Day 11...The REAL Miami Vice (traffic)

Day 11 and I elect to see a place I've never seen... South Beach, Miami.   This'll put you in the mood...Miami!

It was a wonderful cool morning and I treated myself to some Denny's eggs, bacon, and toast.  I ignored Dunkin Donuts just down the street because I've been getting input from friends and family that cinnamon rolls are NOT good for you.  One person went so far as to say that at the rate of my consumption I would overgross my bikes weight by half way around the trip.  Funny.  Now I'm self conscious.

Just as it got warm I left the interstate and jumped onto Hwy 1 to get a better feel for Miami.  Bad idea.  I sat through no less than 6 cycles of a red light trying to get onto Hwy 1...then it was a stop at every other intersection.  So, I turned off and found a residential through street that paralleled Hwy 1 and used it.  Much better.

I drove by some truly magnificent homes.  I mean drug cartel boss kind of homes.  With fences, gates, cameras, and (from what I could tell) immaculate landscaping.  It's hard to imagine a family actually living in a house like that.  It's hard to even imagine the staff needed to support such a place.  I don't usually get all wrapped around the axel about conspicuous consumption.  But when I think of the state of the VA hospital system... the fact that our youngest soldiers qualify for food stamps... and I see not one, but hundreds of palatial homes I have to wonder at what might be a misplaced sense of priorities.  Don't get me wrong...I don't suggest taxing these folk into submission, but I wish they would voluntarily do (for good, moral, and virtuous reasons) something for those who need just a little help.  Enough soap box.

As part of this excursion I was amazed to see the tree lined residential streets where the canopy completely closed over the sidewalks and streets.  It was a perfect place to walk, bike, and push baby strollers.  It had to be at least 5 or 10 degrees cooler than out in the open.

I wound my way through the streets and drove through some really nice commercial areas with lots of little bistros, restaurants, and boutique clothing stores.  Didn't notice the ubiquitous "nails" or "tattoo" parlors that seem to be in every other shopping area in America.  I wonder why?

Miami Beach is located on a barrier island and you must cross a bridge to get there... the bridge gives you a great look at both the skyline and the cruise ship terminal.

South Beach, with all its art deco, flamboyant color palette, and throng of people is a wonderful place to kill time.  I didn't even mention the white sand beaches, the exercise areas where muscle builders go to work out and be seen, and the people wearing very little.  But it's all there.  Parking is at a premium along the beach area and I think I got the last 'motorcycle only' space on the whole half mile or so of the beach front that I drove through.  Needless to say, driving was slow and you have to be really patient...a virtue that I obviously need a little work on.

 

 

I was the most overdressed person at the beach that day.  Way too many clothes to be comfortable in the heat.

One place that really caught my eye was a burger king... evidently just being a Burger King isn't cool enough... you have to be a Whopper BAR.

I spent my time at South Beach then moved on... time to go north.  And again, as soon as I got started the clouds began  to build.  But I was resolved to get at least 300 miles under my belt before I called it a day, so after the first storm (that caught me unready and got me pretty wet) I broke out the 'snivel gear' and kept the rain coat/pants handy.   I drove through about a half dozen showers and only pulled over once because of excessive lightning.  I made my 300 miles and pull into Daytona to sleep and do my laundry.