Thanksgiving morning ride

As in years passed we will be doing a Gobbler loop ride Thanksgiving morning starting at the bike shop at 8:30 AM.  About a 22 mile ride on the trail and some lightly traveled roads, Istachatta Rd to SR 48, to Trails End Rd, to Withlapopka to Gobbler to the trail. Hope to see some smiling faces wanting to burn some calories before your Thanksgiving Holiday.

Babe I'm leavin' must be on my way

      Yep, looks like its high time we start heading South on our voyage homeward bound.  Always feel a bit melancholy when its this time in the trip, even though our gig isn't bad at all.  I mean getting people on bikes, talking to people from all over the country and sometimes getting invitations to stay with them if we roll through their town, again thanks, Bill and Ruth, George and Sue, Leroy and Diane, Lance and Arlene, and of course Mike Cooper/Coop for putting in 30 amp and letting us park in his driveway, whats better than that.  And, not to mention we get to bike or walk to work, hey I've driven 1 hour each way for years to the work 20 and believe me, its no picnic.
      To catch up on the last few days or week as it may lets see;;;;;;;;;; did a bunch of rides to Yellow Springs of course, but one day we rode to Springfield, some trail some streets. Another we wanted to find the Jamestown connector route so rode from Yellow Springs to Xenia then to where they were working on a tunnel under SR 35, turned back and found our way to the other side of the highway by roads then back on the trail to Jamestown where we found not much going on. Maybe once they get the tunnel finished and more people ride there things will pick up. Anyway that ended up being a 50 mile day.  The next day, wait, the memory is charging, Friday we came at Dayton from the West from Taylorsville Metro Park.  A nice ride but cool and the threat of rain. Saturday was reserved for the Cyclops Festival in YS and celebration and sales of all things local and hand made, and The Gathering of Wool at Young's Jersey Dairy, an all things wool, sheep, alpaca, llama, and what to make from these animals fur. There were rugs, rope, shawls, gloves, hats, sweaters, and demonstrations on how to do the various arts.  A very warm experience.  Today a ride to YS and back, and may I say on a perfect day, sunny and 72 degrees.  Hope the heat is over when we get home, I'm spoiled.  Seems like a long time ago we left in a hurry but at the same time it went too fast.  I know quit your damn crying!  WAAAAH!
      Most of all I'd like to thank Greg Emlinger for keeping the shop open a couple days a week so that we could do this and not go completely broke in the process.  Thankx Greg.

      Another beautiful cool day in Ohio and another  great ride this time on the Great Miami River  Trail  from Taylorsville Metro Park  to  Troy and back to Tipp City where we had lunch at Sam &  Ethel's. 
      Found out we now own a dog again, a dog we haven't even met yet, a black  lab that our friend Deb thought was Tanus  and  opened her car  where it jumped in and she took it to work with her. Well  it is a female and well behaved, trained,  and healthy but not chipped.  After a few days someone put up a "lost black lab" sign but when  Deb took her to the owners the lady said they were moving out of the country and won't be able to take her with them so would Deb like to keep her, name being "Chalice".  Deb has 2 dogs and 2 cats already so looks like we own Chalice.  Wanted to think of another name for her as I'm not keen in naming a dog after a gold cup that holds the body of Christ at a Catholic mass so as not to add any more confusion to this poor dogs life we'll just drop the Ch and call her Alice.  Hope she doesn't chase any white rabbits.  So when we return home we'll have another mascot for the shop and a good dog. We both agree we're ready and always said a dog will avail itself to us when the time is right.   I guess that time has come.
      Got to mention that I am reading a book that will go down as one of my favorites of all books,
that being "South of Superior" by Ellen Airgood.  Probably a lot of guys won't like it but it's a story of life's struggles, and rewards of a simpler life for one Madeline Stone.  I thought of naming Alice Madeline but after 6 years as Chalice, I think Alice would be more in line for the dog's benefit.
Check out this book on line.  I think you'll be as captivated as I was with the cast of characters in this story of the UP.  Helps we were in Grand Marais where Ellen lives and modeled her fictional town after, and signed our book.   Prairie Evers is another book she'd written as a children's book but a good story for adults as well. 

