June 27, 2009

Eight of us met in Plant City this morning and adjourned to Snellgrove's for breakfast. A good meal was capped off with a round of "Happy Birthday" sung for Boyd in celebration of his 60th birthday. We also congratulated Barry on the birth of his new daughter.

Then Bobby and Lloyd went about their mundane 4-wheel business while Boyd, Kyle, J.T., Barry, Bob K. and I set out on today's adventure. As it was Boyd's birthday, we let him decide where we would go. He did not care as long as Agricola Mine Rd. was included in the route. So we headed towards Keysville, then down to Jameson Rd., back to Keysville, Nichols, then across to Pine Dale where we picked up Old Hwy 37 en route to Agricola Mine Road. We made a short stop there to advise those who had not been there before on what to expect. We then set off with each of us travelling at their own pace. Most of us made multiple passes on this great road before heading to Fort Meade for gas and water.

While resting and swapping lies, we began to discuss that Boyd had badly worn down the buttons on the bottom of the VMAX's foot pegs. So we decided to lay it over by hand to see what it would take to touch the pegs to the ground. You would not believe what that takes. Luckily, J.T. was there with his camera to document the experiment.

Refreshed and gassed, we took off for Lake Buffim, then up to West Lake Wales. It started to rain lightly as we approached SR-60 on West Lake Wales Road. Kyle and Barry decided to head for Plant City at that point. After J.T. and Bob donned their rain gear, the remaining four headed towards Winter Haven via Lake Eloise. It rained a good bit until we were near K'ville, then the rain stopped.

Arriving in Lakeland, we made a stop at Fun Bike Center to look around then walked over to MoJo's for lunch. While most of us opted for the usual fare, Boyd, as he is want to do, just ordered dessert, a concoction called "Cream in the Hole" that turned out to be a fresh fry cake with a large scoop if vanilla ice cream, all covered with chocolate syrup. We also tried fried pickles. J.T. & I thought they were good. The other two disagreed. Over lunch, we also learned that one of Boyd's business endeavors, The Growth Coach, has been nominated for the Business of the Year in Brandon. Way to go, Boyd. You just continue to impress.

After lunch, J.T. & Bob headed for home. Boyd and I headed north to ride Sherrouse Rd. and Old Dade City Rd. After taming them, we headed towards home. The trip back was uneventful until we neared W. Campbell Rd. on Kathleen where a doe ran into the road just in front of us. Two cars and two bikes made panic stops while the deer ran back to safety.

Another good day on the Florida by-ways. See you all for a little Fourth of July ride next Saturday.

Click here for more pictures.

June 20, 2009 - Homosassa

Eight of us gathered for breakfast this morning, including our newest member, Barry Mauer. Having consumed an excellent breakfast, five of us mounted up to ride to Homosassa. Barry soon left us, though. The daddy-to-be didn't want to get too far from home.

It was already getting hot by the time we left Plant City. We headed towards Zephyrhills, then on to San Antonio. Just north of there we picked up Jessamine Rd. which has a few nice curves. Boyd decided to let the VMAX run a little and took the lead. It was fun watching him negotiate the curves, but a little dangerous, too. Not for him, but for me. I was watching him and almost forgot about traversing the curve myself. From Jessamine we ran over to Bayhead Rd., Bellamy Brothers Rd., Hayman, Powell and Emerson for a few more curves and scenery. After stopping for a break in Brooksville, we headed on to Homosassa. After passing the Yulee Sugar Mill, we arrived at the Riverside Crab House located right in the Homosassa River.

The food there was excellent and the river entertainment was especially good today. Just outside our window was Monkey Island, a small island populated by several very large monkeys who seemed to enjoy the 90 plus degree weather and were very active. While watching them, a bottlenose dolphin breached between us and the island. As we watched, we saw that there were at least two dolphins who were fishing the shallow water there. At times, they came right up to the restaurant windows. It was really interesting to watch them hunt.

Leaving Homosassa, we made our way back to Bayhead Rd. so J.T. could get some pictures. Our final stop of the ride was for a cold beverage at the San Ann Market in San Antonio. By then, it was about 97 degrees and a little shade and cold liquid was a welcome relief.

All-in-all, it was a great 180 mile ride. Although extremely hot, the humidity was not too bad so it was bearable as long as the bikes were moving or we we sitting in the shade.

