A good ride for breakfast today.

[John Schmidt]

Met a handful at Shamrock's in Floral City, got there a little after 10:00, only five showed up. Would have been earlier but the sign for 48west in Bushnell was nonexistent until you were right at the intersection. So I went sailing past fat, dumb, and happy until I realized "sumting wong." I was directed back a ways and picked it up, no idea why there isn't a sign at some point prior to the intersection. Then after I got to the restaurant and before I got off the bike, a lady and her husband were talking about the bike when the lady asked if I had already opened the saddlebag. Uh....no, looked back and the right bag lid was just hanging there. Apparently the cables and rubber tips on the standoffs did their job, plus the bag rails helps keep the lid off the sides. I didn't see any damage so far, will have to check closer a little later.

Afterward I rode north on 41 to 44, then east to the 75 Chrome shop, didn't buy anything....this time. As I pulled up to the light in Floral City at 41, a loooong line of Wingers mostly on trikes came tooling past headed north. Groooan! Got stuck behind them all the way to Inverness and then just my luck, they turned east on 44. At that point 44 is four lane so I was able to pass them by the time we hit the edge of town. I'm a life member of GWRRA but glad I don't go on their rides anymore, it's all waaay to structured, just isn't necessary....especially the rides. Just give me a destination and I'll find my own path, I don't need company to enjoy a ride.

I've covered a rather large number of miles in my time on two, the majority of them have been solo so I don't need instructions on how, where, & when to ride. Some of those rides in years past have had rather interesting results. I've slept on or under picnic tables(depending on the weather), slept in a tree once after strapping myself down, overnighted in a barn a few times with the farmers OK then helped one guy milk his three cows the next morning. Once I woke up in a guys barn and felt something warm against my side. Deciding not to move, I looked down to see a skunk sound asleep cuddled up against my leg. PUCKER TIME! His butt was facing away from me so I quickly rolled away and scooted out of there. Told the farmer about it and he laughed, happened to be his daughter's pet skunk and was deodorized....but I didn't know that. One time I woke up on a park bench and had a large scorpion sitting on my foot and I only had my socks on. Just as I was laying there trying to figure out what to do, some huge raptor type bird dived in and snatched it right off my foot and flew away. If you want the crap scared out of you, make a dive under an overpass just in time to have a tornado pass overhead. Long story, suffice it to say a trooper saved my bacon that time thanks to his radio contact ahead of where we were. Had to take a chance to ride through some flood waters once when much younger. At the time the water was over the road but not running fast and by watching the trucks it appeared to be about a foot deep. I had a trucker stop and toss me a rope, I hooked it over the back end of his rig and hung on while he slowly drove through it towing me. I found out later if I had tried to wait it out, both the bike and I would have been washed away. Within 30 minutes a huge front wall of water came downstream and the water level would have been over my head. The Missouri still floods many of the small tributaries and I was near one of them.

So, why did I write all this. Frankly, I have no idea....just felt like sharing some small bit of history that I feel privileged to have experienced. Today, it was good to get out in the wind again, had a great ride, covered 170 miles and did it all at my leisurely pace. Thanks for calling it Jerry, with the heat building up now my riding will become less so glad I could make it out for this one. Rita was doing OK upon my return and I was greeted with a hug from her granddaughter....who promptly told me "that motorcycle makes you stink." What can I say....out of the mouths of babes! 

[_Sheffjs_]

John did not park near us at the restaurant. 

[John Schmidt]

Yes, right after the others pulled in a big semi delivery truck pulled in and blocked the driveway, I got there a few minutes later. It also kept some customers from leaving much to their disgust. The guy was a real jerk.

[Thunderbolt]

I liked the part about the bird swooping down and eating the scorpion the best John.  But I enjoy hearing about your experiences.
We were coming home from the first Inzane that they had in Kentucky, Iris and I on the Interstate and Micheal K on his Tourer.  Somewhere South of Birmingham the skies opened up for like the third time and lightning and rain was so bad we got off and ducked under an overpass.  Micheal got a book out and read a few pages while we waited for it to clear.  We made it to Dothan Al. that night before we gave it up and had to rest for the night.

[_Sheffjs_]

Thanks for the history John. Just like this morning at the table, all kinds of life experiences from the lot of us, maybe that is what primed your story pump?  As for the heat, stay tuned I'm sure we can get you to JB Boondocks?  


I think someone here is going to call a ride to Astor soon,     that would be nice roads from Winter Park for once?  


