...and then there were none!

We said our farewells and watched as Darlene and Buzz made their way out of our campground "home" for the winter of '09-'10. As they edged out of sight Pat and I took one last look around the sparse campground.
For the  record, Darlene and Buzz were the last "official" members of our group to leave the park. Pat and I had already moved to another spot outside the campground. We dropped in to see Buzz and Darlene off and check our mail.
Most rigs you see have been left on-site for the long hot summer. The campground is eerily quiet. The only golf carts you see are the workers and a few year-round residents. The last to leave can take a moment to bask in the sights and sounds of our friends and fellow campers "in ou minds." All the things we did, places we went and people we did it all with are memories and hopefully... we'll all get to do it again in a few months.
We too headed north. We planned a three-day drive with a two-night stop-over in Amish country in PA.
What we didn't plan on is 51' temps and rain! UGH!

We had forgotten what it was like wearing "long pants"... AAAAHHHHHHGGGGGGG!!!!

WELCOME BACK TO REALITY!

Trails end!

Well, we wanted to represent our bicycle group with class, dignity and lots of memories with one more lunch at one of our "regular" trails end lunch establishments. Our intrepid group now has a name and (thanks to a couple of our riders) classy Tee-shirts coming in the Fall of 2010. The “Palm Tree Bikers” will be more than ready for the trails of central Florida this up-coming “snow-bird” season.

In fitting tribute to our hearty group of riders, the remaining four members thought it most fitting to “represent” our fellow members by visiting one of our favorite restaurants, “The Wave” at Disney’s Contemporary Resort and bid farewell to our wonderful and gracious hostess, Betty as well as their servers, manager and staff. Betty escorted Buzz and Darlene, Pat and I to a table where one of our favorite and familiar waitresses, Lisa made us feel right at home and bid greetings to all of our group members.

You can bet that “The Wave’s” hit of the menu was on two of our plates, the Classic Reuben.

Lisa cheerfully took our picture with our exuberant hostess and enjoyed a final lunch with all of our absent riding companions sitting with us in spirit.

After lunch it happened that another familiar face, Rich the Manager was talking with Betty and each of us in turn bid farewell with promises to return (and call ahead when our group climbs to over forty members). Rich, Betty and Lisa all sent their greetings to all of our riders and have come to enjoy our visits as much as we enjoy their friendship and great food. We send kudos to the Managers and Staff of “The Wave" from the riders of “The Palm Tree Bikers.”

We will all miss their great food, outstanding service and friendly interaction with each and everyone of us and their guests.

We’re planning our “Bucket List” of places we just had to visit before we leave for home. We made it to the “Flower Power” “Davy Jones” concert in EPCOT

and plan to see “Chubby Checker” this coming Friday. In between, we have a few more favorite restaurants and sights to take in.

We’ll finish our “Blog of the South” once we settle in up north.