CALLING ALL FLORIDA VALKYRIE RIDERS!!!

[FloridaValkRyder]

Wanted to give a heads up to all of you in Florida, or where ever, of a BBQ gathering of the Valks. We are going to be getting together at 4Rivers Smokehouse BBQ in Orlando on December 15th, Saturday, at 11:00 am. This ride-in is being hailed by none other than John Schmidt, who has fully recovered from his heart troubles now and is inviting everyone back to his beautiful home on the golf course following lunch for dessert, coffee and fellowship. The link to the event on the Florida board is: http://www.valkyrieforum.com/forum/vrcc_florida.cgi?noframes;read=1520129
There are more details there as well. I know many of you here in Florida don't go to the Florida chapter board so wanted to extend the invite to y'all on the "Big Board" . Hope to see some of you on the 15th. 
Jeff

[Rams]

Sounds like fun, wish I could be there but.................  Well you know how it goes, not enough time to travel that far and get back for all the other things I have to do to survive.

Bump for a great idea.  Give John my best wishes.   

[John Schmidt]

Jeff, thanks for the post and link to the Fla. board. I'd love to have some riders from the surrounding states also show up. For Rita and me it's somewhat of a "thank you" gathering for all the support received while I was down. I'm looking forward to it and hope for a good bunch to show up.

[steve 3054]

I put this on our schedule!!!  Can't think of anyone or group of people I would rather see!!!   steve

[BF]

Would love to ride down from the Panhandle John, but I'm working the 15th and it's a pretty busy time of year.  

If the sequestration doesn't effect me and we don't get thrown over the fiscal cliff with the rest of the country, sometime after the first of the year would be better for me.  

[Pappy!]

Timing is everything!
Would love to do this and meet some fellow Valk riders, but.........I am buying a new to me Valkyrie on the 14th of Dec,............and it is in Texas!
So.........I will be in the saddle on the 15th and 16th covering the 1113 miles home.

[FloridaValkRyder]

needs a BUMP!!

[billyboy]

I'm going to try to make it , just hate to go through Orlando. Trying to find a back way in from
St. Pete. Any ideas ?

[John Schmidt]

I'm going to try to make it , just hate to go through Orlando. Trying to find a back way in from
St. Pete. Any ideas ?

Coming in from the west at that time of day shouldn't be real bad. The worst traffic will usually be going the other direction(west) for Disney, Sea World, and Universal. Going back, I can give you directions to the 417 which goes all the way around the Orlando Metro area and comes out on I-4 west of Disney. Bring plenty of change for tolls if you take that route back. There really isn't any "backroad" way in, and I-4 is a direct route to the exit for the restaurant. That street, Fairbanks Ave., is four lane but it's not a killer to ride on, I do it quite regularly. If you can ride in St. Petersville, you can easily do this and not even break a sweat. 

You need to try and hook up with Bill(Grumpy) and Murphy(hope he can make it). Also, I hope Doug(Tundra) and his wife Andrea will be coming over from Seminole. That's another couple you could ride with. However, if you like I can bring you in via the 417 which you pick up west of Disney and give you directions to my place. Then we could ride over to the restaraunt together. Just keep in mind it adds quite a few more miles to the trip and costs for tolls. You're really better off coming in on I-4.

[Grumpy]

Billy -boy, you are welcome to ride over with us. If you decide to, I will find a easy place for us to meet up.

[Pappy!]

BF - I should be coming through your neck of the woods on the 16th if everything works as it should. Don't mean to hijack the thread.....consider it a bump!

[flsix]

I'll keep checking the calendar to see if it cooperates. I'd like to head up that way.

[John Schmidt]

Well, so far it looks like we're right at 17 riders are going to join us for the BBQ lunch ride and then a stop by the Schmidt House following. If a couple guys can bring their wives, we'll be close to 20. Some are new members I've not met yet so looking forward to that. Still a little over a week away so hopefully we'll have a few more. I know there's some folk up around Ocala, name escapes me, and also Willie and his honey. Believe he's from Germany originally. Like I said, I'd love to have a whole BUNCH of bikes sitting in front of the house that afternoon. We'll definitely be taking pictures.

Also want to try and roust TJ out of his hovel and join us as well. Haven't seen that old goat since long before my near demise. 

[John Schmidt]

I'll keep checking the calendar to see if it cooperates. I'd like to head up that way.

Love to have you join us, however I know it would be a long haul up this way for you....close to 240 miles if I recall.

[flsix]

John, the closer it gets the more if looks like I'll be there. Right up the center of the state through Arcadia, Lake Alfred,Winter Haven is a good ride. The only that makes me squeamish is riding back through rural areas in the dark with all the critters cruising the roads too.
If there's anyone riding up from this end give me a shout and we could meet somewhere.