      Tomorrow, no we won't ride to Morrow, but to Springfield and the Frank Lloyde Wright house. Cindy read the book "Loving Frank" and it has peaked her interest.  So awaaaaay we go.

Grand ride, Grand Rapids

      While riding down the White Pines trail we ran into a couple of guys,  John, and Ray , that we know from Fl. And they saw Dick Marr so we got a hold of him and met for a ride on the Millennium park trails, Johnson park trail, and Kent's trail, along with some streets around Grand Rapids.  Thanks to Dick knowing his way around made for a wonderful 38 mile ride.  This is an area where we'll have to explore further.  Lakeside Camp Park was one of the cleanest well maintained campgrounds we've seen so we'll base out of there when we do.
      On the drive south we decided to stop at the RV museum in Elkheart IN. Lots of history and examples of RV's through the years. They've come a long way since the beginning way back in the early 1900s.
      Now back in what feels like a second home in Yellow Springs OH. Sitting here in the Emporium enjoying an organic Columbian coffee, with our camper parked at Bass Lake cg a nice wake me up 10 mile bike ride from here, with 6 miles on the roads and 4 miles on the Little Miami River trail.
Plan is to head south around the 19th. Lots to do once home.
      Again, thanks Dick Marr for the guided tour of the Grand Rapids area and making for a superb day of riding.

      Been a while since we've had wifi or a good cell signal because we were in the bliss of the woods at Pender's Paradise private camp ground mainly for equestrians but close enough to the White Pine  and Pere Marquette trails to ride bikes and get a good ride on some very nice trails.  Reed  City had a restaurant that was especially interesting to me called the "Seven Slot Grille" with a Jeep theme the seven slots being the slots in a Jeeps grill.  They were right off the trail head and had decent food, good friendly service and ice cream. From there we rode toward Evert but got bored with the long straight trail in the sun and turned around and went to do some much needed laundry.  Lance and Arlene Pender took us on a ride from Rapid City to Reed City and back, a personal best for Arlene, and this time we went into a bakery that had many delectable delights which some made it to our mouths and into our panniers for breakfast coffee the next day. 
      The next day, and don't ask what day it was, Lance and Arlene took us to the Muskegon River where we got to do a little kayaking a nice diversion from biking.  A few small rapids was all but, makes me want to venture further into white water kayaking.  Was a whole lot of fun.  Two friends of theirs who have been into our shop and rented bikes, Joan and Sue were camping and horseback riding that weekend also.  Great people to sit around a campfire with and Joan with her story telling ability was a hoot.  I feel very lucky to know Lance, Arlene, Joan, and Sue.

      Camped at the Lakeside Camp Park CG in Cedar Springs MI and tomorrow we will ride with a friend from FL , Dick Marr starting at Millennium Park and hope Rick and Mary McNiece can make it too.  Also saw two people we know from the Withlacoochee trail, John and Raymond.  It's a small world after all.

