A ride too far!

Hello once again! This time, we mean business. We're heading out from Celebration with a fast group and the "sight-seeing" group. Pete headed out with the pack itching to burn up the boardwalk of Celebration and the other, lead by Jim, to "smell the flowers"... er, try to keep our helmets on in the wind as we inched our way into a head wind on Celebration Boulevard.

Yours truly was hoping to enjoy the ride with a view so I tagged along with our fun loving group of sight-seers.

Can you tell who are the "serious" riders?

 

...as they wait impatiently.

 

 

Here the mile-mannered Jack gives a subtle hint....

"Hey, let's go!"

 

Below, Steve tells Pete, "lets leave them in the dust!"

Pete (the leader of the fast group) in orange tells Jim (the leader of the sight-seeing group) on the right, "Hey, there's a stagecoach leaving town at sundown, you be under it!

 

And then, there are those along for the ride!

 

 

Our fun-loving dynamic duo, Joan and Judy had a grand time as they took turns poking fun as they passed us on the route!

 

I really don't mind riding at the rear... no one can see you panting to keep up!

 

We were presented with at least four gator sightings on this trip.

 

But the "prize" photo was this beauty. He had to have been at least seven feet long!

 

Wellllll, sometimes I like to embellish the story!

 

(Truth be told he's actually about a foot and a half long!)

 

With all the fun we have on these rides, I can't close on our bike ride without sharing the real photo of the two awesome ladies who keep our group organized who just happen to be great friends.....

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Judy and Joan

 

In other news, Jack's friend, Alice, visited for a few days. The weather cooperated for them to enjoy a mild day in Disney's Animal Kingdom. Alice and Jack are both animal lovers and were treated to a special day to enjoy some of the wildlife in its element.

First a stop at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

 

Alice just can't resist stopping to smell the flowers."

We were all impressed with the flying fox bats!. Alice was OK until she noticed there were no screens between the guests and these fruit eaters.

 

 

I'd have to say this guy was truly impressive. he was pacing and he would pass along our window putting him less than a foot from us.

 

 Jack and Alice had a grand time on the Safari ride and Rafiki's Planet Watch.

 

We hope all of you had a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving!

Jack, Jim and Marti, Buzz and Darlene and Pat and I (of course I can't leave out Winston and Lilly) enjoyed a great afternoon with a super meal.

Let it be known that Jim broke up the party because he needed a nap before he headed out to work the closing shift on the Magic Kingdom boats!

 

We also had some fun at Lilly's expense....

Pat dressed her in what was planned to be her Halloween outfit, but we thought better.....

Here's "Lady Piggy", I mean "Lady Lilly!"

Even Winston took a back step!

 

Don't tell her we did this. She thought she was able to delete these pictures before I got to post them on the blog!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It Never Rains in Florida!

That's what I like to tell every visitor to Florida. So today more than a little "liquid sunshine" fell on us as we peddled our way back from our lunch in Fort Wilderness.

But our spirits were sky high as we started out with a breeze and balmy temps. Our organizer, Judy planned a two group ride.  One group, the fast group led by Pete and the... more reserved group led by Judy. Pete was to blister the loops an Judy would be on a perimeter road leisurely adventure. (That's much more appropriate than the "slow" group designation!) Both our groups were to meet at the Fort Wilderness Lodge and split up once again. One group went to the Whispering Canyon while the other group remained true to habit and took the windy boat ride to The Wave.

 

Eleven of us stepped onto the boat and our boat Captain "I-Lean" (private joke) made us feel at home and ready for the rough water ride to The Contemporary via the Campground.

Before untying from the pier a photo is in order. Notice some new faces in our group.

After taking the photo I noticed one of our stalwart riders was not in the photo! Alas, he best and will be part of us!

 

Big Buz will not be left out!

I made sure Big Buz would be in the photo!!

 

Just as we were about to untie from the pier our Captain offered to take a group photo....

Boy, is it me or do we know how to crowd others off the boats! We just seem to take over!

 

While under way something out of the ordinary caught my attention.

Off in the distance was one of the Disney Magic Kingdom ferries heading for dry dock. The ferries usually make their way to dry dock in early morning or late evening.

 Below she is ready to make her turn...

 

 ...and into her last turn as she disappears.

 

We were greeted at The Wave by Brian followed by Betty and her most welcome hugs!

She noted that our group was somewhat smaller than usual. We told her they were traders and didn't want to chance the rough waters and that they didn't want to get wet in the rain and that they wimped out! But they all say Hi!!

