!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Bahia Honda
What an amazing day! I get up at 6am pack up and out by 6:30, thanks key largo for letting me borrow a campsite. 1 mile up the road I get to the state park. It's closed and not open till 8:00!? I think about jumping the fence but it's high and if I do I would have to manage to not be seen for 1.5 hours, nah too risky no thanks! I wait outfront. Grab a pumpkin latte and a protein bar from a gas station and watch the morning sun light up the place.
It's kind of breezy and a bit chilly if your a Floridian like me now. The original plan was snorkeling but I remember Miguel from Miami telling me about the glass bottom boat! The boat is 10$ cheaper and I decide to try it. I've been snorkeling before but have never even heard of a glass bottom boat! Again it was definitely the right decision. I kill an hour in the park before the boat leaves by looking for the enormous iguana ibsaw the day before but no luck. The boat adventure was so amazing and sure enough there were two glass bottom wells and the water was crystal clear!! We could see everything! Amazing colored coral, fish, sea floor it was quite impressive. We rode about 40mins out to molasses reef, the 3rd biggest reef in the world! This was in the top 12 coolest things I've done in my entire life!
I ask the captain where is a good lunch spot and he stears me in the right direction. Mrs macs it is, this place is a local spot and it's amazing I get a hog fish wrap and damn it's good! Too bad I couldn't fit any key lime pie
Back on the horse 70 miles to go to Bahia Honda. The ride is sweet with bike paths and shoulders the whole way. I see aqua blue and green water on both sides of me. I just start to get a little ansy though and want to be there already. The air was still which was not what I was expecting but the ride still took me 6 hours for some reason, I'm getting slow and worn out I think!
Anyway I snap tons if pics and finally arrive in time for sunset. I gotta tell ya it's the most dramatic picturesque sunset ever! Wait till you see the pic of the bridge with the sun setting behind it. There is an old train tressel they left up for people to walk up and view the sunset. We saw sharks swimming in the water below!!! First time for that too. This place is amazing and almost nicer than Sebastian inlet! There is a wedding going on at the waters edge and I can't believe the beauty I'm seeing what a backdrop.
I make my way over to camp take a hot shower and set up. I meet my neighbors from venezuala and they offer me food and cake for their daughters birthday! Sold I'll take seconds I say!..haha. What an amazing experience here at Bahia Honda never disappointed this while trip it just keeps getting better.
Tomorrow I'll check out the beach then hit the road 40 miles to key west and it's all over!!!
It's kind of breezy and a bit chilly if your a Floridian like me now. The original plan was snorkeling but I remember Miguel from Miami telling me about the glass bottom boat! The boat is 10$ cheaper and I decide to try it. I've been snorkeling before but have never even heard of a glass bottom boat! Again it was definitely the right decision. I kill an hour in the park before the boat leaves by looking for the enormous iguana ibsaw the day before but no luck. The boat adventure was so amazing and sure enough there were two glass bottom wells and the water was crystal clear!! We could see everything! Amazing colored coral, fish, sea floor it was quite impressive. We rode about 40mins out to molasses reef, the 3rd biggest reef in the world! This was in the top 12 coolest things I've done in my entire life!
I ask the captain where is a good lunch spot and he stears me in the right direction. Mrs macs it is, this place is a local spot and it's amazing I get a hog fish wrap and damn it's good! Too bad I couldn't fit any key lime pie
Back on the horse 70 miles to go to Bahia Honda. The ride is sweet with bike paths and shoulders the whole way. I see aqua blue and green water on both sides of me. I just start to get a little ansy though and want to be there already. The air was still which was not what I was expecting but the ride still took me 6 hours for some reason, I'm getting slow and worn out I think!
Anyway I snap tons if pics and finally arrive in time for sunset. I gotta tell ya it's the most dramatic picturesque sunset ever! Wait till you see the pic of the bridge with the sun setting behind it. There is an old train tressel they left up for people to walk up and view the sunset. We saw sharks swimming in the water below!!! First time for that too. This place is amazing and almost nicer than Sebastian inlet! There is a wedding going on at the waters edge and I can't believe the beauty I'm seeing what a backdrop.
I make my way over to camp take a hot shower and set up. I meet my neighbors from venezuala and they offer me food and cake for their daughters birthday! Sold I'll take seconds I say!..haha. What an amazing experience here at Bahia Honda never disappointed this while trip it just keeps getting better.
Tomorrow I'll check out the beach then hit the road 40 miles to key west and it's all over!!!
Friday, October 15, 2010
To key largo
So out of Miami I go today. Wake up to beautiful weather and it looks like my day to move on out! I'm ready. I loved Miami but this trip is about keeping it moving, so moving today I am. I get up and run to the corner store for my last Cuban coffee fix, damn those are so good! I pick up to pastillita's too, they are a Cuban pastry. And I buy a souvenir shirt that is really kinda stylish.
Then I get a message on facebook that my old high school friend I haven't seen in years is sitting at a cafe in south beach. I thought he was messing with me but I go over and sure enough there he is Steve "erb" Newhart...haha. Man we go way back! He surprised his wife with a weekend in south beach from Philly. I get to sit and chat with him while they are finishing breakfast, that was cool! I tell him the local haps and take off to key largo.
It's 11:00 and I'm in the rode, I discover some beautiful shots of the city on my way out so I'm constantly pulling over and snapping pics. I make it out of south beach and right through the middle of downtown! Woah what a ride! Cutting through a maze of skyscrapers and weaving in and out of the downtown rush.
I ride through homestead and find a pollo tropical, it's a fast food joint I've been meaning to try. It's real good and I sit outside and have lunch.
I decide to take a back way into key largo and it turns out to be long, windy and boring but oh well I'm in. And I crossed a really cool bridge on the way. I head to the state park and there is like nobody around. I meet a guy and his fiancé from Miami. They are just there for the day grilling and chilling at the moment. Cool guy, he says he is a photographer and he wants to contribute to my trip by snapping some photos of me and my bike with the key largo palms, beach and water ad the backdrop. Amazing photos!! He will email me in the morning. So John pennekamp park doesn't have campsites because of construction, but they do have the glass bottom boat and snorkeling that I will be doing in thebmorning!
So I chill for a hour and take off in search for my home for the evening! Hampton inn wants 130$ a night. I find a campsite and slide in. I ride to the edge of the water with nobody around. I sit still for an hour and watch the sun set. There is crazy amounts of wildlife going on. Birds flying, schools of fish jumping, dolphins, all kinds of stuff as the sun tucks away and turns the sky purple and orange I once again am reminded about gods beauty and how lucky I am to be seeing so much of it!
I set up in the dark and take a nice hot shower, removing all the pieces of bug stuck all over me from today's ride. Nice place to call home, but it's just a couple hours, I break camp tomorrow at sunlight so I can get on the snorkeling trip.
Only 100 miles to ride and my parents are in their place in Florida ready to pick me up at ft myers when the key west express pulls into port at 9:30pm. I wonder how I'm going to feel at that very moment when i get to see them and retire the bike, blog and trip. Well we will find out. I already figures out my last blog is going to be a gigantic gratitude list, listing everybody and everything included in this trip. By the way everyone reading the blog has helped me tremendously. Because everyday I know I have to keep going forward, remember something interesting about the day and then I get to reflect in it as I write it. So thanks in advance to everybody I know that has been involved in this process.
Then I get a message on facebook that my old high school friend I haven't seen in years is sitting at a cafe in south beach. I thought he was messing with me but I go over and sure enough there he is Steve "erb" Newhart...haha. Man we go way back! He surprised his wife with a weekend in south beach from Philly. I get to sit and chat with him while they are finishing breakfast, that was cool! I tell him the local haps and take off to key largo.
It's 11:00 and I'm in the rode, I discover some beautiful shots of the city on my way out so I'm constantly pulling over and snapping pics. I make it out of south beach and right through the middle of downtown! Woah what a ride! Cutting through a maze of skyscrapers and weaving in and out of the downtown rush.
I ride through homestead and find a pollo tropical, it's a fast food joint I've been meaning to try. It's real good and I sit outside and have lunch.
