Date: Sunday, Dec. 16
Destination: Orientation Loop Ride
Details: Nine riders made the 30 minute ride to the OP Dairy Queen and discussed safety issues. Road Captain: George Howard; Tail Gunner: Brian Brannon
Date: Sunday, Dec. 16
Destination: Jacksonville Zoo
Details: 4 bikes. Road Captain: Ron Reynolds; Tail gunner:
Date: Saturday, Dec. 15
Destination: Stone E Cabin Barbeque
Details: Post Meeting ride included approximately 18 bikes and several passengers. Blue skies and moderate temps helped increase then number of riders. Road Captain: Steve Lee; Tail Gunner: Brian Brannon
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Date: Saturday, Dec. 15
Event: Chapter Meeting
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Date: Sunday, Dec. 8
Destination: Memorial for Chapter Member Gary Dunn
Details: 30+ bikes and 40+ members were on hand for the memorial service for fallen comrade Gary Dunn who died in a motorcycle accident two weeks earlier. A brief, 6 mile ride was made to the Hardage-Giddens chapel. Road Captain: Ron Reynolds; Tail Gunner: Ron McCain; Photographer: John Garrow
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Date: Saturday, Dec. 7
Destination: Bradley’s Country Store
Details: 6 bikes, 0 guests, 0 passengers. Overcast, foggy and cool (59 degrees) for much of the ride but warmed to low 70s by the time the group arrived at the destination, The ride was approximately 160 miles, some of it along canopied, gently curving roads in north central Florida (about 25 miles from Tallahassee). Bradley’s is a REAL country store that’s been in place for nearly 100 years where they make their own sausage dogs. Following lunch, the group continued on to the Tallahassee HD store before returning to OP via I-10. Total distance for the day was approximately 400 miles. A good ride.
Road Captain: Richard “Rick” Kirtley; Tail Gunner: Mark Stevens; Photographers: Kathryn Garrow & DrD
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Date: Saturday, Dec. 1
Event: Christmas Party, Holiday Inn Orange Park
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Date: Friday, Nov. 23
Destination: Daytona
Details: Post-Thanksgiving Turkey Rod Run. 6 bikes, 1 passenger/guest. Rode to Daytona but no one opted to go into the car show. Good weather, if a little chilly at the outset. Road Captain: Mark Stevens; Tail Gunner: Brian Brannon
Date: Sunday, Nov. 18
Orientation Ride
No Details available.
Date: Sunday, Nov. 18
Destination: Fort Clinch
Details: Picnic Ride. No details available
Date: Saturday, Nov. 17
Destination: The Pig, Callahan
Details: 11 bikes, 1 passenger. Post-meeting ride to the Pig in Callahan took the group along some north Florida back roads. Chilly, but not cold. Good food and service. Road Captain: George Howard; Tail Gunner: Mark Stevens. Photographer: Kathryn Garrow.
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Date: Saturday, Nov. 17
Chapter Meeting
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Date: Friday, Nov. 16
Bike Night at Adamecs of Orange Park. OPHOG won $100 for having the most members.
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Date: Saturday, Nov. 10
Destination: Spiro’s Pizza, Clermont
Details: 7 bikes, 1 passenger, 1 guest. Chilly start at 8:00 a.m. but warmed up nicely as the group rode south. Last 40 miles of the ride was a treat on some unexplored back roads of central Florida’s lake country. 160 miles total distance and 4 hours made it a longer than usual ride but good weather, good roads and good food made for a great day. Road Captain: Brian Malek; Tail Gunner: Steve Lee.
Date: Saturday, Nov. 10
Event: Dreams Come True Volunteers
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Date: Nov. 1-4, State HOG Rally
OPHOG was represented by at least 30 members at the Howey-in-the-Hills Rally.
Photo Gallery (Grumpy’s to Howey-in-the-Hills)
Date: Sunday, Oct. 29
Destination: Smokin’ Pig, Valdosta, GA
Details: 10 bikes, 1 passenger (1 bike dropped out mid-way due to mechanical issue). First “cool” ride of the season (upper 50s) and some were under dressed; remedied at the first rest stop. 150 miles along Georgia farm country and a great destination in Valdosta. No one returned hungry. Road Captain: Steve Lee; Tail Gunner: Ron Reynolds; Photographer: DrD.
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Date: Saturday, Oct. 28
Destination: Cutler’s Farmhouse Restaurant, St. George, GA
Details: 7 bikes, 1 passenger. Overcast thanks to Hurricane Sandy, but no rain and overall a pleasant ride. The route took the group on some Florida back roads that were new to many of the riders. Cutler’s was ready for us when we got there and the service was quick and friendly. Road Captain: Richard “Rick” Kirtley; Tail Gunner: Tom Martin; Photographer: Kathryn Garrow.
