Past Events (2011)

Date:  Saturday Oct. 8
Ride to Sliders in Fernandina Beach cancelled due to rain. 

Date: Sunday, Oct. 2
Destination:  Kens BarBQ, Lake City
Details:  10 bikes, 1 passenger, 1 guest
Another beautiful fall day.  Hit more than our share of red lights at the start of the ride, but once in the countryside it was a great trip.  Jacket weather has returned.
Road Captain:  Steve Coleman; Tail gunner: Mark Stevens; Photographers:  DrD and Susan Coleman
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Date: Saturday, Oct. 1
Destination:  Hog Heaven, Daytona Beach
Details:  This was the second annual OPHOG Bug Run where the rider with a bug closest to the target on the headlight won lunch courtesy of Road Captain Brian Malek.  And the winner was:  Duane “Ski” Zeleski.   120 mile, 3 hr ride.  Beautiful fall weather.  14 bikes, 1 guest.
Road Captain: Brian Malek; Tail Gunner: Tom Martin; Photographer: DrD
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Date:  Saturday, Sept. 24
Destination:  Spanky’s, Brunswick, GA
Details:  8 bikes, 1 passenger.  90 miles, including a start that took us through downtown Jacksonville.  Light traffic so no problems.  Then US 17 all the way to Spankys.  Good ride.  Good weather.
Road Captain:  Steve Coleman;  Tail Gunner:  DrD;  Photographer:  Susan Coleman
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Date:  Saturday, Sept. 17
Destination:  LaNapolera Orange Park    
Details:  10 bikes, 1 passenger/guest.  50 mile post-meeting loop ride from Fleet Reserve to LaNopolera Mexican restaurant.
Road Captain:  DrD;  Tail gunner:  Mark Stevens.

Date:  Saturday, Sept. 10
Destination:  Pagano’s Pizzaria, South Daytona
Details:  10 bikes, 1 passenger, 1 guest.  120 mile ride in good weather.  Country roads, along the beach and through some nice Ormond Beach neighborhoods.  Good food at Pagano’s.
Road Captain:  Butch Hubbard; RCC George Howard; Tail Gunner; Billy Schofield;  Photographer: DrD
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Date:  Sunday, Sept. 4
Destination:  Saltwater Cowboy, St. Simons Island, GA
Details:  14 bikes,1 passenger, 2 guests.  Good day for a ride.  Slightly overcast and pleasant temps.  Nice ride along the ocean to start then up US 17 to St. Simons.  Creative menu at Saltwater Cowboys and everyone enjoyed lunch.
Road Captain:  Jack Morris;  RCC (final qualifying ride): Lori Morris; Tail Gunner:  DrD;  Photographer:  Tara Galaydick.
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Date:  Sunday, Aug. 28
Destination:  Peck’s Old Port Cove Restaurant, Ozello Trail (Gulf Coast)
Details:  12 bikes.  Hot ride–upper 90s.  But a great route of 140+ miles.  Good food.  Everyone agreed the ride was worth doing again, but in the fall or spring.
RC:  Brian Brannon;  Tail Gunner: DrD;  RCC Lori Morris; Photographer: DrD
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Date:  Sunday, Aug. 21
Destination:  Smokin’ Pig, Valdosta, GA
Details:  6 Bikes.  Good ride and good barbeque at the end of it.
RC:  Jack Morris;  Tail Gunner:; Steve Lee,  RCC:  Lori Morris
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Date:  Saturday, Aug. 20
Destination:  Sunset Grill, St. Augustine.
Details:  Post-meeting Ride. 
RC:  Butch Hubbard; Tail Gunner: Tom Bott 

Date:  Sunday, Aug. 14
Destination:  Southern Soul BBQ St. Simons Island
Details:  RC:  Russ Prothero;  TG:  Butch H.