I decide to take a back way into key largo and it turns out to be long, windy and boring but oh well I'm in. And I crossed a really cool bridge on the way. I head to the state park and there is like nobody around. I meet a guy and his fiancé from Miami. They are just there for the day grilling and chilling at the moment. Cool guy, he says he is a photographer and he wants to contribute to my trip by snapping some photos of me and my bike with the key largo palms, beach and water ad the backdrop. Amazing photos!! He will email me in the morning. So John pennekamp park doesn't have campsites because of construction, but they do have the glass bottom boat and snorkeling that I will be doing in thebmorning!
So I chill for a hour and take off in search for my home for the evening! Hampton inn wants 130$ a night. I find a campsite and slide in. I ride to the edge of the water with nobody around. I sit still for an hour and watch the sun set. There is crazy amounts of wildlife going on. Birds flying, schools of fish jumping, dolphins, all kinds of stuff as the sun tucks away and turns the sky purple and orange I once again am reminded about gods beauty and how lucky I am to be seeing so much of it!
I set up in the dark and take a nice hot shower, removing all the pieces of bug stuck all over me from today's ride. Nice place to call home, but it's just a couple hours, I break camp tomorrow at sunlight so I can get on the snorkeling trip.
Only 100 miles to ride and my parents are in their place in Florida ready to pick me up at ft myers when the key west express pulls into port at 9:30pm. I wonder how I'm going to feel at that very moment when i get to see them and retire the bike, blog and trip. Well we will find out. I already figures out my last blog is going to be a gigantic gratitude list, listing everybody and everything included in this trip. By the way everyone reading the blog has helped me tremendously. Because everyday I know I have to keep going forward, remember something interesting about the day and then I get to reflect in it as I write it. So thanks in advance to everybody I know that has been involved in this process.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Leaving miami
Last night in Miami... :'( But what a week it's been. I've found my favorite local Cuban store where a cortadito costs 1$. Starbucks venti slapaccino for 5$ got nothing on Cuban coffee!!! I've found my local grocery store, laundromat, corner store. I really know the layout of the city. I've taken public transportation, found great jogging paths, seen fishers island all the way to north bay village where Dwayne wade lives. I've got tours by locals. Saw high end apts, ferraris, speeding bentlys, skateboarders, beach cruisers, thongs, topless women, brazilians, cubans, puerto ricans, thugs, argees, Brits, Australians, blondes, blacks everything in one city, one beach, one street what an experience. I've seen how the rich party and how the poor party. I've seen how I party and how everybody parties. The music and women are on a much higher quality level then anywhere I've been to in the US. What's so cool and hard to believe about this place is it is in the US!
Yesterday my roomate asks if u want to take a ride with him, I say sure why not. He starts to explain to me that he is not a "financial planner" as he told me that was his occupation. By now I'm kinda suspicious of his work anyway. He tells me about his operation he's got going on. Turns out he is a major pill dealer of the east coast!!! He makes tons of cash buying and getting scripts from people in Miami who go to "pill mills" and turn out 300 pills a script, he then ships them by a mailing method to new jersey where they are distributed throughout NYC he makes serious money. So that is why he always pays for dinner, and buys everything we see. The only bad part to his business is he is hooked on the things, popping them everyday, so that explains why for 2 weeks he has been sleeping on an air mattress with a hole in it, never has good in his fridge, always keeps his blinds closed and door locked, doesn't have furniture and is in the phone 23 hours a day. Well good thing I'm leaving here tomorrow, again it's not the most comfortable living situation, but it's only temporary and it could be worse. He is a really really good guy and I hope he gets straight and I'm glad I'm not a pill addict! But what a mess. I actually making a little money off the guy by running errands for him, picking up cigarettes, ice tea, and food all hours of the night..hah hey but he's letting me stay for free it's the least I could do.
So today Annie (the nice girl sitting next to me at the Miami heat game) have lunch, Cuban sandwiches at an authentic cafe. She speaks Spanish well, thank god because I don't think they speak English there. Wow they were good. Then I walk around looking at souvenir type stuff. Head back for a nap. Talk to some Philly peeps. Nice conversation with Mo. Meet up with jay. We catch a cab to sobe for a meeting talk with some people then walk to a nice Italian restaurant. He orders for us as I sit in the plush couch in which we eat from. I feel like the godfather! We are in display in the window to people passing by, I almost felt like the waitress should come over cut up our food and serve us. Jay is in a bad mood because if ex girlfriend problems, he is a big beefy Italian you don't ever want to see pissed off! He bosses everyone around the restaurant and I just keep smiling with my please and thank yous :) it's quite a fine dining experience. But all that being said I would do almost anything legal for this kid. He is a guy who everyone would want in their side and I would return the favor. Dinner is great and we walk back home because he says he has to meet somebody. I run out for ice cream and bring us two Hagen daz pints. Good stuff! We talk about dumb guy stuff and laugh out loud as you could possibly laugh eating ice cream with a partition wall between us while laying in the floor in his furniture less apartment. I'm gonna miss this guy and this marvelous city! What a memorable time here in my mini established south beach life. What incredible people I've met here, what a marvelous plan god put together for me here in Miami.
Tomorrow it's gonna be nice and after my morning cortadito I ride outta here in style. Down 15th street into downtown Miami, through south Miami and towards key largo. I keep thi king of that old beach boys song with "I wanna take you to key largo, jamaica...." I believe I was force fed that crap by my parents or sister or somebody. Anyway it's hard to believe that I'm going to be there tomorrow. I've got about only 65miles to take me there and weather says winds are coming from the north. I'm out of shape though sitting and eating for 7 days, but I'll get it right back in the first hour. So tomorrow I sneak into John pennecamp state park sleepover and then the next day take the glass bottom boat 20 miles off shore to snorkel the reefs and the shipwrecks, that's gonna be nice!!
My parents have left PA and will be in their Florida house tomorrow morning! I'm getting excited to reach them in ft myers! Less then a week and the ride will be complete. I'm still thinking about getting a tattoo but not till I get back into Philly, this way it won't be rushed and I'll have more time to design it. I really don't want this trip to end and wish I could find a way to do this full-time and get paid for riding! What a journey I really can't explain it but hopefully reading along with the blog you got to understand it!
Yesterday my roomate asks if u want to take a ride with him, I say sure why not. He starts to explain to me that he is not a "financial planner" as he told me that was his occupation. By now I'm kinda suspicious of his work anyway. He tells me about his operation he's got going on. Turns out he is a major pill dealer of the east coast!!! He makes tons of cash buying and getting scripts from people in Miami who go to "pill mills" and turn out 300 pills a script, he then ships them by a mailing method to new jersey where they are distributed throughout NYC he makes serious money. So that is why he always pays for dinner, and buys everything we see. The only bad part to his business is he is hooked on the things, popping them everyday, so that explains why for 2 weeks he has been sleeping on an air mattress with a hole in it, never has good in his fridge, always keeps his blinds closed and door locked, doesn't have furniture and is in the phone 23 hours a day. Well good thing I'm leaving here tomorrow, again it's not the most comfortable living situation, but it's only temporary and it could be worse. He is a really really good guy and I hope he gets straight and I'm glad I'm not a pill addict! But what a mess. I actually making a little money off the guy by running errands for him, picking up cigarettes, ice tea, and food all hours of the night..hah hey but he's letting me stay for free it's the least I could do.
So today Annie (the nice girl sitting next to me at the Miami heat game) have lunch, Cuban sandwiches at an authentic cafe. She speaks Spanish well, thank god because I don't think they speak English there. Wow they were good. Then I walk around looking at souvenir type stuff. Head back for a nap. Talk to some Philly peeps. Nice conversation with Mo. Meet up with jay. We catch a cab to sobe for a meeting talk with some people then walk to a nice Italian restaurant. He orders for us as I sit in the plush couch in which we eat from. I feel like the godfather! We are in display in the window to people passing by, I almost felt like the waitress should come over cut up our food and serve us. Jay is in a bad mood because if ex girlfriend problems, he is a big beefy Italian you don't ever want to see pissed off! He bosses everyone around the restaurant and I just keep smiling with my please and thank yous :) it's quite a fine dining experience. But all that being said I would do almost anything legal for this kid. He is a guy who everyone would want in their side and I would return the favor. Dinner is great and we walk back home because he says he has to meet somebody. I run out for ice cream and bring us two Hagen daz pints. Good stuff! We talk about dumb guy stuff and laugh out loud as you could possibly laugh eating ice cream with a partition wall between us while laying in the floor in his furniture less apartment. I'm gonna miss this guy and this marvelous city! What a memorable time here in my mini established south beach life. What incredible people I've met here, what a marvelous plan god put together for me here in Miami.