Suprises

      Surprised to find another part of MI. worth exploring further . The small town of Interlochen is one of those surprises as is the state park where we're camped.  Ran into Scott and Karla who are crossing the country by the adventure cycling Nothern tier route on their tandem camped across from us.  Check out their BLOG at : www.nomadsintandem.net.  They've got 33 days left to ride.
      Again we are camped with a water view, this time Duck lake in Northern MI.  Yesterday we rode the TART ( Traverse area recreational trail),  a very nice newley paved 15 miles from Traverse City to Suttons Bay.  Traverse City a bit too touristy and crowded for me, especially coming from FL. where the book on tourism was written.  Suttons Bay was a charming town, touristy as well but on a much smaller scale.  Just about everyone we met said we have to see Sleeping Bear Dunes but there is not time in our schedule to do it all so we'll have to come back.  Gotta say, Michiganders are a friendly bunch as everyone we talk to is so helpfull to attempt to suggest things we might like to see or do.
      Today we rode some roads to Lake Ann where there is the Lake Ann Grocery that has everything you'll need and if they don't have it you don't need it.  That is what the sign says. The ride was on lightly trafficked roads but in the vein of surprises one was a dirt, or should I say sand road that wasn't the ideal condition for a long wheel base, under seat steering HASE Tagun recumbent with schwalbe duream tires pumped up to 90 psi.  However the suspension worked great on the potholed county roads smoothing out even the roughest, deepest most treacherous holes even at speed down hill.
      Now at Bud's listening to Jim Hawley on guitar singing covers in a fine voice.  Beats the hell out of watching the republican convention on TV.
      Will be heading for Lance and Arlene Pinder's to hole up for labor day and do some more riding and maybe some kayaking.  Sorry no photos but I don't have the proper cable to connect the camera to this I pad.   Sooooo, that's all folks, shows over, monkeys dead, see ya!

      Sitting in the Roast-N-Toast coffee shop in Petoskey MI and seems the band width is taxed so I hope this gets through.  Since we left Munising northward to Grand Marais where we camped for 2 nights in Woodland Park.  The town was only 3 blocks away where we played, ate, and I had some beers at the Lake Superior Brewing, and some great triple berry pie at the West Bend Diner owned by Ellen Airgood and her husband Rick.  She wrote a few books which we bought and she signed.  Read on which is a children's book but a good story for adults too called  "Prairie Evers".  Read it in a day and a half.  Her other book is "South of Superior".  The diner was built in NJ. brought to PA. and deteriorated in a field where it was bought, and brought to MI where it was refurbished to as close to original as could be and now serves organic goodies and such. Also in Grand Marais is the Pickle Barrel house, and actual living quarters.

      From there we visited Tahquamenon Falls, pronounced like phenomenon,  which is the largest falls east of the Mississippi 2nd only to Niagara. Something like 52,600 GPM goes over the rocks.
      Next was a drive up to Paradise and a bike ride to Whitefish Point.  Very beautiful but very remote. There is a shipwreck museum and lighthouse there and a bird counting facility as all kinds of birds use this point and a reference in migration. 
      As far as MI goes, give me the UP with it's spectacular beauty and rugged coast lines.  All Munising needs is a good bike trail to Marquette and I'd almost think of a summer home there.

      Today south bound to Travers City area to check out the trails there.

      Is it possible to have too much fun?  Hypothetical question I know, but the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is a place where it might just happen.  Not only is it geologically diverse with wet lands, dunes, rocky beaches, fern covered forests, water falls, and lake Superior but the absolute beauty of it all just begs to get outside and hike, bike or kayak, not to mention winter XC skiing, ice climbing, ice fishing, hunting.

     Diane Jacobsen has been guiding us around on many of these excursions, yesterday a 7 mile hike to shipwrecks, Au Sable light house, and the Grand Sable Dunes most along the rocky beach of Gitche Gumee.  The day before a short ferry ride across the bay to Grand Island and a 20 mile Mt. bike ride around the perimeter of the island with many stops along the way to view craggy cliffs and water carved caves.  Pictures, at least mine, don't do it justice. Go online and google Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore to learn more about this wonderful area.

     While not running around the woods to see the sights, we've been hitting the local Munising coffee shop, The Falling Rock, and on Tuesdays there is a farmers market and concert in the park.
     Tomorrow we'll drag up and head an hour up the road to Grand Marais Woodland Park camp ground.  We stopped there and checked out the small remote town on Lake Superior and want to spend a bit more time there.  Again so much to do around here, and thanks to Leroy and Diane for their hospitality and letting us park the camper in front of their house and plug in.

     After Grand Marais we'll shoot for Tahquamenon Falls, the second largest falls east of the Mississippi then start our southward trek home with several stops along the way. Stay tuned.

