June Calendar

Montverde Ride - 5/10/08

What a great ride we had this weekend. On Saturday, Boyd, Preacher and his step-father, Richard, and Gunny set out from Plant City for Montverde. En route we covered some very twisty and scenic roadways, including Rockridge, Green Pond, Sloans Ridge, CR-455, and Old CR-50. This route took out around the back side of Sugarloaf Mountain, up and down some significant hills and through the town of Montverde and the picturesque Montverde Academy. After lunch in Mineola we headed back via Lakeshore Dr., CR-561 & back across Green Pond. Great ride, great company, great scenery, great day.
Gunny

Recruitment Challenge

At our last meeting "Ace" issued a recruitment challenge to all members and it seems that he took the challenge seriously. Today he handed me 5 applications for new and renewing members. "Ace" will receive 4.5 recruitment credits and "Tommy Traffic" will receive 0.5 credits.

These applications will be discussed at a special membership meeting to be held at 8:00 a.m., Saturday, May 10, at Snellgroves. Please join us if at all possible.

Thanks, "Ace" and "Tommy", for your hard work.

SRC - Day 3

Yesterday was the final full day of the SRC conference. It consisted of unguided rides to several local areas of interest, parking lot games and a fish fry in the afternoon and culminated with a mass ride of a couple of hundred bikes to the Plant City Bike Fest. It was nice to see Blue Knights vests everywhere and everyone enjoyed the event and their visit to Plant City. Many, many Knights expressed their appreciation for the efforts extended by the City of Plant City, the Plant City PD and, especially, Chief McDaniel. Well done, folks. Gunny

SRC - Day 2

Day 2 of the SRC conference began with a breakfast at the Red Rose Inn followed by a Chapter Presidents' meeting where we learned that there were 280 participants representing 28 Chapters at the conference.  The majority of the meeting consisted of minor housekeeping matters and politicking by Brothers running for International offices.  If you are interested, you can read their bios on the International website and the SRC website.

Things got a whole lot more interesting well over 100 motorcycles, escorted by PCPD and Chapter XXVII members and led by "Ace" set out from the Red Rose at 11:00 for Country Roads Ride via SR-39, Old Hopewell Rd., Henry George Rd., Keysville Rd., Virgil Hall Rd., Walter Hunter Rd., Jameson Rd., back north on SR-39 to Keysville Rd then to Turkey Creek Rd. and Medard Park.  The ride and those escorting the ride were highly praised by all.  I have had several requests for a written copy of the route so others can enjoy it in the future.

Once we arrived at the park, we were served an excellent pulled pork and baked bean lunch.  We were also treated to the presence of a large alligator swimming the waters next to our pavillion, much to wonder, appreciation and apprehension of those not accustomed such sights.

At 7:00 p.m., we all gathered back at the Red Rose for the conference banquet.  The food was up to their usual excellence, but the best part of the evening came the comments ofd the keynote speaker, our own "Ace" McDaniel.  Great job, Bill.

SRC - DAY 1

The conference began today with registration in the Red Rose Ballroom. A hospitality room was also set up for the free use of registered attendees. Nice room, but far too small for the number of people trying to get in. At about 6:15 p.m. about 80 bikes set out for dinner at the Spaghetti Warehouse in Ybor City. We didn't make it very far before we suffered our first mishap. I was traveling near the end of the pack and as I entered the eastbound I-4 entrance ramp from Wheeler, I saw a sea of brake lights ahead. A Knight from Georgia failed to negotiate the tight left curve and ended up in the weeds. He was taken to the hospital with a dislocated shoulder and bruised ego. Unfortunately, his Harley suffered a broken drive shaft and multiple bent up body parts. While I sat on my bike waiting for the situation to resolve, I kept hear J.T. whispering, "I told you so" in my ear. After clearing the accident scene, we headed towards Tampa. Upon exiting I-4, the leader decided he needed to stop to make a phone call. As it was then after 7:00 p.m., I judged that it would be very late by the time 120 people were seated and served at the restaurant. So, I decided to head back to Plant City for a quiet meal and a nightcap at the hospitality room. Hope tomorrow fares better. Gunny