Tomorrow it's gonna be nice and after my morning cortadito I ride outta here in style. Down 15th street into downtown Miami, through south Miami and towards key largo. I keep thi king of that old beach boys song with "I wanna take you to key largo, jamaica...." I believe I was force fed that crap by my parents or sister or somebody. Anyway it's hard to believe that I'm going to be there tomorrow. I've got about only 65miles to take me there and weather says winds are coming from the north. I'm out of shape though sitting and eating for 7 days, but I'll get it right back in the first hour. So tomorrow I sneak into John pennecamp state park sleepover and then the next day take the glass bottom boat 20 miles off shore to snorkel the reefs and the shipwrecks, that's gonna be nice!!
My parents have left PA and will be in their Florida house tomorrow morning! I'm getting excited to reach them in ft myers! Less then a week and the ride will be complete. I'm still thinking about getting a tattoo but not till I get back into Philly, this way it won't be rushed and I'll have more time to design it. I really don't want this trip to end and wish I could find a way to do this full-time and get paid for riding! What a journey I really can't explain it but hopefully reading along with the blog you got to understand it!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
More Miami
Sitting on jaysons stoop is quite a lovely place to be. It's in a main street into a park where people constantly walk by with their dogs and guys are playing soccer. It's right in the middle of the neighborhoods of south beach, so this is how people really live here on south beach. It's close to Lincoln ave and Washington. It's a great place to be.
I go for a run on the beach then head to a famous place called davids cafe. It's authentic Cuban cuisine, I order a callata (Cuban coffee) and a guava pastillita (a croissant pastry) total is 2.50$ good deal. This place was showed to me by a local. This afternoon I think I'll hit public and maybe cook some food like a normal person for once.
Ya know I've been having some thoughts of how nice it would to be back at home with my bedroom and bathroom, tons of clothes, kitchen. I mean I'm having a great time but living out if a bag and wearing the same recycled clothes can get old. But I thi k it's just because I know the trip is wrapping up and I can sort of see the end. I've reached the halfway point and that's why maybe. But don't get me wrong the sacrifice of living out of a bag is so worth it and I'm pretty freaking good at living out of a bag! I've got a system of how to pack it and unpack it and compartmentalized. But gosh it's gonna be great to get home, hug my friends tell them of the great travel stories I've made! But in time god will provide that opportunity for now I'm living in south beach and who the f wouldn't want to be here right now!!?
So today I'll find a laundromat, play on my iPhone, eat a burrito and mess around in this awesome city. The same stuff I do back home, I just get to do in south beach. I can't stop thinking about seeing my parents and my friends again and what will be different about me when I return. Because right now I'm not sure I think once I get back to my situation before I left it's only then will I be able to compare myself and check inside to see what is different. I'm excited to see what I will find!
I hope the forecast in key largo improves soon, but I got a great deal here staying for free with jay if it doesn't.
Later in the day I go to the laundry mat and wash clothes. This neighborhood feels like another counrltry not one person speaks English or looks American. I do my wash and observe the locals hustling around on shitty mountain bikes doing who knows what outside.
Then I go for a burrito at my favorite place I've already found one! It's yummy and I check the local paper to see what's going on tonight. Miami heat is playing Moscow at home in an exhibition game!? I call right away and score tickets!!! Sweet. I hop the local bus and head towards the stadium to catch the pregame shoot around. Jayson will meet me there. Wow I'm here in this amazing place that will certainly make history in the years ahead with the all star cast they have now. This is hard to believe an hour ago I was eating a burrito on south beach with no plan for tonight! The universe is on my side!! And I'm on it, being good to it, loving it, giving gratitude to it everyday!
Miami heat wins and the labron intro was ridiculous. We might some nice girls sitting next to us and they tell us the best empanada place to go on south beach. So we know what we are having for lunch tomorrow!
We take a cab home then I walk up to the 24 hr cvs for cereal. South beach really comes alive at night I see police cars speed up and shake down a guy at a bus stop. A really good looking crossdresser and just madness all over cvs. People riding their bikes in the store, security chasing people. How do the employees put up with that crap everyday.
Well to bed! It's nice to have a place to stay where I'm not paranoid my stuff is gonna get stolen. My last place I would put all my money in my pockets and wear my shorts all night. And move all my valuables up to the top bunk where I slept.
I go for a run on the beach then head to a famous place called davids cafe. It's authentic Cuban cuisine, I order a callata (Cuban coffee) and a guava pastillita (a croissant pastry) total is 2.50$ good deal. This place was showed to me by a local. This afternoon I think I'll hit public and maybe cook some food like a normal person for once.
Ya know I've been having some thoughts of how nice it would to be back at home with my bedroom and bathroom, tons of clothes, kitchen. I mean I'm having a great time but living out if a bag and wearing the same recycled clothes can get old. But I thi k it's just because I know the trip is wrapping up and I can sort of see the end. I've reached the halfway point and that's why maybe. But don't get me wrong the sacrifice of living out of a bag is so worth it and I'm pretty freaking good at living out of a bag! I've got a system of how to pack it and unpack it and compartmentalized. But gosh it's gonna be great to get home, hug my friends tell them of the great travel stories I've made! But in time god will provide that opportunity for now I'm living in south beach and who the f wouldn't want to be here right now!!?
So today I'll find a laundromat, play on my iPhone, eat a burrito and mess around in this awesome city. The same stuff I do back home, I just get to do in south beach. I can't stop thinking about seeing my parents and my friends again and what will be different about me when I return. Because right now I'm not sure I think once I get back to my situation before I left it's only then will I be able to compare myself and check inside to see what is different. I'm excited to see what I will find!
I hope the forecast in key largo improves soon, but I got a great deal here staying for free with jay if it doesn't.
Later in the day I go to the laundry mat and wash clothes. This neighborhood feels like another counrltry not one person speaks English or looks American. I do my wash and observe the locals hustling around on shitty mountain bikes doing who knows what outside.
Then I go for a burrito at my favorite place I've already found one! It's yummy and I check the local paper to see what's going on tonight. Miami heat is playing Moscow at home in an exhibition game!? I call right away and score tickets!!! Sweet. I hop the local bus and head towards the stadium to catch the pregame shoot around. Jayson will meet me there. Wow I'm here in this amazing place that will certainly make history in the years ahead with the all star cast they have now. This is hard to believe an hour ago I was eating a burrito on south beach with no plan for tonight! The universe is on my side!! And I'm on it, being good to it, loving it, giving gratitude to it everyday!
Miami heat wins and the labron intro was ridiculous. We might some nice girls sitting next to us and they tell us the best empanada place to go on south beach. So we know what we are having for lunch tomorrow!
We take a cab home then I walk up to the 24 hr cvs for cereal. South beach really comes alive at night I see police cars speed up and shake down a guy at a bus stop. A really good looking crossdresser and just madness all over cvs. People riding their bikes in the store, security chasing people. How do the employees put up with that crap everyday.
Well to bed! It's nice to have a place to stay where I'm not paranoid my stuff is gonna get stolen. My last place I would put all my money in my pockets and wear my shorts all night. And move all my valuables up to the top bunk where I slept.
Stuck in Miami
So I wake up at my shady new hostel on 20th and Collins and I regret leaving jazz hostel on fifth now. I walk outside and there is the old homeless man in the blue and orange dirty ass velour Miami hurricanes sweat suit. He lives outside the hostel on the sidewalk mostly sleeping. And he is exactly in the same spot now everytime I see him for 2 days.
I get my free breakfast, toast with cream cheese and jelly, it's actually really good! Coffee sucks but oh well. Then I dis my slovakian friends with whom I was supposed to play basketball with and decide to go to the grocery store and a meeting. I meet miguel who tells me about the keys and before I get there to go to key biscayne and there is a beautiful lighthouse. It's only 20 miles from Miami but I would have to backtrack if I go there and that I'm not into. It sounds cool but I don't think I'll get there I told him.
