Lots to talk about!

Bill, Angela, Pat and I headed to check out the changes to DownTown Disney... and also get an Earl of Sandwich sandwich! We enjoyed our lunch in a nearly empty(of people) Earl of Sandwich! Then we took our usual walk around DTD.

 

Do you notice anything in this picture? Something is missing. 

 

 Did you figure it out? To the right of "Brickly's" neck and the Rainforest Café, see it yet. Cap'n Jack's is gone!

 

We had a most unique show while making our way to Pleasure Island. The four man crew of this work boat was in the middle of the yellow "curtain" and attempted to get out by "goosing" the engines and gliding over the yellow float line of the curtain. They didn't make it. For nearly an hour we watched them fuss with this curtain in a most frustrating losing battle! They finally conquered the yellow beast and the mass of guests (us included) applauded them when they finally went on their way. They were most gracious and gave us a grand smile when they finally headed "out to sea!:

 

 

In other news.....



It was time for our Monthly "Palm Tree Bikers" party. Mother Nature seemed to be on our side... as so we thought! At least we got to enjoy a feast of yummy foods and desserts before the rain chased us under the awnings.

 

This is what the first three photos look like "stitched" together.

Like I said, there was plenty of excellent foods!

Steve managed to get to the shrimp before it was gone!

"Little" Buzz' homemade fudge was sampled before, in between and after the main dishes.

Everyone enjoyed plenty to sample and sample again as the afternoon clouds threatened our party.

Jim and I had all we could do to keep people from digging into the M&M peanuts. It was difficult finding places to hide the bowl. It took the two of us all afternoon to keep moving the bowl!

 

 Dot (below, in the blue top) celebrated her "29th" birthday. Happy birthday Dot!

 

After nearly an hour of food sampling Larry let "The games begin!" Right, that lasted about fifteen minutes thanks to the rain. Many of our forty plus attendees headed for the warmth and dryness of our rigs while a hardy group of us crowded under Jim and Judy's awning. We enjoyed a few more snacks and cheer until the chill got the better of us and we headed for home.

 

The next day our PTBs planned a bike ride to the Van Fleet Trail. The one place we can ride "up hill in both directions!" If you have the opportunity to ride this "bee-line" straight trail you'll know of what we speak when we say you have to peddle constantly in both directions!

Thanks to Pete, we have this photo of our group to show you.

 

After their ride our riders headed to "Gator's" and thanks to Judy we have this photo of our happy group to share.

 

A few of us had another idea and headed to Forth Wilderness. Bill, Angela, Jim, Chris and I wanted a slightly different pace to ride. We rode over eleven miles but our speed was a blistering 7 mph average. Bill and Angela wanted an easy ride because they haven't ridden since last year. Jim and Chris have not ridden for over a year. As for me, I really enjoy the ride through the loops at a slow pace so they made me the "leader!" We enjoyed awesome sandwiches at the "Roaring Fork." Believe it or not, we did not plan to eat at the "Wave!" 

Below, Angela is introduced to "Doug." "Doug" is a Percheron draft horse and he weighs in around 2,000 lbs. According to his handler, the Percheron is very friendly and gentle (around people).

 

We made our way back with a little more saddle and leg soreness than we recall from years past!

 

 

I headed home to take Lilly out. We headed to the back of our house where Lilly loves to romp in the taller grass and check out the retention pond inhabitants. We were treated to a surprise guest. Our resident gator was enjoying the solitude well out of the water as you can see.

Fear not, this photo is enlarged and cropped. We were far enough away yet close enough that we could get a good look at this guy. I tried to walk closer without making any sounds as we stepped. In a few steps he only raised one leg to make his fast get-away. I tried to take a photo of him rushing back into the water. The plan was that I'd get my camera to my eye, then stamp my foot and I'd get a photo of him in his turn toward the water. WRONG! I stamped my foot and by the time I hit the shutter he was gone!

But, it was still fun to get up close to these fascinating creatures..... but not too close!

 

 Lilly just had a bout with a visit to the Vet's to have four of her baby teeth removed. For over two days she began to hyper-salivate and she just wasn't herself. We took her to the Vet and we didn't know what to expect. It turned out to be her teeth and she had to go under anesthesia to have four of her baby teeth removed. As all of you pet lover's know, your hearts go out to your best friends when they can't tell you what's wrong. Pat and Lilly spent the night on the couch and the next day was a better day for Lilly. I'm sure she'll have something to say about this in her blog!

 

 

And now for a fun-foto........

