January 26, 2013 - Anna Maria Island

A cool, clear central Florida Saturday morning found five friends meeting in Plant City.  After the usual breakfast banter, four of us (Eddie, Marlena, Boyd and I) headed for our bikes while Carl went about other duties.

The destination for our ride was the Sandbar Restaurant on the north end of Anna Maria Island.  It was there that Eddie proposed to his bride, Marlena, so many years ago on this very date.  The route took us mostly down backroads to Bradenton, then across the causeway to Anna Maria Island and on to the Sandbar Restaurant.

The day had warmed dramatically by the time we arrived in the parking lot and we gladly shed the extra layers of clothing.

Entering the restaurant, we selected outside seating on the patio ail a great view of the expansive white sand beach and the Gulf of Mexico.

The guests of honor, Eddie and Marlena

After a wonderful grouper lunch, we headed back to the mainland.  Progress was somewhat delayed by a sailboat whose mast required raising of the drawbridge.

Once back in Bradenton, Eddie and Marlena broke off to go shopping while Boyd and I made our way back to Lakeland.  We had one more stop before calling it a day - the Pig Fest at Tiger Town.

We finally made it home around 5:00 pm, full, tired and very satisfied with another Central Florida day on two-wheels.  It was a great 180 mile adventure.  See you next time.

Glenn "Gunny" Monroe