As far as the saddlebag lid, thankfully I now have Tourer hinges and can't have this brian fart. Seems to me someone else had this happen today.    

[John Schmidt]

Terry, I remember that InZane. The hotel had bike parking under the building and it was sooo hot that year. I was chatting with Iris by the bikes and she was telling me how she figured out a method of taking the extra shoes she wanted.....she just put them inside your boots. I believe that was also the year Mike K and I rode up and roomed together, we used his GPS to NOT find the hotel when we got there. While at the rally, I had to make a run to a local store for some personal supplies. It was so hot I had my shirt unbuttoned most of the way down and as I was riding back to the hotel, it was ballooning out like a sail. Two ladies (?) somewhat older than me was alongside and one pointed at my shirt, laughing at how it was full of air. Just for fun I grabbed the bottom and flipped it up, baring my stomach and chest. They started to laugh and talking to each other when suddenly one gal on the right side copied my move. I almost dropped the bike from laughing so hard. She blew me a kiss and they drove away. An InZane to remember I guess.  

When it was over, I headed north to central Illinois to visit two of my daughters that lived fairly close to each other. After a week there, I headed south to Louisiana to visit my oldest daughter for a few days, got in some great fishing with her husband in some of those backwaters seen on The Swamp People that hunt gators. Then over to Mobile for a few days with my youngest. Was a great trip, I left her place at 7:30am and pulled in our driveway midafternoon....525 miles, and oooh so hot. I was carrying large bottles of water plus a camel back and had a t-shirt on under a longsleeved white shirt. I kept pouring water on myself all the way home, only stopping for gas and once for a quick lunch. The rest of the time I was really booking it, temps in the high 90's to low 100's by 2:00pm that day and I couldn't wait to get home.

[John Schmidt]

As far as the saddlebag lid, thankfully I now have Tourer hinges and can't have this brain fart. Seems to me someone else had this happen today.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Yeah, I heard about that. I won't give it away but his initials are Jack. 

[OLDFRT]

Sorry that I missed the ride and the get-together today, but when I didn't get home from work until 6:05 this morning, I just didn't have any ambition left. I went to bed for a couple of hours, and even then it took another 3 hours before I had enough ambition to head out and do my errands. Thinking seriously of riding to the "House" about 10:00 tomorrow morning to see who shows up.

[_Sheffjs_]

Work gets in the way for sure.  We pulled up to a traffic light next to Jack and I said, can't we work two days a week and have off five. This is not enough ride time! No doubt!  Sorry you got the rig in so late you could not ride.  Our turn to miss out tomorrow. 

[OnaWingandaPrayer]

It  was good to check in with you folks for bit this morning at the Park . Hopefully we can get in a ride with the group soon.

[Flrider]

I sure was a beautiful day for a ride 
Great to see you John and to hear your stories, you sure took off fast cause I did not get to see you leave

Jerry,
         thanks for posting this ride and for taking the time to figure out the roads and leading us through some beautiful roads.
I use my Garmin GPS a lot but I am constantly amazed by your GPS 

I am glad I decided not to stay home and rest froma busy week at work.
I have a couple of pics that I will be posting but just got home from work and too tired to do the pic thing, will try to post tomorrow.

[Flrider]

It  was good to check in with you folks for bit this morning at the Park . Hopefully we can get in a ride with the group soon.

Remember I offered Bob's back seat so you could ride with us, I know Bob is a team player 

[Flrider]

As far as the saddlebag lid, thankfully I now have Tourer hinges and can't have this brain fart. Seems to me someone else had this happen today.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Yeah, I heard about that. I won't give it away but his initials are Jack. 

I only did it so you would not feel left out John 

[Flrider]

Jerry admiring his new bling and Bob being Bob 

[OnaWingandaPrayer]

It  was good to check in with you folks for bit this morning at the Park . Hopefully we can get in a ride with the group soon.

Remember I offered Bob's back seat so you could ride with us, I know Bob is a team player 

  Jack , I do appreciate you offering me a ride with Bob.  Though I am not sure Bob was totally on board with the idea.
 But if ya'll don't mind the big sister to the Valk tagging along we will be back  another day for a RTE.

[FloridaValkRyder]

You have..and tell some great stories John. One of your many admirable traits my friend! Glad you got a good ride in too, you needed it I'm sure. 

[John Schmidt]

You have..and tell some great stories John. One of your many admirable traits my friend! Glad you got a good ride in too, you needed it I'm sure. 

Yes, I needed a break. Bad! The last couple weeks have been pretty rough on Rita.