Date: Saturday, Aug. 13
Destination:  Cedar Key
Details:  12 bikes, 3 passengers and 1 guest made a morning ride to Cedar Key on the Gulf of Mexico.  1 bike returned to OP and the rest spent the weekend in Cedar Key.  Good weather with typical August heat and humidity.  Nice condos at Natures Landing.
RC:  DrD;  TG:  John West; RCC:  Lori Morris   Photographers:  DrD/Marilyn
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Date: Sunday, Aug. 7
Destination:  Hurricane’s Dockside (FKA JJ Finns) Tavares
Details:  10 bikes, no guests, no passengers.  Early start at 8:30 and cool along the river for the first hour but it heated up by the time we went through the Ocala National Forest and reached our destination at 11:30.  But a good ride and the final qualifying ride for RCC Jack Morris.
RCC:  Jack Morris; RC DrD; TG: Mark Stephens, RCC Lori Morris;  Photographer:  DrD
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Date:  Saturday, Aug. 6
Destination:  Loritos Italian Restaurant, Ocala
Details:  RC:  Brian Malek; TG: Tom Bott

Date:  Sunday, July 31
Destination:  Stumpknockers on the River, Dunnellon 
Details:  11 bikes, 2 passengers, 2 guests.  Beautiful 130 mile ride through scenic horse country.  This was the final qualifying ride for RCC Steve Lee who chose the destination and plotted the route.  A sign of good rides to come.  Hot and humid with some showers on the return trip.
RCC:  Steve Lee; RC: DrD; Tail Gunner:  Brian Brannon.  Photographer: DrD
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Date:  Saturday, July 30
Destination:  Bransford.
Details:  6 bikes and 1 passenger/guest.  
Road Captain:  Mark Stephens; Tail Gunner: Brian Brannon 

Date:  Sunday, July 24
Destination:  St. Augustine, Beachcombers Restaurant
Road Captain:  Butch Hubbard; Tailgunner:  Billy Schofield; Photographer: Linda Meador
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Date:  Saturday, July 23
Destination:  St Augustine at Sunrise
Details:  13 bikes and 1 passenger showed up at the Jax Beach Pier for the 6:38 a.m. glorious sunrise then rode to St. Augustine for breakfast at the Village Inn.  This is always a great ride and especially so when the weather was as perfect as it was for this ride.
Road Captain:  Tom Martin; Tail Gunner:  DrD ;  Photographer:  DrD
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Date:  Sunday, July 17
Destination:  High Jackers, Bunnell
Details:  13 bikes.  70 miles to the airport restaurant.  No better way to spend Sunday than on two wheels under blue skies.  Good route and everyone enjoyed the food at High Jackers.
Road Captain:  Steve Coleman; Tail gunner:  Rick Burger; Photographers:  Susan Coleman & DrD.
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Date:  Saturday, July 16
Destination:  Harvey’s Creek BarBQ, Macclenny
Details:  5 motorcycle riders and 2 passengers (including new members George and Helen Howard) braved the threat of rain for the post-meeting ride to Harvey’s Bar B Q (fka Tailored BBQ).   A couple drops on the way there and some road splash on the way home, but managed to miss the worst of the rain and had a good time and good barbeque at Harvey’s BBQ.
Road Captain: DrD; Tail Gunner: Rick Burger 
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Date:  Sunday, July 3
Destination:  Culhanes Irish Pub
Road Captain:  Russ Prothero; Tail gunner:  RIck Kirtley

Date:  Monday, June 27
Loop ride:  Million Mile Monday
Road Captain:  John West:  Tail gunner:   Brian Brannon

Date:  Saturday, June 18
Destination:  Playa Chac Mool Mexican Restaurant, St. Augustine
Details:  Post meeting ride from the Fleet Reserve.  Approximately 16 bikes and 4 passengers.  70 miles.  Blue skies and HOT.
Road Captain:  Butch Hubbard; Tail Gunner:  Tom Bott;  Photographer:  Linda Meador.
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Date:  Sunday, June 12
Destination:  Georgies Diner, St. Augustine
Details:  Started at 9:30 a.m. but still warm as 5 riders made the trip to Georgies Diner for brunch.  Gravy & Biscuits was the order of the day.  Short (50 miles) ride, but some nice country roads and a ride along the river.  This was Brian Brannon’s Road Captain Qualifying Ride;  he planned the ride, rode a pre-ride, and conducted this one:  He’s  now officially an OPHOG Road Captain.
Road Captain: DrD; RCC:  Brian Brannon; Tail gunner:  Mark Stevens.