Although I forgot my camera, J.T. came to our rescue. Select this link for his photos. See you next week.

Ride with Pride

Gunny

June 13 - Home Again

Well, we all made it home safe and sound. Other than a little rain around Ocala, it was an uneventful ride home. Boyd, Lloyd and I left Sylva, NC by motorcycle around 6:00 a.m., made a quick stop at the Huddle House for breakfast, then headed south on US-441. We stayed on that route all the way into southern Georgia where we picked up US-221 south to US-129 and, eventually to I-75 near Jasper, FL. I finally pulled into my driveway at bout 7:30 P.M., 600 miles from the day's start.

The rest of the crew, Bill, Eddie and Robert left about 8:00 a.m. pulling the trailer and four bikes home. They arrived home about the same time as we did. The four-wheeler requires fewer gas and comfort stops that on the motorcycle.

This link will take you to some of the photos that I took during the trip. Our official photographers, Boyd and Bill will have more at a later date.

Gunny

June 11 - Cade's Cove

Today we headed for Cades Cove, TN in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This popular historical site is hidden away in the farthest recesses of the park, down 78 miles of narrow, winding roads.

Once there, it was a beautiful, idyllic location full of preserved dwellings, churches, farms and a grist mill. The first dwelling on the Cove Loop Road is the John Oliver Place, a one room log cabin, which was built around 1820 and continuously occupied until 1945. The cove is also filled with wildlife, including deer, wild turkey and bears. Boyd and I encountered a deer almost immediately upon entering the cove. We has stopped a few yards apart to take some pictures when the deer ran across the road between us. Further down the road, a black bear crossed the road right in front of us.

While we were visiting the grist mill at the far end of Cades Cove, thunder began to rumble and the skies darkened. We quickly donned or rain gear and headed for the exit hoping to beat the rain. Unfortunately, about a couple of hundred other vehicles had the same idea. Before we got very far, the skies open up and released a very hard downpour. The traffic was so slow that we could not keep enough air flow on the face shields to keep them from fogging and the rain so hard that we could not see the narrow, rutted roadway. Bill, on the lead bike, soon decided to pull off at one of the abandoned log cabins where we all took refuge until the rain let up and the traffic cleared. We were soon underway again but encountered another problem. The rain had brought out the deer to feed. Every open field was occupied by grazing deer and at every open field cars would stop on the one-lane road to view the deer. It took forever to get out of the cove. However, as we exited the cove, a doe and new born fawn crossed the road in front of Bill and he managed to get some great photographs that he will be sharing in the future.

Once out of the cove, we headed for home as quickly as we could on the wet and winding roads. We were all happy to get home and into some dry clothes, but all agreed that the trip was worth the effort.

The day was capped off by a trip to Sylva for some great ribs at a small restaurant. We arrived just as they were about to close up due to a lack of business. However, the owner agreed to stay open to feed six hungry bikers. He even called back his waitress who had already left. It turned out to be a great decision for them and us. I will definitely go back there if I am ever in the area again.

Gunny

June 10 from Sylva, NC

Sorry to have been offline for so long, but Internet connections have been far and few between here in the mountains. Right now I am
sitting in a Wifi cafe in Dillsborough, NC with Lloyd Lowery. We arrived in Sylva last Friday. We have been riding hard ever since. All six of us have successfully navigated the Tail of the Dragon a couple of times and explored many a scenic mountain road. We are all doing well and having a good time. Lloyd, Eddie & I are taking an easy day while Bill & Bobby head to Ashville to meet their mother for her birthday. Boyd also went along because he can't stand to be separated from his VMax for an afternoon.

We will have many pictures to share when we get back but it just is not practical to upload them given the current conditions.

Ride with Pride
Gunny

June 4 - Down to Boone

We left Buena Vista, VA this morning with high hopes for a good day of riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Everything went great for the first hour or so. Then we started to get into some fog as we climbed the mountains. Soon we were creeping along just fast enough to keep the bikes upright. The fog was so thick I had to raise off the seat to see the yellow line. Not a lot of fun. Once we crested the mountain & started down the other side, the fog disappeared and we were able to make good time for a while.

