{"id":6305,"date":"2015-06-08T12:53:58","date_gmt":"2015-06-08T12:53:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beachtobayscooters.com\/?p=6305"},"modified":"2015-06-29T16:04:32","modified_gmt":"2015-06-29T16:04:32","slug":"from-downtown-to-the-treasure-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beachtobayscooters.com\/from-downtown-to-the-treasure-island\/","title":{"rendered":"From Downtown to the Treasure Island"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Gulf Beaches<\/strong><\/p>\n The fastest and most direct way to get to any Gulf Beach from Downtown St Petersburg proper is to either take Central Ave or 1st st Ave North to Treasure Island. The first way is the obvious Central Ave, since it dead ends into Treasure Island, the Thunderbird Beach Resort, which an excellent hotel and landmark for those out of towners.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Central Ave is more scenic and less intense in terms of traffic and I recommend this for those new to scooters or for those who simply prefer to be on streets where the traffic is not much faster than the scooter is capable of going. In fact, until you pass 34th street, Central is 15 to 20 mph for the most part. It is one of the few places in St Petersburg where you can get a ticket on a scooter so be mindful. The untimed red lights can be a relief from fast traffic since it prevents cars from gaining too much of a top speed and if you are not in a hurry, then it is kind of cool to see all the shops on Central. I have driven by the same blocks in a car untold times, and I don\u2019t know why exactly, but on the scooter, I see so much more detail everywhere. So many different things that I never noticed before, to the point where the most common question I ask myself when on Central Ave is \u201cHow long has that been there?\u201d because I am seeing so much for the first time. This is part of the scooter experience, there is nothing between you and the rest of the world \u2013 so everything is in your face. Sadly, in a car I have a tendency to let my mind drift and I most likely go on \u2018autopilot\u2019 for most trips that I have already been on. Even sadder my drifting mind tends to focus on problems or otherwise unnecessary things. This does not happen on the scooter. If you day dream yourself into a pothole or curb, you are in for a memorable experience if you are \u2018lucky\u2019, as they say. So I hardly ever drift, and all five (?) senses are on alert. <\/a><\/p>\n And it is not just the sights that you can absorb while riding, but the sounds and smells. The engines of cars, loud things are even louder and more intense. A dump truck or bus makes me want to reach for a power button to roll up the window, or a remote for mute for only a pointless moment, then I smile and enjoy it knowing that these sounds will soon fade to where my scooter is the loudest thing, but not louder than the birds at dawn, or the laugher of a child.
\nAn alternative for taking Central is 1st Ave North. This is a fast moving one-way street that is great to take if you want less stops and faster moving traffic. There are fewer shops to see than Central, but not less first time sights to notice. Again, all these years I have lived in St Petersburg, and on the scooter I am having more \u2018first time\u2019 awareness of so many different things. Like certain houses, stain glass in a house, a cool lamp post, parking spots now freshly painted, countless law offices, CPAs, all manner of doctors\u2019 offices, a restaurant call Cappy\u2019s (how long?, hmm looks good… plan on trying).<\/p>\n
\nThe smells too, such a wide range and can toggle between sweetly pleasant and horrid. I can be overwhelmed while passing under the bridge underneath I-275 by odors that instantly remind me of the New Orleans French Quarter on Mardi Gras Day. However, within minutes, I am greeted by the pizza oven of Central Pizza, of Central and 64th, even though I am on 1st Ave North, one block away, I am clocking their oven like I am standing outside their door. I am getting hungry just thinking about it. They have 2 slices and a can drink for less than $5. I give them $6 as a tip gladly since each item is worth over two bucks. That is perfect for me.<\/p>\n