A bike ride and a visit to DTD

The West Orange Trail was the setting for one of our few remaining bike rides. Twenty-eight of us hit the road and set our sites on Winter Garden.

The ride was quick, windy and cold. We expected the trail to be laced with tree limbs from the storm yesterday, however It was actually quite clear.

We basically peddled out and back for lunch. We were thirty minutes early for our noon lunch reservation at the Winter Garden Pizza Company.

 

 

We actually opted for the booths rather than their large room. First off, we'd be squeezed in and several riders would still needed to be seated in a booth. This arrangement worked out just fine.

 

As we leave we always look for the "resident" osprey. He (or she) didn't let us down.

Here's a better look.

What's funny about this is last year our feathered friend had a nest on one of the tiers of the tower. The town painted it this year and thus she had to move. We were surprised to see the Osprey family didn't move very far. In fact, just across the street where we crossed under the high power line they set up house keeping.

 

Here (I think) Dad tends to the chicks.

Below the (enlarged) photo shows the "mom" performing a "fly over" to see that "Dad" is on duty.

  Watching these beautiful creatures is exciting.

 

Remember the storm yesterday? Well, here's the reason we lost power.....

The three high power lines in the center of the photo were blown down by a suspected tornado passing over Lake Louisa. That's about five miles north of our home!!!! Gulp!

 

A couple of the long time members of the PTBs got together to suggest we initiate an annual award at the end of each season. It will be called; "The Palm Tree Bikers Certificate of Honor."

 

This year "The Palm Tree Bikers Certificate of Honor" Award goes to: Big Buz

Here are a few of the qualifiers.....

Most improved

Most consistent

Most dedicated

Most spirited

Best dressed

Best helmet

Cleanest bike

Best tan

Quietest bike

Never complains

Does what he's told

Eats quietly

Invites Judy to lunch each ride

Doesn't mind sitting anywhere at lunch

Cleans his plate

...and has the best smile!

Congratulations Big Buz!

The Certificate will be presented to "Big" Buz at our next luncheon.

 

Next year's award recipient will have a large pair of shoes to fill....... literally!

 

Later in the afternoon, we enjoyed the cool day so much Bill, Angela and Pat and I trekked to DownTown Disney.

We were entertained by an awesome high school band from Illinois. Then we paced directly to Ghirardelli's for our chocolate. After a walk about the Marketplace we wanted to take in the evening entertainment, specifically a phenomenal guitar player, Nicholas Marks.

 

For forty-five minutes we were amazed by this man's incredible talent.

His fingers moved over the five string guitar like lightning through the clouds.

He managed to mesmerize us with his talent to the point where we forgot about the cold that settled in. Luckily, Pat sat in one of the comfortable couches set up on Pleasure Island. Each of us quickly followed suit. 

The four of us huddled close together and took full advantage of the wind barrier the couch back provided.

The walk to the car seemed much longer as the cold air hit us.

Thankfully, the car retained some solar heat and the ride home gave us time to pause and marvel over the awesome talent we just witnessed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A fitting party!

The central Florida storms of today made for a very interesting afternoon to hold our final official "Palm Tree Bikers" party of the 2012-13 winter. Our party goers waited patiently in their vehicles for the driving rain to abate to scurry into our house. Those are 4" downspouts!

 

Fortunately, we decided to hold our party inside rather than outside. You see, our final party was also to be a surprise birthday party for Darlene. We pulled one over on her! We had to do a couple of sleuth emails and kept Buzz out of the loop. Everyone did their job. Darlene walked in the "trap!"

Watching the rain blow sideways made Darlene an easy "mark."

Friends "appeared" from the corners and caught Darlene off guard.

Still reeling from the initial surprise Darlene proudly donned her birthday "deelee-boppers!"

It was time to party.

Although, a few party goers just didn't want to leave the view of the intense rain.

Eventually the migration to the interior commenced (when the food hit the table).

Now that's more like it!

We dodged a few leaks in the lanai.

But we didn't have any trouble finding the counter and table where the food was.

Bellies full it's time for some serious chatter.

The crowd meandered from the lanai to the kitchen and back. We lost power just as we welcomed our last arrivals and we made the best of the afternoon with no problem. A battery lantern enabled us to find the scrumptious homemade goodies on the table. That is, until we realized we needed the lantern in the spare bathroom. Fear not, the power eventually came on just as the sky was showing breaks in the clouds.

Our group got to enjoy the company of a couple of visitors to our group. Pat's long time best friend Cathy, was visiting with us for the weekend. (Who always managed to hide from the camera!) We also welcomed Alice's return, Jack's better half.

Everyone enjoyed the "meet and greet."

 

What's a party without cake? Of course we had cake, and what a cake.

(Disregard the wine bottles, Larry and Judy along with Ray and Rose were told they were walking home in the rain! No one wanted to be the designated drivers, the roads were to slippery to drive.)

All in all our final PTB party was a huge success and the stormy weather never dampened our spirits.

Best of all the "Birthday Girl" was surrounded by so many awesome friends on her special day.

"Happy Birthday Darlene!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pete (and rePete)

Twenty-nine of us gathered at the clubhouse for another bike ride this Monday. We're enjoying a great turn out of members for another week or so and then our numbers will begin to dwindle. We headed to Celebration and the Celebration Town Tavern for lunch.
Gathering in down town we thought it wise to split our group up again. This time I just had to ride with the "fast" group to give them "equal time!" Pete was our leader. We made great time getting to our first stop the Celebration Hospital. We were clocking just over ten miles per hour and new we were in for a quick ride. But, after our brief stop for water and a visit to the restrooms the "slow" group" pulled in.

