Better then being in the cold.

[danh600]

Had coffee with these guys.



Then got on the bikes. 70s and sunny.



Took a ride through Florida horse country. Back roads, no traffic and a few sweeper curves. Stopped for a Cuban Sandwich in Micanopy, FL. A town time forgot. Town ordinance does not allow any chains, fast food or hotels. The Sandwich was so good you don't get a picture.

It's spring in Florida. Cherry trees are the first to show it. Notice the bright green leaves. The big Live Oaks will wake up a few weeks from now. No fire needed yet.



A couple of marinated honey mustard pork chops for dinner.
Cause as Redfish says. Nothing rhymes with husband. Happy wife happy life. She is happy one of her favorites.


Plus sausage for breakfast.

Sun going down. I need a bourbon and a long sleeve shirt.

The only ice around here is in the drinks.

We been running the roads in the SUV watching our great nephew play baseball. Been a blast but it was nice to just ride for the day.

Edit.
Changed my mind. There will be fire.



Got lucky with Hurricanes. They didn't blow my cabin away but I have plenty of fire wood.

[wheatonFJR]

Awesome!!

[Toter]

I saw the same thing the other day, turkeys, not chops and sausage. I had 4 gobblers together and no hens. I guess they hang out, smoke cigars, and drink bourbon before the mating season starts.

[Bugnatr]

Dan, that retirement looks good on you.

[FJRPittsburgh]

That's fantastic Dan! Still dreaming of warmer weather here.

[danh600]

I saw the same thing the other day, turkeys, not chops and sausage. I had 4 gobblers together and no hens. I guess they hang out, smoke cigars, and drink bourbon before the mating season starts.

The gobblers are with the hens down here already. Notice the hen close to the pond in the picture. There were about 20 hens.

These are Osceola turkeys. They really have nice color on the plumage when the sun shines on it.

[danh600]

Dan, that retirement looks good on you.

I never looked back. Best decision I ever made.

[Intech]

I would love to have those gobblers at my tent about now! Missing FWG, but will be down there at the end of March visiting our friend in Lady Lake. Going to be in the low 60's today. I think some wind therapy is in my future.

[danh600]

I would love to have those gobblers at my tent about now! Missing FWG, but will be down there at the end of March visiting our friend in Lady Lake. Going to be in the low 60's today. I think some wind therapy is in my future.

We got plans in NC, so we are headed back soon. I want to get back down here in March, maybe towards the end.

[danh600]

So we were on a mission today.



We were headed to Cedar Key. A cool little town on the Gulf Coast of Florida.

It looked like this not long ago.





Now it looks like this.





Some people just take what is thrown at them and get back up. We read a few restaurants and shops were open. It's a fishing town, but also a tourist town. At this point they need visitors.
Believe me they were very, very appreciative of our visit.

We ate at a restaurant in the middle of the island. It had some damage but was up and running. Now basically it's two restaurants combined. The brothers restaurant is the one in the picture with the three bikes. Obviously they are not serving food. His sister took him in. They actually hand you two different menus. You can order off either.

This is what they have endured.



This restaurant is on "high" ground. The signs on the post are the high water marks from the storms. The lady on the left is the sister and owner. She was also our waitress.

There was no victim attitude in that woman. Think Lt. Dan in the storm scene of Forest Gump.


This is a CBS (concrete block construction). They stand up to storms. The wall blew out.


This is a beautiful, eclectic, old Florida place.



If we don't support places like these, high end developers buy them. I don't ride to eat at chain hotels and fast food places.

So when you ride this year consider the Gulf Coast of Florida, Western North Carolina, The wild fire area of California. Hotels and restaurants might be limited. They might be a little rough around the edges.

However, you will get a thank you that you can tell is deep from the heart.

Buy some art, a shirt, a hat or just a key chain. Tip your waitress really well.





.

[wheatonFJR]

Thanks for the report and reminder to patronize those in the devastation zone.

BTW, the concrete block doesn't stand a chance without sufficient rebar and grout. But I get what you are saying.

[Bugnatr]

Nature can be such a bitch.

I get it Dan, I try to support the locals wherever I wonder. They need our $$ so they will be there the next time I ride through.

[dcarver]

Awesome RR. And I don't care what you ride, just ride.

As more of my 'old relics' are coming to life, I'm on the FJR's less and less.

[Hppants]

Nice report - good to see you are enjoying Florida, and your retirement.

Stay thirsty, my friend.

[Intech]

I love Cedar Key. Hate to see it destroyed like that. Always happy to support locally owned businesses.

[danh600]

Awesome RR. And I don't care what you ride, just ride.

As more of my 'old relics' are coming to life, I'm on the FJR's less and less.

I still put way more miles on the FJR. I normally do just short day rides down here and it's usually hot. The MT09 is better for that.

Funny thing even HD riders often approach us. They love my wife's Indian. They admire it for a bit, then as they walk away they look at the MT09 and say "What the hell is that?".

[fontanaman]

...then as they walk away they look at the MT09 and say "What the hell is that?".

Answer: What yer chasing when we hit the Twisties.

[danh600]

BTW, the concrete block doesn't stand a chance without sufficient rebar and grout. But I get what you are saying.

I am not a builder so I could be completely wrong, but i have never seen rebar run all the way up the walls. I know they put it in foundations.

I do know that rebar in concrete in a salty environment rusts and expands causing the concrete to crack and deteriorate.
I guess it's a necessary evil.

[0face]

BTW, the concrete block doesn't stand a chance without sufficient rebar and grout. But I get what you are saying.

I am not a builder so I could be completely wrong, but i have never seen rebar run all the way up the walls. I know they put it in foundations.

I do know that rebar in concrete in a salty environment rusts and expands causing the concrete to crack and deteriorate.
I guess it's a necessary evil.

Wheaton Concrete Class about to start...

[danh600]

BTW, the concrete block doesn't stand a chance without sufficient rebar and grout. But I get what you are saying.

I am not a builder so I could be completely wrong, but i have never seen rebar run all the way up the walls. I know they put it in foundations.

I do know that rebar in concrete in a salty environment rusts and expands causing the concrete to crack and deteriorate.
I guess it's a necessary evil.

Wheaton Concrete Class about to start...

Yep. Let his freak flag fly.