Sunday Ride

[Tundra]

 I fill up with non-ethanol fuel upon returning from each ride, as it's readily available along the Gulf Coast where I live. I prefer to run it a few miles on my ride home so it's in the carbs when I shut down. Between non-ethanol fill ups I use fuel treatment. I rolled in last weekend from our road scouting ride on reserve, so this morning left for my non-ethanol fill up. It was beautiful, crystal clear cool day. Andrea says, "your not going without me"? So off we go with no particular ride in mind.





We then decided to ride for breakfast, we've eaten here before but just lunch/dinner. They are on the Intra-Coastal water way, outdoor dining and outdoor covered dining outback as well as outdoor bar with $1 drafts and $2 well drinks. Nice Beach atmosphere inside and good breakfast. Only bummer was no sweet tea.







This ones for Pappy, the resident antique outboard expert. I know nothing about this, but it looks older?



She says "Thank Jess again for these gloves, I love them" Very soft deerskin, prefers these over the gauntlets even in colder weather.



We found a "Speed Hump" in the park. I discovered a "Hump" is larger than a "Bump" but sometimes the Hump can cause a Bump.



Next stop Sand Key Park and unload some of that horrible unsweetened tea.





The view is from the Sand Key bridge which spans Clearwater pass. Spring break is in full swing, sorry no pictures aloud. I would be banned, use your imagination.







Found this place under construction, single family home. Must be one heck of a family. I didn't know there was any Beachfront property left. They must have bulldozed and rebuilt?



Stopped at John's Pass for fresh fish @ lunch time. This place serves fresh catch right off the boat. He wasn't open, the boat was still out. So home for grilled hotdogs and baked beans. Thank God I needed gas today. Sure beats working around the house.

[Thunderbolt]

Thanks for posting the pics Doug.  Looked like a nice day for a ride.  We actually thought about it since it was so nice, but have both got a cold, so not at our best for riding, like to be 100%.

[FloridaValkRyder]

Great report Doug and great pictures too! Nothing like a good ride report, like yesterday's also, to make those of us who couldn't get out this beautiful weekend feel better. Thank you! 

[Jess from VA]

Thanks for sharing.

The color in those pics is amazing.

It's not like I didn't get a more than fair return on those gloves Doug.  Glad she likes them.

Speed humps are poorly named.  No one humps there (fast or slow), and you need to slow down not speed up.... they should be named slow humps.  Seen several bikes just rip their kickstands on them.

I only experienced Breakers one time.... and it was enough.  I mean, they have a lot of fun, but I don't recommend sharing a motel with them.  Dude, how wasted am I? (gets old nonstop from 1-4AM, and the girls barfed in the pool, repeatedly...... marvelous)

[FloridaValkRyder]

"...Speed humps are poorly named...." Why don't they just call them "quickies!!" 

[boss hoss bill]

Doug

Nice report and excellent pictures. 

It was truly a great weekend to ride, for sure.I got out Sat. and Sunday myself, hit a seafood festival in Pt. St. Lucie. Eat to ride, ride to eat!

I especially like the color combo on your bike. I think it's the prettiest two tone combo Honda did. I'm tempted to have my fast black re sprayed in this pattern.

Take care
Bill


 

[Tundra]

Thanks Bill, pm sent.

[Dougger]

What are you paying for the Non-Ethanol fuel?

[Tundra]

It varies. Three different non-ethanol gas stations I go to. They all sell Marathon non branded fuel and they all pull from the Marathon at the Port of Tampa. $4.25 to $4.55 per gallon. The one I like the most has three different grades of non-ethanol.
  

[John Schmidt]

Re. speed bumps....we have a neighborhood nearby that has signs posted saying; "raised humps."  Often wondered how that differs from regular "humps" or "bumps." Are some raised and others not? Idle minds need to know!  

Doug, great pics, I agree the colors are outstanding. I'm envious of you guys....getting to go to John's Pass. Been there a number of times. As a side note, Rita's oldest son and wife are trying to talk us into selling out here and moving to that area. They live in your same general area and so does her other son, but the thought of moving is kinda scary at this stage of life. They want us closer in case we need help in a hurry, something they can't provide where we are. Just don't know where I'd find a four car garage(for my projects  ) with a three room house attached.  

[Valkahuna]

Thanks for sharing Doug.

Great pics and a nice story. Not to beat the "color" thing to death, but I agree. What do you use for a camera? any filters? Please don't tell me it's your phone, but if it is, you got a good one. Wish I could find Non Ethanol easily here. I know there are a couple around on the east coast of FL, but none that I know of near Edgewater.

No such luck in New England, at least not anywhere near us. State to darned Lib for that to be allowed.

[limeybiker]

Sunoco, sell non ethanol in the Ocala area.
I just started using it, just paid Honda $1500.00 to rebuild my IS carbs.
Speed bumps in the UK are called "sleeping policemen."

[Scoop171]

It varies. Three different non-ethanol gas stations I go to. They all sell Marathon non branded fuel and they all pull from the Marathon at the Port of Tampa. $4.25 to $4.55 per gallon. The one I like the most has three different grades of non-ethanol.
  