A half hour later I hear from Ashley and jenni in ft lauderdale. We had made plans today but I actually forgot what our plan was because when they called me 3 days prior to ask me if I wanted to hang out I was fixing julias flat tire. So I ask them again where are we going today? Guess what the answer was?...key biscayne and Virginia key! How amazing!! So we take the nice easy ride over in ashleys pimp ass car! We chill and swim on the really nice not crowded beach and walk around and discover a bit. We head back into Miami about 5:00. We get to a restaurant the rusty pelican which is right on the bay of Miami in the face of the downtown skyline. We chill eat and watch the sunset on Miami and the bay. The swirl of colors the sky reflects back on the water is magical one of the most beautiful sunsets ever!
I get back into my ghetto hostel shower and lay down because I got a headache. Then I meet jay at Starbucks at 9:30 and we hang out ang to to a meeting at sobe. It's packed with a young hip good looking crowd. Friendly people and a fun vibe. We all hangout afterwards until late in the morning. And I see my friend Eli there, the girl I met in the bar two days ago.
So today I was gonna ride onto key largo but forecast doesn't look good. And jay offers me to stay at his place until the weather clears up. Nice I'll take that because Miami is a good place to be stuck at, and there is no need to ride in the rain if I don't have to!
I get my free breakfast, toast with cream cheese and jelly, it's actually really good! Coffee sucks but oh well. Then I dis my slovakian friends with whom I was supposed to play basketball with and decide to go to the grocery store and a meeting. I meet miguel who tells me about the keys and before I get there to go to key biscayne and there is a beautiful lighthouse. It's only 20 miles from Miami but I would have to backtrack if I go there and that I'm not into. It sounds cool but I don't think I'll get there I told him.
A half hour later I hear from Ashley and jenni in ft lauderdale. We had made plans today but I actually forgot what our plan was because when they called me 3 days prior to ask me if I wanted to hang out I was fixing julias flat tire. So I ask them again where are we going today? Guess what the answer was?...key biscayne and Virginia key! How amazing!! So we take the nice easy ride over in ashleys pimp ass car! We chill and swim on the really nice not crowded beach and walk around and discover a bit. We head back into Miami about 5:00. We get to a restaurant the rusty pelican which is right on the bay of Miami in the face of the downtown skyline. We chill eat and watch the sunset on Miami and the bay. The swirl of colors the sky reflects back on the water is magical one of the most beautiful sunsets ever!
I get back into my ghetto hostel shower and lay down because I got a headache. Then I meet jay at Starbucks at 9:30 and we hang out ang to to a meeting at sobe. It's packed with a young hip good looking crowd. Friendly people and a fun vibe. We all hangout afterwards until late in the morning. And I see my friend Eli there, the girl I met in the bar two days ago.
So today I was gonna ride onto key largo but forecast doesn't look good. And jay offers me to stay at his place until the weather clears up. Nice I'll take that because Miami is a good place to be stuck at, and there is no need to ride in the rain if I don't have to!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Miami man
Back to the blog. I am almost sorry I haven't wrote in a while but I've been consumed with Miami! Overwhelmed by south beach beauty. Awwed by this pretty city. Fully occupied with the concept of this place. Sucked in by the energy here. Vibing with the brilliant vibe of this place. Busy meeting it's smiling, lucky to be here occupants. Experiencing what took me a month and 1300 miles to reach. Loving where my feet are at. Dreaming about living here. Picturing what my life would be like here. Reflecting on how I got here. Living this life!
So I get here and at first it's not what I expected. The welcome to south beach sign wasn't as brilliant as I pictured it would be. The buildings aren't all made of skyscraper glass, it's not totally all modern. But a couple hours later when my eyes see this place showered with trendy chic colorful lighting my opinion changes vert quick.
I check in the hostel and sneak my bike in under my bed. The hostel is way large and seriously clean! I'm impressed for 16$ a night it's great!. I drop my bags and head to the well known south beach. I see some Brazilian big booty bikini models doing a low budget photo shoot with some creeper looking guys. It's actualy kind if gross!
The water here is gorgeous and the mix of people on the beach is really something else. I hear argees speaking castellano, every nationality sits on this beach at one time. They are all as happy as can be to be here and nothing here really posses people off.
I hop in the ocean and a large school of fish approach me. They swim right up to me, this is amazing I'm swimming with the fishes.haha music blasts from all over the place. Then some Latinos stroll down the beach with a portable speaker system seriously blasting.
Ferraris race on the streets, lamborghinis race by, bentlys, rolls Royce. Donzi and Baja cigarette boats do the same in the water. Girls wear the shortest skirt things I've ever seen, thongs are mandatory here and tops are optional. On the streets guys are dressed slick 2010 Miami style, girls sport the lack of clothing style which is appreciated by the male species.
I meet Julia at the hostel at about 10. We walk south beach at night, get the best burrito I've ever had, the best Turkish dessert cruise by Miami ink. Admire the city and head to bed by 2. We are both tired
The next day finds us chillaxing on the beach all day. Hostel coffee is decent! And they make a lunch and dinner for 3$ can't beat that! We make a cool meeting in south Miami. Dinner on espanola way at a brazillian joint, then her friend drives us through Miami hood, calle ocho, downtown Miami, good guy he gives us a grande tour from a local. We stroll in at 5 am, sleep for a couple and beach it again.
Today I move hostels up about 20 blocks just for a change of scenery. New place is a dump oh well.
Last night Julia has a flat tire, we notice it at 6:00, tire shops are closed but I find the screw in the tire. We put air in the tire drive to an auto part store, I buy a plug kit. Then we head back to the gas station air pump. I plug the tire and it's all good, god helped on that one. Then there is a guy putting air next to us. Turns out he had the same problem, I offer to plug his tire. Success again, he is super thankful because he was going to a wedding. We chat for a minute, he gives me an invite to his house tomorrow night for a party. I'm in I tell him. Sweet timing!
Miami is unbelievable way cooler then I could have imagined!! And the trip goes on, Tuesday I ride to key largo.
So I get here and at first it's not what I expected. The welcome to south beach sign wasn't as brilliant as I pictured it would be. The buildings aren't all made of skyscraper glass, it's not totally all modern. But a couple hours later when my eyes see this place showered with trendy chic colorful lighting my opinion changes vert quick.
I check in the hostel and sneak my bike in under my bed. The hostel is way large and seriously clean! I'm impressed for 16$ a night it's great!. I drop my bags and head to the well known south beach. I see some Brazilian big booty bikini models doing a low budget photo shoot with some creeper looking guys. It's actualy kind if gross!
The water here is gorgeous and the mix of people on the beach is really something else. I hear argees speaking castellano, every nationality sits on this beach at one time. They are all as happy as can be to be here and nothing here really posses people off.
I hop in the ocean and a large school of fish approach me. They swim right up to me, this is amazing I'm swimming with the fishes.haha music blasts from all over the place. Then some Latinos stroll down the beach with a portable speaker system seriously blasting.
Ferraris race on the streets, lamborghinis race by, bentlys, rolls Royce. Donzi and Baja cigarette boats do the same in the water. Girls wear the shortest skirt things I've ever seen, thongs are mandatory here and tops are optional. On the streets guys are dressed slick 2010 Miami style, girls sport the lack of clothing style which is appreciated by the male species.
I meet Julia at the hostel at about 10. We walk south beach at night, get the best burrito I've ever had, the best Turkish dessert cruise by Miami ink. Admire the city and head to bed by 2. We are both tired
The next day finds us chillaxing on the beach all day. Hostel coffee is decent! And they make a lunch and dinner for 3$ can't beat that! We make a cool meeting in south Miami. Dinner on espanola way at a brazillian joint, then her friend drives us through Miami hood, calle ocho, downtown Miami, good guy he gives us a grande tour from a local. We stroll in at 5 am, sleep for a couple and beach it again.
Today I move hostels up about 20 blocks just for a change of scenery. New place is a dump oh well.
