OK, we are still heading north on 17 and made it thru the construction zone, however there is still some high traffic areas before the road heads into the marshes and small rivers that dump into the the St John's River. Here the trees canopy lean over the the road creating tricky light and shadow areas, as well as little fuzzy creatures that run out, small bridges that cross rivers that bring the winds from the St. John's with them, tidal changes means dealing with shore birds and human's fishing. Now we all know no one get in the way of redneck fishing right? Once past the bridges there a couple of little towns then sr 200. I know we were going to take Alton road, but started thing that this 17 offerend a biggier varity of conditions for this too snaked along the river and a gain would end up at her home. So we made it past the construction site and I kept cruising along, I felt no need to tell her about any more up coming things, for stopping and such is a skill that she has already paractices and does so regularly, I also felt the shadows and such she's dealt with driving and there is no difference be it a car or bike. We hit 200 made that right and continued right on down to the intercoastal bridge up and over and down 8th street, we were now on my island. We continued straight on 8th street until Center Ave then made a left on Center Ave. Right here is the begining of the "Down Town" area, the streets a re small, there is brick on the people crossings, shops, folks pulling in and out, crowned streets, and lots to look at. After all this little village area dates back I think to the late 1700's early 1800's. We make a right on to Second st and park along side of the Palace Saloon. We go in to relax, she can babble to me about what she thought, felt and from there I can make a decision as to what we will work on next or just take smoother roads home.
So, we sat at the tables had ice tea and babbled about what she thought about the things she road thru already, how did she feel about them and if she felt the need to rexperience them to understand what they feel like. I'm doing this now because I want to know what kind of impressions the condtions left ther with, how they felt to her and if she took the too lightly or was still stress over running across them again. See if she took them to lightly that mean I took the edge of caution away which is very bad, however is she was too terrified to really "feel" for them to make and impression that's bad too, either way I 'd have to look to find this conditions for her so she could experience them correctly. I want her to form her own opinions on things not suck up others fears, be cautious and respectful without paralizing terror too, its all a fine line. Plus I don't want her picking up my attitude its no big deal cause they are a big deal and I do have respect and caution of these situations but for her any fear of conditions and such I do not want to share, I do not want to create any unneccessary fears, "K" will have plenty of chances of her own to become "fearful" of conditions and surfaces she doen't need anyone else pressing their fears on her. I found that she was just fine, infact when we hit the construction zone she understood what I was trying to do, as she practiced her basic skills learned by the MSF, I was taking her out to experience the caution zones of riding in the best situations that a rider could come up on them, and allowing here the freedom to experience them for herself not just taking her out to practice her basic skills. I told her where we were going next, dealing with down town traffic, riding along the ocean there and people and the things they are carring are the dangers here. the back half or north part of the island with little circle or roundabouts, the waters and cross winds , bridges, and grated bridges. I think I will also take her on old asphalt road on that has been patched, has some chuck holes, which leads to a gravel road, then fininal into a sand road them back to asphalt, to loading up on the ferry for the ride home, I not heartless enough to make her to the Dam's Point again.
We had out from the Palace head east, make a right on to Flectcher and track right on along the ocean. People are walking to the beach at this time, folks are coming home from chruch, going to Sliders or the Surf, just road way chaos however its sunny ocean breezes that give ya a litle blow when ya out from behind the beach house that line the street, alot is going on so much to watch. At Saddler we go around the roaund about, as the grey little clouds pass over head, we end up on the corner of A1A and Hecshure drive, and head left going south. This is where the wealthy of the wealthist live, and with that comes some of the oldest drivers on the planet. Q Tip drivers unit! Rolls eyes at the moment but it is a road condition We pass over the bridge of Amelia Sound, and the game warden is there at the boat ramp messing things up if you like and them we enter wooded areas of the island, and with a bat of any eye cross over to Little Talbot Island. As we round the bend and cross a nother large bridge we are now on Big Talbot island there's the drive on beach park. This place is jamming in the summer wall to wall trucks, cruising back and forth it is redneck beach man. We round the bend on the north end if Big Talbot, come to a bridge. I love this here the water at high tide can appear to be aqua, and the sands white and ususally there is a number of windsuffers and para gliders? Ya can see the large ships lining up to come into Jacksonville port, and the tops of the Naval Ships and Coast Guard at Mayport. We cross this bridge and slow down as the signs direct us too, this part of the road was ahs some nice sweeper on it, and now we are ready to hit some grated bridges.
Right before the first grateded bridge I pull over into a parking area and stop to speak to "k" about grated bridges. She said wow that's so awesome I've done that road hundrend of times but never on a bike and it is completely different, in a car is borring. but on a bike its exciting. Now she is getting it. We talk about the serious of grated bridges comeing up and the fact that they are all draw bridges. I asked her what and how do you feel about grated bridges? Well she started telling me they were dangerous, and ya can't stop, that the suface isn't compatable to motorcycles and we should all try to avoid them. I said ok, so where did you get this information she told me when she took the MSF people told her that stuff. "People, what People? The MSF instuctors? or classmates?" she said class mates. I said flat out, "darling this is Florida, if you try to avoid grated bridges you will be going hours and hours out of your way or not going any where if you won't cross a grated bridge. For that matter you won't go anywhere at all for grated bridges are all over this country so ya might as well sell that bike and stick to the car,?" " Wow," was all she could say, then I added, "its like this ya want to keep a consistant speed across the grateded bridges, if ya have to stop well then you'll have to stop. However keep a consistant speed give yourself room maybe extra room from the car truck or bike in front of you. Head up there will be a little thumb as your bike comes in contact with the bridge decking, the front tire will feel like its "dancing" across the surrface of the bridge. But you are in contorl that dancing sensations happen do to the holes and groves of the bridge, and its a normal sensation for a grated bridges. It will be ok, Look here comes a bike across now. It will be ok."
So, we set off for the bridge we've got three more to go, she slowed but took them and didn't tie up traffic badly at all. Whenever I looked back n the mirrow all I could see is a big smile, so though I was being a PIA to her in her mind, she was digging it. The St. John's Ferry was in sight. However I took a surprise turn on "K" this we will talk about as well in a few minutes, I made a right on to St. Georges, Kingsley Plantation areas. and went down a narrow road that hadden't been repaved in years. We passed the main houses and headed into the swamps and marches, the deeper into the island we went the more chewed up the road was, this was about target fixation. At the sail club I stoppend to babble with her again. We were about to hit gravel road, and gravel roads in my mind suck! But, I said this here is a lttle more tricky but it will be ok, we will run into on coming cars but just continue your course, the bike might bounce around a little or even slide. the ideal is to go slow enough that is ya need to stops sudden ya can without too much sliding, but fast enough ya don't cause a traffic jam and piss folks off, keep to speed which should be easy its posted 20 here. After the gravel comes a hard packed dirt road reall just dusty unless its raining them sometimes these things can be come slick or gooey. Around Stl John's Island we did go, gravel, hard pack dirt and back out to the ferry. We crossed usuing the ferry and I went home with her. Her job fo rnext week was to practice skills. For the next time we meet it will be a longie long road trip, were going to Leesburg for an overnight camping trip........................have a great one "T"
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