Central Florida from central Iowa and back on a 1963 305 Honda Dream
in the winter on $300
Hi, My name is Ray Busch. My wife of 48 years and I live 50 miles northwest of
Des Moines, Iowa.
In 1964 we went to central Florida and back on my 305 Honda Dream. I bought one new and planned to do this. However, I was riding down the highway in early December and a car came up behind me and ran over the motorcycle. He was speeding. I didn't get hurt real bad but had to buy another one. I used to ride every day.
I didn't make much money back then. Just looked at my Social Security records and found that for 1963, I paid tax on $3001. In order to buy a brand new machine, I did a little trading. I had a 1946 Indian Chief that I bought for $75. Sold it for $125. Nice profit. Then I bought a 74 cubic inch Harley for $300 and got $500 for it on a trade for the 305 Dream. These were both foot clutch and hand shift. Man, I knew how to make money back then...Haaaa..........
We had only been married a short time and didn't have much of a honeymoon so I told my wife I would take her to Florida later on. Didn't tell her it would be on a scooter. Back then this was the biggest motorcycle that Honda made. For those who are too young to remember, the electric starter was just new to a lot of bikes. This had electric start and also a kick start. You could start it by pushing the kick start with your hand. Honda had ads on TV that said, “You meet the nicest people on a Honda.” They would show a middle aged man riding a 100cc scooter with a suit and necktie.
After Christmas of 1963, we decided to go on a trip. I had $300 in the bank. No kids, and since we farmed for my dad, we could get away in the winter time as we had time but not in the summer. The plan was to pick a good day and take off. Coming back we would have to take our chances with the weather, as the weather here in Iowa can be BAD in the winter.
We would go as far as $150 would take us and turn around and come back. I thought we would make it to Key West but only made it to Sarasota. I think some of the reason for that was the bike only got around 40 mpg. Gas was anywhere from 18 to 25 cents a gallon. Each fill would take under 3 gallons. So it only cost around 65 cents or so to fill.
I thought it should get more but with two people and all our clothes, that was it. Also with a windshield it would push it to go 65 mph. We had hard bags and a luggage carrier and had a cloth bag on it. For Christmas in 63 my wife bought me a windshield and a Harley windshield bag and two Harley caps that had white bills, you don't see those anymore. We still have them. They didn't have helmet laws back then. I put some Saran Wrap on the lower part of the windshield with tape...TAA-DAA. a fairing. There wasn't many presents under the tree that year.
The following story is taken from a notebook I kept and a lot is from memory. As you get older I find I can remember what happened 47 years ago but not what I had for lunch yesterday. We packed the motorcycle and waited for a warmer day. Took about a week.
We left Beaver, Iowa on Tuesday, January 21, 1964 at 9 AM. The sun was shining and things looked good. Temperature was around 45 or so. Got to Cole Camp, Missouri in 8 hours, around 300 miles. Stayed overnight there with some older folks we knew.
Wednesday night got to the Ozarks and stayed with other friends that night. Got the Honda serviced at Waynesville at 557 miles on it.
Thursday. Fog this morning...cloudy and cold all day. Got up early and got a warning ticket at 5 AM for running a red light. I don't think I was quite awake yet.
We didn't take many pictures for some reason. I don't know why, wish we would have now. Rode 350 miles today. Stayed in Sardis, Mississippi.
Friday. Rained last night. Temperature this morning is 61. Rained all day. Drove all day in the rain, 150 miles, got soaked clear through. Got Honda serviced at Jackson. Stayed all night. Don't know why it needed serviced again.
Saturday. the 25th.Saw Gulfarium........ whatever that was. I think it was a big fish thingy.
Temperature today was 66 for a high. We stayed at Pensacola, Florida tonight. My notes say we paid $4.00 for a HOTEL ROOM. Believe it or not, I can't remember if that was high or low. To save money we bought wieners and bread and warmed them up on the radiators in the hotel room . The bed was so bad we took turns sleeping on the floor as there was only room for one of us at a time as the room was so small. the floor was better than the bed.