     Easy drive to the UP and Leroy and Diane Jacobsen's beautiful but simple home in Munising MI. located on a creek which leads to a trail to a water fall which can be accessed easily within a 10 minute walk from their front door called Memorial Falls.  A drive or bike ride into town is also an easy 10 to 15 minutes down hill, of course gotta up on the way back but not a hard effort at all, and views of lake Superior makes it easier.  The Falling Rock coffee shop is a delight and the town boasts many neat restaurants, bars, 2 hardware stores, grocery, drug and any other thing you'd want but what I like; NO SPRAWL.  On Tuesday we went to a farmers market and concert in the municipal park featuring a national slide guitar champion, Kraig Kenning.  Wednesday we drove over to Marquette to visit friends from Fl. Chuck and Linda and get in a bike ride with them. Thursday we moved the camper from the campground to Diane and Leroy's  and did some hiking around Munising.  Friday was spent hiking and biking in Seney National Wildlife Refuge where we saw Loons, and Trumpeter Swans.  Today was another trip to Marquette, where on the way we stopped by Lakenland a sculpture garden of extraordinary proportions. Really something not to be missed. A hike at Sugarloaf Mountain, a rocky climb to stunning views of Gitchi Gumee, or Lake Superior. Rain halted any other excursions this day. 

     Tomorrow is another day filled with more adventures depending on the rapidly changing weather. Oh did I mention how nice and cool it is here, in the 60s and 70s during the day and 50s at night. AHHHH!

      Been a while since we had wifi where I wanted to take the time to post something, but here we are at a Starbucks in Stevens Point WI where we attended the 19th annual recumbent rally sponsored by the Hostel Shoppe, the largest recumbent shop in the states.  So, what I'm going to do is go in reverse to describe the goings on back to when we left KS.
      As I've said; rally, BIG. Bikes, many, test rides, rides through the WI. pastoral country side, past dairy barns, farm houses, chicken houses, out houses, fields full of corn, soy beans, potatoes, and small home gardens. George and Sue Straley and Bill Hamilton and Ruth Glick drove up to join us,  which made the rides more enjoyable with good friends.
      They had a swap meet yard sale there where we set up and sold a few things but out of the blue on impulse I traded my ICE trike for a HASE  Tagen under seat 2 wheeler with suspension and some money.  So now I'll have to tweak this bike to make it mine for the remainder of the trip. Boys and their toys!

      Before the rally we visited George and Sue in Waukasha WI, and used a parking place inside a building they rent.  We rode with them around the town which is really charming with big fiber glass guitars placed here and there and one of the best stocked liquor stores I've ever seen.  One day we rode a trail to the Miller Stadium in Milwaukee on game day, rode all the way around it then to town where George and I went to the Harley Davidson museum while the girls rode to Greendale.
What a great time we had. Thanks to the Straleys.

      Turning back a page to Urbandale IA, and a week at Cutty's CG and riding around the many trails in the DesMoines area w/ Bill and Ruth to guide us.  Under the heading; Now there's a bridge, the highlight was the High Trestle trail bridge, a feat of engineering, especially all lit up at night. Another neat ride was to the outskirts of DesMoines and the Bauder's  Pharmacy and old fashioned soda fountain with home made creamy ice cream.  And of course a visit to Trader Joe's. The Saturday farmers market ride could have been a soaker but we were inside Java Joe's  eating breakfast, and the bikes kept dry thanks to the parking garage they were parked in.

      Present time now, at Starbucks and looking forward to Munising MI where we'll see Leroy and Diane Jacobsen and hopefully do a credit card tour of the UP.  If technology works this time I'll upload some photos.     

