HUGGING FLORIDA GOODBYE!!

Our stay in Florida (28 days) flew by way too fast.  We got in some golf with the Waukon group that's down here in Panama City Beach.  We ate way too much southern food (no grits or oysters), we spent time each day in the pool at the condo, we enjoyed visiting with the folks (mostly Canadians) at the hot tub in the evenings, we enjoyed the weather (record highs were set in places down here), and we enjoyed getting close to 2000 miles on the trike.  But what we enjoyed the most and will miss the most are the friends in GWRRA from Panama City and Alabama (Sanford and Dothan).  I know you all (y'all) have heard the term "southern hospitality".  Well, these folks that we now consider good friends are what southern hospitality is all about!  Hugs when we got here and hugs when we were leaving.

From here we plan on journeying up to South Carolina to visit Julie's sister and husband in Hartsville.  However, before we get there, we plan to spend some time in Savanna, GA, and Charleston, SC.  Savanna has some Civil War historical sights and the Yorktown (aircraft carrier) is docked in Charleston.  As before, I'll try to keep posting our adventures here.  I guess if you're bored or jealous of our weather, you don't have to read the posts.  I keep hoping that your winter is finally coming to an end!

In the meantime here's a few photos from some of our ventures.  By the way, my phone took a dump, so if you need to get a hold of us for some reason, use Julie's number (563-379-3754)

WE STOPPED AT THE WORLD FAMOUS INDIAN PASS RAW BAR

YES, THERE ACTUALLY IS A WORM FIDDLIN' FESTIVAL

OUR LEADER TAKES US TO THE BRUCE CAFE FOR SOUTHERN FOOD AND OUTDOOR BATHROOMS!

THE FOLKS IN THE WHITE TRIKE ARE DOWN HERE FROM COLORADO

WE MAKE A REST STOP IN DEFUNIAK SPRINGS WHERE THERE IS A PERFECTLY ROUND LAKE

FLORIDA IS A "CONCEALED CARRY" STATE!

WNR WINTER (SNOWBIRD) REPORTS

First of all I have been watching the weather channel and getting weather reports over the WIFI, so I know what kind of horse_ _ _ _ weather you guys have been having back in Iowa.  So I'm not going to even mention the weather we have been having here in Panama City Beach!  Just let me say that we have been able to put close to 1,500 miles on the trike so far in February.  We did have a couple of days of rain, but nothing like what's going on in Arkansas where we took the Guys' Trip this summer.  Some of the highways we rode then are now either completely under water or flooded out completely.

I'll try to catch you up on some winter travels that I know some WNR took.  Hopefully that will help cheer you up some!

Jim & Cathy spent some time in Texas in January riding some of the hill country like we did later on.  They did remark that they had some great riding and wished they could have spent more time down there.  I didn't get any photos from them to post, but I'll bet they have some.

Also Dennis and Marlene ventured into Arizona by passing through Mexico on ATV's!  Hopefully we'll get some photos of that adventure.

And believe it or not Chuckles and Lois made their way all the way to Arizona where they were able to rent a Harley.  And Chuckles only tire kicked a dozen before he picked one!

We were able to get about 220 miles in on a late January ride.  Even though this looks like the bridge in Prairie, we are overlooking Roosevelt Lake north of Miami, Arizona!  Went January 27-February 1 to visit my sister, Janet, who lives in Tempe and Leeta who is just finishing up a rotation there.  Rented a Heritage Softail for the day from Eagle Rider in Tempe.  It felt SO good!

Julie and I have only about 6 days left here in Florida.  We were able to ride all but about four days.  We had some rain early in the month and I had severe backs spasms and was out of commission for two days.  I actually ended up in the ER in Panama City.  I feel better now and had an MRI last Monday and see the doctor here again this coming Monday.  The doctor asked me to describe the pain. I told him that it felt like somebody put a dull screwdriver up next to my backbone and hit it with a hammer!  Nice timing for Dr. Schwartz to be gone!  Here's a breakdown on some of our more interesting ventures down here.

Notice the shape of the palm tree in the background.  Happy belated Valentine's Day to everyone.

Who says everything is bigger in Texas?!

SHRIMP BOAT AT PANAMA CITY MARINA

TRIKE AT THE MARINA

WOODRUFF DAM

POWER HOUSE AT THE DAM

We rode over to Chattahoochee (where it gets hotter than a hootchie coochie!) to visit the Jim Woodruff dam that forms Lake Seminole, one of the largest lakes in the south.

FOUR-HEADED PALM TREE

250 + YEAR OLD LIVE OAK TREE

Today we passed through Panama City and stopped at a city park there.  There are two spectacular trees located there.  In the top photo is a four-headed palm.  It is the only one known to exist in the world!  However it is now dying after living over 100 years.  The lower photo is of a living oak tree that they call the "Old Sentinel".  It is well over 250 years old and has been guarding the bay since before the Civil War.

And finally a couple of views of a spectacular sunset over the Gulf of Mexico.

I see now you are expecting 3-5 inches of more snow.  Let's hope that's it, and spring is on it's way!  I'll try to do more posting from South Carolina, where we're headed next.