They Came, They Conqured, They Went Home!

The "kids" that is! Their vacation was a blur. "Little" Bill, Dawn, Cody, Jordan and Chase are home "recuperating" from their romp around central Florida. Bill and Angela (alias "Ma" and "Pa") did their best to see to it the kids filled their time with productive activities and everything Disney. The kids did their best to keep everyone updated on Facebook on a daily basis.

Friday morning was here all too soon. Dawn was on a mission. The drive to Maine is not one to be taken lightly... especially with three youngin's in the back seat. I thought I heard, "are we there yet?" as they were leaving our driveway... and that was Dawn!

But, they're all leaving with many terrific memories; Cody and his homework, Chase and his lobster and a nasty fall in the "Bone Yard" and Jordan got to drag the gang to Dino Land! I'm just kidding. They had a blast and even got to jump in the pool a few times over the course of their stay. I'm sure they'll all have lots to tell their friends and classmates for sometime.

Here's one awesome picture. From left to right "Pa", "Ma", Cody, "Little" Bill, Jordan, Chase, Dawn, Ashley and Brittany. Together they met up at DownTown Disney for a day to "decompress." By now just about the entire world has seen this photo, it made Facebook about two hours after it was taken.

The kids gave away their "secret" identities! (And boy, they're not too far off!)

Of course it finally got to Angela...

The final day was set aside for Disney's Animal Kingdom.

They took in a couple of shows and here we catch them getting ready to finish out their stay...

Notice the straight faces!

But then, the ride got the better of them....

Of course this was the final day here and the last of their "fling" so it was time for that last photo....

....ain't they just "angels!"

(I think Dawn will be bringing her camera the next trip. She tried nearly a couple of dozen takes in vain to get this photo with her phone. So, here it is Dawn!)

They made it home in two days with one stop-over in NJ. We're all glad they had an outstanding time and a safe ride home.

In other news, the "Palm Tree Bikers" cancelled their ride yesterday due to a rain threat but not their lunch at "Miller's Ale House." Go figure!

 My "spies" tell me the Ale House was buzzing with the news of Ray and Rose's new home just around the corner from the Lake Magic Resort. Stay tuned for more news about their new digs.

Things are settling down. "Ma" and "Pa" have caught up on their sleep. They have their camper back and our air mattress is back in storage.

Our next guests, George and Judy, will be visiting in mid-March. Now Pat and I get to play Host and Hostess for a week. Their visit to central Florida will be their first in this area. We'll be looking forward to a busy week.

Now that we've settled down from last weeks adventure I'll leave you with a photo that just about says it all.

But first let's set the stage.

Bill's "Cracker Barrel" chicken pot pie sums up just how the kids and adults felt about them heading for home.....

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Pigs in the Bed!

This week we get to feature a few real pigs! Once upon a time there were these three (er) seven little pigs. These little piggies have been wandering about the wooded area in and around Citrus Highlands. But, unlike the little piggies of folk lore, these piggies began to rip up our common areas! So, the members of our HOA thought it best to move them (not to market) but to someone else's back yard... some place miles away. There they'll be happy as pigs in ........., and we'll let some other HOA or home owners deal with these little piggies.

Our HOA hired a few "locals" to "hunt down" and do them varmints in. As the residents of Citrus Highlands slept, two intrepid "red necks" and their trusty hounds forged into the thick woods, tracked and caged seven wild boars. These critters are guilty of digging up a 20' X 20' section of grass that looked like someone took a roto-tillar to it.

The next morning I headed out for my (nearly) daily bike ride around the community. I happened upon a rough looking pick-up that two guys (who you know didn't live here) were pounding on something on the truck. The truck broke down and that meant a photo op....

Yep, four on the left side, two on the right side and one in the backseat of the pick-up!

These little piggies are not your average farm type hog... they're aggressive and you don't want to meet one while on your walk.

I've got to give credit to the two canines who did their job...

They weren't driving but they sure seemed smart enough to!

Our story ends happily for Citrus Highlands and the wild boars. The trappers are licensed to trap wild boars and relocate them into specified locations.

Our next episode took us to the Magic Kingdom. I'm sure most of you are quite familiar with it so I won't try to "wow" any of you. Six of us tried to use up our free photo pass for our annual photo shoot all together.

Here's a few fun photos for you....

