Avon Park Florida Winter Get Together! (2/17 - 2/20 2011)

[v65infla]

I have this posted up in the "General Discussion" category under a different heading but since it is an official ride now I figured I would post it up here.  I apologize for the double post on the same topic.

I am hosting a "Get Together" scheduled for February 17th - 20th, 2011 in Avon Park.  We will be staying at Reed's Motel.  I have a total of 3 single rooms and 5 double rooms held until January 7th.  Your word that you are coming is good enough for me until you can get me a check to hold your room.  I technically can hold the rooms until 48 hours before but I promised the owner I would not cancel the majority of the rooms last minute. 

As of this moment I have 1 Single room available and 4.5 double rooms available as one could use a roommate.  Which would most probably be me but I am not committing until I see what needs filled.  The Single rooms are $64 a night and the double rooms are $79 plus 9% taxes. 

This started out as a group Get Together for the Honda V4 group I belong too but since joining I wanted to open it here also.  I need to know if you are coming, how many nights you will be staying and if you are willing to share a room or whomever speaks up first gets the last single room.  I intend for this to be an annual event so it would be nice to get upwards of 10 participants for the first one.  Yes, the roads are boring but that area is pretty nice to ride and the beer, I understand is cold for after ride refreshments.   

[dt]

Six weeks out, but how's the headcount coming together?

[v65infla]

As of this morning I have four of us for Thurs, Fri & Sat nights.  Two in single rooms and 3 in double rooms with a fifth joining us on Friday.  I have Dan here who might be able to ride in and I have another staying approx. 60 miles away in Clewiston and will be up at some points during the weekend.  I also have one that told me on the side he was coming but is well known for not telling anyone his plans in advance.  We call him "He Who Never Posts" because he has been on the V4 board for a long time, makes a ton of events, sends PM's but has never once posted.  = 8 ?? so far

As it stands now I have 1 single room and 3 double rooms left and I am supposed to release unclaimed rooms back on Friday but I will probably hold onto them through the weekend and then ask for them to do what you did in NC, to give the same rate for anyone that calls in on their own if there are still rooms available.  

If you know of anyone else have them get on it.  I would be ecstatic to get 10 for a first year get together and I am sure it will grow each year.

Plans for the weekend include............................................  Aww, screw it there are no plans.    Just ride, maybe take in the tractor show and drink beer at night.  

[dt]

One thing I’ll say is Avon Park looks like a good location because it’s quite strategically located in the lower-center of the state for getting folks from around the state together. Check this Mapquest. For me, coming from Tampa, it’s only an hour and a half to get over there to the Bates (I mean Reeds  ) Motel.

I’m ready to roll now. Man…I kicked off the new year of biz on Monday (ten-eleven hour days, six-seven days a week through January). I’m already sick of it and want to go on another boondoggle. Maybe it's just post Holiday depression. 

[v65infla]

One thing I’ll say is Avon Park looks like a good location because it’s quite strategically located in the lower-center of the state for getting folks from around the state together. Check this Mapquest. For me, coming from Tampa, it’s only an hour and a half to get over there to the Bates (I mean Reeds   ) Motel.

I’m ready to roll now. Man…I kicked off the new year of biz on Monday (ten-eleven hour days, six-seven days a week through January). I’m already sick of it and want to go on another boondoggle. Maybe it's just post Holiday depression.  

It would be great if we could get Janet Leigh there in her prime of course and it wouldn't hurt a bit if she brought along daughter Jamie Lee, also in her prime of course.  

[v65infla]

THE LAST SINGLE ROOM IS SPOKEN FOR!!

I have 3 doubles left and one bed available for Thursday night only as that bed is spoken for on Fri and Sat. 

[dt]

 


What's the tractor show? I've only seen the one at Windy Acres, and I don't think that's what you're talkin' about. 

[v65infla]

Just to clarify events in the area for the weekend, the Tractor Swap meet and pulls are the following week.  There is a 6th Annual Tractor Drive through the Groves, what ever the hell that is.   And, a car show on the 19th at the Home Depot.  That is probably a monthly thing.  I have been to the one Davie, Fl. numerous times in the past.

[v65infla]

LAST CHANCE HERE!  I am releasing the 3 double rooms I have left back to the hotel at the first of the week.  (I was supposed to today)  If you want one, please speak up soon!  

