Left Sebring, FL on the bike about noon after sleeping in and a late brunch with my dad at Bob Evan’s. I had to laugh…except for a couple of the waitresses (only a couple) and the cooks, I was the youngest person in the entire restaurant by far, and the place was packed. I had a route all planned out, but of course I missed my turns. Ended up out in the FL boonies at the junction of US-27 and SR-70. Quick water and gas break, then it was east on SR-70. I missed my turn again (I was trying for SR-700) so I kept going. I also was feeling pretty bummed because I realized that my headphones were back at my dad’s place, so no tunes and no protection from the wind noise.
Definitely out in the boonies, though. Banjo music, “Southern Comfort”-style, was on my mind. 
Stopped at a gas station somewhere along SR-70 for a location fix and got hit up by a beggar. He gave me a pretty good spiel about Harleys and how he owned a “47 panhead” back home and just needed money to get back to it so I gave him some money and moved on. I was starting to get back into civilization so I started thinking about finding a Best Buy or even a Wal-Mart or large truckstop that might have some headphones I could buy, but I wasn’t having any luck. Eventually I came up on I-95 and while I wanted to avoid freeways I realized I was running a bit late and decided to get on it anyway.
ATTENTION FLORIDA DRIVERS: YOU SUCK.
I was making my way down I-95 towards Deerfield Beach and decided to get some gas so I wouldn’t have to do it at tourist prices near the beach. I got off I-95 at Lantana Blvd and noticed there was a Costco right there. “Cool,” I thought. “They’ll have headphones I can buy”. But the place was absolutely packed. Every space in the lot was full. I didn’t even stop…I just went right through the parking lot and decided to get gas and get back on the freeway. While getting gas, I got hit up for money from another beggar. WTF?? I said “no, thanks” and then got a very pleasant surprise: I found my headphones buried in my back pocket!! Yay!! So, it was back onto the road, this time with tunes. Fun.
I decided to take the “back way” into Deerfield Beach, down A1A from Lantana. About 40 miles according to the GPS. I figured the scenery would be great, a road right along the water, etc. Not so. Because in Florida, it turns out regular people like me aren’t allowed to see the water. Only rich people are allowed near the water. Regular people get to look at the roofs of rich peoples’ mansions over giant walls and gates instead. And A1A is only 35 MPH with no passing allowed. Ouch, especially when you get stuck behind a freaking RV the entire way south.
Finally rolled into Deerfield Beach and checked into the HOJO. Dinner with relatives at Bonefish Mac’s and then back to the hotel to get some shut-eye…big trip over to the Tampa side tomorrow. And alligators! Distance today: 173 miles.
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