 

...and what do you think most of us ordered....

Why of course! Well, of course you know Jack enjoyed his healthy meal and tried to make us all feel guilty.

 

In the mean time, my spy was covertly working to report on the (other group's) lunch.

We learned from Big Buz that one must be careful when they ask for something at the Whispering Canyon.

Below Gary simply said, "I think I'd like a big gulp today!"

That's just what he got...

 

About that time, another "non-believer" made a huge faux pas by asking for a little catsup for his fires!

 

It seems the wait staff enjoy embellishing the western way!

 

As you might expect, we got rained on as we got off the boat, and it rained steadier and heavier as we made our way back.

But, we were treated to a few other local inhabitants who were also trying to take advantage of the leafy canopy to get out of the rain....

 

 

We think there were six or seven of them huddling under the trees to get out of the rain.

The best part of this is that they were in no hurry to leave their dry sanctuary.

 

I guess, it might not be too bad to be a deer on Disneyworld property!

 

Yours truly has been taking advantage of a very quite time at work and getting in a fair amount of carving time. Here's the latest on, "The Man With No Name."

 

The various things like his hat, hands and a few other delicate features will be finished very near the completion of the piece so that I can firmly handle the piece to bring out more detail without breaking a piece off.

 

Lilly's going to have to wait till tomorrow to get on the computer!

 

Activities are picking up!

It's beginning to look a lot like.... the "Snowbirds" are returning! Encore Lake Magic empty camp sites are fewer and fewer. And that means another Monday bike ride. Jim took the lead and headed us on our (what we thought to be) routine ride around Celebration. We headed to our first pit stop at the Hospital. (That's just in case our first trek was too much for the (yet to be) seasoned riders.

 

But Jim had other plans! He headed back in the direction we started! Then, he took us into the seldom charted (ridden) back roads of the East Celebration. The change in course offered us a "lazy" and enjoyable cruise to gaze on some of the most beautiful properties in Celebration.

 

Although, at the intersection below, our neat and orderly cadence fell apart! Jim went left and those who "follow the rear tire of the rider in front of them" went "helter skelter."

We regrouped and were ready to press on.

Our back-street meandering ate up the morning but not the miles. Some of our riders returned to base when we neared the center of town, while the "rough-riders" wanted to press on.

With a few (mis-guided) directions from yours truly, we managed to reach the ten mile goal we strive for.

 

Once again, we return to the Celebration Town Tavern for lunch and frivolity!

Sometimes I have to be a tad more persistent to get everyone in the picture....

OK so it took two photos to get everyone.

If you didn't catch the strange person sitting at the left corner of the table two pictures above, here's a better look....

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Why its none other than the usually quiet and reserved Joepy! (pronounced U.P.)

What is it about the Canadians and their attraction to Maple leaves!

 

It must be the "Captain" in Jim... he seems to like the "head" of the table!

 

There's always one late arrival! 

 

 

 

Pat had the chance to visit The Animal Kingdom with some guests the other day.

They were in for something really special. The "local" residents were eager to "Meet and Greet" their guests.....

This giraffe took a lot of interest in Pat's party...

For a second they thought he was going to join their safari trek!

(Thanks to Pat for these awesome photos.)

 

 

 Kings Ridge Clubhouse was the site for the KR Car Club and their annual "Harvest Market" (flea market).

 

This Falcon is Pat's favorite car.

 

Thanks to the "Harvest Market" we can fit both of our cars in the garage! Finally!

 

Another bike ride... off to the West Orange Trail.

I took advantage of a late start at work and met up with our group and participated for most of the ride.

 

Hmmm, look closely at Jim on the right. He's happy to be back to work at Disney. But, he found out he'll be statused in the Magic Kingdom! He just realized that being the new guy... he might be closing for most of his shifts! Can you say.....closing around 3:00 in the morning!!!



 

 

At my turn-around I say so-long to the "tail-enders" as they made their way to the Killarny Station.

Sorry I missed the last rider because my camera is slowing down. Time for a new camera! Our blogs are taking a toll on it!

 

I'm happy to say that with the clearing of our garage, my carving bench is once again ready to go. I've been (im)patiently waiting to begin the piece I've been thinking about all summer.

I hope to do Clint Eastwood justice. As many of you may agree, his "spaghetti westerns" have become icons. I've selected a pose of him from "A Fistful of Dollars."

 

Here's how all it all starts....

"The Man With No Name"

I'll post how it turns out on my woodcarving blog:

http://oneofakindwoodcarvings.blogspot.com/