Last night Julia has a flat tire, we notice it at 6:00, tire shops are closed but I find the screw in the tire. We put air in the tire drive to an auto part store, I buy a plug kit. Then we head back to the gas station air pump. I plug the tire and it's all good, god helped on that one. Then there is a guy putting air next to us. Turns out he had the same problem, I offer to plug his tire. Success again, he is super thankful because he was going to a wedding. We chat for a minute, he gives me an invite to his house tomorrow night for a party. I'm in I tell him. Sweet timing!
Miami is unbelievable way cooler then I could have imagined!! And the trip goes on, Tuesday I ride to key largo.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Lauderdale night time
I wake up at 5am in the halfway house living room couch to find some fat guy in boxer shorts watching tv with the volume blasting. I get up without saying a word and put my headphones on and fall back asleep. Woken up by a pitbull again about 7:00am licking my hand. By 8:00 am people are coming and going and I'm up. Ricky lives there and he is a good guy! He gives 3 unemployed kids who aren't paying rent an ultimatum, get a job by Friday or your out of here. And leaves them each $3.50 for bus fares. Patrick gets up and makes me a ghetto espresso and it's really good!
A couple hours later ricki drops me and pat off and we explore the city as he is supposed to be looking for a job. He shows me around and I realize we are living in the Haitian ghetto. Nice! We travel around by bus and I get to see the real ft lauderdale! That's what I'm talking about. We witness a domestic dispute on the bus by a homeless couple, classy. We walk around las olas and get lunch at a deli. We chat with two girls outside while eating lunch. They are friendly art students and we all talk about meeting up later to go out.
Me and pat make it back home eventually and I try to nap, no luck. There is skinny little white kids calling themselves niggas everywhere. I find it very strange but mind my own business until I hear some kids freestyle rapping in the back room. So now I chime in with a little rap action for fun...haha. Represent Philly.
Everyone leaves by 8:00pm and the house is quiet and I'm prepared for a nice quiet evening watching baseball. The girls from the deli text me and ask if I'm still interested I. Going out. I say ya why not. They come over to little Haiti and pick me up.
We head towards downtown ft lauderdale and they ask me why I'm staying in the ghetto? Long story I'll explain later.. We get there and they give me a tour! I'm really appreciative of them taking me out!! I find out ft lauderdale nightlife is amazing!! Bars don't have covers, you can drinking the streets, smoke in bars, women and bedazzling beautiful. I get many different flavors because we pop into about 6 different bars and clubs and I really get the experience. It looks way Way way better then old city Philly. And all the vibes are fun with happy smiling floridians! I really enjoy myself. We don't get out of there till about 3am and I'm invited to crash at their place. I take the deal because then we don't have to drive to the ghetto and I dint have people waking me up all hours of the night! Good deal
In the morning it's Miami mane!
A couple hours later ricki drops me and pat off and we explore the city as he is supposed to be looking for a job. He shows me around and I realize we are living in the Haitian ghetto. Nice! We travel around by bus and I get to see the real ft lauderdale! That's what I'm talking about. We witness a domestic dispute on the bus by a homeless couple, classy. We walk around las olas and get lunch at a deli. We chat with two girls outside while eating lunch. They are friendly art students and we all talk about meeting up later to go out.
Me and pat make it back home eventually and I try to nap, no luck. There is skinny little white kids calling themselves niggas everywhere. I find it very strange but mind my own business until I hear some kids freestyle rapping in the back room. So now I chime in with a little rap action for fun...haha. Represent Philly.
Everyone leaves by 8:00pm and the house is quiet and I'm prepared for a nice quiet evening watching baseball. The girls from the deli text me and ask if I'm still interested I. Going out. I say ya why not. They come over to little Haiti and pick me up.
We head towards downtown ft lauderdale and they ask me why I'm staying in the ghetto? Long story I'll explain later.. We get there and they give me a tour! I'm really appreciative of them taking me out!! I find out ft lauderdale nightlife is amazing!! Bars don't have covers, you can drinking the streets, smoke in bars, women and bedazzling beautiful. I get many different flavors because we pop into about 6 different bars and clubs and I really get the experience. It looks way Way way better then old city Philly. And all the vibes are fun with happy smiling floridians! I really enjoy myself. We don't get out of there till about 3am and I'm invited to crash at their place. I take the deal because then we don't have to drive to the ghetto and I dint have people waking me up all hours of the night! Good deal
In the morning it's Miami mane!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Ft lauderdale
I sleep pretty good in the bathroom stall and even recall some dreams which means it was good sleep! I'm woken up to a voice in the bathroom, it's a cleaning person asking if anybody was in here. It woke me up but I didn't open my eyes yet then I'm licked by a dog and I jump up. I scare the cleaning person and then introduce myself and the situation. She doesn't freak out and actually talks to me a minute then invites me over to her camper for breakfast and coffee! Nice woman
By 8:00 am I'm pedaling. It's going to be an amazing ride today but at 8:00 I have no idea just how amazing it will be. So Jimmy tells me there are 2 sides to west palm a nice one and an ugly one. North of west palm is looking pretty ugly so I'm hoping for a better side soon ahead. And then it gets worse! I see for the first time in my life..., a dead body! There it is on the shoulder of the road, cops and detectives all around, a yellow plastic tarp covering the corpse and I see an arm and mans boots sticking out. Wow that was weird! And now I'm tweaked out!
Well on to the nice section of west palm and I get a glimpse of a very good looking built up city streets. It looks quaint but sexy. I take it all in as I cruise the streets. West palm off the list of places I've been, check.
I'm riding route 1 because winds gusts are NE at 20-25mph and A1A is wide open and I don't want to battle winds. Into delray beach though I decide to try A1A. What a payoff I see the mist beautiful street if the ride. It's lined with perfect groomed landscapes, modern well designed colorful Florida castles on the beach. I've been dreaming about this fir two months! I take it in as it is hard to believe how I've arrived here.
Boca raton is next up and it exceeds my expectations. I don't know what it us but I really dig boca! It has everything a big city has, and a beautiful little downtown! It's cool I'm here, I keep thinking about how the old guy on the sopranos always talked about boca.
From here I stop st subway and power up. 5 miles to go to my new house. I get there and it's in a nice little neighborhood. I find it and walk right in. There is 6 guys living here all in recovery. They are all cool dudes most of them from new York. Ant is a cool kid only 21. He drives me to the beach where he works out on the outside beach. Cool thus us totally my style if I'd be into working out. Nice beach and we drive back through Los olas and I see the biggest boats I've ever seen! One after another. 10 million dollar yachts. I ask him if boats ever get stolen around here, he says no, I say hmmm.
All really good guys, I go to 3 meetings that night with two of them. Woah almost AA overload but I'm grateful to chat and meet some people. We go out to eat at 11:30 and come back and chill for a while. Great day in ft lauderdale.
I'm really getting excited for Miami now only 30 miles away!!
By 8:00 am I'm pedaling. It's going to be an amazing ride today but at 8:00 I have no idea just how amazing it will be. So Jimmy tells me there are 2 sides to west palm a nice one and an ugly one. North of west palm is looking pretty ugly so I'm hoping for a better side soon ahead. And then it gets worse! I see for the first time in my life..., a dead body! There it is on the shoulder of the road, cops and detectives all around, a yellow plastic tarp covering the corpse and I see an arm and mans boots sticking out. Wow that was weird! And now I'm tweaked out!
Well on to the nice section of west palm and I get a glimpse of a very good looking built up city streets. It looks quaint but sexy. I take it all in as I cruise the streets. West palm off the list of places I've been, check.
I'm riding route 1 because winds gusts are NE at 20-25mph and A1A is wide open and I don't want to battle winds. Into delray beach though I decide to try A1A. What a payoff I see the mist beautiful street if the ride. It's lined with perfect groomed landscapes, modern well designed colorful Florida castles on the beach. I've been dreaming about this fir two months! I take it in as it is hard to believe how I've arrived here.
Boca raton is next up and it exceeds my expectations. I don't know what it us but I really dig boca! It has everything a big city has, and a beautiful little downtown! It's cool I'm here, I keep thinking about how the old guy on the sopranos always talked about boca.
