Saturday, April 13, 2013

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.

Friday, April 12, 2013

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.