[v65infla]

LAST CALL FOR ROOMS!!!

I double checked with Reed's this morning.  Good thing I did because he accidentally wrote us down in his 2012 book.  He remembered me and our conversation so there was no problems and we re-did the credit card thing so all is good.  I am glad I called.  

Even though we had agreed on the 7th, I told him I wanted to hold onto the 3 extra double's a few more days just to see if anyone else can make it.

Right now the confirmed Guest Lists stands as follow's;

1.  Myself
2.  Ron
3.  Big Al
4.  Gary
5.  Danny
6.  Larry
7.  Michael
8.  Rob
9.  George
10. William
11. Dan ??
12. Ken

Most excellent, we have reached the goal of 10+ confirmed attendee's that I was hoping for.  Not too bad considering we are sandwiched between the Holidays and the V4 Spring Get Together.  

It would be great if we could add 6 more and use up those double rooms!

[dt]

Looks like a pretty good turnout. Hurry up February. 

[v65infla]

Big Al just backed out due to vehicle problems.  He had to choose between this and our big GT in May in NC so as expected he chose that one, I would have also.

I now have 1 Single room available in addition to the 3 Doubles.

[danh600]

Is this a guy's weekend away or are wives coming?

[v65infla]

Is this a guy's weekend away or are wives coming?

George from the V4 board whom does not live far away from that area made the comment that he and the wife are going to ride over during the day and ride home at night.  

Other than that no one else has mentioned bringing their SO.  My wife's bike is not ready and she still hasn't taken the course.  Even if it were someone has to stay home and work so I can take all of my trips I have planned this year.  

 ALL ARE WELCOME FOR SURE!!

Funny story from the V4 Spring Get Together last May in NC.  One of the guy's that only lives a couple of hours away had his wife drive over and meet up with us for Friday and Saturday night.  She asked; "Is this all you guys do?".(Ref to us just BS'ng and drinking the night away)  His response was, the strippers were here on Wed and the hookers on Thurs, sorry you missed them.  

From the attendees that I have met personally, none of them would qualify for a part in "The Wild One's", thats for sure.    

Can I remove the question marks from your name??

[danh600]

I am working on it. My place got rented for that weekend and I have a scheduling conflict on Friday, but don't count me out.

[v65infla]

I am working on it. My place got rented for that weekend and I have a scheduling conflict on Friday, but don't count me out.

I don't know what could be more important than a weekend of riding and hanging out.   

I still have one single available if you want it, even if it is just for Friday and Sat night??

[danh600]

I am out for this one.  Conflicting plans.

[v65infla]

 

[dt]

 

[v65infla]

9 DAYS!!!

[dt]

Hey, did you see the weather forecast? Sunny, high 70s, 80 on Friday.

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USFL0451

We’ll be breaking out the summer gear. 

[v65infla]

Yep, the guy's on the other site have been talking about for a couple of days now.  Front goes back on the bike tomorrow so I can get ready to roll. 

[Zarticus]

Starting to pack tonight

[dt]

Starting to pack tonight

Whaaat...your bike ain't packed yet!

See ya mid afternoon on Thursday...

[v65infla]

As usual, I'll start around midnight on Wed.     Just found out in the last hour that my son has to have his broken finger surgically pinned at 7:15a Wed.     Its out-patient so my wife would have taken a couple of days off work anyway.  As long as everything goes as planned, other than putting more pressure on me to get all of my work completed, it shouldn't hinder my FGT plans.   

[bagobones]

Ouch! I had my pinky finger surgically pinned more than 20 years ago. One minute, I'm crashing into a racketball wall, two hours later, I'm on an operating table feeling the vibrations from the drill going into my finger buzzing up my arm. I can still feel that sensation all these years later. The pins don't hurt....unless you forget that you can't bend your finger. Once in a while you forget.....And then.....well.....good times.  

[Zarticus]

I was mapping out my route last night & was able to get pictures of the hotel & surrounding area from a street view. the building next to the motel is a cvs, across from cvs is a Walgreen's. So a 45 second walk can get any supplies anyone wants. The rooms all have small refrigerators, cvs & Walgreen's sell beer , I don't drink much but my arm can be twisted after a long day of riding in almost 80 degree weather      

[Zarticus]

  I'm ready

[dt]

I was mapping out my route last night & was able to get pictures of the hotel & surrounding area from a street view.