Date: Saturday, June 11
Destination:  Backwoods Barbeque, Interlachen
Details:  15 bikes again this week and two passengers took an interesting 70 mile route to Backwoods Barbeque that included some new roads for many in the group.  Temp in the 80s with blue skies but smoke from forest fires was pretty heavy in a couple of places. It was a good ride.  And everyone liked the BBQ, again.
Road Captain:  Tom Bott, Tail gunner: Brian Malek, RCC Brian Brannon; Photographer/videographer:  DrD
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Date:  Saturday, June 4
Destination:  Wellborn Blueberry Festival
Details:  Early start didn’t deter 15 riders and 2 passengers who left at 7:30 a.m. for the 70 mile ride to Wellborn and a blueberry pancake breakfast.  Vendors, craftspeople, a parade and, of course, blueberries.  Good weather and a good trip.
Road Captain:  Butch Hubbard; Tail gunner:  DrD;  Photographer:  Linda Meador
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Date:  Saturday, May 28
Destination:  Conestoga Restaurant, Alachua, FL
Details:  On a beautiful Memorial Day Weekend, 17 riders and 2 passengers (and 2 guests) turned out for a leisurely ride to Conestoga Restaurant (destination of the chapter’s first ride in January 2009).  Moderate traffic until we left the metropolises of Orange Park and Middleburg, then a smooth ride.  Conestoga was ready for us and food and service were good.
Road Captain:  Steve Coleman; Tail gunner:  DrD;  Photographer/videographer:  DrD
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Date:  Saturday, May 21
Destination:  Hibachi Grill, Jacksonville
Details:  This post-meeting ride was the final qualifying ride for Road Captain Candidate Tom Bott.  He passed with flying colors.  22 bikes, 5 passengers. several guests.  37 mile ride included Interstate highway, scenic neighborhood streets, county roads and urban highways.  A little of everything.  Split the ride into two groups because of the number of bikes and the route.  Group 1 Road Captain (Qualifying) Tom Bott:; TG: DrD; Group 2 Road Captain: Billy Schofield; TG: Ron McCain.  Photographer: Linda Meador
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Date:  Saturday, May 14
Destination/Event:  OPHOG PIGNIC, Cecil Commerce Center
Details:  16 bikes, 4 passengers, 2 guests and 2 cars made the 38 mile ride to Lake Fretwell at Cecil Commerce Center and joined approximately 40 other OPHOG members for the annual PIGNIC.  Motorcycle games, followed by food, followed by severe thunderstorm.
Road Captain:  DrD;  Tail gunner:  Ron McCain; Photographers:  Marilyn Frobish & Linda Meador
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Date:  Saturday, April 30
Destination:  Paynes Prairie Preserve (near Gainesville)
Details:  11 bikes, 1 passenger.  62 miles, one way.  Paynes Prairie is a 21,000 acre state preserve established in 1971 to save some of Florida’s remaining natural areas.  A short hike (3 miles round trip) saw scores of alligators, some wild horses in the distance and a variety of other wild flora and fauna.  An interesting and worth while trip.
Road Captain:  Billy Schofield; Tail Gunner: Rick Kirtley; RCC: Brian Brannon
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Date:  Wednesday, April 27
Destination:  Village Inn, St. Augustine
Details:  13 bikes, 4 passengers.  An experiment in the middle of the week.  Free pie at the Village Inn was the enticement and seemed to work well.  A short ride (35 miles, 50 minutes) but a nice ride through the countryside after work.
Road Captain:  DrD;  Tail Gunner:  Billy Schofield; RCC: Brian Brannon
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Date:  Saturday, April 23
Destination: St. Simons Island, GA
Details:  20 Bikes, 4 passengers, 2 guests.  Another gorgeous day.  A little windy, but temps in the 70s-80s and blue skies.  123 mile ride with two stops on nice back roads.  Picnic at St. Simons was a hit.  Some took food, some bought food enroute, and some just went along for the ride.
Road Captain:  Butch Hubbard;  Tail Gunner:  Rick Kirtley;  RCCs Steve Lee and Jack Morris.  Photographer/Videographer: DrD
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Date:  Sunday, April 10
Destination:  Sugar Mill Restaurant at DeLeon Springs State Park.
Details:  13 Bikes, 2 passengers, 1 guest.  Beautiful cloudless sky and very light traffic on an early morning ride.  89 miles with one stop.  DeLeon State Park is an old style “Florida Roadside Attraction” with swimming, paddle boats, picnic areas and the Sugar Mill Restaurant where you cook your own pancakes on a built-in griddle at your table.  The 1 hour wait gave time to look around the park and, as it turns out, to venture out on a paddle boat.
Road Captain:  DrD;  Tail Gunner:  Steve Coleman.  Photographer/Videographer: DrD
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Date:  Saturday, April 9
Destination:  Joseph’s Restarant, Jacksonville
Details:  8 bikes.  1 passenger.  Post meeting ride.  25 miles.  Route went through downtown Jax and along the dock area.
Road Captain:  Tom Martin;  Tail Gunner: Billy Schofield.

