The Keys Day 8

Islamorada, Florida to Valdosta, Georgia:  511.9 Miles

We were glad to be back in the cottage early the previous evening as there was torrential rain for several hours into the night.  We then woke on the first day of spring to a final muggy Florida Keys morning.
We walked out to the dock to watch the sunrise, but the clouds to the east prevented seeing the sun.  More dramatic was the lightning flashing to the southeast as the day started to get brighter.

We headed out after checking out of the Pines and Palms.  Traffic was light as we said goodbye to The Keys, going north on US1.

We wanted to take the same basic route home as we took south, but a weather system off the coast was bringing the threat of heavy rain and wind into the Atlantic states.  While weather is a part of motorcycle travel, a more inland route seemed prudent.

Once back on the mainland of Florida, the nonsensical Garmin GPS put us on some local roads before steering us through construction traffic (in fairness to Garmin, they don't know about that).  Once through the construction on FL997 we got onto US27.
The first couple hours on US27 were wonderful.  High speeds, absolutely no traffic.  Florida is not known for great roads, and this was monotonously flat and straight, but it was pretty in its own way.
Initially, we traveled through swampy backwater glade-type topography.  Then there were miles and miles of sugar cane fields.

After the sugar cane, came miles of citrus trees.

Temperature and humidity dropped throughout the afternoon, making the ride become much more comfortable.
Around Sebring, we should have stopped listening to the GPS and headed over to I-75, but we continued on US27 through many miles of traffic lights.  There were places where it wasn't too bad, and the road was wide, with many lanes.  But the traffic lights, starting somewhere north of Sebring and continuing for some 50 miles got very annoying.
Eventually we made it to the Florida Turnpike and rode interstates for the rest of the day.

I was actually kind of glad that Garmin took a somewhat moronic route through Florida as I wanted to see the interior of the state.  I was also glad not to have to deal with Florida interstate traffic for the entire day.  Taking a route that didn't require the relatively high toll rates was a bonus.
I also decided that Florida is a very, very long state, when starting from The Keys.

Eventually we crossed the state line and decided to stop shortly thereafter in Valdosta, Georgia.  We made reservations from a gas stop and got a great room for the night.
Dinner that night was at a Japanese restaurant and it was surprisingly good - I wouldn't have picked Southern Georgia for sushi, but I'll take it.