A post-Christmas ride

We hope each and everyone of you had an outstanding Christmas and Santa was generous to each of you.

Just before Santa arrived, Buzz and Darlene departed.... to visit with their son and his family.

Note the attire. Sweaters, outer jackets, long pants and lots of other warm gear to get them through the cold up north. At least their sojourn up north will be brief.

While "doggie sitting" we managed to acquaint Winston to a couple of "locals."

I took Darlene's trick (Where's the squirrel?) to new heights.

Ah, this is too much fun!

Lake Magic Resort provided its residents with an awesome Christmas meal. Turkey, ham and all the fixin's to suit every one's taste buds.

Santa brought Pete a new camera (along with a 300 page instruction book) and became a "shutter bug" for the day....

.....come on take the picture!! It's the big button on the top right!

Feeling guilty after eating all the goodies on Sunday we felt the need to burn some calories with a bike ride around Celebration.

Our tiny group enjoyed the ten mile trip in mild temps and no wind. Ahead are two new members Mary Ellen and Dave.

Being cute I just have to get another "trick" photo in out Blog. The one above was taken while riding. So isn't the next one...

The difference is that this one sent me onto the grass and some fancy hand and foot work to boot!

With a "Lone Ranger" style dismount and a one footed touch on the ground I was back in the saddle again. No one even noticed. Hey, whatever it takes to get the picture, right?

In any case, nothing stops us from completing our rides.

Another stop, a couple of more photos...

We've got to award Dave (to the left) with the "Perseverance" Award of the ride. After two hip operations he's doing extremely well and enjoying being back "in the saddle again."

Along the ride a couple of local folks followed along with us.

The young girl and her Dad stayed with us for a time as we made our way back.... to lunch!

Starting clockwise around the table is: Bobbie, Mary Ellen, Pete, John, Rose, Ray, Pat, Joan, Dave, and Dave... and Dave behind the camera! (At least I can remember two of their names!)

Tune in for our next post, most of our members will have returned by then and our regular lunch stops are going to need more tables and chairs.

Welcome back every one and...

A busy week!

Some guests, a Social and a bike ride. We've packed a lot into this week. With Christmas and the New Year approaching our tempo is picking up. The Holiday season is the time for some of our "Snowbirds" to head home to be with relatives while those still up North are beginning to pack and plan their escape just after their Holiday "requirements" have been met. We wish everyone safe and speedy travel.
Starting off our week we headed for the parks with Kevin and Annie and their triplets, Pat's best friend Cathy and her sister Mary. To a person they left their mark on Disney World after a whirlwind several days in the parks.

Don't let those cute little faces fool you. By the end of the week the adults were crying "uncle!"

Yep, dawn to dusk and then some.

For added measure, a little "Pixie Dust" was in order.

They hit the parks with gusto and left a lot more tired then when they arrived. The triplets got to dine with their special Princesses and collected more than a few autographs.

With a little break in between, our monthly "Palm Tree Bikers" Social was a time for chat and good food.

Although, if you can recall your early teen years at those "Sock Hops" and High School dances, our Social was not unlike those good ole times... when the boys sat/stood on one side of the gym and the girls sat/stood on the other side. See for yourselves...

(I just can't resist a photo op!)

and....

I guess we never really grow up!

Alas, we had another bike ride to ponder.

Fort Wilderness this time.

With some of our members making their way home for the Holidays our numbers shrank.

We welcomed Joepy (pronounced U P) to our group. Just nine of us peddled our way around the seasonably decorated campground.

Oh, that's Joepy in the "recliner" with the yellow jersey on. We got quite a few comments about our uniform Tees and even one "drive-by" who politely told Joepy that he had the wrong color shirt on. To which Joepy replied, "you're color blind!"

We observed quite a collection of decorated campsites...

We hid Steve's bike... (he never did laugh about that one).

Rose commented (more than a couple times) that she and Bobbi were the only two "chicks" among all the "roosters!"

We passed by the coolest wagon.

This one is built on a small vehicle chassis and is motorized. This wagon is not just slapped together, it's really classy.

We passed by the corner that's loaded with inflatables.

Ray says you've gotta see this park at night!

We just had to check out the Fort Wilderness Lodge Christmas Tree.

We're just now seeing some leaves on the ground. Just a few weeks ago we noticed some trees turning colors. Now that's the way to enjoy winter, trees change colors, leaves drop, two Holidays and then we can get serious about enjoying winter without snow, slush, ice, wind, cloudy days, street lights on longer and...

Oops, sorry, I forgot we've still got lots of friends up North.

To add a little more "salt on the wound," while some are fighting off "Jack Frost" we were trying to fight the garden greenery getting a photo of this beautiful specimen...

Rough Riders!

There's two stories to tell in our blog this week. Darlene and Buzz and Pat and I headed to Disney's Hollywood Studios. This time we managed to "beat the line" at Toy Story Midway Mania. Darlene requested a Guest Assistance Card which turned out to be the "Ultimate Fast Pass." We beat feet to the attraction to see if our aim was still there. Pat and I ended up with exactly the same score but she held the trophy for accuracy. The 3:00p.m. parade made its way up Hollywood Boulevard so we took it in. It's just not the same without the "Block Party Bash." From there Buzz and I headed for "Lights, Motors' Action." http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/hollywood-studios/attractions/lights-motors-action-extreme-stunt-show/

They added another "character" to the show...

I think you all know who that is.

And, then of course the show just has to end with a bang...

We headed back to find Darlene and Pat and we bumped into Joan and Pete. It just so happened they were headed for "Toy Story Mania" so Darlene obliged them with her new "Fast Pass."

Of course we just had to see a show with our favorite "Landscapers."

