HEADED TO CLEVELAND

[GRAPEAPE94]

It's time for my yearly jaunt to Cleveland.

I am going to do things differently this year. In the past I have done it all by interstate I-75 north to I-4 then east to I-95. Then north to I-26, West to I-77 then north to Cleveland. this year I am going to take I-75 north to Ocala then get on US-301 and go north to I-10 then east to Jacksonville then I-95.

I have avoided this route in the past for two reasons. First being all interstate I could set the cruise control and just go. Second, on US-301 there are two towns (Starke and Lawton) that are well known speed traps. This year I decided what the h***.

I plan on leaving Venice, fl. around 6:00PM and getting to Cleveland about 18 hours later. I like riding at night and I should miss any bad traffic around the big cities (Tampa, Jacksonville, Columbia and Charlotte).

[detdrbuzzard]

when are you departing florida

[GRAPEAPE94]

I am leaving on the 31st of this month.

[harvey01]

I hope you have a fun and enjoyable trip. Let us know how it goes!

[Wilcoy02]

If you are on I-71 in Ohio get off at mile marker 140 and go north on St. Rt. 61 for 1/2 mile.

Stop in and get a cup of coffee. Would like to put a face on a forum name. I want to see if you are a grape or an ape

[GRAPEAPE94]

Most of the time will be spent in Cleveland and Norton. Will be going to Cedar Point as I am a roller coaster fanatic and a day up at Put-in bay.

Will spend most of my time with the son, daughter-in-law and granddaughters. My daughter-in-law just got out of rehab after an extremely bad accident this past winter caused by black ice on a bridge. They live in Norton so I will be staying at a motel at I-77 and rte 18. I am lucky as there is a FIVE GUYS right down the street. Down here in Venice I have to go north to Sarasota or south to North Port for a FIVE GUYS.

I am taking 8 days for the trip then back down here, rest up for a couple of days then back to work. Here I am, 70 years old and still working a full time job after retiring 4 years ago. My wing is keeping me young.

[WingAdmin]

My sister in law lives in Norton with her husband. Not far from us at all!

[minimac]

I just got home with a new to me Burgman Executive. I left Okeechobee and 20 hours later arrived home. I had planned taking a slow ride up the coast but bad weather-6 hours of downpours in Georgia and South Carolina- changed my mind. I made a bee line for the interstate and had to hustle home. I did manage to stay ahead of the rain and cold though. I hope you have better luck than me!

[GRAPEAPE94]

7 years ago I returned home from Cleveland in the rain. It rained the whole way back to here. I did spend about 1 1/2 hours in a quarter car wash when the rain was just too bad to continue.

Generally the rain will just slow me down but I really don't like riding in it in the dark. It is real hard to see standing water and it is even worse when I am being passed by a semi.

The bike is almost ready. It will get a new front tire, new brake pads and an oil change and it will be ready for the road. Already changed the sparkplugs, differential lube all the bulbs and the coolant.

[Dogsled]

I-77/rte8 in Akron is a mess Check this out and avoid this area, especially at the rush hours......I've been moving furniture from southern Ohio, north. They don't care i'm in a truck...............................just be carefull on your bike. I was told I-71 North is clear all the way to Cleveland. Have fun.

[Dogsled]

Oops sorry I forgot to include ODOT's map of the construction area to avoid

http://www.newsnet5.com/news/local-news ... until-june

They're behind already.....surprise about that