FIRST REPORT FROM FLORIDA--THE CRUISE

Hey Everybody!  Long time, no see!

We have finally arrived in Panama City Beach today, the 30th.  When we left Waukon on the 13th with the trike in tow, the wind chill was -30.  Our first stop was in Jackson, TN, the home of Casey Jones, and the temp there was in the 50's.  From Jackson we made it to Lake City, FL on Wednesday.  On Thursday we traveled over to Disney Springs (near Orlando) in a real downpour and then had lunch with an old high school classmate of mine.  Disney Springs is a big shopping shopping center with all Disney theme stores.  Thankfully the grand kids weren't with us or we'd still be there!

We left Disney Springs and stayed overnight in Vero Beach and actually got the trike off the trailer and took a ride around the countryside on a 70 degree day.  We got in over 50 miles, so it counts as a ride for January.  I'm hoping to be able to ride each month in 2016 like I was able to do last year.

After Vero Beach we headed for Ft. Lauderdale to meet our ship for the Gold Wing cruise.  The traffic this time of year in southern Florida is unbelievable.  Even the interstates and toll roads are crowded!  The only good part is that the highways are in really good shape.

The cruise ship with over 3,000 passengers including about 100 Wingers set sail on the 17th for ports in Grand Cayman, Jamaica, and Haiti.  We had a great time with Wingers from all over the country including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Arizona, Kentucky, Tennessee, Kansas, and California.  We were the only ones from Iowa in the group.   YOU MEET THE NICEST PEOPLE ON A HONDA!  We made the port in Grand Cayman and toured the island by bus and made an interesting stop at a turtle farm where sea turtles are bred for meat and release into the ocean.  At our stop in Jamaica toured the area around Fallmouth and saw the places where  Diana Ross (the Supremes) and Mick Jagger own and visited a 500 year-old Catholic church. We also saw a lot of poverty here.  Believe me, Jamaica is not all fancy resorts and rich beaches!  We actually did visit Hell!  There was some rioting going on in Haiti, so that stop wasn't made and we just stayed at sea and arrived back in Ft. Lauderdale on the 23rd.

More coming later on our journey through the Everglades, the stop at Bob & Cathy's, and New Orleans.  For now here's a few photos from the cruise.

CRUISE SHIP IN HARBOR

TENDER FROM SHIP TO HARBOR

THE OLD CHURCH

WINGER HANDLES A SEA TURTLE

WE TRAVELED TO HELL

GRANDPA WINGER ON BOARD

A CREATURE SNUCK INTO OUR CABIN

Marlene's Mother

Marlene Blocker called to let us know that funeral arrangements have been made for her mother, Helen Tangen, who passed away Wednesday evening.  Visitation will be Sunday from 2-4pm at Riley's Funeral Home in Chatfield, MN and one hour before the funeral service which will be held on Monday at 10am at Root Prairie Lutheran Church between Chatfield and Fountain, MN.  Obituary can be viewed at rileyfuneralhomes.com.

NEW BIKES FOR 2016 AND OFF TO FLORIDA

With boredom setting in, I decided to check out the new bike models coming out for 2016.  I think some of these new models have been specifically designed for some members of WNR.  See if you agree!

FOR YOU CO-RIDERS WHO SAY THE PASSENGER
SEAT ISN"T COMFORTABLE ENOUGH!

FOR YOU KAWASAKI FANS!

FOR CARL ON THE FARM!

FOR USE ON 76 TO MARQUETTE AND 9 TO LANSING

THEY EVEN MADE A GAS SAVER FOR CHUCKLES!

FOR OUR H.O.G. MEMBERS

FOR GARY--IT EVEN COMES WITH REVERSE!

FOR OUR STEUBEN BURGER RUN!

FOR OUR PLANT LOVERS!

FOR THOSE OF US THAT HAVE TO STOP FREQUENTLY!

We are heading to Florida on the 13th for a Gold Winger's Caribbean cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale on the 17th.  We will tour around the Florida Everglades for a while after the cruise, and maybe stop and see Bob & Cathy in Venice.  Then before we get into the condo in Panama City Beach on Feb 1st, we plan to go to New Orleans to see the WW II museum.  We are taking the trike (thanks to some help from Dennis & Chuckles), so we will be able to ride with some of the Gold Wing chapters there in the panhandle.  I'll do my best to try to keep you posted on our adventure.  While we're gone, Chuckles is in charge of the weather in Waukon, so don't be afraid to give him a call if it turns to crap.  We do plan to stop at a couple of our favorite biker bars down there.  Here's one of our favorites!

BYE FOR NOW!