From left to right, my eye, Buzz and Darlene, next to Pat. We're heading down stream on.....

"It's a Small World!" Let's all sing it together... "It's a Small World after all, it's a small world after all." (There now I've got that tune stuck in your head for the rest of the day, enjoy!)

We were sprinkled with "pixie dust" by the "Fairy God Mother."

...and we got to "hob-knob" with the Presidents.

All that was fun, but the real fun is just beginning. Bill and Angela's kids, Dawn and Bill Jr. (Little Bill) along with their kids, Cody, Chase and Jordan are visiting for the week. Bill and Angela's fifth-wheel is occupied, our spare bedroom and air mattress are occupied as well as our motor home! Let's see if Pat and I plan this out just right we might just have our fuel costs covered for our trip north this summer!

We'll be reporting on their stay in the week to come.

As for our Monday bike ride. My spies will be reporting back to me soon enough.

In the mean time, Bill and Angela and the kids wasted no time to hit the parks. Magic Kingdom----check.

Hollywood Studios----check.

EPCOT----check.

Sea World----check.

And last but not least, Animal Kingdom coming up.

Each day has been a marathon for the group. We hear that Bill and Angela eluded the kids on a couple of occasions to take a breather.

It's been a whirlwind week for the entire family. You know what the kids are going to be doing when they return to school next week.....ZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

As for Bill and Angela, we have a hunch they might be sleeping in a few days after the kids head for home.

This just in, breaking news.

Our Ghost Writer has just sent along the very latest on our latest bike ride in Celebration.

Thanks to Jim, who has taken over Dave's job behind the camera, we have some great photos to pass along. (Although, he kept us waiting due to his substitute teaching role. You'd think nothing would interfere with our weekly bike ride report!)

Joan our "Keeper of the Roster" held the roll-call muster for twenty-eight riders. Cool temps made for a brisk but lively ride.... they had to take two stops!

Peter headed up the lead after he performed a quick charge on his "auto-shift" bike. (Bet you can't find the battery on his bike. Now you know why he pedals so effortlessly.)

Of course our riders had to stop at the "official" pit stop of our Celebration ride....

From there our riders took on "the gauntlet." The windy stretch of rode passing a golf course and nothing to break the wind.

Notice all the jackets!  No Spandex today!

Turkey vultures. (I think they're gathered around a slow rider!)

Now, you may wonder why Jim was interested in this squirrel. Being from up north, Jim is used to twenty pound squirrels. Florida squirrels have too many preditors to deal with to get that big!

Actually, I just found out from another one of my sleuts that just after this photo was taken, thinking Jim was reaching into his pocket for food, the critter jumped at Jim when he put the camera in his pocket. See, don't feed the wild life down here! (Jim says, "lesson learned!")

But Jim was still on a quest. Any critter will do.

Even the peaceful Cardinal taking a breather in the tree was no match for Jims shutter finger!

 

Jim added this final photo but you'll have to ask him about it!

Some rides headed to the Tavern and the rest to The Columbian. Our riders enjoyed a great ride topped off

with warm food and good conversation.

I'll leave you with some classic bicycles a few of our members don't want to talk about....

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First,

Rose's answer to keeping up with the group.....

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 Second,

Joepy on a speed run on the Van Fleet trail testing Kathy's bike!

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....and last but not least,

Peter's answer to the "Ride Flat" bike...

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Till next time!

Neither rain, nor sleet, nor hail....

....but cold! No way! The temps hit the low 30's and we weren't about to brave that. HA! there are a few of us who dared to temp "Mother Nature".....

From left to right: in the lead, (pushing the walker out of the way) Ray. Next in line, (on bikes) Pete, Judy and Kathy. Then Jack, and Joepy's front tire. Me? I'm in my warm Chevy HHR taking the photo.

Fear not, all is not lost. Our Monday bike ride may be a "virtual" bike ride but we'll still manage our lunch!

We'll meet up at "Miller's Ale House" and we'll rationalize just how smart we were not to venture out on our bikes today.

Oh man, I just realized that our riding leaders will expect a 20 mile ride next week! Whew, I just looked at my work schedule and see that I have to work that day.

I know all of our "Blog Friends" up north are thinking we're a bunch of "fair weather bikers". To honor all "Bravehearts" up North, here's one for you....

Geesh, all this talk about cold weather is a downer! I know, let's get ready for lunch. I can finish this later!