Around noon it started to rain lightly so we decided to get off the Parkway near Roanoke to find someplace for lunch. Unfortunately, it was about a 7 mile ride to the nearest open eatery & by the time we arrived at the Mountainside Cafe it was raining hard. The place turned out to be more tavern than cafe. The place was populated by various bar flies and ladies of questionable virtue. It took about 15 minutes to find someone who could make a bad cup of coffee. For lunch we ordered the specialty - a cheeseburger. It turned out to be an old fashioned grease dripping off your elbows burger. Tastes great but will stop your heart if you consume more than one.

After lunch, with the rain all but stopped, we mounted up & and headed back to the Parkway. Now Boyd & I had the foresight to put on rain gear before we left but Lloyd had decided that the rain was over. He was very, very wrong. And not only was the rain not over, but the fog decided to return. It was another 30 miles before were rode out of the weather. We were then able to make a relatively smooth run to Boone, NC where we stopped for the night.

Hopefully tomorrow will be better but the forecast is not hopeful. The good news is that we should hook up with Billy, Eddie & Robert tomorrow afternoon.

Gunny

June 3 - Fredericksburg to Buena Vista, VA

We left the motel in Fredericksburg, VA at about 7:30 am this morning & travelled the 75 miles to Front Royal, VA. From there we entered the Shannandoah National Park, taking the Skyline Drive south.

The road is about 120 miles long and the maximum speed is 35 MPH. At first I thought the speed limit was due to the many tight curves & beautiful vistas, but we soon learned a third factor causing the limited speed. There were more deer on and along side the roadway than I had we seen before. What made it more exciting was their tendancy to pop-up around a blind curve. We were also slowed by several wild turkeys. Very entertaining.

The Blue Ridge Parkway picks up right at the end of the Skyline Drive. Here, the speed limit picks up to 45 MPH, which makes the curves and hills a lot of fun. About 5:00 pm we began to hear thunder in the distance. By 5:30 it was getting serious & we made the wise decision to look for shelter. We left the Parkway on US-60 & headed the 4 miles to Buena Vista, VA. By the time we got there the winds had picked up dramatically and by the time we got into a motel room the severe thunderstorms struck. Timing is everything.

Tomorrow we hope to continue down the Parkway to Pineola, NC. However, continued rain may slow us down. Keep your fingers crossed.

June 2, 2009 - Day 2 - Pooler, NC to Fredericksburg, VA

Day 2 started poorly. Boyd & I were at breakfast when Bill came in to inform us that his wife's mother had passed away overnight. That meant that he would have to return home today. We sadly said goodbye to Bill with the hopes that he could rejoin us later in the trip.
After some discussion between Boyd, Lloyd & I, we decided to forego the 8th Air Force Museum in order to get as far north as we could today so we could spend more time on the Skyline Parkway & the Blue Ridge Parkway. We left the motel in Pooler, NC about 8:30 am & headed north on I-95. The day started beautifully with great weather and a scenic ride through the northern Georgia woods. However, the day quickly warmed to the mid 90's. By the time we entered Virginia, it was holding at a steady 95 degrees. Boyd put on his cool scarf & I put on my cool vest. Lloyd had to tough it out with no warm weather gear. As we neared the end of our 519 mile run to Fredericksburg, VA, the temperature dropped 10 degrees in about 2 minutes and a few minutes later the rains started. Luckily it did not rain too hard until after we got to our motel. Glad to ben inside now since it is raining very hard with frequent lightening.
Tomorrow we will head for Front Royal, VA & head south on the Skyline Parkway.

Ride with Pride
Gunny

June 1st - Plant City to Savanah, GA

Boyd & I showed up at the start point 30 minutes early. Lloyd arrived right on time. Bill was only 8 minutes late, which translate to 10 mnutes early. Eddie & Jerry showed up to send us off. We hit the road at 10:18 am taking I-4 to I-75. We left I-75 at Ocala and headed northeast on 301 with a stop in Starke, FL for lunch. We stayed on 301 to Jesup, GA, then took 84 to Fort Stewart where we hooked up with 144 east to I-95. 144 was a nice drive through the woods but was very slow. We finally made it to Pooler, GA (outside of Savannah) about 6:30 pm. Tomorrow we plan on visiting the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum before rejoining our trek north.
Ride with Pride
Gunny