From here I stop st subway and power up. 5 miles to go to my new house. I get there and it's in a nice little neighborhood. I find it and walk right in. There is 6 guys living here all in recovery. They are all cool dudes most of them from new York. Ant is a cool kid only 21. He drives me to the beach where he works out on the outside beach. Cool thus us totally my style if I'd be into working out. Nice beach and we drive back through Los olas and I see the biggest boats I've ever seen! One after another. 10 million dollar yachts. I ask him if boats ever get stolen around here, he says no, I say hmmm.
All really good guys, I go to 3 meetings that night with two of them. Woah almost AA overload but I'm grateful to chat and meet some people. We go out to eat at 11:30 and come back and chill for a while. Great day in ft lauderdale.
I'm really getting excited for Miami now only 30 miles away!!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Beautiful scenic A1A
My ride today was tremendous!!! Me David and Samantha kayaked this morning right after we watched the sun rise. Then I ate some leftover pancakes and Sam made me a sandwich for the road!
I take off and they all take a ton of pictures of me, you know Asians and their cameras!..haha I've got a nice wind pushing me along and a nice bikelane on floridas beautiful scenic A1A. This ride is in the top five for sure! Ocean views, mansions, piers, boats, green plant life, wildlife, birds, not many cars it's got it all. I know when it's a good ride because I find myself taking lots of pictures. I also know it's only 66 miles and I knock off over 20 the first hour so I slow the pace and take my time checking out little parks, looking at beaches, watching windsurfers, pulling off to talk with friends on the phone. It's nice taking my time! About 3:00 winds shift as I'm noticing this to be a pattern and make for a tougher finish.
I passed through st lucie, and fort pierce was a really nice town I could have spent more time in. I ride through hobe sound and a man walking by stops me and asks where I've been riding from. We chat and I ask him if there is a subway around. He points me in the right direction and I get my 5$ footlong fix. Then it's only about 5 miles down to the state park. I haven't heard much about the park, I just know that it does have camping sites. I sneak into a side gate and eventually get approached by a ranger. He asks me what I'm doing here, I said looking for the ranger station. So he points me in the right direction. I get to the campsites and they suck!!! Theybare all way out in the open WTF!! The wind is whipping through so bad there is no way I could set my tent up!, forget it I'm not gonna even try! There is no cover anywhere around!!!! Fahhhh!!!! I head to the bathrooms to shower up and weigh my options. The bathrooms are all nice and new! I shower in the large handicap stall and notice a pretty wide shower bench outside the shower..hmmm?? I shower up and check the winds outside, yup they are still atrocious! Shower bench it is then. I unroll my mattress pad and sleeping bag, bring all my gear inside the stall and lock the door. I can do this why not? It's better then jail I tell myself, although it sure does remind me of it. Hard concrete bench, lights on all night and that buzzing noise all night never letting up. I know how to deal with this though I have experience! I roll up toilet paper and shove it in my ears, then I tie my shirt to my head to cover my eyes from the light pollution. Tonights gonna be a good night! At least I don't have to setup and disassemble my tent, that saves some time.
I'm out of here first crack of light, this place sucks! Good news just in though, I talked to Philly josh's friend ant in ft lauderdale and I can stay there. So ant gives me the address and I map it out. Yes! Only 60 to ride tomorrow! I have no idea what this house is like though, I think it's like a halfway/boarding house for recovering junkies so that should provide some excellent stories to tell.
Well I'm out safe and sound it's been another god given blessed day on this planet and I'm truly grateful for all of it including sleeping in a shower stall.
I take off and they all take a ton of pictures of me, you know Asians and their cameras!..haha I've got a nice wind pushing me along and a nice bikelane on floridas beautiful scenic A1A. This ride is in the top five for sure! Ocean views, mansions, piers, boats, green plant life, wildlife, birds, not many cars it's got it all. I know when it's a good ride because I find myself taking lots of pictures. I also know it's only 66 miles and I knock off over 20 the first hour so I slow the pace and take my time checking out little parks, looking at beaches, watching windsurfers, pulling off to talk with friends on the phone. It's nice taking my time! About 3:00 winds shift as I'm noticing this to be a pattern and make for a tougher finish.
I passed through st lucie, and fort pierce was a really nice town I could have spent more time in. I ride through hobe sound and a man walking by stops me and asks where I've been riding from. We chat and I ask him if there is a subway around. He points me in the right direction and I get my 5$ footlong fix. Then it's only about 5 miles down to the state park. I haven't heard much about the park, I just know that it does have camping sites. I sneak into a side gate and eventually get approached by a ranger. He asks me what I'm doing here, I said looking for the ranger station. So he points me in the right direction. I get to the campsites and they suck!!! Theybare all way out in the open WTF!! The wind is whipping through so bad there is no way I could set my tent up!, forget it I'm not gonna even try! There is no cover anywhere around!!!! Fahhhh!!!! I head to the bathrooms to shower up and weigh my options. The bathrooms are all nice and new! I shower in the large handicap stall and notice a pretty wide shower bench outside the shower..hmmm?? I shower up and check the winds outside, yup they are still atrocious! Shower bench it is then. I unroll my mattress pad and sleeping bag, bring all my gear inside the stall and lock the door. I can do this why not? It's better then jail I tell myself, although it sure does remind me of it. Hard concrete bench, lights on all night and that buzzing noise all night never letting up. I know how to deal with this though I have experience! I roll up toilet paper and shove it in my ears, then I tie my shirt to my head to cover my eyes from the light pollution. Tonights gonna be a good night! At least I don't have to setup and disassemble my tent, that saves some time.
I'm out of here first crack of light, this place sucks! Good news just in though, I talked to Philly josh's friend ant in ft lauderdale and I can stay there. So ant gives me the address and I map it out. Yes! Only 60 to ride tomorrow! I have no idea what this house is like though, I think it's like a halfway/boarding house for recovering junkies so that should provide some excellent stories to tell.
Well I'm out safe and sound it's been another god given blessed day on this planet and I'm truly grateful for all of it including sleeping in a shower stall.
Monday, October 4, 2010
So good I'll take another
I lay down in my tent, which is shielded nicely by the wind, and fall asleep to the sound of waves crashing. I sleep like a rock! I'm really greatful for my mattress pad and sleeping bag somebody talked me into buying before I left. I wanna snap the sunrise but I don't get out of my comfy little camp in time.
I plan on leaving today but after talking to David a couchsurfer from taiwain staying at the house he helps me realize when you dint have a schedule you should take advantage of a good thing. There is then talk over breakfast about sailing and snorkeling today. I'm convinced! I'm staying another day. David , a 6 time triathalonist) is traveling with his family (5 people from taiwan) they are staying at the house for 2 weeks. The host, Terry is one incredible guy.
I walk next door after breakfast to the mc clarity treasure museum. And check this out....in 1715 11 Spanish ships containing a tremendous amount of treasure perished in a hurricane 70 miles of the coast of where we are. People have been finding various treasure wash up on the beach as recent as 5 months ago!!! This is real people!! I see photographs of items recovered and it's the most intricate, detailed, beautiful various gold and silver pieces. People scour the beach after a storm and hit the lottery! I get done at the museum and hit the drift edge in the sand. This is so exciting it's thrilling. I find some cool rocks and a jaw of some animal but no treasure today. Reality is though to the north of me there is 1 mile of forest and nobody ever comes down and checks this area, but they say treasure can be as far as 12' deep in the sand by now. What an interesting experience.
I come back and Stephanie on of the guests who is preparing for a marathon prepares a wonderful lunch for us all. I get to partake because I'm the newest guest. Yum!
Tomorrow I ride again! Only 66 miles south to dickenson state park. From there I'm only 90 miles from Miami. I booked a hostel in Miami for Friday and Saturday and I'm happy to find out Julia from pine island will be joining me for a road trip to Miami. We are staying right on south beach for 18$ a night.
Me and David take a nice 15mile ride around the neighborhood on terry's bikes. We chat about our likes in jazz music and I ask him questions about his experience completing 6 ironmans!! We get back in time to see the sunset. Sit in the jacuzzi and watch the sunset on the front deck. Somebody snaps a picture of us that is worth a thousand dollars. It's us in the hot tub with the sun setting behind us! We get out and dinner is prepared. Great food great people, great spirits, great conversation, great laughter, all with one 55 year old Florida park ranger, and 5 people from tawain whom I just met this morning!! Wow incredible!