Ah, lunch was great. Twenty-six of us braved the elements and "circled the wagons" at Miller's Ale House for lunch. Once seated we all felt that it had warmed up enough that we could have taken our bike ride with just a little more delay in our start time. The day turned out great!
I'm sure our smiling faces will attest to just how our lunch went....

Sorry a couple of you didn't make it into the photos.

I hear our group opened the Ale House. We enjoyed some laughs and are eagerly looking forward to our bike ride next week.

I'll need my "spies" to help me with our Blog next week as I'll be working.

Correction: I neglected to include Stan and Barbie as new members to our group in our last blog post. To top it off, I noted Ed and Linda as new members. Please forgive the error, senior moment!

Seeing as our ride was cancelled, I'll treat you to a bit of nostalgia....

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I think I'll quit while I'm ahead!

Weeeeeeeeee, W, W, Weeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Today's ride was the (once a year) Van Fleet Trail. In a few words, this is the trail you pedal every inch...both ways! There's no coasting here. The once bustling railroad bed makes for great speed runs (if your into Spandex and big-bucks bikes) but for those of us on Medicare it's the "gauntlet" of our bike trail rides.... and it's perfectly flat!

Our intrepid (albeit) unsuspecting "newbie" riders were ready for the challenge.

Our group literally filled the parking lot of the trail head.

We began our trek with an obligatory stop at the "one holer."

.... and we rounded up to head out...

Nope, I wasn't about to lead this group. Come to think of it we don't even know who did eventually take the lead. It seemed like everyone just started pedaling. And pedal they did!

Our riders, once neatly grouped, began to find their "comfort zone" as our "Congo line" thinned out.

Knowing there were NO turns along our northerly long thin paved trail, everyone just set their pace and (did I say) pedaled for over five miles north. Some of our riders extended the trip to seven miles in lieu of the normal five mile routine.

The most notable part of the Van Fleet Trail is the potential to see many of Florida's wildlife.

We investigated more than a few tortoise who build their nests along the trail...

Also along the trail there are several bridges that cross over the wetlands and I had to see what the hub-bub was about.

We spent more than a few minutes checking out this young "family" of 'gators...

At the top you see "Mom." In the center you'll see "baby" and in the lower half of the photo you can see the "kid."

(If you click on a photo it will enlarge.)

Here's a much better photo of "Mom."

I couldn't get Jim to get close to the critter for a "close-up."

Here's a better picture of the "baby" and "kid."

We made it to the five mile mark, took a drink and headed back. No coasting on this trail. As you pedal the Van Fleet, you feel your biking a slight grade as you head north. Aha, that's only an "illusion." The trail is so flat that when you turn around to return, it looks and feels like you're biking up a slight grade.

We all made it back and our pride isn't going to allow anyone to admit that it was a work-out.

Although, Larry might have been trying to "celebrate" completing the ride by a quick turn-around on the sand and his bike slid out from under him. With oh so much grace, he rolled onto the ground and made a "one" point landing. He's fine, he added a bit of drama for the audience. We had a good laugh at Larry's expense until I did the "two-foot shuffle" off the edge of the paving. Nah, I didn't fall, Larry and I just realized we were in the "Twilight Zone" of the Van Fleet Trail.

With all the noses counted and none the worse for the wear, Jim and Judy called "wagons-ho" for the Santa Fe restaurant and lunch!

This will give you an idea of just how lunch went.....

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...and that was just Jim and Judy's table!

Hmmm, while at lunch, Ray candidly mentioned that he thought he was going to get a better Reuben sandwhich at the Grand Floridian Resort last week. We nearly had to force it out of him but, he finally admitted that the Wave's Reuben was better!

We've added a few new riders to our group. We'd like to welcome Ed and Linda and Guy and Line.

I guess the Van Fleet is a good trail to break-in the newbies!

After lunch Jack and I worked on his camper. As all of you are aware, the sun here in Florida ruins vinyl decals. Jack's been working on them for a year now. He's been peeling them off one-by-one as they curl and breakdown. I've been helping him with this project. Today we worked to beat the wind and possible rain and fixed another decal.

Prepped, masked and sprayed...

.....after....

And that just about wiped out the day!

This one's for Kathy, Rose and Joan....

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Weeeeeeeeeeeeee, W, W, Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee!