Ride Reports

Heat was the order of the day

We left McDonalds and it was already 84 degrees at 9am by the time we got cruising thru Christmas it was 88 and stayed about that temp all the way to Debary even as we cruised around the north side of Lake Monroe the temp stayed the same. By the time lunch was over and we headed back the temp was between 93-96 most of the way with a heat index of 105 but we didn't wilt and headed back around the South side of Lake Monroe then across Osteen Maytown road to Windwalkers for a welcome break from the heat. At least there was no rain to run into on this ride.

Another 130 miles on the Odo and a good ride and back early before it could get any hotter if that was possible.


Bob

We left the Shell Station and headed for St. Cloud down the usual route, and went on the the St. Cloud Flea Market for a little shopping before lunch then over to Crabby Bill's for lunch. Crabby Bills was a fairly new place next to a very nice park with a sandy beach on East Lake Topo, the food and service was excellent, definitely coming back there again.

Bob

We met up at the Titusville McDonalds and headed out with 5 bikes and 8 riders to Rt 50 to Christmas and rode the back roads thru Chuluota and Geneva the breaked at Rt46 an Rt415, at which point some of the riders were inexperienced and weren't up for the trip the rest of the way to Mt. Dora with the Heat index going to 100. We decided to a change the lunch to Giley's Pub 44 in New Smyrna for some great lunchen sandwiches then back down Rt 1 to Windwalkers and home without any rain in sight all the way.

4 bikes and 1 rider showed up for the ride to the Brahma Bull in Okeechobee, Wendy being the only lady had her hands full.
We tried to convince her since she was the only gal that she should buy the guy's lunches, you know that wasn't going to fly with her, but it was worth a try, I couldn't even able to get her to buy mine and hers, oh well there's always next week.

Down Nova Road to 192 to Holapaw then YeeHaw Junction to Okeechobee, some cloulds out but no rain in sight, there were some nice large fresh road kill hogs on 441 but we decided to bypass them. Down thru cattle country, it was nice to go thru there without any love bugs around, there wasn't even any cow paddy smells around the big ranches. After a good lunch at the Brahma Bull we down and took a spillway and checked out the lake.
The water level has come back up we spotted a big 8-9 foot gator going under and we found some catfish and a gar that look like they got trapped very recently on high water on a Spillway wall. Then off to Ft. Pierce and over to A1A and up to Melbourne beach for some good ice cream then back home for everybody. Not a drop of rain anywhere for the day. A good day 255 miles

Bob

It was a nice clear morning ride to St. Cloud to the Catfish Place and then a loop of East Topo and back home managing to get all the way back without any rain in site. Getting home dry being a novelty lately.

Bob

A beautiful Winter day, sunny, cloudless sky, mid 60's when we left the Shell station, 5 bikes 9 riders and headed out 520 to Nova Rd, shortly after we turned down Deerpark rd we ran into some kind of Bicycle event, we had to dodge bikes almost all the way down to 192 but we all made it without taking any of them out since they were reluctant to share the road. We got to the Catfish Place for some good home cooking, we had to watch Joe and the waitress, we had a bunch of 10% off coupons but they told Jim Newman that a bowl of Chili didn't qualify for the discount. Temp was up to 80 when we left and made the trip around East Lake Toho then back to 192 to Nova Rd and back to Cocoa and home.


Total Miles 130

Bob

It was a foggy morning as we left McD's but the fog lifted by the time we got to Oak Hill.
Not too much has been added to Destination Daytona since last summer's trip. Then over to Saddle Jacks for a good lunch. Finally saw some sun on the way back, but other good news was no Rain for the trip. Trip mileage
205

Bob

Happy New Year Space Coast Cruisers!

2008 started off with a bang as Chapter 122 joined up with Women in the Wind and the ISRA group from Beach Sport Cycles at Kay's Barbeque in Cocoa Tuesday morning with the destination for the day, lunch at Dixie Crossroads in Titusville. Doris Miller led part of the group on a leisurely ride out 520 across Taylor Creek Rd, back on Hwy 50 to Titusville, then out Carpenter Rd. for a nice backroads cruise before pulling into the restaurant.

When we got to Dixie, we were joined by the other half that had made their way up US1, out 405 and Carpenter Rd and everyone gathered inside for a great meal. Thank you Doris and WITW for including us, I know by the looks of all who attended, everyone had a great time!

As most of you know, we've changed the website, the site has a whole new look, more functionality, a blog, and some history of what we are all about so go in and check it out at http://spacecoastscrc.com/. Don't forget to change your links and you can sign up with Bob for access to the blog, just follow the instructions. In addition, there are email accounts available if you'd like them and Bob is adding more content all the time.

2007 was a good year for riding and we're hoping to see more of you in 2008 as we tackle some new routes and interesting destinations so watch the site for upcoming rides.

On behalf of the Space Coast chapter of the SCRC, we hope your holidays were joyous and have a safe and happy New Year!

Steve and Linda Kane