After dinner we play U2 and dance foolishly. Then we go out to the bay to see the illuminescent bacteria in the water. So when you go in and splash around under the surface of the water you see what looks like sparks everywhere under water. It's amazing and it keeps our attention for 20 minutes. Then we look up at the amazing stars spread out in our galaxy and even get a glimpse at Jupiter the brightest looking star right now.
I decide to crash inside tonight on the couch. Why not it's free, and I'll be tenting it tomorrow night. In the morning we will drink coffee and watch the sunrise. Then eat some toast with homemade seagrape jelly. Then it's kayak time. I figure I'll leave right after lunch time and get my 66 miles in before dusk. Nite
I plan on leaving today but after talking to David a couchsurfer from taiwain staying at the house he helps me realize when you dint have a schedule you should take advantage of a good thing. There is then talk over breakfast about sailing and snorkeling today. I'm convinced! I'm staying another day. David , a 6 time triathalonist) is traveling with his family (5 people from taiwan) they are staying at the house for 2 weeks. The host, Terry is one incredible guy.
I walk next door after breakfast to the mc clarity treasure museum. And check this out....in 1715 11 Spanish ships containing a tremendous amount of treasure perished in a hurricane 70 miles of the coast of where we are. People have been finding various treasure wash up on the beach as recent as 5 months ago!!! This is real people!! I see photographs of items recovered and it's the most intricate, detailed, beautiful various gold and silver pieces. People scour the beach after a storm and hit the lottery! I get done at the museum and hit the drift edge in the sand. This is so exciting it's thrilling. I find some cool rocks and a jaw of some animal but no treasure today. Reality is though to the north of me there is 1 mile of forest and nobody ever comes down and checks this area, but they say treasure can be as far as 12' deep in the sand by now. What an interesting experience.
I come back and Stephanie on of the guests who is preparing for a marathon prepares a wonderful lunch for us all. I get to partake because I'm the newest guest. Yum!
Tomorrow I ride again! Only 66 miles south to dickenson state park. From there I'm only 90 miles from Miami. I booked a hostel in Miami for Friday and Saturday and I'm happy to find out Julia from pine island will be joining me for a road trip to Miami. We are staying right on south beach for 18$ a night.
Me and David take a nice 15mile ride around the neighborhood on terry's bikes. We chat about our likes in jazz music and I ask him questions about his experience completing 6 ironmans!! We get back in time to see the sunset. Sit in the jacuzzi and watch the sunset on the front deck. Somebody snaps a picture of us that is worth a thousand dollars. It's us in the hot tub with the sun setting behind us! We get out and dinner is prepared. Great food great people, great spirits, great conversation, great laughter, all with one 55 year old Florida park ranger, and 5 people from tawain whom I just met this morning!! Wow incredible!
After dinner we play U2 and dance foolishly. Then we go out to the bay to see the illuminescent bacteria in the water. So when you go in and splash around under the surface of the water you see what looks like sparks everywhere under water. It's amazing and it keeps our attention for 20 minutes. Then we look up at the amazing stars spread out in our galaxy and even get a glimpse at Jupiter the brightest looking star right now.
I decide to crash inside tonight on the couch. Why not it's free, and I'll be tenting it tomorrow night. In the morning we will drink coffee and watch the sunrise. Then eat some toast with homemade seagrape jelly. Then it's kayak time. I figure I'll leave right after lunch time and get my 66 miles in before dusk. Nite
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Ride-on
So i wake this morning early, Pam goes to work at 8am. I make some scrambled eggs chess and tomato for us. She makes coffee, it's a breakfast of champions. Last night I did some bike maintenance. And learned how to take apart and fix brakes. I never learned this before I left because I just didn't want to. But I learned it last night because I had to. So it's all fixed up and running as smooth as a brand new bike.
7:45 I hit the road pedaling. Leaving my mini established life in Orlando for the next adventure. What a great time in Orlando but I am super excited for today's ride, and what a beautiful one it is! I gotta say 2nd or 3rd best ride out I'd the 15 or so I've had! I take 192 out of Orlando through amazing flatlands and farmlands. Cows and horses and fields, you could see for miles. So quiet and still hardly any car traffic! The wind was coming across me but I had some serious techno trance that it powered me right through it like nothing! Plus I was so excited to ride and I was at 100% strength after sitting for 5 days.
I get into Melbourne and know it's a decent little city. They are having an arts fest and the downtown is closed. I get the idea of going to an AA meeting. I look one up and find one starting in 20 minutes about 10 blocks away. I go in meet some good ol folks and get just what I needed, a good reminder of the principles in which I live by. I fill up on coffee and cake, lunch.
Back on the road again, even more excited about Sebastian inlet! The old-timers at the meeting tell me the water is aqua blue, and that hundreds of years ago a Spanish ship sank and sometimes gold still washes up in the inlet. A couple years ago somebody found thousands of $'s worth in a box!
Once I make a right down a1a the wind is pushing me along nicely from the north! I cruise the 25 miles down to the inlet. I see the inlet bridge and cross it about 5 minutes later. Once on top I turn back to the right and I see how amazing this place is!!! Picturesque!!! It looks like mar de plata Argentina! But this is Florida! I'm telling ya this place is a gem! Unbelievable all the boats and fishing piers and swimmers in the half moon shaped inlet.
I pull up to the camper registration and am willing to pay for a campsite today for once! I see a nice lady and say "please tell me you have a site for me to sleep tonight" because I know yesterday when I called they said they were booked. She says ya I do but it's kinda buggy, no problem I say I got bug spray. She says it's 31$ i state me case and the story of the joirney and I see if I can pay less. The answer was no but then she says hold on a minute let me call my boss. I'm thinking good maybe he will give me a discount? She comes back and says alright here is what you can do. Go back out the main road and make a right about a half mile down you will see a big dolphin mailbox. That's my bosses house he lives right on the beach. He said to go outback and set your tent up in his yard, he even has an outside shower for you to use. What I can't believe what I'm hearing right now but all I say is right on I'm there!! She says he isn't home but he will catch up with you later. So I go down find the mailbox, find the house, find the beach, outside shower, surfboards, kayaks and set up camp!
This is unreal! I walk to the beach and inlet and take it all in. I call a friend and share the news. This place is incredible and everyone should experience Sebastian inlet!
7:45 I hit the road pedaling. Leaving my mini established life in Orlando for the next adventure. What a great time in Orlando but I am super excited for today's ride, and what a beautiful one it is! I gotta say 2nd or 3rd best ride out I'd the 15 or so I've had! I take 192 out of Orlando through amazing flatlands and farmlands. Cows and horses and fields, you could see for miles. So quiet and still hardly any car traffic! The wind was coming across me but I had some serious techno trance that it powered me right through it like nothing! Plus I was so excited to ride and I was at 100% strength after sitting for 5 days.
I get into Melbourne and know it's a decent little city. They are having an arts fest and the downtown is closed. I get the idea of going to an AA meeting. I look one up and find one starting in 20 minutes about 10 blocks away. I go in meet some good ol folks and get just what I needed, a good reminder of the principles in which I live by. I fill up on coffee and cake, lunch.
Back on the road again, even more excited about Sebastian inlet! The old-timers at the meeting tell me the water is aqua blue, and that hundreds of years ago a Spanish ship sank and sometimes gold still washes up in the inlet. A couple years ago somebody found thousands of $'s worth in a box!
Once I make a right down a1a the wind is pushing me along nicely from the north! I cruise the 25 miles down to the inlet. I see the inlet bridge and cross it about 5 minutes later. Once on top I turn back to the right and I see how amazing this place is!!! Picturesque!!! It looks like mar de plata Argentina! But this is Florida! I'm telling ya this place is a gem! Unbelievable all the boats and fishing piers and swimmers in the half moon shaped inlet.
