Ride to Everglades City

Sam & Joanne Hall from McClure, Pa came down to visit Cora with their daughter Shelly. They flew into Tampa and rented a Pt Cruiser to drive down to Ft Myers Beach. They got here on Tuesday evening. After supper Kandi, the boys and I left to go to our home. I got on my Harley and rode down to show Sam and Shelly. Sam rides a Honda back in Pa. They liked the bike and I asked Shelly if she wanted to go for a ride. I took her through Ft Myers Beach and pass Lovers Key State Park and turned around at Bonita Springs. She said she liked the ride and it was her first ride on a big V-Twin motorcycle let alone her first on a Harley-Davidson.

Sam told us that AAA had him traveling to Miami via I-75. He said he wanted to see the Everglades and I told him that on I-75 he wouldn't beable to. I told him to take route 41. Sam and them were going to Miami on Wednesday and spend the night there and then drive down to Key West on Thursday and on Friday come back to Cora's at Ft Myers Beach.

Wednesday morning I went on my Harley and they in their rental car and I guided Sam, Joanne and Shelly to the 'Glades. I took them down through Ft Myers Beach, Lovers Key, Bonita Springs and on to Route 41. Route 41 took us through Naples and down towards the Everglades. Riding along route 41 which is also known as The Tamiami Trail (Tampa to Miami) we saw a few 'Gators along side the road. We stopped for a photo shoot and back on the way. I stopped at Wootens for them to ride the air boat. I told them that they just follow Tamiami trail the whole way to Miami and everything would be fine. They got on the airboat and I took off. I rode down to the very small town of Ochopee, Fl. In this town you don't hardly see any homes but you do see Indian huts every where. Also in the town of Ochopee is the United States smallest Post Office. I had to take another picture of it along side of my bike. Then I headed back down for photos of the sign "Now entering Everglades National Park" and also by the "Welcome to Everglades City" sign. All for HOG's ABC's of Touring for 2007. I got a quick start on it this year.

Sam said they loved the ride through the 'Glades the best. I am glad. On the way home I started to get light headed. The reason was low "Blood Sugar!" I didn't have any money with me because Kandi only gave me $8.00 and I used that for gas and it didn't fill the tank up. I wanted to stop at the Naples HD Dealership and see if they had free soda and snacks like Ft Myers HD does. Both are owned by the same person. I didn't find the dealership and headed 30+ miles to Ft Myers. I thought I would stop at the Ft Myers HD Dealership and get some snacks and soda there for free and then continue my ride home. Well, I was riding back on Rt 41 and the exit for me to go home was way before the Dealership exit. So I headed home on a gas tank guage that was blinking for low fuel. Here's me with no money for fuel or eats and with out a cell phone!

I hit every red light coming home and it was all I could do to keep the bike from falling over when I came to a stop. I made it home but didn't put the bike where I normally do. I reached into my pocket and discovered that I didn't have my house keys with me and Kandi, Cora and the boys were out shopping some where! I went to my neighbor's and no one was home. I wanted to ask someone for some juice so I wouldn't completly have a low blood sugar attack!

Finally, Rowland my next door neighbor came home. I asked for some juice and told him why. They gave me a glass of cranberry juice and an apple. After awhile my hands quit shaking and Kandi pulled into the yard. She was mad at me for taking her parking place. She sent Jordan over to tell me "Move it or LOOSE IT!" So I had the strength this time to pick it up and move the bike. I helped her in with her packages. She told me it was my fault for having a low sugar attack and that I shouldn't have went on the ride. Oh well, maybe I shouldn't have but she always has low blood sugar and has passed out many times. Over 100 maybe over 300 in the 12 years we been married. Just yesterday she went to get a cap put on her tooth. She said she was having low blood sugar so she stopped to eat. Me on the other had I don't get money when I'm by myself or even with the boys to eat. Enough said about that.

Saturday I took Sam and my boys fishing over on Sanibel. I had to first buy hooks, sinkers, swivels etc along with 3 dozen frozen shrimp for bait. The tide wasn't in and was not moving too much. Only little fish were biting. We kept having our bait stolen by the little fish. Then after 3 hours the tide changed and I saw "SNOOK" everywhere. It was great seeing such big fish. I hooked a few but lost them. Sam hooked a big fish and it took him under the pier and snapped his line. Then after he retied he hooked a really nice size fish. We were fishing from the Sanibel Island Pier and then everyone came over to look. I sent Jordan running to go get our camera out of the car. People were yelling at Sam to keep the fish from under the pier. Sam yelled back, "I'm trying to. I'm trying!" Since we all had lite tackle and not that strong of pound test line, Sam was scared that he might loose the fish since it was stripping line out. The line was almost gone when Sam turned the fish around towards us. The fight would be over soon! Another fisherman at the pier came over with a big net and a extra long handle to net the fish. They brought it up on the dock and everyone was so happy and taking pictures. You would have thought they were the ones who caught the fish. lol. I was and still am happy for Sam for catching his first SNOOK and it was a good size too. Since Snook season isn't in we threw it back into the water and watched this great God's Creature swim off only to be caught some other day.

Lake Okeechobee Ride

Saturday Jan 13, 2007. I went on a great ride. This ride was what I call "Riding the Big Loop." This ride was around Lake Okeechobee, Florida. I was riding with some members of the Naples Chapter of Star Touring & Riding. Allan, Frank and myself had a great ride. Allan was our Road Captain as he planned the whole route. For those who don't know about Lake Okeechobee, it is the second largest Fresh Water lake inside the United States! The Great Lakes don't qualify because they are also part of Canada.