Let's play a little catch up shall we? I think I left off turning 60 and don't remember anything else. Just kidding. We finally did something we've wanted to do for a few years and that was do dinner and a movie in Yellow Springs at the Sunrise Cafe' and Little Art Theater. For 49.95 plus tip we got a good dinner and saw the movie Moonrise Kingdom, about 2 runaway kids and their adventures. After a stop overnight in Jonesboro Mo. We drove to our destination on the Katy trail, Katfish Katy's Kampground on the Katy trail. Full HU in full sun on the Mo. River with temps hovering around 106. What's the definition of insanity? The answer is take a record breaking heat wave, on the hottest day of the year so far, and the hottest time of the day, in the hottest part of the country and go for a bicycle ride on a dusty trail. And on this bike ride, stop on the way back lock up the bikes and hike up a bluff .3 miles to get a glass of wine. That my friends isn't insanity, the fact that it was fun, is. So I guess we're insane, ahhhhhh! 7/20/12 WOW, a respite from the heat with a breezy high of 97. The news of a 24 year old prick shooting up and killing and injuring people in a crowded movie theater opened the otherwise beautiful day. We rode to Columbia Mo. For coffee and a look around town. The trail was very busy and very dusty with walkers footfalls kicking up clouds of dust. The bikes and we were a mess after that ride. For lunch we rode to and hiked up to Les Bourgeois vineyards for lunch. Sounds like we're living high on the hog but we haven't moved the van for 2 days so we're spending the gas savings. As for the asshole in Auroura Co., I wish someone with a concealed carry would have taken the dirt bag out before he did the damage he did. 7/23/12 We'll be here in Olathe Ks. For a week visiting Cindy's folks and trying to get an early morning ride or two before it gets too hot on the Millcreek Streamway, and Indian Creek trails. Check Hampton's Edge face book page for a pic or two?

Woke up this morning, my first day as a 60 year old, to an overcast sky and had breakfast and Cattle Dog coffee before heading out to ride from Roxanna New Burlington road to Morrow to meet the group from Fairfield Cyclery riding up from Loveland to Morrow. The urge is strong to do a "to Morrow tomorrow" but been there done that already so I'll refrain.  Our friend Mary Ann drove down from Toledo to spend a few days and ride with us.  This is all taking place in Ohio by the way.  The ride down the Little Miami Trail 20 some miles to Morrow was just glorious, shady and not too hot. Some of the Fairfield group was already there and more coming.  Lots of trikes, a few 2 wheel bents, a tamdem terra trike, and Cindy's Rans Cruz CF. Mary Ann rode Cindy's Catrike Road, her first time on a trike. The destination, Miranda's Ice Cream.  While inside ordering and eating the once, over cast sky opened up to a deluge of rain and it came down for over a half an hour drenching all the nice foam seats and shiny bikes. It was good to see old friends like Larry Varney, Jim Murphy, Frank and Mary and others from their shop riding group. Needless to say the ride back was wet at first but the sun shone through and dried everything but my cotton undies, so wet butt  all the way back.

     On the way back to the camp ground we stopped at Trader Joe's for some grocery restock and a few bottles of wine.  Picked up a few nice grass fed sirloins and a couple ears of corn to put on the fire and man were they good.  A perfect ending to an almost perfect day, and I won't complain about the rain because they need it bad here in the Buckeye State.  So, happy birthday to me!
    

     The heat wave of the last week has finally broken and yesterday was a beautiful day for a ride on the Great Allegheny Passage in PA. between Connellsville and Ohiopyle.  Cindy took her first ride on her new Catrike Road with rear suspension, which came in handy with some rough bridges and rocky places on the trail.  The whole way between towns was shady and cool, and lunch consisting of a delicious portabella  ruben and home made chips at Trailside Cafe' with a cold micro brew beer hit the spot.
     The days prior to this was spent grieving with my sister and brother in law and relations on the untimely death of my 31 year old niece Marcie.  She worked with autistic children and their families and gave all of her self to the detriment to her health. Rest in peace Marcie.
     We will be leaving tomorrow and heading for Ohio and our favorite, Yellow Springs, maybe with a stop to ride the T.J. Evans Trail near Columbus to try something different. 
   

