First leg

I met Brian on Highway 60 and I-95 at 5:30. We headed west toward Yeehaw Junction where we jump on Florida's Turnpike. We pushed on until a brief gas stop at the Turkey Creek service plaza.
A nice and uneventful ride. The sun was setting and was harsh as we left the Turnpike onto I-75. We stopped for a mediocre dinner in Ocala at Big Rascals BBQ then on up I-75 where we stopped for the night in Lake City.
Tomorrow we start our trek west. Our goal is Baton Rouge LA where we meet up with David who is coming down Milledgeville GA.




Parked my bike in a tight spot at the motel. While watching the highway pegs for clearance I barely brushed up against the wall with my fairing just enough to scratch the clear coat. Sick!




Until next time

C'ya on the Road

Location:Sw Commerce Dr,Lake City,United States

W.H.O.R.E.S. TCBB3.0

Today we rode with the Wekiva Hills Orlando Regional Expeditionary Society (W.H.O.R.E.S.). A louche bunch of misfits of which no one wants to be a part of. This weekend was the 3rd Annual Treasure Coast Butt Burner. Gary and Craig Riggs came down for the weekend to ride with us.

We agreed to meet at our usual location the Flying J in Fort Pierce with KSU at 7:30. I had decided to swap out the battery in my security fob last week and was surprised when my motorcycle failed to start. Using all my superior analytical skills I determined I had put the new battery in the fob upside down. So running a little late to the meetup it started raining on me about a mile out.

Once I arrived we decided to have breakfast at Denny's and just stay put until the storm blew over.

 Once we had finished breakfast the storm was gone and it was time to ride.

We headed south skirting Port St Lucie with only 2 of Brain's famous U-turns we took Citrus Blvd to Indiantown and Port Myaca. A great spot to over look Lake Okeechobee.

From there Brain led the group around Okeechobee north on Hwy 98 into Sebring. Time for lunch at the Sebring Diner.

Then a quick stop at T J Leather. 

We rode a short part of Florida's Ridge Scenic Highway.  Some of my favorite riding. While coming into Frostproof I managed to attract some bees and got stung twice. A quick stop, Brian removed a stinger from my left ear. No stinger in the arm.  A little break at FrostBite Ice Cream in Frostproof.  Once reaching Hwy 60 on the east side of Lake Wales we headed easttoward home. Brian and the Riggs Brothers continued east on Highway 60 at YeeHaw Junction while Sherry and I head south on 441.

Logging 298 miles and great scenery made for a good day to be out riding and hanging out with friends.

Until next time. C'ya on the Road.

Sedona/Monument Valley Gatherin' 2013

My riding buddy BigDawg (Brian) is on this Suzuki forum and they are planning this Gatherin in Sedona Az at the end of May to include riding the north rim of the Grand Canyon and Monument Vally.  Someone, it might of been me, suggested we go and you know how things just start coming together.  Anyway, it now looks like BigDawg and myself will be heading to Sedona for a 2 week road trip at the end of May. 

Our planned route to Sedona, Az

With only 33 days before we leave for Sedona Az the plan is coming together.  Here is the latest.

We plan to leave south Florida on Wednesday evening May 15th after work to make the 2200 + mile trip just to get to Sedona by Sunday May 19th and not kill ourselves. The Gatherin has rides planned to include a ride south from Sedona through Cottonwood to the ghost town of Jerome then through Prescott and further south on AZ 89A past Yarnell to ride a length of 89A that is suppose to be a fun stretch of road.

Tuesday is the ride up through the river canyon, as we head north to Marble Canyon and a BBQ dinner at the Marble Canyon Motel. This leg has been cut short due to a rock slide and some road closures. We had planned to raft the Colorado River and swim in Lake Powell.

Wednesday morning we depart Marble Canyon for the ride to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to ride the North Rim park roads before heading back north to Jacobs Lake for lunch. Then about a 2.5 hour ride to the motel in Cedar City Utah. On Thursday and Friday from Cedar City will be two separate rides through Zion Canyon one day and Bryce Canyon the next day.

Approaching Monument Valley

Then on Saturday we ride to Monument Valley, the eastern most portion and end of the organized ride. After Monument Valley a group of us hope to take in Four Corners Monument and ride into Cortez Co to stay at the White Eagle Inn in extreme SW Colorado for the night.

On Sunday morning the 26th we start working our way home. The plan now is to ride through Durango Co to Dodge City Ks then south into Oklahoma City from there or maybe east toward Missouri.