I met Allan around 9am Saturday morning. We then road back roads to Lake Okeechobee. Buckingham was from favorite because it had a few turns. Most roads in Florida are flat and straight. This road had some turns and a couple inclines.

When we got to the lake and started heading north the sceenery changed somewhat. We made in to the top of the lake and stopped for lunch in the small town of Okeechobee. We road pass an Indian Res and stopped at a class restaurant, Lightsey Restaurant. Inside were many fish and animals mounted on the walls. Above the fireplace was the largest Grouper I have ever seen!

After eating we got back on our bikes to continue around to the eastern side of the lake. Frank headed back the way we came and Allan and I pressed on through a great day of riding.

All along the way we met and waved at other motorcyclist. All around the lake was flood control berms. The average depth of Lake Okeechobee is only 12 feet deep! But Lake O supplies much water to the farms and such. Lake Okeechobee is also famous for its Bass fishing. The TV fisherman, Roland Martin, has a marina there that we rode past.

Also all around the lake is sugar cane fields and sugar cane processing plants. I have never seen sugar cane before so this was a treat in itself. We had a beautiful riding day as it was around 81 degrees and sun shinning.

We made it back to Ft Myers a little past 5pm and after over 280 miles of riding I was ready for supper! I said my "Good Bye" to Allan and off I went to meet Kandi, Cora, Jordan and Morgan at Denny's Restaurant for supper.

This was my longest ride I have taken on my 2006 Harley-Davidson FLHXI Street Glide. It was also my favorite ride I have taken in a long time. I wish all my family and friends could have been with me on this ride. All along the route I would say to myself, "I wish the boys and everyone else were here to share this with me." I know the boys would have liked seeing all the motorcycles along the way and also seeing the sugar cane fields.

Until next time, Smooth Riding and Stay Safe!!!!!jrm

A 2007 Ride to the Beach.

With things happening too fast around home I wasn't able to get out and go on the bike after New Years. I have been taking a few short rides to the Beach but not riding the full 7 mile length of Estero Island/Ft Myers Beach.

I had Jordan with me and we parked the bike in a parking space at WINDS on the Beach. This is a beach store at the intersection at Times Square. Across the other side is the store where Penny Mansberger McNerlin works called Mango Bay. The owner of the WINDS also owns Mango Bay and another store about 3 blocks from there. Jordan and I got off the bike and went to watch street performers. I saw a few people taking pictures of my bike and them standing beside my bike. One dude took his kids picture beside the bike. I came up and asked if he wanted me to take a family picture. I had him and his wife stand behind the bike and put the 2 kids sitting on the bike. He was happy that someone would do that.

So here is a photo of that night Jordan and I had.

I was sent 2 emails from 2 different people to go riding tonight/Wednesday to a restaurants Bike Night. I am taking the boys to Church so they can go to Kings Kids. That is more important than riding. They get to learn about God and also get to play with other children there. I can ride anytime. No, I'm not complaining about it. I choose to take them, then I sent over in the adult Wednesday service. Besides, the one person is planning a ride Saturday morning to Lake O. This will be a long ride riding around the lake made famous by Roland Martin, the Bass fisherman on TV. So Allan said we would ride around the lake and stop and eat Lunch somewhere. it should be alot of fun, if something doesn't come up that would stop me from going. I figure I fill up the tank before we leave and possible fill up coming home. I get around 200 to 250 miles on a tank and it'll cost me around $10 to $11 to fill up. So it is a lot cheep sight seeing on a bike than a mini-van.

Hopefully I'll beable to write about this trip in my blog. I hope you all are enjoying these post.

A New Year 2007

Happy New Year, 2007 to everyone!

This is the first time I was able to get to the Library to upload my photos from Ft Myers Beach at New Years Eve.

We all were going to go to Cora's to watch the fireworks from the Rec Hall's deck. Kandi got sick and Jordan go sleepy so I drove them home. Morgan wanted to see the fireworks. Downtown Ft Myers was setting them off, Cypress Lake Park was putting off fireworks and the fishing pier at Ft Myers Beach was setting off fireworks. So I got on my Harley and took Morgan to Ft Myers Beach around 11:30pm.

Back in 1974-75 I had a New Years Eve party at home in Shade Gap. Then in 1978-79 I went to Burnt Cabins Hotel/Bar/Restaurant with my dad. I was in the Navy then. The following year to bring in 1980 I went to Huntingdon to the Roller Skating Rink to bring in a new decade. Other than that I spent every other New Years Eve either working or staying at home playing cards. So this New Years Eve I took Morgan on the bike and we went to Times Square Ft Myers Beach! There were a lot of people there. Everyone acted as adults and no one got out of line. There was a beach ball with lights on it that dropped and as it dropped at mid night the band that was playing counted down the time. Then the fireworks took off. It was GREAT! Morgan really liked it and enjoyed himself.

There wasn't a parking place to be found so I parked my bike along the side walk with my LED Lizard lights on. We went back to the bike and got on to leave. I rode through massive traffic with people yelling at me about how they liked the bike. I even had a few Sheriff Deputies yell at me about how they liked the bike. We rode home with out any problems. Most of the people who were drinking, called cabs to take them home or rode the Ft Myers Beach Trolley. A couple of people were in Limos.

I got home around 12:35am. Then got on line to play some poker as Morgan went to bed. What an exciting life I live. lol So Happy New Year to everyone.