Eight hours of driving and in Walterboro SC. at the New Green Acres Campground, the place to be.  Acres of green grass and tall pines, 30 amp service for AC and fridge and a few mosquitoes. All for 26. per night.  Saw lots of standing water along the way on the sides of interstate 95, and lots of JEA power trucks heading for northern power outages in NC and WVa.  Npr reports 50,000 people without power in the high 90 degree heat.Tomorrow should be in PGH. PA. or a close proximity thereof, depending on stoppages for farting around.  Exciting isn't it!!  La Balla de Plata, out.

     Tomorrow we will be heading out for Northern environs, destination, Canonsburg Pa. My beloved niece Marcie died Wednesday, a caring person who worked too hard and cared too much to the detriment of her own health.  She will be missed by many, me in a BIG way.
   
After PA. we'll be looking for cooler temps but will attend the Midwest recumbent rally in Stevens Point WI. Plans were to ride the Katy but maybe Michigan will be first. Seems the UP has temps. in the 70s and 80s.  Sounds a lot better than 3 digits through the South and Midwest.  Anyway the Airstream is packed, the bikes are in the van along with Cindy's new Catrike Road with rear suspension.  Candy apple green, sunlite rack mounted on the rear swingarn. Pics while in use. Stay tuned for more excitement as the adventure unfolds.  

Just recently we had the pleasure of being one of the hosts for a FAM tour for journalists from California, Oregon, New England and Florida.  The point was to show there is more to Fl. than Disney and the beaches.  They did some flats fishing, snorkeling, kayaking, a birding walk, and of course eating at some favorite local hot spots.  Our portion was only about an hour and a half of cycling on the Withlacoochee Trail.  All said they had a wonderful time and one gal came back to ride and explore further.

    On another note, we're finally getting some much needed rain from tropical storm Beryl.  Maybe an early storm season will bring the water table up so we can continue to have water to drink and bathe in.  I think society has to re think this whole notion of having the lush green lawn, at least here in Fl.

Bike to work week

Hey folks don't forget May 14-18 is Bike to work week!

Cats on the Withlacoochee

It was early morning around 4:30 on March 4 when the wind began to howl through the open windows causing the vertical blinds to slap together and blowing maps and papers off the dining room table and rattling the bedroom door in its frame. Awaking to this barrage of noise made me wonder if the Catrike rally Sunday ride on the Withlacoochee was going to take place. The front moved through in about an hour and a half but sleep seemed evasive so at 6:30 I got up and drove South to place directional signs and paint showing where to turn to get to the restaurant for lunch. On going to the shop, people were already there and friends brought up some snacks and tasty baked goods for the throngs about to arrive. Soon cars with trikes mounted in various ways started showing up. Before long the area around the shop was a mass of humans and trikes, phones and cameras clicking away, face book notices being sent and tech getting the word out that the ride was on. Off we were around 10:30 in a staggered start to River Ratz Paddlers Pub only 9 short miles away. Some did a fast run while others took in the scenery with a easy pedal. Some people were even lucky enough to see Gumby the camel.
There was a corn hole tournament under way when we got to Ratz but everyone seemed pleased with the food and service. I got a chance to ride the new rear suspension Road. Got the derailleur full of sand with a little off road excursion but a dip in the river took care of that. See the pic on bentrideronline.com. See the rear suspension in this blog. Anyway the weather and ride turned out just great and it was nice seeing so many Catrike friends again. We received an award for being in the top 10 of Catrike dealers, and the company gave trikes to most of it's employees who have made this fine company what it is today. I feel proud to sell such a fine product made here in the good ole USA. Thank you to all who helped out with this endeavor and all who showed up in spite of early weather gloom. As they say, "if in FL. you don't like the weather, just wait a bit and it'll change" this time for the better as it was a perfect day for a ride. See you all next year.

