Modern Vespa

My First Vespa Trip

Florida, June 13 to 18, 2010

South Beach to Cedar Key and back, 800 miles total


Day One - 225 miles

Let's see... what can I say about my first day on the road... it was HOT, DAMN HOT!!!

Things worked out so that I started my trip at about 11AM. Getting out of Miami was uneventful. I stopped at the biker hangout on US 27 and Griffin Road to take a picture of the Vespa alongside some Harleys. There were only about fifteen or twenty today. The last time I was there I saw well over a hundred.

Later I rode on US 441 through the sugarcane fields that border Lake Okeechobee. Shortly before I reached the town of Okeechobee, I got hit with a downpour. I stopped to put the rain covers on the saddlebags, my rain suit on, and continued to ride enjoying the cooler temperature.

When the rain subsided, I pulled over to remove my suit. I had put down the side stand, and when I was trying to get my boot out of the pants leg, I touched the scooter and down it went on its side. Luckily, the saddlebags prevented any real damage, except that to my ego.

I reached Lake Kissimmee State Park at around six. Just as I was starting to set up camp and pitch my tent, it started to rain again. Needless to say, it was a fiasco. I'm thankful there were no witnesses.

It was HOT, DAMN HOT, and now WET too!!!

Between the heat, humidity, the uncomfortable sleeping mat and the strange noises outside my tent (I didn't know if there were lions, tigers or cannibals out there), I don't think I slept two hours.

I'm not sure about this camping thing in the heat of the Floridian summer.

Although the roads here aren't very challenging, just riding is a real escape. I try to recall my thoughts while riding, but none come to mind. It's like it's you, the bike, the road and not much else. It's great just to ride.

Observation:

I installed a side stand to use when I have the saddlebags on. Since I dropped the scooter while on side stand, I have been using the center stand whenever possible. Another problem for me with the side stand is that it scrapes when leaning in the tight corners, something that I find unnerving.


Day Two - 205 miles

I got up early at around six, and by seven, I was on the road again.

The ride to Ocala from Lake Kissimmee was very pleasant. Not very curvy, but there was some interesting scenery through the orange groves and cattle pastures with some exotic looking palms wrapped in the early morning fog.

I ride with full gear, so taking photos with a large camera is not very easy, since a lot of the gear has to come off. I've been pretty lazy about this and have been using a little point-and-shoot that isn't very good, but, it fits in my jacket pocket and I don't have to put up to my eye.

There's a great little place for breakfast in Dundee, population 3000. It's called Melonie's and it's been there for thirty years. Melonie Smith, the owner who sings and plays the guitar, is soon going to try out for America's Got Talent in Orlando. You can check her out on YouTube.

After riding through the Ocala National Forest, I arrived in Gainsville at 2:00PM.
Gainsville has a great downtown with nice cafes, restaurants, galleries and a Hampton Inn right on the square. Guess where I'm spending the night?

I had dinner at Emiliano's, a contemporary Cuban restaurant with a very interesting menu and not too expensive either. I enjoyed their food and the live jazz.

Observation:

My professional cameras are quite heavy and require that I remove my helmet in order to look through the viewfinder. I'm going to buy a better point-and-shoot, with more features and a swiveling screen: perhaps a Canon G11. My wife uses the G9, a previous model that is truly amazing.


Day Three - 67 miles

Today I decided to visit Cedar Key on the gulf coast and spend the night there. I feel a little lazy for covering so few miles, but I'll make up for it tomorrow.

Before heading out I would stop by the Vespa Gainesville store to say hello. There I met Chris, a very nice and helpful young man. We talked a bit and then he was kind enough to top off my oil and give me a Vespa t-shirt. He also explained the noise I was hearing was just some wear on the rollers and gave me a list of Florida Vespa dealers just in case I needed help on the road.

Arriving in Cedar Key is like taking a step back in time. It feels like the forties or fifties here. The place is very quaint with a population of 1000 and not a single chain or franchise store, all the stores are owned by the locals. There aren't any buildings over three floors. The locals are mostly artists, writers, fishermen and retirees.