Sunday the 26th. Had flat tire on rear wheel. Was at a gas station when I noticed it (gotta have a little luck).
Picked up shells at Mexico Beach. Those were our souvenirs from the trip.. We kept them for a long time after we got home.
Monday the 27th. Rained late today. Went through Reptile Gardens. I think we were in Florida then, not sure.
Tuesday the 28th. Sunny and warmer today. Went to Winter Haven to see friends. Ya, another free night under a roof.
Wednesday. Went to Cape Kennedy and saw the rocket ship Saturn 1 take off. We were miles away and the noise was almost too much, even at that distance. Went to Spook Hill. Saw orange trees, grapefruit and tangerine trees, quite a site for a farmer from Iowa in the middle of winter. Down through the ditch the 305 went and out in the grove away from the highway. Got the makings for breakfast for the following day. The maple trees were in bloom. Ate supper (for you city folks thats the evening meal for a farmer) with the winter haven snowbirds. They lived just a mile from us back home. Stayed between Winterhaven and Bonita Springs that night, don't know where for sure.
Thursday. Got Honda tuned at Fort Meyers 2000 miles service. Honda must have been paying for all these tune ups because I didn't have the money to pay for them. That night we stayed in a tent we bought that day from an army surplus store. It was two pieces of canvas that buttoned together at the top to make a tent. Ya, that was really waterproof. No door of course and no rear wall. What the hay. Gave $1.25 for that little gem. Saved a lot of money on hotel rent. Stayed at Bonita Springs on the beach that night. Went swimming in the gulf that night and may have seen some fish with fins sticking up out of the water. Didn't go back in only to rinse my swim suit out on the back. Picked up more sea shells. Judy didn't sleep at all that night. At least it was warm.
Friday the 31st. Still camped out on the beach. Went to Ft. Meyers today and got a 15 tooth sprocket installed. 16 is standard oem. Needed more power as all the sea shells were adding weight. Hot today. Went wading in the Gulf.
Saturday. Left Bonita Springs and went North to Sarasota. We were about half out of money so we wanted to drift North. Ate at the Oyster Bar in Sarasota. WE HAD LOBSTER........ It was about the price of a hamburger back home.
Sunday. Went to( I can't read my writing) Myaka state park and rode around. Still at Sarasota. Got drunk tonight.
Monday. Went to Tampa and through Busch Gardens and toured the brewery. Got drunk again. Stayed at Crystal River tonight. Rained a lot.
Tuesday. Started home today, light sprinkle all day. We sort of ran over our half way on the money. What the hay.
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Cool and cloudy, rode 400 miles one day. That's a lot for a 305 and stopping to get warmed up.
Saturday. Got to Cole Camp to stay with our friends again. Started snowing that night and light rain also. Decided to wait it out since it was a free stay.
Sunday. Snowed
Monday. Snowed another inch.
Tuesday. Left for home. Snowed all day . sometimes kind of hard. Snow on the roads and sloppy conditions. At a truck stop a trucker asked if we wanted to load the bike on his rig as he was going our way. We were almost home so I told him thanks but no. We had garbage bags under our clothes to keep warm, and to block the wind.
We were gone one day short of three weeks and went 3000 miles. Not a lot by todays standards but quite a thing 47 years ago. This was a small bike, loaded down with two people and sea shells. It seemed that every time we stopped for gas someone would come up and say that they knew someone that had a motorcycle. We had a writeup in a local newspaper when we got home...People couldn't believe anyone could go that far on two wheels. Not many people on the road for the long distance miles at that time in history.
We now are on our third Honda Gold Wing 2007 model and just retired a year ago and enjoy going places on it. 20,000 miles this year. Hope you enjoyed my story. Hard to believe things have changed so much.
Ray n Judy Busch 73 240th st. Ogden
Iowa 50212