Was it "glowing" in any of the pictures you saw? 



^ Off their website.

[Zarticus]

I was mapping out my route last night & was able to get pictures of the hotel & surrounding area from a street view.

Was it "glowing" in any of the pictures you saw? 



^ Off their website.

No, the picture was in the daylight but I'm glowing with excitment

[mrbones]

Have a good trip!

[v65infla]

0 DAYS UNTIL THE FGT! 

Packed and ready to roll out.

[dt]

^^ Wow! That stuff must be heavy if you needed a hand cart. 

Have a good trip!

Thank you sir...we will. 

0 DAYS UNTIL THE FGT! 

I am OFF......................

[v65infla]

Are u lost?   

[dt]

Now, I am BACK………………

Great trip…made a lot of new friends…had some terrific rides. I’ll let Jamie fill you in on all the details, but I’d like to THANK him for organizing this awesome get together. 

[v65infla]

It was an AWESOME time with 9 attendee's which tripled the first years numbers.    I am glad Bill was able to come; a great guy and a very good rider to boot.  I know for a fact this site earned at least one new member, even if he is from Maine.  

I am very much looking forward to riding with you again in NC, in May Bill if not before.  Sorry we missed you the last evening and this morning.  After we returned from Charlotte's last night, we have decided to attempt a short weekend camping trip there in approx. six weeks if you are game??  Maybe meet up there on a late Friday afternoon, pull out Sunday??  The usual MO of drinking beer and telling lies at night.  

It would be really sweet if we could get this board a bit more active both in terms of post's and events as now you have seen a very small sample of what an active board can be about.  I really do hope you decide to join us over in Waynseville for the remainder of the week in May so you can meet the rest of the nut cases on the v4 site.  

Here is my photo album;

http://s1133.photobucket.com/albums/m586/v65infla/?albumview=slideshow

[bagobones]

Looks like a good time. How many miles did you guys ride?

I need to make a countdown calendar for the NC trip. Thinking about that trip is about the only thing keeping me sane through the stress of my job right now.

[dt]

Here are my photos from the FGT:
http://s746.photobucket.com/albums/xx103/lscgroup/FGT%202011%20Avon%20Park/?albumview=slideshow

We all rode together on Thursday afternoon and Friday, then split into two groups on Saturday. I led the Lake Okeechobee loop down to the locks on the east side. Then I took a right (wrong way on 27/98) and Ron comes flying up and turned us around. Then he took over at the locks for about 15 miles, at which time Ken had a different idea to get us back over to Avon Park ‘cuz we’d already been out for like six hours and they didn’t want to go up to Yeehaw, so anyway Ken takes the lead. We got totally lost on this long gravely road and wound up at the Kissimmee Prairie Reserve State Park out in the middle of freaking nowhere. LOL! I’m still laughing my ass off. So Ron takes over again and backtracked us back on that gravely road all the way back to 98. Hahahaha…Ron’s the man!

If Mike joined here, then we had five bikerflorida subscribers on this ride. I found out from Larry that he’s a member here too (magnaone).

Enjoy the photos! I got a great big bug in the face. Would have wiped it off but it was gross.  

Looks like a good time. How many miles did you guys ride?

Including the ride down and back from Tampa, I clocked a total of 625 miles.  

[Zarticus]

Bill,
It was a pleasure to meet & ride with you!. We are going to have a great time in NC. That bug was nasty, I'm glad it got you instead of me You should try to make it to the V4 SGT with Jamie & I, You got to see how cool us V4 guy's are & It would be great to have you a part of it.
    Gary

[dcameras]

I got a great big bug in the face. Would have wiped it off but it was gross.  

This is another reason I like wearing a full face helmet......

[danh600]

Looks like you guys had a great time. I sure hope it works out for me to get to the next one.
I recognize lots of the places you guys rode. Been to Cherry Pocket, but never to Charlottes.

Can you guys match up some names,faces and bikes for us that missed the fun? That is unless there are warrants out for all of you after this weekend. 

[dt]

^^ Yeah, good idea on the name-to-faces. I'll take a shot at that a little latter...probably early evening, though.

[v65infla]

^^ Yeah, good idea on the name-to-faces. I'll take a shot at that a little latter...probably early evening, though.

I did it on the v4 site if u want to use that as a pattern, otherwise I will try to get to it later also.

[dt]

Here's the rundown of the riders at the FGT.

