Once off the Keys, my trip took me up 997 to 27 and at Belle Glade I picked up 441 to take me around the eastern shore of Lake Okeechobee. This was a pleasant route, first through rural country... mostly growing palm trees for sale. Very scenic! Route 27 at this point leads through agricultural and swamp land. They were good roads with little traffic to worry about, and even fewer towns with stops.

The road along the lake was a single lane each way, a serene and scenic way. It disappointed me that at no time was I able to see the lake. Between the road and the lake are levees too tall to see over. Even though there is not a single town along this stretch, there are a number of hotels, motels, RV parks and campgrounds along the lake. It gave the impression that it must be a popular place for water sports and recreation. I did not stop to check... just concentrated on enjoying the drive.

At Yeehaw Junction there is one of the few truck stops in Southern Florida, where I spent the night. A very quiet truck stop. Next day 441 took me all the way into Kissimee, where I checked into the Knight's Inn (with a coupon), just a mile and a half (as the crow flies) from the convention. It turned out to be a seven and a half mile trip to get there. Without the Nuvi, I would probably have driven much more, looking for the place. It is not an easy place to get around.

All day Friday, and Sat morning I spent at the convention. By lunch time on Sat the International contest was over, and I headed back North to Newton MA.... via Cincinatti OH, Wilmington DE and Jim Thorpe PA. Straight up I-75 first. The only thing which stands out on the first part of this trip is the delay and detour caused by a fatal motor bike crash at Corbin KY. This added more than two hours to the trip. I chose to stay in Corbin, rather than try to reach my intended destination, some two hours up the road.

After Cincinatti I-75 and I-70 took me to Washington PA, from where I followed US40 into MD to I-68 and I-70, I-695 around Baltimore and I-95 to Elkton MD. The trip along US40 and I-68 was a joy indeed. There really was no need to look for things to go sightseeing, the whole journey was pictorial. I can't recall if it was time constraint or just photo fatique, but I did not take any photos along this journey.

That is until I got to Lick Hollow Picnic Ground. I mean, how could you bypass a picnic ground with a name like that. It is a lovely spot, and I imagine on a hot summers day would be a haven away from the heat. If I had known it was there, I would have waited with lunch.


Just a few hundred feet further there is the Blue Star Memorial Highway rose garden and scenic overlook.




The following day I finally caught up with the lady at Chatris in Wilmington who organised my car insurance. After all those phone calls, and dozens of emails back and forth, it was good to put a face to the name. And I brought her a koala - albeit a 2" tall one on a keyring.

All she wanted was a koala.

Lifey