Withlacoochee trail portion

REMINDER: The Catrike rally Withlacoochee Trail ride on Sunday will start from Hamptons Edge Bike Shop in Floral City and go to River Ratz in Nobleton for a 18 mile out and back total with lunch between. Tortoises (slower riders will leave at 11:00 am hares (faster riders 11:15 am.) or just try to get yourself to Ratz by at least 12:00. They're expecting lots of people, so don't be in a hurry, relax and enjoy the view of the river, have a beer. We will have coffee and snacks here at the shop starting at 9 am. Parking is behind the library, Ferris Groves field, Capital City bank parking lot. The veterinarian's lot must be kept clear for emergency horse trailer use.

New items in store for you trikers.

There will be some new trikes arriving soon at Hampton's Edge Trailside Bicycles one being the Greenspeed Magnum, with adjustable seat back and forth and up and down. Will not fold but will break down easily with QRs. The other addition will be a new brand for us, another German recumbent bike and trike builder, HP Velotechnik. The first order will consist of 3 Gekko FX foldable trikes and one Gekko non foldable . The folding model can be folded in about 7 seconds without removal of the seat. We're excited to get our hands on these new additions and trying them out. The Scorpion is of interest to me especially in the full suspension model but that will have to wait for next months credit card. Stop in and check these out and give me a chance to practice folding the Gekko FX. I want to do it as fast as the guy on the HP Velo vedio on you tube.
Lets not forget to come on down to downtown Floral City for the kick-off of the Strawberry Festival and the brew & bbq Friday night March 2. Beer tent, 2 bands, and town merchants specials abound. We will have libations and maybe even a free gift for those who wander through our door. There will be buses running between Floral City town center to the festival on Sat. and Sun. and the trail will be lit up with luminaria from Ferris Groves parking to town center on Friday night. So hope to see you there.
On Sunday there is also the Catrike rally ride from our shop to River Ratz in Nobleton. We leave at 11:15 to be there by 12:00. Slower people should expect to leave at 11:00. It's about a 9 mile ride to Ratz. Please RSVP if you haven't already.

Strawberry Festival & Catrike Rally

Get ready for some big happenings in Floral City. Friday March 2 from 6-9pm there will be a kickoff party for the 25th annual Floral City Strawberry Festival in the Town Center located in front of the library. There will be live music, food and even beer. The Shops will be opened for people to stroll through. Saturday the gates will open in Floral Park for the Festival where there will be Farm fresh Strawberries and lots of vendors. Saturday is also the 1st Day of the 8th annual Catrike Rally in Winter Garden, FL. See Catrike.com for details and to sign up. Sunday March 4 is our day to host the Rally. We will open at 9 am and have some coffee and treats (maybe even some strawberries) for our guests. We will start the line-up for the @8mile ride to River Ratz Cafe in Nobleton at 10:30 so we can all take our pictures. The Restaurant is expecting us at 12n so those who would like a leisurely ride should leave at 10:45. The people who have seen it all before can leave a little later.

We are very excited to be going South on the Trail this time. In the past we have always gone North. We are shaking things up this time and hope we have a beautiful day to have lunch on the Withlacoochee River. Everyone who plans to attend the Sunday Ride will need to RSVP to us at trailsidebicycles@gmail.com so we can let the restaurant know how many to expect.

We will post any updates on the blog. Looking forward to seeing old and new faces!

Happy New Year 2012

Another year is gone and in a might hurry I would say. The years seem to go by much faster the older I get or maybe it's because we're busy. We hosted the annual New Year day party for the Withlacoochee Trail riders and had around 60 people or so to the house. The weather could not have been better and it was nice to see everyone out of their riding clothes and in street clothes, although many rode their bikes and were dressed accordingly in cycling attire. Thanks to everyone who attended, and all the good food you brought. There is a new year of cycling ahead so lets go for a ride, well maybe when it warms up. We're not used to temps in the 30s here in sunny Florida. Happy birthday to Chuck Charles and happy New Year to all.