For the night I rented an efficiency apartment right on the water. It's called Island Place at Cedar Key. It is very roomy with a porch and porch swing, all good for a family of four. It also has a washer and dryer, which my riding jacket and helmet liner have been crying out for.

Tony's Clam Seafood Restaurant serves the best New England style chowder I have ever had. I had dinner there tonight and they told me, and have the newspaper clipping to prove it, that they've won two years consecutively the prize for the best clam chowder in a competition that's held in Rhode Island. You can order some online at www.tonyschowder.com. It's good stuff!

Observation:

Resting my back on the duffle bag while riding seems comfortable at first. In this position my arms are stretched out, and after a while, I start to feel tension in my upper back and shoulders. I find that the best seating position for me is closer to the bars with a relaxed grip, my elbows bent and my back erect. Also, in this position and at a particular distance from the fly screen, there is a very noticeable decrease in wind buffeting on my helmet.

Also, I was surprised at how many thumbs up and waves I got from the Harley riders when the saw me on my little machine all packed up doing 70 or stopped at an intersection. I had imagined being the laughing stock of the back roads.


Day Four - 282 miles

I said I wouldn't be lazy about riding today and I wasn't.

Last night I had decided to ride back to the east coast to Cocoa Beach and then, on the following day, continue down the coast on A1A for the leg home. I was thinking that it might be cooler along the ocean.

I rode through Ocala and saw some very impressive and beautiful horse ranches. Two of them even had their own racetracks. My favorite road today was County Road 326; excellent road condition, slow rolling hills, and great scenery.

I had left Cedar Key at 6:30AM and three hours later I was very hungry. At a country store on 326, I had a full breakfast. A couple of guys outside smoking cigars started asking questions about the Vespa, marveled that one could tour on it and how much gear it can carry. One of them has wanted a Vespa for years; after speaking with me, I think he's ready.

When I finally got to Cocoa Beach, I was very disappointed. It is very touristy, with lots of fast food places, traffic and tons of teenagers on vacation. Not that I have anything against teenagers, I have a couple of my own; just don't want them around when I'm trying to escape reality.

I think that it will be like this most of the way down the coast. Tomorrow I will decide whether to head inland again, or just continue along A1A and see how it goes.

Observation:

The Givi saddlebags are great just hung over the frame under the seat. With just the weight of the packed bags, they stay put at up to 70 mph. (I didn't go any faster); didn't scratch the body panels either. And, when I dropped the scooter, they were all the protection it needed. They paid for themselves just from that incident alone.

Also, one place you might want to see if around these parts is the Kennedy Space Center. It is quite impressive, especially when you stand next to some of the massive rockets or the very small earlier capsules that orbited our planet. I had already seen it, so I just rode by to revive the memory.


Day Five - 226 miles

Well, I decided to stick to my plan especially since I crossed the state to execute it.

Turns out that the only place I didn't like was where I decided to spend last night. Just a few minutes out of Cocoa Beach, on A1A, things got quite nicer. It started at Patrick Air Force Base, which is pretty big and right across the road from the beach and a park the length of the base so our servicemen and women have an unobstructed view of the ocean. Their housing is very decent too; almost makes you want to join. It continues nicely for many miles, and it seemed to me, but it could have been my imagination, that the temperature was a bit cooler along the ocean.

Jupiter Island is an old money paradise. There is only one perfectly landscaped road lined with incredible homes on both sides. I'm sure many run in the tens of millions of dollars. Taking pictures is almost impossible, as the homes are so far removed from the road by long main driveways, service driveways and then obstructed by tall landscaping. I could only see bits and pieces of the mansions. If I had gone on the beach I could have seen them more clearly from there. It's an incredible place.

The next very beautiful place is Palm Beach. I rode down Worth Avenue where all the luxury stores are located. If you want to do some shopping there, make sure there is nothing on your credit cards. You are going to need all your available credit.

Somehow I missed the famous Mar a Lago, Donald Trump's home right on the ocean; rode right past it.

After Palm Beach entering Pompano Beach it gets more congested. There are driveways all along and many left-hand turners. It's back to city riding. You have to be very vigilant and keep your brakes covered all the time.