Hi Tundra,

  I also use the non-ethanol gas in our area. Lately I've been stopping at the Wawa stations that are popping up around here. I would like to put in a higher octain in my bikes of the non-ethanol but I have not found the station with the three grades of non-ethanol yet? If I could ask a favor......? Could you tell me the address or give me directions to this station?
Thanks,
Scoop171 (Ed)

[Tundra]

Hi Ed,
 The station with three octane grades of non-ethanol is called Bollinger's Sunoco.
It is owned by Ted Bollinger, phone (727)-345-6941
They are open till 6:00pm M-F and close at 4:00pm Saturday, closed Sunday. Privately owned and operated, not a chain.
  He's located on Bay Pines Blvd. just past Park Street and just before 38th Ave. on the right side of the road. When you leave, take the back parking lot to the street behind him, it will dump you back on Park St. then turn left on Bay Pines Blvd. This way you beat the traffic and turning around at  38th Ave. (and live longer)

  The picture above is from the Citgo station on Walsingham Rd. in Largo, heading West, just before the Causeway directly next door to Mikes Pizza and bar right side of the road. (0ne grade, 90octane)

[Scoop171]

Hi Ed,
 The station with three octane grades of non-ethanol is called Bollinger's Sunoco.
It is owned by Ted Bollinger, phone (727)-345-6941
They are open till 6:00pm M-F and close at 4:00pm Saturday, closed Sunday. Privately owned and operated, not a chain.
  He's located on Bay Pines Blvd. just past Park Street and just before 38th Ave. on the right side of the road. When you leave, take the back parking lot to the street behind him, it will dump you back on Park St. then turn left on Bay Pines Blvd. This way you beat the traffic and turning around at  38th Ave. (and live longer)

  The picture above is from the Citgo station on Walsingham Rd. in Largo, heading West, just before the Causeway directly next door to Mikes Pizza and bar right side of the road. (0ne grade, 90octane)

Thanks Tundra!

   I have rode past both of those stations. I will check them out. I did not know the Citgo sold non-ethanol gas. I Thank you and my bikes Thank you! It will be great to get some higher octane in those tanks. Thanks for the tip on getting out of the Sunoco station! That intersection is pretty nasty.

Ed 

[Tundra]

Ed,
 Most Valks don't require the higher octane, I use it because of my 6 degree timing advance.
You and your wife would like to join us, keep an eye on the board. You have my email, or pm me.
-Doug

[John Schmidt]

Scoop, Doug's right re. the hi-test. The only time you might "possibly" need it is with the advance degree trigger wheel such as he has. I had to use at least midgrade when I had a 6 deg. installed and if it was ethanol I had to use hitest. I then went to an I/S ICM module and dropped back to a 4 deg. trigger wheel. Now most of the time I'll use either regular or midgrade. Most bikes run on regular which is what the Valk was designed for. Paying for hitest is a waste of $$.

[Valkahuna]

Good news for me (and others in the town of Edgewater, FL! This morning, while passing by my neighborhood gas station I noticed a new banner announcing that they are now selling Non_Ethanol gas. Plan to go by an check it out. Hard to believe I'd been looking without success, and now found it about 1/2 mile from the house.

I did find some at the Marina in NSB last Thursday when we were out on the River. It was Hi-Test and was $5.00 per gallon. Seems high, but Marinas always charge like their fuel is liquid gold. Hope this new find is a lot less, but even if expensive it's so convenient. 

[Scoop171]

Thanks Doug, & John

  Just saved me some $$$ that I may have wasted.
You two lost me on the advance trigger wheel timing degree thing! LOL 
In the many years of owning the Valk it has been only routine maintenance for me. Which says someting about these bikes.

  Doug will let you know on a ride we could make.
Thanks......

[twdurdentwd]

It varies. Three different non-ethanol gas stations I go to. They all sell Marathon non branded fuel and they all pull from the Marathon at the Port of Tampa. $4.25 to $4.55 per gallon. The one I like the most has three different grades of non-ethanol.
  

Hi Tundra,

  I also use the non-ethanol gas in our area. Lately I've been stopping at the Wawa stations that are popping up around here. I would like to put in a higher octain in my bikes of the non-ethanol but I have not found the station with the three grades of non-ethanol yet? If I could ask a favor......? Could you tell me the address or give me directions to this station?
Thanks,
Scoop171 (Ed)

You could stop at the local airfield and fuel up with AV gas - phat lady likes it.

Thomas

[John Schmidt]

You could stop at the local airfield and fuel up with AV gas - phat lady likes it.

Thomas
[/quote]
Don't get caught doing it....tain't legal, tax impact is much different. Can also get the FBO in hot water and possibly lose his fuel license.

[Pappy!]

Have been running 89 octane "midgrade" all along with my 6 degree trigger wheel. No issues ever.

[twdurdentwd]

We have a local airfield and a bp station that sells av gas for airboats... We stop and go quick with our bikes and no questions