REPORT FROM FLORIDA IV--THE RIDES

Even though it has been cooler than normal in the Florida panhandle this February (I'm not going to piss you off by telling you what they call "cooler" here.), I have still managed to put around 1900 miles on the Wing.  We attended the GW chapter meeting here in Panama City at Po Folks restaurant, and then on Valentines Day we went on a couples' ride from Panama City to Marianna, FL about 180 miles round trip.  We ate lunch at The Oaks in Marianna where we met up with a GW chapter from Dothan, AL.  The Oaks had a buffet lunch with home cooked food.  It was a nice day with good company and great food.  Keep in mind that unless the temperature is above 70, not many of these guys down here ride.

Julie and I went on a number of rides in the area including some trips to the northern counties of Florida and into Alabama.  We saw a number of cattle ranches, cotton fields, and peanut farms. (I'm still not ready to try boiled peanuts!) I didn't realize that Florida supplied most of the beef for the Confederate troops in the Civil War.  We also traveled east along the Gulf of Mexico coast through Mexico Beach, St. Joe, Indian Pass, Apalachicola, East Point, and over to St. George Island.  We visited a couple of lighthouses and stuffed ourselves with shrimp po boy sandwiches.  The fisherman at Indian Pass were catching sting rays.  I guess they actually eat them.  They were using shrimp as bait.  I told them I would eat the bait and throw away the catch!

I also rode along with a couple from the Panama City chapter over to the GW chapter meeting in DeFuniak Springs, FL.  They also meet at a restaurant that serves a breakfast buffet.  If you are going to hang around with these guys, you'd better be able to eat!  There were folks there from several other Florida and Alabama chapters.  When they said they even had a guy from Iowa there, I told them it was a long ride down here this morning!  I did win their 50/50 drawing and donated the money back to the charity that the chapter sponsors.

Although I'm in no hurry to return to Iowa, our time is about up here in Florida.  We have to make room for the spring breakers.  Depending on the weather, we should be back in Waukon by Tuesday, the 3rd.

Here's a few shots from our bike journeys.

THE PANAMA CITY GROUP ARRIVES IN MARIANNA

CHAPTER MEETING IN DE FUNIAK SPRINGS

LIGHTHOUSE IN ST. JOE WAS  RECENTLY MOVED INLAND

FISHERMEN AT INDIAN PASS

LIGHTHOUSE ON ST GEORGE ISLAND

BREAKFAST WITH ELVIS AND MARILYN