It wouldn't be much longer until I got home, so I changed to city mode and rode on.

I made it home to South Beach safely and without a mechanical hitch. The Vespa performed well, so well in fact that I felt it was deserving of a name. My daughter Isabella did the honors of christening her with a can of Amstel Light. I know what you're thinking, but it was spur of the moment and beer was all I had. Anyway, her name is now Luna Piena (full moon in Italian), but I will call her Luna.

I look forward to my next escapade with her.


Observation:

The Airhawk seat cushion literally saved my ass. I rode for up to eight hours in one day and when I got off, I was still human.

Great ride report and nice pictures!

What a great trip report! It does get uncomfortable riding when hot, but I think it's better than riding when freezing. Congratulations on your ride

Congratulations !
Thanks for that instructive report and these nice pictures.

The Airhaw is not bad (I used it on my motorcycle) but now, I use the "Charyconfort" saddle cover which is much better :
http://www.charyconfort.com/boutique_us/liste_produits.cfm?type=22&code_lg=lg_us&num=0

Great ride report and write up. I grew up in south Florida and still miss it. I hope to make a ride similar to yours someday.

The writeup and photos were very evocative - really enjoyed this. I look forward to more accounts of your epic journeys in the future!

What a wonderful trip, I read every word. I've often thought that I might like to take a solo Vespa trip as well... but I think I might be too much of a chicken. Your photos are gorgeous! Congratulations to you and Luna both!

I am so happy you posted great details of your trip. My fiancee and I are riding through Cedar Key on our way to Key West in July. I think we may spend the night in Cedar Key. The photos are beautiful. I love old Florida...I grew up in Cocoa (late 60's early 70's) before it got so touristy. We plan on riding up the Atlantic coast on the return leg of the trip and stopping at Cocoa to see how much it has changed.
Thanks for sharing your great ride with us!

Don't be afraid, just give it a go. Start out with a short trip, maybe overnight and take slow roads. You wont need to take much with you if you stay at hotels. It's great fun!

Cool trip and nice pictures. Thanks for sharing.

If you come through South Beach during your trip, please drop me a line. I'll take you for a Vespa tour of Miami Beach.

Have a safe trip.

Nice report. Thank you for share

Thanks for all your comments. I would like to do a group ride in the future. If you are in my area, let's get together.

Chendo

Great report. I am an absolute wuss about camping in the FL heat. We camp in FL, just not until fall and I cut it off in May or June You look like you had a great ride. It is sort of like rediscovering your youth when you ditch your teenagers and ride around on your own. Try taking one of the teens - it is a whole different experience with them.

Looks like you had a great time. Give a shout next time you are up this way. I live just over 30 miles from Ocala.

Great report, Really makes me want to start venturing further from home.

GeorgiaGirl, I envy you. You live in a great place to ride. I plan on doing another trip in the winter to north Georgia and then to the Dragon.

Hey John, thanks! I should be up your way this winter.

Holler when you come up. The guys on the forum all are awfully nice. There are a bunch of us getting together the weekend of Sept 19th if you would like to join us. Remember, winter up here can be really truly cold - highs in the 30's, with ice in the higher elevations. Then again, at least once or twice a month it will warm up into the 50's or 60's and you can ride for the day with no problems.

great write up and pics. sounded like a great time. thanks for sharing.

I really enjoyed reading about your journey. I am also 52, grew up on Miami Beach and now live in Pembroke Pines with my family. Over the years I had a Kymco People 50, then a People 150 and just traded for a GTS300 about a month ago. A long solo ride is on my bucket list but not sure if I will ever pull the trigger.

What made you decide on Ceder Key as the destination? What was your biggest surprise about the trip?

My trip was really a trip to nowhere. I had already been to the Keys, so I decided to head north. When I got to Gainesville, I read about Cedar Key in the hotel magazine and just decided to go.

This was my first trip, so it was more of a test to see how many miles I could comfortably cover and see what I would need on long distance trips. With this experience I will be able to better plan my next trip.

My biggest surprise was how much I enjoyed it!

In an earlier post I wrote about my preparations for the trip. I received many helpful replies from the other members. There are a lot of very experienced riders out there.