Above, we're ready to hit the trail and.....

the rest of our group arrives.

OK, now we're going to "kick it up a notch!"

Eleven, twelve miles per hour, we're pumping now!

We buzz by the new construction past the golf course and now we know we're way ahead of the "slow" group.

Here the "fast" group catches our breath and hits the saddle.

Look at the determination, the sheer aggression and fight in this group.

 

From here on out our leader found every right and left corner turn he could as we traversed the streets of Celebration. Sometimes to repeat some sidewalks more than once. Hence one of our riders called out, "Pete and rePete!" We became quite adept at turning tight corners but our speed was reduced to an average of five miles per hour. But fear not, none of us (except Pete) knew where we were headed.

We zoomed past nearly a half dozen gaters as we passed over a wooden bridge but we ain't stoppin'.

We even found a street in Celebration where homes actually have their garages on the front of the house. (Most homes in Celebration utilize a back alley for garage parking.)

 

As we turned onto the last pond of our trek there is was. One cute baby alligator getting some sun.

With a cautious eye this little fella (about 14" long) let me get to within several feet of him.

 

All in all Pete more than made up for our multi-corner, repeat sidewalk ride because we actually got to see a great deal more of the complex nature of this town.

We all enjoyed our ride and of course our lunch as well.

 

Sometimes reality hits you when you least expect it... another birthday that is! Thanks to Pat, Bill and Angela and Buzz and Darlene we enjoyed some great steak and cake at my expense....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dwindling Bike Rides

Just a few weeks left! Lot's of folks are talking and making plans to head north in the next few weeks. This week we headed to Fort Wilderness and "The Wave." We split up to let the fast riders do their thing and the sigh-seers to take the time to check out the Wilderness.

Here we are as Jim (on the right) discusses the plan for the ride, while Pete (on the far left) silently protests that he's not the leader. Actually, he didn't complain at all. Pete wants to weave in and out of the line along the trails.

You'll notice the group in the far rear. That's us!

We had another fine lunch at "The Wave" and got to say hello to all our hosts and hostesses that put up with us.

We happened by the pony stable and got to see the handlers showing off this pony...

Bill wondered if they still had the pony Ashley (their granddaughter) rode nearly 20 years ago.

It's always touching to see all the "traditions" Disney continues over the years.

We had a great ride and we're all getting just a bit saddened knowing that another season is coming to an end.

 

In other news, by now all of Florida knows of the massive expansion that will begin this Spring at DownTown Disney so we're passing it on to you. Over the next three years Disney will add two huge parking garages, more than double their retail outlets, add seven thousand square feet of merchandising space to the World of Disney store and twelve or more new restaurants. It will also completely redesign the look and storyline of Pleasure Island, the Market Place and the West Side. Believe me, it looks awesome. We're preparing for some stress as the construction begins and progresses but it will be well worth it. Disney will be incorporating many of the wishes and suggestions our guests identified over the years into the new "Disney Springs" in 2016.

 

 

Two Bike Rides Behind

I've been working on another writing project and let our Blog take a back seat lately. A couple of weeks ago Disney held it's 2013 Princess Half Marathon. One our "Palm Tree Bikers," Judy, and her two daughters ran the Half Marathon. A touching story evolved surrounding Judy's decision to run the marathon. I'll be posting the story to our "Blog Friends" shortly.

Now to attend to the business at hand. First,  I'll have to dust off the cob webs of my mind and bring all of you up-to-date. February 25th we headed to Celebration.

Thanks to Steve, Kathy, Kathy and Rose doned their Madi Gras beads and proudly showed them off just prior to our ride

Our usual "pit stop" at the Celebration Hospital.

At our second stop Rick and Kathy wanted a photo.  (Oops, I forgot they wanted a copy of this photo! Sorry, I'll get that to them right quick!)

The "decision makers" plan our ride. (We still got lost!)

No, she didn't fall off her bike.

See, she was just trying to see things from a different perspective.

Aha! We spy the first of six gators on this ride. Here, let me blow this up for you...

 

Our leader, Pete, guided us around the Resident's pool/recreation area at the end of our ride.

It was a nice change of scenery.

 

Next we "bit the bullet" and braved one of the cold days here in Florida. (No comments from all of you up north! We all know how bad your winter is this year. We're not trying to rub it in.)

Winter Garden and the West Orange Trail.

Yes, we bundled up as we headed out but the sun and exercise warmed us up and our return ride was very comfortalbe. But we were all ready for lunch.

Sixteen of us enjoyed our meal at the Winter Garden Pizza Company along with lots of friendly talk.

We also discussed our last PTB Party of the 2012-13 Season.

Leaving the Winter Garden parking lot we noticed a feathered visitor had returned and was looking for her nest. You may recall last year we posted a photo of the Osprey in the nest of the water tower. Well, it looks like they want to return to the nest. (So to speak.)

In the distance you can just make out the Osprey on the right of the crow bar below the tank. Also, you can see what appears to be either off-spring or "suiters" on the left bar below the tank.

Here's a better view...

We look forward to watching the new nest being built.

 

This being Florida, you also get to see some pretty large bugs. Like this Dragon Fly trying to hitch a ride on my handlebar.

You can judge its size by the brake lever above it. The poor thing was a victim of the cold temps. He was alive but needed to sit in the sun to be "revived."

Judy's new found fame as marathon runner has made her think like a kid again! She says, "I'll stick to my running but my bicycle days are over as she stepped over the seat of the Harley.

 

And so, our Winter season is waning here in Florida. This weekend we turn our clocks ahead and folks are beginning to talk about the ride back to their various home states.

April begins the exodus for many.

At least we've got some rides and warmer weather still to come.