Life is a drink. Slurp it up or die thirsty.
~GWB~
If there's a reason they call it the "Sunshine Skyway" bridge, it would have to be because of the breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. I love riding over this bridge and was determined to catch the sunrise Saturday morning.
I couldn't have timed it more perfectly if I had used a slide rule, a sextant, and a calculator. The whole ball popped up over the horizon just as I crested the apex of the bridge. Perfect!
I found Carnival World by virtue of a travel book, Florida Curiosities, where I read about "Freaktown", aka Gibsonton, FL, that was and still is home to many circus show performers. Doing a bit of research in the area, and this place popped up, so I thought I'd pop in on my way to Sarasota.
I'm glad I did!
Carnival World Museum is located at 6938 Riverview Road, in Riverview, just off Hwy 41 (the Tamiami Trail). Yes, the same road that takes you through the Everglades to the country's smallest Post Office! But I digress. This place is chock full of carnival and circus history from all over the world -- a "must stop" if ever you're traveling through Riverview with no particular place to go! Tell Lee that Goldwing Bravo sent you ;o)
I've been through Sarasota many times. It's a beautiful place. Had to stop for selfies in front of the Sailor Kissing the Nurse statue on the waterfront.
I knew this thing was in Florida, but didn't know exactly where until I accidentally found it buzzing by at 55 mph!
If you are ever on the hunt for a great chilidog in Venice, FL, look no further than Tony's Chicago Beef on the Tamiami Trail.
This was recorded on the last day of my Key West Odyssey. I found the perfect spot to view the sunrise as I rode north to the National Navy UDT/SEALs Museum in Ft Pierce. It was a beautiful ride! Stay tuned... more spectacular views and vids to follow!
Almost all bikers know about "Airplane Mode"...
I've driven through this place a few times in a car. This is my first time doing it on my bike. One reason I ride is to discover beautiful scenic roads and historic spots like Floral City, FL. If you're a motorcyclist with a sense of adventure and an appreciation for the simpler things, you should definitely add this to your bucket list.
Here's the video of the incident I wrote about on my blog. Man! ya' just gotta keep your head up all the time in traffic, or one of these idiots will get you!
I've had several motorcycles over the years, but the Goldwing is my first "big" bike, so I'm still learning the ropes, especially on slow-speed maneuvers. I recently took the "Ride like a Pro" class, and I felt like a total failure on this and other obstacles, so I've been practicing.
On this practice session, I finally figured out the secret sauce for my 2025 Anniversary Ed. Goldwing DCT. The DCT doesn't have the "friction zone" of a clutch handle, so I have to compensate for that with rear-braking... more than you'd expect. Other than that, I just had to get comfortable riding in ever-smaller circles. After failing more than 20 times in the box, I decided to leave it alone for a few minutes and just ride in circles until I "felt the groove."
Finally, after about a jillion circles, I felt comfortable trying the box again, and boo-yah! Nailed it! Over and over again.
Now for that Iron Cross. Next time... Stay tuned!
So I went to Dayton for my first-ever visit to Bike Week. All kinds of sights, [loud] sounds, weird smells, and colorful characters. It was a lot of fun! Next year, I will schedule more time instead of just a day trip!
Just a day in the life... It takes a lot of practice and seat time to get good at handling a bigger bike like the Goldwing.
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