 

A few weeks ago "Little" Buzz celebrated a birthday!

Four of us headed to the Texas Roadhouse.

 

Do you know how the celebrant is honored?

 

Why of course, he gets on a "horse!"

 

 

 

 

 

PTBs Take on Celebration

Judging by our numbers the Palm Tree Bikers are back in full force. We're still missing a couple of members due to their Disney work schedule but I'd say that twenty-five riders is a pretty good turn out. Although, it might have something to do with our lunches! We sat twenty-nine for lunch at the Celebration Town Tavern today. The wait staff set two fifteen seat tables for us and the balmy temperature made for an awesome lunch outside.

Given our large group of riders we've been splitting up into two groups; the fast group, and the slow(er) group. We typically ride one direction in Celebration but today our second (slower) group "cut" a new trail. Actually, its not a "new" trail, rather one less traveled. Pete's group (the fast group) were chomping at the bit and were out of site before our second group decided which direction to take!

Jim took charge of the second group and knowing our usual first stop (The Hospital) is also a good stop for the restrooms, we headed there first. Then we headed for the Eastern area of Celebration that only a handful of our riders had gone before. (Editor's note: Even Jim (our leader) had to "re-calibrate" the route as we did a brief U-turn to get to the right road. It was all worth it.

The homes were so grand that we lost all demeanor and semblance of order. We rode two and three abreast in the streets and our speed slowed to a crawl. We didn't care, we just had to "drink in" all the beautiful and expansive homes. We did stop at a club house for a break and all we could think about were the costs involved to reside in this exclusive residential area.

 

The ride through the streets was quiet and void of just about all traffic. We noticed a handful of women (who we thought were residents) walking and couldn't help but notice how young they all were.

We did take note of this bird of prey who landed on the tree limb of the golf course.

 

We made our way to the Celebration Town Tavern for lunch.

As usual we enjoyed a great lunch but a few of us had an issue with our checks. Some how Big Buzz and Little Buzz' cheeseburgers made it onto a number of our group's checks. It seemed forever to correct the problem. We basically finished lunch just after 1:00p.m. but we didn't leave until 1:45p.m.! Grrrrrrr!!!!

 

Next week we're heading to the Van Fleet Trail. The trail where you ride up hill....both ways!

If you're not familiar with the Van Fleet, its' nearly perfectly level the entire length of our ride.

No coasting here riders!

 

Gotta go, "Lilly" needs the computer!

 

"The Palm Tree Bikers" are back...sort of!

Well, almost! We're still waiting on a couple of members, Bill and Angela, and they should be arriving in a day or two. In any case our ridership is just about topped off. Twenty-five riders, spouses and friends enjoyed the loops of Fort Wilderness and/or a lunch at "The Wave."

 

Pete and Joan are enjoying a cruise so Jim and Judy picked up the reins for a seamless transfer of power and leadership. Judy managed the roster roll-call while Jim provided suggestions so that our group of eighteen riders and seven add-ons for lunch enjoyed the day.

We formed up in front of the registration building and split into two groups; one led by Larry and one by Jim. One group was supposed to be the "fast group" and the other the "slow group." Actually, seeing as we past each other a couple of times, I'd say speed wasn't a big factor for this ride.

 

Here we are "meeting" and "passing" along the loops.

I'm sorry I didn't get a photo of the "Pet Pig" a camping guest was walking about one of the loops. That certainly would have been a "headliner!"

Both Jim and Larry did an awesome job leading our groups. No one ran over us and we didn't run over anybody!

 

I think we can all agree the highlight of the day was our boat ride from the Fort wilderness beach to the Wave. Our Captain, Clark, started us out with a notice that "Gummy Bears" will assure your ride to The Contemporary. That set Judy and Jim into scheming about the ride back.

 

 Ah lunch! On this day, twenty three out of twenty-five attendees ordered the Reuben. Jack and Rose were the two renegades!

Our favorite hostess, Betty was off but Mel and Brian had our tables all decked out and Mel introduced us to their newest Manager, Andrey. It turns out that Larry and Judy know Andrey and we were provided a terrific welcome to lunch.

It took but a couple of minutes to get our group into some semblance of order for the "Official" group photo....

 

Hold it! I think you're going to like this picture.

Then, as we broke up we caught sight of Judy walking to us from The Contemporary. What, she missed our "Official" group photo????

That just can't be....

so we just have to settle for this one.....

She was on a mission. "The Gummy Bear" caper!

Remember, Clark? Well, Judy purchased a bag of "Gummy Bears" as a "ticket" for our return ride with Clark.

