January 15, 2011 - Zolfo Springs

It was another beautiful central Florida morning as seven friends met in Plant City for breakfast at Snellgroves.  As we entered the restaurant, Dana already had the table set for us and coffee poured, portending a good day ahead.  The food, excellent though it may be, is merely the backdrop for the dueling verbal scalpels of these seven practitioners.

About 9:00 a.m., with everyone full and no one having suffered  any serious cuts, the group broke up.  Bill, Boyd, Robert and Kent all left for other duties while Eddie, J.T. mounted up and I headed south with no specific destination in mind.

We eventually made our way down to Myakka City for a comfort stop and a quick check of the map.  We then turned southeast towards Arcadia then north towards Zolfo Springs, with a detour down Sweetwater Road.

Arriving in Zolfo Springs shortly after noon, we decided to stop at the Pioneer Restaurant for lunch.

This unimposing eatery is popular with locals and is always busy.  All three of us chose the friend chicken - an excellent choice.

Our bodies refueled, we prepared fore the return ride.

The return trip was enjoyable and uneventful.  After a fuel stop in Mulberry, we all headed home via separate routes.

We travelled about 185 miles under beautiful, clear skies.  Another great day on central Florida highways.

Ride with Pride

Glenn "Gunny" Monroe

January 8, 2011 - The Long Way to Webster

It was great to have the gang back together again after the holiday absences. Nine gathered in the parking lot next to The Whistle Stop, including Kyle who eschewed breakfast as he was then on duty.  We were, however, joined at breakfast by Eddie's wife and Boyd, who has recently found his Saturdays too encumbered with dancing to ride.

After breakfast, Bill, Eddie, J.T., Kent, Robert and I set out for this day's ride.  Boyd tagged along until the nearest point to his home where he left to join Miss Vicki.

The ride took us on a tortured route across some of my favorite roads and a few new ones with the intent to arrive in Webster around noon.

Our first stop (not counting the gas stop at mile #2) was at the one-lane bridge on Rockridge Rd. (the road becomes Green Pond 100 feet east of the bridge).  There we found a idle drag-line crane, apparently preparing to widen and/or replace the bridge.

Is that Robert behind those bars?

Kent playing with his Android X.

Resuming our ride, we headed for CR-561, where, at Laws Rd., J.T. left our company to join his other riding group.

After about 3 hours and 113 miles, four of us arrived in Webster for lunch at Hayseed's Cafe.  Bill would join us later as he had stopped in Center Hill for some photographs of the town sliding into hard times.

After a good lunch, Kent and Robert decided to head for home via the quickest route while Eddie, Bill and I opted to put a few more miles on the bikes before heading home.  After wandering through Lacoochie, Trilby and San Antonio, we also headed for home.

I had a great time with great friends and put about 178 new miles in the Wing today. Remember, "Not all who wander are lost."

Ride with Pride

Gunny

January 2, 2011

Today's scheduled ride fell apart due to a little rain so I rode by myself for a few hours. We will try the same ride next Saturday.

Gunny