America, was sitting having a chat with my neighbour in the Royal when he said he was just going to get some ice. He jumped in his wagon, started it drove 25 yards stopped got out with a small tub, returned seconds later, reversed up got out and put 2 cubes in his glass. The rest melted???? Wonder why he weighs so much. Even his wife called him lazy.Well another day, up at 6-00 and out by 6-45, bit slow. Headed off after filling up for a run down Florida’s lanes. Absolutely beautiful, tree lined well surfaced roads across Apalachee bay without seeing the sea once, misty and quite cold,

had to stop and put waterproof top on to keep warm. Went into Jefferson County, not sure why but it amused me seeing it as it’s been on TV for something. Stopped for breakfast at 9 in Apalachicola, two hours to do a hundred and ten miles miles??? Not sure what happened there even at 65 mph. Harley still a treat to ride, just have to be careful with the camber when parking up.

Filled up again for 10 dollars, tank holds 4 gallons and takes 14 dollars when empty. I can live with that. Did another 50 miles to Panama City, nose to tail, stop start all the way to Pensacola. Malaga of the USA, thought the gulf coast would be good to see, did not see much of it and 4hours and a hundred miles later I gave up when a turning said North, so I did. All clear and back to 70 after a 2 mile bridge but lost.

Have to say USA does most things in a big way, rivers that are massive, bridges that run for miles, heading into Mobile there were 3 causeways across the water all heading for the same spot, a massive American Battleship. Anyway lost the road signs in town and got lost, USA cities have some very bleak areas and I found them so decided to just get on a freeway, head north (quite easy as they are all up in the sky and simple to spot in town), pull over and get the map out. Good idea but 4 o clock and rain appears so just turned off freeway and booked into a rather expensive hotel, Worked out where I was ( actually asked the hotel receptionist to put a circle round the spot on the map, reinforcing her idea that Brits are idiots who travel around not caring where they are. She did not subscribe to I am not lost I am in the USA. I am going west so no problem that's where LA is.) Looking at the map I am only 15 miles from where I planned to be, good enough as I had not looked at a map since I just turned off. Matt s compass worked a treat, thanks son.

350 miles today and the bike has performed a treat, found I could not lift my feet off the foot plates at 70, the wind had then pinned down. Also found out how to get neutral, run down the gears to first, roll along, clutch in flick and there it is, can only do it when its moving though, so have to sit with clutch in if you blow the process.

Head for Nachez tomorrow and then on to Tullulah and Wichita falls in the next couple of days