On the Road with Dave and Pat: 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.....

...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...