[FloridaValkRyder]

Just wanted to give this one more bump. We are going to have a pretty good turnout it seems!!

[John Schmidt]

Just wanted to give this one more bump. We are going to have a pretty good turnout it seems!!

Most definitely! We're at 24 if my count is even close, and if some of the riders bring their wives we'll go over that by two or three. I told the neighbors about all the bikes that will be here if the weather is good. The reaction: Cool! The dr. across the street said he wants to get some pictures, if my bike is any example he wants to look them all over. My 95 yr. old buddy across the street next to the dr.  is all excited, asked if he can come over and look. Absolutely, and I'll help him across. He's a wealth of history from WWII, was involved in the D Day landing, took a round through his pants only, "just low enough to not cause damage" as he puts it.

Hoping and praying for good riding weather. 

[NEHI]

  John,
   Count me in. Although I am a bit concerned about riding that far north this time of year, I mean it could get to the low 70s (Burr). Just kidding, Tara and I will see you Saturday.

[Tundra]

John,
  My bike is fixed, I'm a go!
Should be a sunny day, temps in the low 70's...perfect

[John Schmidt]

WOW...we're pushing 30 riders that have said they're coming, and that's just Florida folk.  I might have to go buy a couple more boxes of goodies.    If all goes well this time around, maybe we should look at making it a regular Fall event. Maybe a little earlier so it doesn't interfere with Christmas parties and such. If it weren't for those parties, I know of another 4-5 people that would be here.

[John Schmidt]

  John,
   Count me in. Although I am a bit concerned about riding that far north this time of year, I mean it could get to the low 70s (Burr). Just kidding, Tara and I will see you Saturday.

Yeah, it can get downright chilly according to Eddie(Tropic Traveler).    Where are you coming from, saves me the trouble of looking it up! We want to try and be in the chow line around 11:30 so we can beat the lunch crowd as much as possible. Saturdays are slower per the manager, but lunch still gets busy.

[FloridaValkRyder]

That's a great idea John. Our own Florida festival of sorts. Now, we need a catchy name, place, time of year........

[flsix]

Our company party was this past Sat. but I would pass it up for a good ride to a meet and greet.

The idea of an annual event sounds like a great plan.

[NEHI]

  John,
   I'm coming from Stuart about 130mi. Their are not to many back roads from here to their, so I will just take the Tpk. to I-4.
    Dean..

[John Schmidt]

  John,
   I'm coming from Stuart about 130mi. Their are not to many back roads from here to their, so I will just take the Tpk. to I-4.
    Dean..

OK, I'm familiar with where Stuart is. Did you read my description as to how to find the place off I-4? Exit #87, turn right and it's about 1/2 mile...on the right.  New building.

[Grumpy]

bump

[Michael K (Az.)]

LAST BUMP!!
It's happening tomorrow!

[John Schmidt]

If my count is right, we have 36 good folk headed this way tomorrow. Lunch starting around 11:30 at 4Rivers BBQ, that will beat some of the noon crowd, then off to the Schmidt House.    I estimate about 26 bikes will be in attendance so will break it up into groups of around 6+/- one or two. There are at least four riders that know the way to my place and each will lead a group. Then the fun will start once we all get here. I'm having the trikes, will be three far as I know, do a U-turn in the yard and park on the grass facing the street. Should be an eyecatcher in itself. The driveway is wide enough for five bikes to be parked side by side, and long enough for maybe three rows. The rest will have to back in at the curb. My old 95 yr. old buddy across the street is all excited, I'll escort him over so he can get a close-up look, eyes aren't very good at a distance. We hope to have pictures for posting in the days to follow. If we do this again next year, maybe we can get some riders from surrounding states. I'm really looking forward to this gathering, and of course my wife is worried about the house. It's "oh dear, it needs this done and that done and on and on....."  I told her not one person in the group makes a living at being a house inspector, not that it did any good. 

[flsix]

Looks like good weather will grace our ride tomorrow. Just checked google maps and it shows a jaunt of right at 200 miles one way. To bad I have to go in to work first. It adds another hour and a half to the day before I get to head north.

I'm already hungry

[John Schmidt]

Looks like good weather will grace our ride tomorrow. Just checked google maps and it shows a jaunt of right at 200 miles one way. To bad I have to go in to work first. It adds another hour and a half to the day before I get to head north.

I'm already hungry

If you get hung up and can't make it to the BBQ restaurant, give me a call and I'll give you directions to the house. I posted my cell on the Fla. Board. 

[flsix]

Thanks John, I'll do that.