Crabby Bill's, St. Cloud - October 30, 2010

We were six for breakfast in Plant City, Florida this morning, although only three were prepared to ride.  Bill, Boyd and Robert had other plans for the day.  J.T., Lloyd and I set out about 9:00 a.m. with the general goal of lunch at Crabby Bill's in St. Cloud.

The first leg of the ride found us meandering over to Fun Bike Center where we knew Boyd had an appointment to test ride a motorcycle.  Finding that we had arrived ahead of Boyd, we convinced the salesman to put a sold tag on the bike in question and awaited his arrival. Unfortunately, the ever vigilant Boyd had seen our Wings in the parking lot and had no reaction to the sold tag. Nuts. Maybe next time.

As Boyd left on his test ride, J.T., Lloyd and I continued our twisted route towards St. Cloud.

Our second stop was at the Big "Toho" Marina on the north shore of Lake Tohopekaliga (Sleeping Tiger) in Kissimmee.

Lake Toho sits on the northern end of the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes and is the beginning of the Great Kissimmee River System which flows south to Lake Okeechobee and on into the Everglades.

A nice little municipal park sits next to the marina and includes a covered play area for children, an ice cream shop made from an old caboose and air boat rides ($30 per hour per person).

Leaving the marina, we headed over to Crabby Bill's on East Lake Tohopekaliga in St. Cloud.

The dining room has a view of the marina and the lake. Lloyd and J.T. enjoyed the scenery while we waited for lunch.

At least I think he is enjoying the view.

Hey, is that Crabby Eddie?

We all selected the hamburger for lunch - a good choice!

After lunch, we headed back to Old Kissimmee for a quick stop at a cigar bar where all three of us picked up some great wooden cigar boxes - buy one, get one free and the most expensive one was $3.00.

We decided to head home from there via the quickest route in order to catch the late afternoon football games.

It was another great ride (145 miles), good food and great friends.

Gunny

Dunnellon & Stumpknockers - October 23, 2010

What a wonderful day for a ride!  The temperature was about 68 degrees as we assembled in Plant City under a clear, blue Florida sky. We were a small group again this week as several of our regular riders were travelling back from their annual trek to the Blue Ridge Mountains (I am confident that Bill & Boyd will have a lot of great photos and footage to share in the near future).

Although Robert joined us for breakfast, he was unable to ride today.  So it was that Lloyd, J.T. and I headed out on our planned ride to Dunnellon. While there are interesting roads and sights to see in whatever direction you head from Plant City, for me, north offers the best collection of roads, hills and scenery.  Happily, today's route took us that direction.

After skirting Zephyrhills and Dade City and riding some nice roads north of San Antonio, we made a stop at Spring Lake Road and US-98,

No, Lloyd, yours is the one on your left.

And, we met a bunch of riders from the annual "Florida Coast-to-Coast" ride.

The next leg of the trip took us to Istachatta and Pineola (in honor of our friends returning from Pineola, NC) then up to the Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes, near the Flying Eagle Ranch.  We continued on to Dunnellon and the Rainbow Springs State Park so Lloyd could explore future camping sites.

As it was then time for lunch, we headed southeast to Stumpknockers Restaurant. For those who may not have grown up in the south, a stumpknocker is a spotted sunfish.

The restaurant is nestled in a cypress grove on the banks of the Withlacoochee River at Hwy. 200.

They have both inside and covered outside seating.  The atmosphere is rustic with nautical theme. The food was very good and priced on the high side of reasonable.

J.T. poses with his alter-ego.

The river's edge provided an idyllic setting for a couple of shots of my riding companions.

With the afternoon temperature nearing 90 degrees, we finished the ride with a nearly straight 84 mile run back to Plant City.

It was another great ride (208 mile total) with good friends and good roads.  Come join us next time.  Meanwhile,

RIDE WITH PRIDE

Gunny

Solomon's Castle - October 9, 2010

Attendance was a little light today with only Bill, J.T., Robert, Bob K. and I gathering for breakfast at Snellgroves in Plant City. Boyd was travelling and Lloyd was attending a sick family member. I have no idea where the rest of you were.

Even though he was not there, Lloyd won the weekly wager. After last week's visit to Champions Powersports, he predicted that Bob K. would soon show up on a Bergman,

It is a previously owned, baby Bergman (400 cc) that Bob found loitering at a Harley dealership.

Bill prepares to ride his ST 1300 (or is he lecturing Robert?)