Date:  Saturday, April 2
Destination:  Sister’s Cafe, Branford, FL
Details:  11 bikes.  Some clouds on the way there kept it cool, but a good ride.  Beautiful farm country west of Lake City.  100 miles one way and Sister’s Cafe was worth the ride.  Good country food buffet style.  Lots of second trips to the buffet.
Road Captain:  Steve Coleman;  Tail Gunner:  DrD;  Photographer: DrD
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Date: Saturday, March 26
Destination:  Veteran’s Domicile, Lake City
Details:  14 bikes, 1 passenger. This ride was held in conjunction with JaxHOG and Rolling Thunder.  There were approximately 50 bikes total and two chase vehicles loaded with clothes, TVs, and toiletries for the 128 residents at the domicile.  This annual event is always a treat with a chance to say THANK YOU to men and women who served in uniform.  We appreciate all they did and the appreciate the visit.  Everyone wins.  Good ride in good weather.  Lunch for most OPHOG at Ken’s BBQ after a tour of the facility.
Road Captain:  Butch Hubbard; Tail Gunner:  DrD;  Photographer: DrD
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Date:  Saturday, March 19
Destination:  Corky Bell’s, Palatka (formerly Gator Landing)
Details:  12 bikes, 3 passengers, 1 guest.  Blue skies and warm temperatures.  Riding doesn’t get much better than that.  Took the long way to Palatka on the east side of the river.  River road was nice as always.  Good food and service at Corky Bells.
Road Captain:  DrD;  Tail Gunner:  Butch Hubbard; Photographer: DrD
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Date:  Sunday, March 13
Destination:  Speckled Butter Bean (original); JJ Fins, Tavares (ultimately)
Details:  13 bikes, 2 passengers, 2 guests.  Cool 8:30 a.m. KSU but warmed  by late morning.  Nice route with more curvey roads than average.  Unfortunately, the group was twice slowed by vehicles going 10-15 mph below speed limit with no opportunity to pass and that put us behind schedule.  Mid-course correction changed the destination, but everyone was happy again with JJ Fins and lunch on the deck listening to live music.  Beautiful blue skies.
Road Captain:  Russ Prothero;  Tail Gunner:  Butch Hubbard;  Photographer : DrD
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Date:  Saturday, March 12
Destination:  Barbara Jean’s Ponte Vedra Beach
Details:  9 bikes, 1 passenger.  54 miles one way.  Another nice day for a ride.  Jackets needed, but not cold.  Good ride and good food.
Road Captain:  Billy Schofield;  Tail Gunner:  Tom Martin.

Date:  Friday, March 11
Event::  2nd Friday Social at Buffalos
Details:  Nearly two dozen OPHOG members met for fun and food at Buffalos.  Butch hung a plaque in Buffalos with the chapter’s colors.
Photographer:  Leo Lorenzo
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Date:  Saturday, March 5
Destination: Daytona Bike Week HOG Pin Stop
Details:  14 bikes, 2 passengers.   Typical early spring day in NE Florida.  The long route to Daytona covered a little more than 100 miles and included a road new to most:  John Anderson in Flager Beach.  Two stops and everyone went their own way to check out all the goodies at Bike Week.
Road Captain:  Brian Malek; Tail Gunner: Ron McCain; Photographer/Videographer: DrD
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Date:  Sunday, Feb. 26
Event: Angelwood Charity Bike n Boil
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Date:  Sunday, Feb. 20
Destination:  Pablo’s Mexican Restaurant, Fernandina
Details:  10 bikes, 1 passenger.  Another gorgeous day and another chance to ride more new roads, this time CR 15A northeast of Hilliard.  Beautiful back roads, courtesy of Road Captain Russ Prothero.  Good lunch at Pablo’s; cool but warm enough to eat outside.
Road Captains:  Russ Prothero; Tail Gunner: Rick Kirtley; Photographer/Videographer:  DrD
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