Return Engagement

About Daytona: I've made it very clear to anyone who was interested, and to a few who weren't, that I was RIDING my fucking bike back from Daytona, mostly to avoid the boos and hisses from the crew that would rather ride through a hailstorm than trailer a scoot. And I confess, I'm sorta one of those people. I've handed out my share of abuse! "Motorcycles are for riding, you pussy!"

So I've been packing, and then re-packing, to get ready for the ride back from Daytona. Rain gear, chaps, gloves, and heavy leathers that take up a lot of room, just in case I hit bad weather coming home. And I've been thinking....and thinking.......

Time passes.....

See, this trip back is one straight slog, northbound on Interstate 95, the undisputed world's champion of congestion, big- rig traffic, and nut cases driving minivans full of rug-rats coming back from some theme park in central Florida. I've done this run on a bike a time or two, and it's like a 800 mile obstacle course where your stress level is through the roof every mile you ride. White knuckles. There's no joy, not to mention the fact that there's also no "Oh Wow, look at that!" scenery for the entire trip. Unless, of course, "Oh Wow!" means look at the accidents......

I'll re-mention the congestion, particularly from Richmond, Virginia, northward. It's a fucking parking lot at 2AM on a Sunday morning, let alone on a Monday afternoon when I'm be in the home stretch. And when I'm most likely to be freezing my ass off.

Shit. Despite all my "I'm riding!" BS, this wasn't looking like the best idea I ever had.......

So I bit the bullet today, reluctantly plunking down $420 bucks for a return trip on the AutoTrain. The $420 covers the bike and a reserved seat, which is sorta outrageous, since I'm going down for $320, which includes a sleeping compartment! Amtrak jacks up the price for northbound travelers. I guess they figure you'll pay more just to get home, and sit upright in a seat all night doing it. Damn, they're right!

And that's it. The decision was made, and I'll be one of those peeps showing up at Daytona Bike Week all fresh as a daisy, and returning home with only event-miles on the new bike. Though I was sure looking forward to my first good ride of the year, Daytona just ain't gonna be it. I'll just enjoy my time there, and party just a little less. Like $620 less.......

Cowboy

PS....Just 3 more days and I'm gone!