Sigh!

Did I miss something? Where's everybody gone? Wait! Jack is still here! Ugh, but he's leaving next week. We thought we'd have one more bike ride. That didn't happen. Now all we can do is work, sleep, eat and get hotter! Can you believe just how fast this season flew by? Topping it off our laptop needed to be "cleaned." That was the most difficult four days not having a laptop that I can remember. How many times each day do you just want to "hop" on the "net" and search for something? Now I've got to play "catch up!"

Our last ride was to Fort Wilderness, but first we had to take care of some unfinished business.
A couple of weeks ago we awarded "Big" Buz with the "The Palm Tree Bikers Certificate of Honor."
Buz was gracious enough to let us take his photo of him with his award.

Congratulations "Big" Buz!

( Can you see the excitement?)

 

The following week we took the time to honor Pete and Joan for all their efforts this year...

 

We'd like to thank everyone for your help, support and riding companionship!

 

 

One of our faithful riders was unable to ride this week due to, well, Kathy can show you....

Fortunately it was just a strain. Take care we have more years of riding to go.

 

 

 

Off we went, a "fast" group and a "slow" group. Right! It seemed we always met each other at our stops.

 

Then Pete wanted to revisit the "sprinkler head from H_ _ _!" Remember last year while stopping at the Trading Post, Pete got off his bike and fell onto the sprinkler head? He ended up with a black and blue the size of a giant grapefruit. You'll be happy to know that he's all better and the sprinkler head has been replaced... and it's even taller!

Now let's start planning for next year.... without any injuries!
 

Of course we love to eat out... so after our Reuben at "The Wave," "Big" Buz thought it would be great if we went to "The Oak Wood BBQ" that evening! Are you kidding? Nope, and here's proof.......

We were all shocked to see who was going to down a plate full of ribs! It's none other than that famous fitness fanatic and marathon runner, Judy!
(In spite of Judy's attempt to bribe me not to attach her photo to this Blog, Judy "cleaned the plate.")
I'm sure her daughters will never find out that Judy is a "closet BBQ lover".... as long as they don't read our Blog

Now that Judy's secret is out, Judy will pay for her indulgence...

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That's what you get when you try to outsmart the "blogger!"

 

 

Each day Lake Magic is beginning to look like a "ghost town."

 

Darlene and Buzz and Pat and I wanted to take in one last trek to one of the parks. We headed to Hollywood studios.

We enjoyed our favorite "landscapers."

Darlene had a visit from the bands "Manager."

 

We voted on more than a few "American Idol Experience" contestants.

Had target practice (more than once) at "Toy Story Midway."

Enjoyed "Fantasmic."

 

And Buzz added another hat to his collection.

 

Over the next couple of days we quietly watched (helped a little) as Buzz and Darlene made their fifth-wheel ready for the road.

 

Do you all remember what I said a  year or so ago after everyone headed for home?

 

 

We feel like the Finding Nemo blow fish as he led them to freedom and the ocean in their plastic baggies and he said........"Now what!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Manny's," a Bike Ride, Golfing with the gators!

Each week a few more "snowbirds" head north. So we thought we'd get together for a bite. One last visit to "Manny's Chop House." Yummy!

Thanks to Jim we have a memento of our gathering... albeit one extremely loud experience!

 

After dinner, thanks to "Big Buz" (who just happened by) we have a photo of our group. The next day, Jim and Marti headed out followed by Bill and Angela the next day.

 

 

Parting is always bitter sweet. The season seems so brief.

As Bill, Angela and "Maggie" turn the corner within each of us there's always that silent pause for reflection. At one time or another, we all have to head home.

 

But, we've got lots of memories to relive...

 

But,  we still have a few of us yet to leave. It's Monday and another bike ride. Due to the amount of Spring Break visitors we thought it best to change our biking venue from Fort Wilderness to Celebration. Eighteen of us headed out for a ride but our start didn't go very well for John.

Getting on his bike, John missed a peddle and fell. He took a terrible fall landing mainly on the side of his left elbow. He had a few nasty looking scrapes but was OK.

At lunch John was in great spirits and wondered what all the fuss about him was.

Thankfully, John enjoyed the ride and lunch.

 

Pete led us on another "round about" Celebration. I swear just before each ride in Celebration, Pete studies the map of Celebration!

 

In the photo below of our routine first "pit stop" at the Celebration Hospital, you can see the progress of the new building going up on the hospital property.

 

 

We learned that the flower laced Celebration entrance display had an unexpected repair. The story goes like this; someone "launched" their car over and through the flower display, right through the cement block "Celebration" sign and over the wall taking out some of the retention wall on the other side ending up in the pond!

You just gotta love the drivers in Florida (and/or tourists)!

 

We all got to enjoy another ten mile ride and lunch at the Town Tavern.

 

 

And speaking of Pete (front right) and Joan (front left) we would like to present then with

"The 2012-2013 Palm Tree Bikers Certificate of Honor" at our next ride.

Both Pete and Joan deserve this award for all they do for us.

Taking the lead, Pete has done an outstanding job quietly providing us with direction and tempo.

Pete's taken a lot of "jabs" as we take our turns picking on him with his choices but in the end he always provides us with a fun and enjoyable ride.

Joan, our "tail-ender" is recognized for her tenacious approach to keep our count on the sign-up sheet and who's going where to eat! Joan enjoys riding "at the rear." Her great spirit is welcome to the riders who enjoy a slower ride.

Congratulations Pete and Joan for a job well done!

 

Finally, "Big" Buz and "Little" Buzz have been itchin' to get yours truly to a "real" golf course.

This week, four of us headed north to Clerbrook Golf & RV Resort.  http://clerbrook.com/

 "Big" Buz, Rick, "Little" Buzz and I enjoyed  this rustic course on a beautiful day. Playing "best ball" we went one over par and lost a number of golf balls doing so. The course is laced with water hazards with more than their share of 'gators and dense woods you wouldn't put your arm in to retrieve a ball.

Above "Big" Buz is retrieving my ball and stopped to check out the gator in the drainage tube.

Here's a better look.....

Funny how these critters seem to be "dead" but they're always watching you!

 

Ah the fun of living among so many predators!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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!"