ANOTHER FLORIDA UPDATE

 When the weather finally broke for the better, we were able to rack up some miles on the trike.  As of today, we have put somewhat over 1600 miles so far.

We have been able to connect with the motorcycle groups from Ft. Walton, FL, and Dothan, AL, by attending their monthly get-togethers.  We were on two rides with the Dothan group (the wiregrass u crew).  Our first ride, called their Sweet Heart Ride, was to a home cooked buffet at a restaurant called Red's School House in Grady, AL.

Here's some photos from that adventure.

A GOOD TURNOUT

OUR ENTERTAINMENT
THE GUY WAVING IS THEIR RIDE LEADER
DON'T EXPECT THAT FROM ME!

TWO SWEETHEARTS FROM IOWA

Our second ride with them was just this last Saturday.  They took us to Big Jim's Oyster Bar on Lake Seminole.  We don't eat oysters, but the shrimp po' boys were delicious!

THE GAL ON THE TRIKE BEHIND US GOT THIS SHOT

ONLY 6 BIKES AND TWO CARS ON THIS RUN

THE PO' BOYS FILLED US RIGHT UP

THE GUY WITH THE BLUE WING IS THEIR GROUP RIDE LEADER

HE AND I DO A LOT OF TALKING ABOUT GROUP RIDES

JULIE WITH THE TRIKE

THE TWO "SUPPORT VEHICLES"

WE REACH OUR DESTINATION

LOT'S OF FISHING ON LAKE SEMINOLE

I have adventured out on my own for several rides.  

Remember the guy in Florida who was hanging up Trump banners on his house, and was going to have to pay huge fines for doing it?  Well, the banner is still up and no one is making him pay any fines.  I rode by there the other day.

WE TOOK A RIDE OVER TO PORT ST. JOE
THEY ARE STILL BUILDING BIG SHIPS THERE

PHOTOS OF CYPRIS STUMPS THAT MAKE GREAT BASS FISHING

I got turned around (got my ass lost) the other day, and ended up at a familiar spot, the "highest point" in Florida!  A nice little park is situated there.

CAN'T SEE ANY MOUNTAINS!

SLINGSHOTS ARE PRETTY POPULAR RENTALS DOWN HERE
ARE RICHARD AND MELODYE LOOKING TO UPGRADE TO A SIX SEATER?!

SHUFFLEBOARD IS PRETTY POULAR HERE AT THE CONDO
DON'T PLAY THESE PEOPLE FOR MONEY!

OUR CONDO BUILDING

A SPECTACLAR SUNSET OVER THE GULF OF AMERICA!

ARE WE REALLY IN FLORIDA?!

 As you may have heard by now, winter was not nice to the south, and Panama City Beach was no exception.  We received about 4 inches here and in some areas just north of us in Florida and Alabama received over 8 inches, all new records.  It may not get warm enough today to melt away the snow, so it will probably turn to ice.  As you may well know, the natives in these areas have no idea how to drive in winter weather, so a day in the condo is the plan.  The only saving grace, is that temps this coming weekend are supposed to be in the 60's.

Compare the photos I sent you last time with the ones I'm sending today, and you'll see what I'm talking about!  It's amazing that right now we have more snow here than you have back there in Iowa!

The trike and pickup during the snow fall

VIEW FROM OUR FRONT DOOR

MORE PARKING LOT PHOTOS FROM LAST NIGHT

SNOWFALL LOOKING OUT THE BACK BALCONY 

MORE EVENING SNOW FALL

NO ONE IN THE HOT TUBS NOW

THE PARKING LOT IS A SKATING RINK

STEAM ROLLING OFF THE HOT TUB

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW

MORE TRACKS

THAT'S NOT WHITE SAND.  IT'S SNOW!

UPDATE FROM FLORIDA

 I have received a number of requests to see how it's going for us in Florida, so I thought it might be easier to inform everyone on the blog.

First of all our trip down here was a little challenging at times.  We waited at home for a couple of hours before leaving on the 29th for the fog to lessen.  It was pretty soupy until we got to Oelwein, and then a few spots in Missouri along the way.  We stopped at Sikeston, MO, for the first night and then on to Defuniak Springs, Florida, and finally to Panama City Beach on the 31st.

When we first arrived, the weather was pleasant, but cool.  I was able to get in a 150 mile ride on Jan. 2nd.  However, since then, the weather has been very cool for this area along with a lot of rain and wind.  For almost a week now, the high temps were in the 40's, and I have not ridden since.  It looks like it's going to be in the 50's today, so I plan on a ride.  Needless to say, the natives are really "pissing and moaning" about the cold, but I also remind them that it's currently below zero in Iowa.  They said it would be crazy to live there!  The outdoor pool here is heated, so we are able to use it most every day.  The real challenge comes when it's time to get out!

We did attend a get-together with the motorcycle group from Ft. Walton last Thursday evening.  They are a group that's affliliated with Eagle Wings Motorcycle Association.  They only had 7 members show up, so I'm a little concerned about this group.  Hopefully we will be able to go on some rides with them.

On Saturday morning, I ventured over to Pensacola for their monthly meeting.  They are also members of the Eagle Wings Association.  Since I am also a member, I was able to participate in their activities and hopefully be able to join them on some rides. This is a very active group.  They have several charities that they support and generally have a couple of RTE's (Rides To Eat) each month.  You have to be a member of Eagle Wings to be able to go on rides with both of these groups.

Tonight we are heading up to Dothan, Alabama, the peanut capital of the world, for a get-together with a group that's similar to our Wednesday Night Riders.  They call themselves the Wiregrass U Crew.  Like us, they have no affliliation with any particular association, but some of the members belong to Eagle Wings like I do.  They have both 2 wheelers, 3 wheelers, and 4 wheelers of all kinds on their rides like we do.  They always have a RTE called a "Sweetheart Ride" near Valentines Day that we participate with them.

None of these groups ride as often as we do and don't have anywhere near the members that they had when we first started coming to  their meetings.  This is why I am extremely proud of our group.  We seemed to be growing in numbers and I was introduced to a fellow at the hospital Christmas party that wants to join us in the spring.

Hopefully the cold weather is coming to an end, and we will be able to get more riding in.  If we have any interesting adventures, I'll post them.  In the meantime, stay warm!

Here's some photos from our condo unit.

GULF OF MEXICO FROM OUR BALCONY

A LONELY TRIKE!

VIEWS FROM OUR FRONT DOOR