But you know what they say about plans,"It is never a plan until it is to late to change it"

Anyway, sounds like a fun trip to a lot of places I have never been. Since the furthest west I have every been is Harley-Davidson World in Oklahoma City last March, this is all new to me.

I will try to post some pictures along the way and provide updates.

Cold Day Trip

We left our usual spot at the Flying J in Fort Pierce at 7:30. Brian over slept this morning which delayed us from our normal departure time of 7:00. At 48 degrees there was a bit of a nip in the air so everyone was bundled up for the ride. Well, except for Sherry who had forgotten her gloves and wouldn't go into the Flying J and purchase a pair of cotton gloves so she would have something to give some protection to her hands.
The four of us, Brian, Karyn, Sherry and myself headed out for breakfast some 40 miles away at the Landing Strip Cafe in the Okeechobee Airport.
After a long breakfast the sun was up and so was the temperature. We headed toward Sebring. Our first visit to T.J. Leather was a good one. The lady replaced the rusted snaps on Brian's chaps free of charged. Collectively we spent well over $100.

Karyn was still a little cold but it had warmed up to 69 according to the ambient temperature gauge at the bank across the street.
As this was a developing ride (where we head out with no planned destination) we had to decide which way to travel. We decided to ride Florida's Ridge Scenic Highway. This scenic corridor SR 17, or “Scenic Highway” as it is locally known, winds along the Lake Wales Ridge providing scenic vistas and lakes, natural areas, citrus groves and cattle in large pastures. Some of my favorite riding. The eventual route gave us several glimpses of the famous Bok Tower.
It was looking real good and things were going along until once again I got lost in Poinciana. To urban. I can't seem to navigate all those traffic lights and road name changes. Anyway after reaching a dead end Brian figured it out and got us back on track.
After trying to have lunch at a Mexican joint and finding it closed we ate at Ker's Winghouse in Kissimmee. Not the same experience as the Winghouse in Daytona. Though the food was good, the service and ambience was mediocre at best.
From there we headed home. Brian and Karyn headed east on Highway 60 at YeeHaw Junction while Sherry and I head south on 441.
All-in-all a good day to be out riding and hanging out with friends.
Until next time. C'ya on the Road.

Location:Florida

2013 Daytona Bike Week Day Trip

The last weekend of the 72nd Annual Daytona Bike Week so we decided to ride up on Saturday. I left the house a 6:30 am. It was a brisk 39 degrees. Met HondaGal at the BP and we headed north to meet up with Brian.

We met Brian in Vero Beach as the sun was coming up and it had started warming up to 44 degrees by then.

After a great breakfast at the Son On the Beach Diner in Satellite Beach we headed up toward Ormond Beach.

We arrived at 11:15 am to meet our fellow W.H.O.R.E.S. where we had to want on our fearless leader to finally show up. Late in true W.H.O.R.E.S. fashion.

Since they hadn't eaten and it was pushing noon by now we found this off the beaten path Named Howard's on US 1 heading into Daytona for lunch. Breakfast for some. During lunch Sherry was officially sworn into the Wekiva Hills Orlando Regional Expeditionary Society (W.H.O.R.E.S.). A louche bunch of misfits of which no one really wants to be involed.

After lunch Sherry was not able to get her key in her ignition. Without hesitation Brian jumped into action and work out enough corrosion inside her ignition to get her on the road again.

We worked our way on down to Beach St in Daytona. Brain an I squeezed into a parking right in front of the Harley Dealership directly across from the H.O.G. Pin Stop. I quickly picked up my 30th Anniversary H.O.G. pin.

While we were checking out the vendors along Beach Street we made some new friends.

Now it was time to head back south and home.

Great Day to Ride with Great Friends.

C'ya on the Road

Day Ride

Took a day trip today with HondaGal. We didn't take the fact the today was the first day of day light savings time into consideration when we decided to leave at 7:00 am so it was still dark.

We had breakfast at the Landing Strip Cafe at the Okeechobee Airport before heading north.
After getting gas south of Lake Placid we headed southwest toward Fort Myers.

Then more gas before heading back east.
We had a late lunch at the Roland Martin Marina Tiki Bar in Clewiston before heading home up the east side of Lake Okechobee.
Great ride on a perfect day. 303 miles and home by 4
Ride Safe -- Have Fun
C'ya on the Road

Location:South Florida

Welcome to my new Blog

Hello Everyone.

Welcome to my new blog site. I hope to use this blog as a journal of my motorcycle rides that I take around Florida and across the country. Check back regular as we are planning an epic ride from Fort Pierce, Florida to meet a great group of folks in Sedona Arizona.