 We had our plans outlined as to just how we were going to spring the bag on him. However, he remembered our group and hit us with the "Gummy Bears fee" and this time Judy was at the ready.

She presented him our wayfare and totally caught him off-guard.

 Anyone who rode with us to and from our port of entry and departure had a grand time. Clark was completely caught off guard and everyone had a terrific cruise....even if it did cost Jim and Judy a bag of "Gummy Bears!"

 

 

A trio of Marathoners joined us for our final leg of our boat ride back to the Fort Wilderness Beach. The trio proudly displayed their metals of the event. The one gentleman of the trio had a "Dopey" metal which means he entered all of the events of the weekend.

Judy congratulated them and we all got to learn a little more about the Disney Marathons from a runners point of view. All of you may recall that our very own Judy is also a Disney Marathoner. Stay tuned this year Judy will be running a shorter Marathon with her granddaughter.

 

It's safe to say the 2013-14 "Snowbird" season is well underway.

 

Activities, parks, dining out, you know, all those things we do down here while everyone back home is still thinking all we do is sit on the porch in our rocking chairs waiting for time to pass!

 

 

 

 

A Happy New Year and the first PTB Bike Ride of 2014

Darlene, Buzz, Pat and I along with Winston and Lilly quietly enjoyed the last night of 2013 together.
We enjoyed a fine meal prepared by Buzz, some TV and watched the dogs chase each other. Actually, Lilly did most of the chasing. Winston put up with Lilly's antics each time she'd set out to run him all over the house. Winston wisely let Lilly do all the running. He'd put up with her outbursts and then jamb on his brakes and give her a "who's who" when he had enough. Of course "brave heart" Lilly would immediately drop into a "submissive" posture and Winston proudly walked away.

It wasn't long before we knew just who the boss of the house is. We soundly proclaimed that Lilly will not sit on our chairs.....that lasted about two weeks! OK we gave in, she's a "lap dog" and we said OK to sitting in our individual chairs. But no way was she going on the cloth or leather couch! Wrong again....as you can see!

(Check out the "face" on the TV.)

The one constant rule with Lilly is that she gets no people food and begging is NOT allowed. She's pretty good at not begging. However, she does have a keen sense of smell and she'll do the "sniffing" thing for about a minute. But after a few choice words she turns and does her own thing. She's a smart cookie. She'll stretch the boundaries and after repeated commands she does what we ask. Although, once in a while, we still get a present on the carpet if we don't pay close attention to her potty routine.

As you can see, once we set the limit of her "pleading" eyes, she does assume the position and does an admirable job of not begging.

 

 We enjoyed a quiet night and no we didn't get to see the "ball drop" in NY Times Square.

As you can see, Lilly knows how to "cuddle" and boy can she do a bang up job of that!

 

Most of the "snowbirds" are back and the "Palm Tree Bikers" are nearly up to full member attendance. We're still waiting on Bill and Angela but they are making their way here via a visit with family and friends in NC. This week's bike ride was back to the West Orange Trail. As all of you northerners know, the cold weather settled in with a vengeance. We wouldn't dare rub it in to say that it was cold here but we did prepare for our ride with "big boy" pants and even a sweater...which we didn't need by the time we headed out.

 

We were treated with this view of a majestic Bald Eagle just at the beginning of the trail.

 

 

Our usual stop at Kilarny Station was uneventful except for Jim's Judy talking to a triathlon bike rider. Judy got all the info from a gentleman who was on his 60 mile bike ride training for his next triathlon. His story is another unique tale of endurance and inner strength. He's a big man and lost well over 100 pounds and treats triathlons as a personal motivator. He was a pastry chef.

(He's sitting on his bike at the extreme left of the photo below...and Judy's got his ear!

 

We all enjoyed the brief stop in the sun or on a rocker.....as usual!

But this pit stop we learned something new... The wonderful man who opens the bike store, puts out the rental bikes and willingly and routinely assists us with bike repairs actually has a name!

His name is Taylor!

 

 

 Twenty-three of us enjoyed the Winter Garden Pizza Company's "Banquet Room" and a couple of nearby booths.

That is all of us except Steve. It seems a front row seat at a rocket blast off is more important than our lunch!

 Actually, we reserved them for the "Kids! 

 

You may also notice the walls look a little different. They refinished the interior and took out the ice cream vendor. The restaurant looks really nice.

 

Next week Fort Wilderness!

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...and "The Wave"....and the Reuben!

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Be still my heart!