UPDATE FROM FLORIDA

 I guess I didn't realize how many of you were interested in our adventures down here in Florida this winter.  After a fair number of you asked how things were going, I thought an update on the blog might be appropriate.

First of all the weather here has been the poorest of the 15 years we have ventured south.  It has been much cooler and more windy and rainy than any of the previous years.  There have been many days where the highs have not been in the 60's.  You should hear the natives down here howl about that!  Despite the weather, I have been able to get some rides in.  I figure I have somewhat over 1,000 miles on the trike.  You know me...if it's 50 degrees and not raining, I'm ready to ride.

I have been able to hook up with some of the local motorcycle groups down here.  On New Years Day, I joined the Fort Walton group for a ride.  We put on a little over 200 miles and had lunch in Hartford, AL, called Mom's Kitchen.  It was all home-cooked food, and I had the best chicken dumplings I had ever tasted.  There were about ten units on that ride including a couple of convertibles.  When I told them that our group rode every Wednesday night and sometimes had as many as 16 units, they couldn't believe it.  They have another lunch ride scheduled for Thursday, and I plan on joining them for that.

Julie and I also participate in a group located in Dothan, AL (the peanut capital of the world). They call themselves the Wiregrass U Crew. We participated in their annual "Sweet Heart Ride".  This one took us to the metropolis of Grady, AL, and Red's School House Restaurant.  It was an old rural school house at one time that has been remodeled (somewhat) into a restaurant   Again it's home-cooked food served buffet style.  We were joined by motorcycle/convertible groups from Montgomery and Mobile Alabama.  We attended their last get-together in Dothan (the second Tuesday each month) in January, and plan on dropping down there tonight for their next meeting.  Their meetings are at night, so we take the pick-up down to Dothan.  They will probably have another RTE (Ride To Eat) yet this month.

The third group that I participate with is located in Pensacola, about 100 miles west of here.  Their meetings are on the second Saturday morning of each month.  I attended last Saturday's meeting, but because of rain, I took the pick-up over there.  This is by far the most active group, as there were about 50 in attendance.  They tried to tell me that I attract a crowd!  They have at least two weekly rides and support the nearby Ronald McDonalds.  They always ask me for a story, so I told them the one about the old pop machine at a convenience store I stopped at several years ago.

I have gone on several rides by myself, and Julie has ridden along on several others.  We have yet to make our annual excursion down to Apalachicola and St. George Island.  Hopefully the weather cooperates and we can do that before the end of the month.

We have played golf twice and are going again on Friday with Frank and Patty Goltz.  We also went to the movie "Boys in the Boat", and I highly recommend you see it.  Despite the cool weather, we still use the heated pool in the mornings, and I try to make it to the hot tubs each day.  I really like going to the hot tubs, because I get a chance to meet and converse with people from all over he US and Canada.  I did get to attend my annual juco baseball classic tournament here in PCB.  There were 16 teams playing, and eight of them were rated in the top 20 in the nation.

We did just have a tornado just miss us and do some damage in town just west of us.  I guess after a blast of snow and some frigid temps, you guys have had a very mild winter.  Jim told me that he and Cathy got the bike out for a little cruise.  Keep a hold of that weather until we get back!

I'm going to try to post a couple of photos and videos for you, but I'm using a different computer and they may not work.

WE STILL HAVE BEAUTIFUL SUNSETS OVER THE GULF

LINED UP IN FT. WALTON

 

Notice damage to marina building on the left.

Cruising down CR 30A

We have about two weeks left (time flies down here too).  On the way back we will be stopping at Traxxion Dynamics in Woodstock, GA to have the front end of the trike reconditioned.  In the meantime, keep April 17th open for the PMS get-together.

AND FINALLY