As Robert was on call, he had to stay behind as the remaining four riders turned south en route to Solomon's Castle via a somewhat circuitous, 103 mile path. Along the way, we enjoyed the views of old Florida along Walter Hunt, Jameson and Bethlehem Roads, a quick rest stop at the small store in Bradley Junction, and the skills test of Agricola Mine Road.

As we approached Wauchula on US-17, J.T. decided that he needed to turn back in order to keep his afternoon appointment with the Faith Riders. Consequently, only three of us made it to the gate at Solomon's Castle.

A short walk from the parking lot brings you to you first view of Howard Solomon's printing plate covered artistic wonder.

As impressive as the castle is, our destination was the Boat in the Moat restaurant. Another of Mr. Solomon's creations.

The interior of the restaurant is dimly lit which intensified the effect of sunlight streaming through the many stained glass windows.

The food was good, including Bob's Lilly Lime Pie.

Even though the food was very good, Bill's smile

may have resulted from another source...

A mermaid in the rafters.

After a good lunch we returned to the parking lot where we met my neighbor, Stan Billicky, and his wife who were just arriving.

Being a Saturday afternoon with many important college football games on television, we opted to the quickest route home. Although the morning ride was 103 miles, the ride home was a mere 57 miles.

Unfortunately, next Saturday will find me in meetings all day in Sebring. Bill, Robert, Boyd and Eddie will be on the annual Leaf Ride to North Carolina. Those of you remaining will be on your own to decide on riding. I will be back with you on October 23.  Meanwhile,

Ride With Pride

Gunny

October 2, 2010 - The Dam Diner

Seven good friends met in Plant City, FL this morning, intent on renewed fellowship over breakfast followed by a great motorcycle ride.

Unfortunately, Bill and Robert were unable to ride today, so they were able only to stand and watch with  tears in their eyes as Lloyd, Boyd, Eddie, Bob K. and I headed out for the day's adventure.

Today's ride took us through the Green Swap on Green Pond Road then up CR-561. After a quick rest stop at US-27, we continued north to Eustace to visit with the folks at Champions Powersports.

As we were preparing to leave Champions, Eddie suggested we change plans and have lunch at The Mason Jar in Dona Vista.As it was still a little early for lunch, the group decided to continue on to Moss Bluff and the Dam Diner.  I can only say that I should know better than to question Eddie's dining instincts.

Continuing on our route, we worked our way north and east until we reached the eastern edge of the Ocala National Forest.  The ride north on Forest Road (SE 182nd Avenue) presented some very nice sweepers through the woods.

This was my fourth trip to the Dam Diner.  While the atmosphere and clientèle remain unchanged, the quality of the food seems to have slipped significantly.  Like I said before, I should not have questioned Eddie's suggestion.

Leaving the restaurant, we turned our bikes towards home.  The return route took us to Ocklawaha, Lake Weir and Lady Lake.  At CR-466 we turned west to pick up US-301.  That took us through the heart of The Villages.  We have all seen the TV spots about this place, but I was unprepared for the sheer size of the place.  Huge doesn't cover it.  Of the 7.2 miles we spent on CR-466, at least 3/4 of it was within The Villages.

The remained of the ride home was fairly uneventful.  Boyd ans I split off from the group outside of Dade City and headed south on US-98 to pickup Old Dade City Road for the last piece of "good" road on our way home.

We cover about 208 miles today under clear skies and relatively cool Florida temperatures.

Come and join us next week for our further adventures.  Meanwhile,

RIDE WITH PRIDE

Gunny

On the Ozello Trail - September 18, 2010

I have cleaned the lovebugs from my Wing and can now sit down to tell the tale of yesterday's ride.

Although there were nine of us for breakfast this morning, only four motorcycles rolled out of Plant City this morning heading for the Ozello Trail, including Boyd, Bob K. Boyd's friend, Charlie Lovelace, and me.

Click on map for details

The weather was beautiful with clear skies in the morning changing to partly cloudy in the afternoon with temperatures in the low ninety's.  As you may have deduced from my opening, the lovebugs have returned, although still in relatively small numbers.

The morning ride took us to Zephyrhills, St. Leo, Jessamine, Istachatta, Floral City, Homosassa Springs, than across the challenging Ozello Trail to Peck's Old Port Cove for lunch.