You all know that this group really likes to "mingle" in the crowd. Sorry to say I missed their base player "messin" with Darlene...

We learned that "Mulch, Sweat and Shears" now has a "gig" in the stage in front of Mickey's Sorcerer's hat.

We got front row seats! Until they hit the base on their first song. The sub-woofer kicked in and it literally "beat us up!" The base was so loud and strong my hat vibrated on my head, Buzz felt it in his pace maker and the girls were already on the move! Wow, and I really like loud music, we just didn't want to have to hold on to the stage to enjoy the show.

Next stop it was time for the "Osborne Lights."

I'll let one photo speak for the light show...

Merry Christmas everyone!

Enough fun, it's time for a bike ride.

Once again we return to Winter Garden and the West Orange Trail. Our group continues to grow. We welcomed back Gary and Judy and Ray and Rose. Of course I asked for a group photo. With some grumbling our members slowly gathered. This time Jim thought I should get into the picture.....

SMILE....

"CLICK"....

Nice photo Jim. Now how about one of you....

SMILE...

"CLICK"....

Geesh, what some people will do to into the Blog!

Come on, it's time to move on we've still got miles to go, (at least three more).

Judy, Rose and John sure know how to take a break!

Now let's eat!

The Winter Garden Pizza Company will never be the same. (Maybe that's whey they put us in the "back room"... and then shut the doors.

Oh well, I'm going to leave you with this "Parting Shot." When leaving the restaurant my "inquiring" mind noticed something unique on these two fine, shiny new bikes.

It was these bright red saddles with a couple of big..... (er) .....S's on them....

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Now, what were you thinking?????

Nope, I'm not going to tell you who they belong to, but their initials are Larry and Laura!

Pretty in Blue!

This weeks bike ride is in Celebration and we only had one "non-conformist."....

 .... and we had Joe take the picture!

While at the first "pit stop," we checked our mileage. Steve spoke up quickly but his GPS didn't connect for some distance. (Editor's note: It's always nice to have the "continuing saga" of Steve's GPS to pull out for the Blog!)

Pete headed to Starbuck's to wait for us and make reservations for lunch. Pete is doing so well with his shoulder that he almost rode with us today! That is until Joan "smacked" him back into reality!

I think Jane (Joe's wife) got a "pay-back" for supporting our ousting Joe from the photo. About four miles into our bike ride, Jane was working hard to pedal her bike. We found out the brake line was tightened earlier by Joe! The brakes were rubbing, but what a work out she had. Joe pulled out his trusty tool kit and adjusted her rear brakes and her bike felt like a brand new bike again.

Now that the Christmas season is in full bloom, the inner child in Joan got the best of her when she caught view of one of the homes along our route....

Just about this time, Judy realized she didn't have a camera to take a photo of a unique plant that caught her attention along the wooden pathway we just rode over. After checking with Jim to see if he had his camera and pondering how she can get a photo of this plant, she realized I have a camera (imagine that).

Judy and I backtracked to find her plant.

Here's a closer look at what caught Judy's eye...

 In the sun the fruit of this plant is brilliant. Now all we've got to do is figure out what kind of plant it is.

Thankfully, Judy didn't make me walk in the swamp to get the photo!

We put our feet to the pedals and caught up with our group just in time to take our seats at "The Tavern."

Our ten mile ride felt a little longer thanks to the stiff wind which heralded evening rain. But hey, we're seasoned bikers, right!

So our Monday bike ride is over. Let's see, tonight, Bingo. Then shuffleboard, card games, head out to one of the parks, more shuffleboard and card games, a few naps, maybe some chores a couple of lunches and wow, another week is gone by.

Man, how did we ever get anything done while we were working!

REBELS!

Indeed it is trying times. Today our (normally) seemingly quiet bike group was infiltrated by "rebels!" Oh, the ride started out with our usual "banter" at the Club House. Until, Jane was quizzed about not wearing the "uniform of the day," the "Palm Tree Biker" tee shirt. Without hesitation Jane proclaimed, "it's in my closet!" Well, from that moment on our "silent majority" began spouting "fire and brimstone" as to the need for respect and uniformity among the rank and file.

It looked like we were destined for a "clash of the Titans."  That is until our "sidelined" leader, with his "hand feathered" hat and "tension breaker" smile spoke up......

 

The ladies became "weak-kneed" and the men were aghast. Without hesitation, Pete took charge. He reasoned that, several of our members did not have Tee's to begin with and two of our members were given "special dispensation" to forgo the "uniform of the day" because of their Fort Wilderness "tradition" of wearing their Fort Wilderness Tee shirts.

And just who were these "rebels" among us..... I'm not going to "rat them out." However, I will provide you with a hint......

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In spite of our unusual start of the day we actually managed to enjoy quite a good ride.

Our leader, Jim took us to the annual Thanksgiving "Encampment."

Jim and Judy explained that the Tee Pees in the background are personally owned and a large group of campers set-up for the Thanksgiving week and on Turkey day cook the main course over an open fire.

As usual we made our way to "The Wave" for lunch and were greeted by Dave and Bobbi. (Note) In spite of our divisive beginning we all welcomed John back for his first ride.

Around the table clockwise is Steve, Pete, Judy, Jim, John, Bob, Jane and Joan.

Seated at our table is Jack, Dave, Bobbi, Laura, Larry, Buzz, (hiding behind Pat) Darlene and Pat.

As we headed back for the boat back to Fort Wilderness, we got word that there is a Gingerbread Christmas tree up stairs and thanks to an obliging Cast Member (most of us) got to get in the photo....

Man, the members sans our "signature" Tee shirt really stand out!

But I don't want to start any trouble!