Modern Vespa

Lostboater and Wleuthold are excellent tour guides and rep their state well. While on a trip to Orlando, I decided to bring the scooter so I could ride with these guys. After meeting Lostboater for coffee, we hit the road for some of Central Florida’s more interesting sites. First stop,was,a fantastic museum with hundreds of IH tractors, from the 1920’s right up to the present day.
We then went for lunch, and toured Big Daddy Don Garlts’ excellent museum of drag racing and general automotive bad assery.
We ended the day at Cedar Key, on the gulf coast. After a brief tour of the former fishing village now a laid back weekend get away, we dined on local and imported oysters, steak, and crab bisque. We went to see the bats at dusk, but the cool weather made them stay in for the evening.
Next day, we met Wleuthold and rocket at Williston airport, and ended up at a wake for an orthodox monk.
After lunch at Salt Springs, it was time to head back to the campground for me and say farewell until next time to my riding companions.


Tractor museum

Best not light up

Funny car on display

Delicious!

Beautiful church and monetary in the serene countryside.

Thanks for the writeup. Looks like an awesome time and seems like Lostboater could be a professional tour guide!

I always enjoy Warren's winter visits. Of course he chose the three coldest days of the year to show up.

Sorry I missed Susan this time but I stay as far from The Mouse House as possible.

The part Warren left out was when we went into the small but ornate church that there was a monk reading in Greek and in crib right in front of the alter was the dead guy. He had a long gray beard and was dressed in his best monk attire.


This was Warren riding attire in 45 degrees

Warren and his namesakes car

Interesting. Men and women can not be buried together. In the distance you can see the crosses in the women sectoin.



Warren with his dead friend Bo Diddely

Bill had doggy duty as his wife was NY so unfortunately he could only meet us for lunch and a short ride.

After I dropped Warren near Disney I continued on to Avon Park and the Jacaranda, our favorite. Dinner of course at 18 East.

The next day I went to Sebring for the vintage car races and the first race of the Trans-am season. After several hours I could not resist the temptation in the beautiful weather not to ride. So, saddled up and wandered around central Florida.


18 West is the only place that knows how to make the drink I like.

The official IMSA Vespa

The vintage guys

Picnic on a unknown lake. It was a great day to ride.

It is always a pleasure to have Warren visit the Sunshine State.

With Sarah in NYC, visiting out daughter Kylie, I was stuck having to care for Maizy and Cooper, our two Golden Retrievers, so I was limited to a day ride.

But it was a good one, as I rode 95 miles to meet Ken and Warren in Williston. The ride from there to Salt Springs for lunch was a quick 50 mile jaunt, then home another 70 mile ride up US 17 through Palatka, Green Cove Springs and Orange Park.

Here are a few of my shots of the ride.

Bill






Ken and Warren at the Greek Orthodox Monastery.

Riding around the Monastery. A dead guy was lying in state inside.

North Florida at it's finest.

Good times!

God, I'm starting to miss riding.....

Speaking of Cedar Key, years ago I heard you could buy oysters right from the docks, so I took an empty 48 qt. Igloo cooler with me. We had rented a condo for the weekend.
The oyster boat captain filled the cooler with oysters he'd just dredged. They were still muddy. He then shoveled ice on top.
He estimated it would be about 20 dozen oysters. The cost? $8.
So all weekend I shucked and cleaned and enjoyed fresh large oysters.
The problem is it spoiled me from paying $20 for a dozen in a bar.