The morning after getting to Sarasota I did get to ride some of the Tamiami Trail. Some of the trail goes through towns along the gulf coast of Florida. I’m headed about 30 miles south of Sarasota to the town of Port Charlotte.  I missed stopping to see one of my wife’s cousins on my way up because of my route change – this morning I fixed that.

Karen was at work (Lowe’s if you don’t recognize the vest) so we just had a short visit but it was good to meet her and be able to put a face with a name.  While we were talking she told me about a really good Harley dealership in there in town with a very good restaurant right next door. Not pressed for time, I took her suggestion and she was right. A large Harley dealership with a BUNCH of used bikes – it was fun to look around. And the restaurant even had Guiness on tap.  Breakfast of champions – but just one.

Now – I need another T-Shirt and hat like I need to put on a few pounds, but who doesn’t want some swag from a place named Black Widow Harley Davidson?  A great name and good job with the artwork.  I really wanted a sweatshirt to replace the one that’s somewhere between Maryland and Virginia – that search continues.

When I got back to Sarasota we went to lunch at a large Tiki Bar/restaurant. Florida has to be the Tiki Hut capital of the world. The Seminole began building chickee (Americanized to tiki) huts, during the Seminole Tribal wars when U.S. troops pushed the natives into the Everglades. Original versions had elevated floors so the Seminole wouldn’t be eaten by the alligators. Today, tiki huts are exempt from the Florida building code if they are built by members of the Seminole or Miccosukee tribes. They don’t require building permits as long as they don’t have plumbing, electrical or concrete features in the construction. Lunch was BBQ and delicious; the Grateful Dead cover bands were almost as good as the food.  Thank you Phil & Shelly for the hospitality – see y’all next time.

I wanted to get an early start Sunday morning in order to get north of Tampa before church was out. I did get that accomplished and there was almost nobody else on the road in several places. I noticed a white car ahead of me kinda racing around.  I had no idea what it was, some white sedan speeding from light to light.  I caught up and we were at the red light together.  When the light turned green the Tesla left SO FAST – I was just shaking my head. The only place I’ve seen anything like that was at a drag strip.  I knew they were quick – but 0-60 in 2 seconds 0-100 in just over 4 seconds and 1,020 hp out of a 4 door is Amazing!!  I wanna go for a test drive – Wow!!  Tesla Model S Plaid

There was a Gun Show that I toyed with going to but I would have had to wait around for an hour for the doors to open, and there’s nothing I really need, so I passed on that one.  There was also a Tattoo Arts Convention in Tampa that would have been a cool place to walk around for awhile but it wasn’t time to walk around yet so I just kept going north.

Perry, Florida isn’t that special, but there is a very nice family owned and operated motel here that took care of me one year so if I’m ever in the area, I always stay with them.  Not a long day, but still good to be off the scooter and chill-laxing.