Last week our group headed to Fort Wilderness and (sigh) The Wave! Man, I hate it when work interferes with great lunches! My "spies" tell me the ride went well and there was a point where they got split up by a bus. The story goes they were trying to get ahead of the group by hitching up to the bus. Oh well, that sounds like as good an excuse as any for having to take a break!
This weeks ride was somewhat more boisterous than normal (the title should have been your first clue). I guess thirty-plus riders can cause quite a stir on the trail. This week the Palm Tree Bikers headed for Celebration. En mass, the caravan of bicycle laden trucks/vehicles made for a mini "Cannon Ball Run" as they made their way to the sleepy community of Celebration. I think they had their special parking spots picked out in their heads because it was "all vehicles for themselves" along Rt. 192. Some headed out on the 429 toll road. Money is no object as long as you beat the rest of the group to the destination... right Ray!
The long line of bikers headed for their first stop, the Celebration Health Center. (I keep trying to catch a glimpse of any rider trying to take in some oxygen when we stop here!)
(Click on the picture to enlarge it. Do you notice anything?)
Our cold but lively group was very eager to get underway and warm up in the brisk morning temps. Ole "Red-Eye" Larry, (you'll have to ask Larry about this moniker) believes it's all of the "snowbirds" parent's kids that are wishing this cool air on us!
On we went!
To give you an idea of just how impressive our group is when we hit the trail, this'll give you a hint....
At the far end of the white fence you can barely make out our "tail-enders!"
However, I just had to take a photo of those who really NEED to get into the picture!
...and of course, here are our "tail-enders!
At our second stop I thought it would be nice to take another "group" photo. Little did I realize I had to walk across the four-lane roadway, step into the "pucker-brush" fend off the snakes, alligators, etc. just to take one picture!
Just behind the group is where we ride through the dense woods on a "wooden" trail. On a warm sunny day we are lucky enough to get to see some of the Florida wildlife. Not today! Our group was so long we had people along the trail stopping to let our large entourage pass.
Once out of the woods, we pass by some pretty elegant homes. We did notice this "handsome" critter just waiting for a "photo op!"
Don't fret, this Pygmy rattle snake (common down here) is (I can't imagine why anyone would want it as) a lawn ornament! Yep, you wouldn't believe anyone would adorn their property with such a frightening "statue."
Surely, a Florida Pygmy rattle snake in striking pose could give someone a heart attack!
Oh well, I suppose that's one way to keep the in-laws away!
Near the end of our eleven mile ride we travel along several ponds. Here we stopped long enough to allow everyone to "catch-up." I think it was more to let us smell the grills of the restaurants we were headed to!
We split up into two groups. One group to the Market Street Cafe and the other to the Town Tavern.
After some great conversation (I promised Bobbie I wouldn't say anything about her story. You'll just have to ask her!) and solving the world's problems we bid each other farewell.
On our way to the vehicles this scene caught our attention...
This lady got to "touch" the tail of this 'gator! Then, she thought it would be "cool" to bring her child down for a "meet and greet!"
Don't be surprised if you see her on the evening news; "Tourist loses hand trying to feed her child to an alligator!" (Disclaimer; just joking!)
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