On the ride home we played on the hills and curves northwest of San Antonio, including Hayman and Bayhead.  We made our final stop of the day at the San Ann Market where Bob K. introduced us to Cherry Garcia ice cream bars.

I returned home around 4:30 p.m. with another 230 miles of great highway on my bike.

I will be away next weekend, so Bill will lead the next ride.  See you all when I return.

Gunny

A Near Miss in Wesley Chapel - September 11, 2010

Since half of our usual riders were out of town, there were only four of us gathered at Snellgroves this morning. Our planned ride to Ozello was soon changed to give Bill an opportunity to shop for needed motorcycling supplies before the upcoming fall leaf trip.

So it was that after breakfast J.T. headed off to join his Faith Riders while Bill, Robert and I headed to north Tampa for a stop at Cycle Gear.  Although there were many interesting items and a few excellent sales, Bill could find nothing more than a can of Plexus to suit him.

Our next stop was Motorsports of Tampa.  Same problem. However, a used Harley did catch Robert's eye. After a short discussion with a salesman and a promise that they would research some issues, we were on the road again.

This time we headed north to Performance Honda in Wesley Chapel.  Bill still could not find the gear that suited him, but a Level IV 2008 Gold Wing caught Robert's attention.

The asking price was also impressive.

Robert was impressed enough to take a test ride.

Robert enjoyed the test ride and the price enough that he sat down with the salesman to try to knock out a deal.

After a great deal of discussion and soul searching,

"paid for" won the discussion.

We were soon on the road once again.  This time we headed for Florida Fun Bike Center in Lakeland where, miraculously, Bill found a couple of pairs of gloves that he could live with.  Being now mid-afternoon, we walked across the parking lot for lunch at MoJo's.  The food was excellent as usual but conversation was difficult over the crowing of the Gator fans.  After lunch, we all headed for home.

Weather permitting, we will try for Ozello next Saturday.  Come and join us.

Ride with Pride!

Gunny

Okeechobee - 09/05/2010

After breakfast in Plant City this morning, five riders (Bill, Lloyd, Robert, Bob K. & I) set off for Okeechobee, FL.

Since we were facing a 260 mile ride, we did not take too many detours en route.  Agricola Mine Road was sort of on the way so we did take a short detour there.  The rest of the route took us to Ft. Meade, Avon Park Sebring, then the 45 mile run across US98 to Okeechobee.  The worst part of the ride is through the heavy traffic on US27 around Avon Park and Sebring.  A little too late for this day, but I think I found a reasonable way around that mess.  We'll give it a try the next time we go that way.

We made a short stop at the northwest corner of Lake Okeechobee, where US441 intersects SR78.

While the other three rested in the shade, Bill & I walked out onto the pier.

Where we found a 10 food alligator doing an excellent job of hiding in plain sight.  Can you see him?

How about now?

From here, it was just a few more miles to Aunt Becky's where Bill & Bobby put new blades on the ceiling fan & Bobby replaced the mirror on Aunt Beck'y jeep.

We then headed back into Okeechobee for a late lunch at Cowboy's BBQ and Steak Company.  The food was excellent and Bill took a dew pictures which I am sure he will share on The Navigator's Rides as soon as he gets a chance.

After lunch, we made a bee line for home with only one quick stop for gas.  I was a good ride and entertaining day, but I was very happy to make it home and into the AC.

See you next time & Ride with Pride.

August 28, 2010 - Sunshine Skyway

Okay, a week has passed but I was unable to write this blog until now.  Sorry.

Nine riders met for breakfast as usual in Plant City this morning.  Afterwards, five of us (Bill, Lloyd, J.T., Boyd & I) set out for a ride to the sunshine, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, that is.

The route took us south to Keysville, Lithia, Balm, Wimauma then east to the Little Manatee River State Park and on to US41.  From there, we headed south the I-275 and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

We made our first stop at the south rest area.

Then made the ride across the bridge (this was my first attempt moving photography).

Once across the bridge, we headed for the north rest area with the intend of doing a little geocaching.  After a short search at the first site, we were interrupted by another couple of geocachers who pushed in while we were looking and took over the site.  Bad manners.

The heat of the day and the pushy geocachers convinced us to give up the search and head for some air conditioning. So, as J.T. headed for home, we headed for Barney's in St. Pete, then to nearby Kahuna's for lunch.  Check out The Navigator's Rides for more info.

After lunch, it was a quick run back to Plant City via I-275 & I-4.

Hope to see you on the road next time.