In order...JAMIE, DAN, RON, GARY, MICHAEL, KEN, GEORGE, LARRY, BILL.


Jamie, Boyton Beach, 84 V65Magna (v65infla)

Left to right: Ron, Michael, Dan, Jamie and Gary looking over Michael’s awesome 87 VFR Interceptor 700. Seriously, of all the cool bikes, Michael's Interceptor was sweet!  



Here’s Jamie workin’ the GPS to get us out of the orange grove. Heck, I thought it was actually kind of nice back there. Gotta say…I was bringing up second to the rear on a nice long sweeper back in those groves. It was so cool to see all the bikes roll through there one after the other. Wish I had a go-pro.



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Dan, V4Sabre Jax

Dan…what a funny guy…owns a Harley too…see! So for about a day I watched Dan bump the rear tire of whomever the dude happened to be in front of him when we all stopped at a light. Then Friday night we’re heading down to Sebring for dinner and I’m sitting waiting for the light…bump. LOL!



Dan and Larry on Saturday...the fast group…I’ll let it go at that.  



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Ron, Michigan, 83 V65Magna

Ron...annoyed at dt for making everyone stand for photos...LOL! Dang, thank God Ron was there to keep us all in order. Troubleshooter, map wizard, we'd still be in the Kissimmee Prairie Reserve right now if he'd gone with the fast group.





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Gary, Wild Wood, 86 V65Magna (Zaticus)



So I’m following about two or three back from Gary on a sweeper right and he goes literally rear wheel hopping to the left over into the oncoming traffic lane. Fortunately, there was no oncoming traffic. It took the better part of the day to figure out that his freaking shocks froze up and caused wheel hop on bumpy spots. btw, Ron figured it out. Needless to say, Gary took it easy after that. Anyway, look at ‘em here ‘cuz I’m sure they’re getting tossed soooon! Right Gary?





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Michael, Maine, 87 Interceptor (FromMaine)

Here’s Michael with our good natured, poor English-speaking hosts at the Guarapo Spanish Restaurant in Clewiston. Let’s see how’d this go…

Michael, looking at the menu asks, “What’s a Cuban?”
George *points at our hosts, Carlos and Consuela*
Sweeeeet!





Here’s Mike kicking back at the Kissimmee Prairie Reserve State Park waiting with the rest of us for Ron and Ken to figure out where the freak we were.



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Ken, Merritt Island, VF750

Ken < and George > gazing on beautiful Lake Okeechobee…or was it Ron taking a leak on the shore? I didn’t say anything, but I thought doo-rags were reserved for Harley dudes.  



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George, Palmetto, ‘86 VF700C

George was only there on Saturday and did the Okeechobee Loop with us…then he and Jamie went back to Charlotte’s Web.  



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Larry, Rockledge, 85 V65Magna (magnaone)

Hey, ya know Larry’s been a member of BF since 2008!

Left to right: Larry, Ken, Michael, Charlie Chaplin wearing Michael’s gear, Jamie, and Dan. Okay, Charlie was just a statue.  



Dan, Larry and George posing for annoying group photo.



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Bill, Tampa, 09 XR1200 (dt)

Bringing up the rear…me, at Charlotte’s Web. You do note the “non-alcoholic” beverage…right?



Michael < …  me > So I dragged my ass into Avon Park late and we head right out…didn’t even get my bags off. LOL!  

[v65infla]

Here are some more pics, courtesy of Ken.

http://s1133.photobucket.com/albums/m586/v65infla/FGT%202011%202/?albumview=slideshow

[Zarticus]

HEY,
You guy's have to admit I hung in there pretty good considering my shocks were junk . By the way they are now up to par with a complete disassemble, cleaning & changing of fluid today. Here is a link to my pictures of the FGT.
 http://www.photoshop.com/users/zarticus/albums/8b10f8123fa44b349aae44b538457b96?wf=slideshow
 

[dt]

Ah…good deal…you saved them. That was really weird. I’ve seen shocks lose all their compression from a leak or something but never a lockup like that. I was thinking it was going to be something mechanical. I saw on the other board you had to concoct a spring compressor. I know what a pain it is getting them apart. I have a cool set of spring compressors that I picked up at Pit Possee over in St. Petersburg (through their online store). They work good on both twins and monos. You could of stopped in on your way back and borrowed them.