I pull up to the camper registration and am willing to pay for a campsite today for once! I see a nice lady and say "please tell me you have a site for me to sleep tonight" because I know yesterday when I called they said they were booked. She says ya I do but it's kinda buggy, no problem I say I got bug spray. She says it's 31$ i state me case and the story of the joirney and I see if I can pay less. The answer was no but then she says hold on a minute let me call my boss. I'm thinking good maybe he will give me a discount? She comes back and says alright here is what you can do. Go back out the main road and make a right about a half mile down you will see a big dolphin mailbox. That's my bosses house he lives right on the beach. He said to go outback and set your tent up in his yard, he even has an outside shower for you to use. What I can't believe what I'm hearing right now but all I say is right on I'm there!! She says he isn't home but he will catch up with you later. So I go down find the mailbox, find the house, find the beach, outside shower, surfboards, kayaks and set up camp!
This is unreal! I walk to the beach and inlet and take it all in. I call a friend and share the news. This place is incredible and everyone should experience Sebastian inlet!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Last day in Orlando
Sebastian inlet it is! Over 3 miles of beaches, one of floridas best saltwater fishing spots, 40 miles or biking trails, national park and seashore is where I'll be living tomorrow, if it's gods will. I called and they don't have campsites available supposedly, so I'll show up and take my chances with a walk on, sneak in, or I'll ask another camper if they might let me crash on their plot for a night. One thing I'm conscious of in Florida is gators! And sleeping just any old place down here close to water is not on my agenda of things to do! This park looks amazing and I'm ready to get back out there with my creator and discover His world again! That is one of my most favorite things to do! So this trip is all about that so how could everyday not be amazing! And to think I've might have helped or inspired numerous people along the way is definitely awesome! And again not in my original plan just a bonus blessing. I'm getting really excited to ride and journey onward!
So last night we went to city walk in Orlando. An amazing playground of lights, music, foods, views, beauty, designed environment, people, sounds, smells, sights and structures. Walking around it, it's hard to believe all this money was spent just to please the eyes. But it is a business and these people aren't doing this all for free! They are making tons of cash off all this. But even back home if I had 300$ dollars to blow I still wouldn't have a place like this to go play at. That's what is so unique to me about Orlando. The newness, design and mega playlands they build are just awesome. Hanging out with Pamela she says she kinda takes this whole scene for granted and is taken back to gratitude when she sees my eyes light up in awe of this place.
The resort I'm at today has about 7 pools and 10 hot tubs, 4 lakes, restaurants, miles of walking trails, waterfalls, and just extreme beauty. So I'm just taking it all in enjoying my free day, preparing mentally for my ride tomorrow and just reflecting in the good things in my life. It's amazing but at this very moment I can't find one thing I'm unhappy with!! I wish I could always be in this mindstate! I plan to take a long walk around the resort and just ease my mind. It's really been easy to just enjoy the moment, and not projecting anything out there in the future but amazing travel adventures ahead. I sit here now after writing without a worry, care or complaint!
Tonight we just lay low and try to eat cheap I saved alot of money in Orlando with free passes stuff but also spent more in food then I'm use to. Oh well once I get back on the road it's poptarts, granola and maybe I'll splurge in a jar of peanut butter, jelly too if I'm feeling luxurious....haha, seriously though!
So last night we went to city walk in Orlando. An amazing playground of lights, music, foods, views, beauty, designed environment, people, sounds, smells, sights and structures. Walking around it, it's hard to believe all this money was spent just to please the eyes. But it is a business and these people aren't doing this all for free! They are making tons of cash off all this. But even back home if I had 300$ dollars to blow I still wouldn't have a place like this to go play at. That's what is so unique to me about Orlando. The newness, design and mega playlands they build are just awesome. Hanging out with Pamela she says she kinda takes this whole scene for granted and is taken back to gratitude when she sees my eyes light up in awe of this place.
The resort I'm at today has about 7 pools and 10 hot tubs, 4 lakes, restaurants, miles of walking trails, waterfalls, and just extreme beauty. So I'm just taking it all in enjoying my free day, preparing mentally for my ride tomorrow and just reflecting in the good things in my life. It's amazing but at this very moment I can't find one thing I'm unhappy with!! I wish I could always be in this mindstate! I plan to take a long walk around the resort and just ease my mind. It's really been easy to just enjoy the moment, and not projecting anything out there in the future but amazing travel adventures ahead. I sit here now after writing without a worry, care or complaint!
Tonight we just lay low and try to eat cheap I saved alot of money in Orlando with free passes stuff but also spent more in food then I'm use to. Oh well once I get back on the road it's poptarts, granola and maybe I'll splurge in a jar of peanut butter, jelly too if I'm feeling luxurious....haha, seriously though!
Friday, October 1, 2010
Ready to ride
Ready to ride
So after seeing NASA kennedy space center and the towns around the launch site, including the extremely beautiful cape canaveral national wildlife seashore. I picture how awesome it would be to witnesss the next shuttle discovery launch for November 1!! I mean it would probably be in the top 10 coolest things I've ever done!!! And it's reality to come into my future reality! I'm excited for the chance to see it.
The national seashore was incredible all the wildlife, birds, bugs, gators, lizards and everything we saw made me feel as if another country.
So today I'm at typhoon lagoon on a free pass! It's a ridiculously awesome Disney water park with my good old friend Jackie! Gonna be a great day, the weather is perfect and I'm creating the tone for it right now by projecting positivity all over it!
I've planned my next ride for this Sunday. It's about 80 miles southeast. Knowing it's into the wind and I've been eating like a fat kid I'm not trying to pull off too much or push myself too hard. I'm riding to a town called palm bay, where I plan to sleep on the beach. It's gonna be hard to think about leaving this once again good established life behind me in Orlando to start roughing it again. But the Florida keys are on my mind, along with west palm, ft lauderdale, Miami and my parents in ft myers! So being a Yankee I need to keep it moving. I'm really grateful for the traveling mentality I've learned and how to think on the run, not panic and find a solution, or a way around an obstacle that comes. This could have only be learned by the experience for me and traveling is great experience.
But I'm looking forward to getting back on my horse and being grateful for an awesome time in Orlando, a city that wasn't on the original plan! It's such a sense if freedom being on that bike looking down in it and knowing I have everything I need to survive right here on it! I'm just aware that I might need to be more cautious nearer to Miami, because I know I'm not the only one living in my bike around there and that I won't leave my gear unattended and probably won't have as much trust in people as I've had along the way.
I've also been thinking about when I should return to Philly and I don't have an answer yet so therefore I know it's not time to decide yet! Loving it
So after seeing NASA kennedy space center and the towns around the launch site, including the extremely beautiful cape canaveral national wildlife seashore. I picture how awesome it would be to witnesss the next shuttle discovery launch for November 1!! I mean it would probably be in the top 10 coolest things I've ever done!!! And it's reality to come into my future reality! I'm excited for the chance to see it.
The national seashore was incredible all the wildlife, birds, bugs, gators, lizards and everything we saw made me feel as if another country.
So today I'm at typhoon lagoon on a free pass! It's a ridiculously awesome Disney water park with my good old friend Jackie! Gonna be a great day, the weather is perfect and I'm creating the tone for it right now by projecting positivity all over it!
I've planned my next ride for this Sunday. It's about 80 miles southeast. Knowing it's into the wind and I've been eating like a fat kid I'm not trying to pull off too much or push myself too hard. I'm riding to a town called palm bay, where I plan to sleep on the beach. It's gonna be hard to think about leaving this once again good established life behind me in Orlando to start roughing it again. But the Florida keys are on my mind, along with west palm, ft lauderdale, Miami and my parents in ft myers! So being a Yankee I need to keep it moving. I'm really grateful for the traveling mentality I've learned and how to think on the run, not panic and find a solution, or a way around an obstacle that comes. This could have only be learned by the experience for me and traveling is great experience.
But I'm looking forward to getting back on my horse and being grateful for an awesome time in Orlando, a city that wasn't on the original plan! It's such a sense if freedom being on that bike looking down in it and knowing I have everything I need to survive right here on it! I'm just aware that I might need to be more cautious nearer to Miami, because I know I'm not the only one living in my bike around there and that I won't leave my gear unattended and probably won't have as much trust in people as I've had along the way.
I've also been thinking about when I should return to Philly and I don't have an answer yet so therefore I know it's not time to decide yet! Loving it
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