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Date: Wednesday, Oct. 24
Destination: Village Inn, St. Augustine
Details: 15 bikes, 4 passengers, 1 guest. The ride to FREE PIE WEDBESDAY drew its biggest group yet as 19 people raced to the Fleming Island starting point during afternoon rush hour traffic. Weather was perfect and the ride managed to go the entire route without getting broken up at traffic lights. Most had dinner, and everyone had free pie. Road Captain: DrD; Tail Gunner: Brian Brannon; Photographers: John Garrow and Lori Morris
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Date: Saturday, Oct. 20
Destination: Biketoberfest Daytona Pin Stop
Details: 18 bikes, 2 guests. Beautiful blue skies and perfect fall temperatures. No problems on ride, though one rider did have mechanical/electronic problems that required a tow back to the dealership in Orange Park. Road Captain: Ron McCain; Tail Gunner: Lee Blankenship.
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Date: Saturday, Oct. 13
Destination: Mikes Cafe and Grill, Lake City
Details: 10 bikes, 2 passengers, 1 guest Nice cool ride on mostly country roads. Great fellowship at lunch with a nice variety on the menu. Road Captain: Tom Bott; Tail Gunner Brian Malek; Photographer: Kathryn Garrow
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Date: Sunday, Oct. 7
Destination: Junior’s Seafood, Jacksonville Northside
Details: 8 bikes, 3 passengers, 1 guest. Started the ride at Monumuent and 9A and took the ferry across the river, then toured some northside roads that were new to many of the riders. Good seafood at Juniors.
Road Captain: Jack Morris; TG: Brian Malek; Photographer: DrD
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Date: Saturday, Oct. 6
Destination: Sugarmill Restaurant, DeLeon Springs State Park
Details: 16 bikes, 2 passengers, 1 guest. Took the long way to DeLeon Springs State Park through Ocala Forest. Pleasant weather and a good ride. Arrived on time for 11 a.m. brunch reservation and were seated immediately. Everyone had a good time cooking their own pancakes (except three who opted for sandwiches). After stuffing our faces with various combinations of blueberry/pecan/chocolate chip/bananna/peanutbutter pancakes and large helpings of fried animal flesh, we took a while to look around the park. A good day.
Road Captain: DrD; RCC: Lisa Wold; Tail gunner: Tom Bott; Photographer: DrD
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Date: Saturday, Sept 29
Destination: Bug Run to Ormond Beach
Details: None provided
Road Captain: Brian Malek; Tail Gunner: Ron McCain: RCC: Lisa Wold
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Date: Saturday, Sept. 15
Destination: Roller Derby
Details: None provided
Photographer: Kathryn Garrow
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Date: Saturday, Sept. 15
Destination: Dreamette, Mandarin
Details: 18 bikes, 2 passengers, 0 guests. Good sized number that experienced red lite break ups, couple rain drops, red lite break ups, wet pavement, red lite break ups, 4 wheelers amidst us, and did I mention red lite break ups. Overall great ride on some less traveled roads and great ice cream. RC: Tom Bott. TG: Lee Blankenship. RCC: Brian Dowding; Photographer: Kathryn Garrow
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Date: Sunday, Sept. 9
Destination: Broadway Pizza, Jacksonville
Details: 5 bikes, 0 passengers, 0 guests. Defying the Gods of Football, five motorcyclists opted for a Sunday afternoon ride on opening day of the NFL season. Two of them had second thoughts and, fearing the Gods’ wrath, skipped lunch. Road Captain: Brian Brannon; Tail Gunner: Ron McCain.
Date: Saturday: Sept 1
Destination: La Fiesta in Gainesville
Details: 8 bikes and 1 passenger. Everyone seemed excited about shopping at Gainsville Harley, as some mentioned they had not been to the new store. That’s been a long time for sure. The food at La Fiesta did not disappoint,
definitely a place most said, “they would visit again”. Road Captain: Lee Blankenship; Tail Gunner: Ron McCain
Date: Saturday, August 25
Destination: Marshside Grill, Brunswick, GA
Details: None provided
Date: Sunday, Aug 19
Destination: Group Riding Orientation Loop Ride
Details: None provided
Date: Saturday, Aug 18 – Aug 24
Destination: Twisted Rider 2012
Details: None provide
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Date: Saturday, Aug 18
Destination: Sneakers, Baymeadows, Jacksonville
Details: None provided
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Date: Sunday, August 12
Destination: Tilted Kilt, Jacksonville
Details: None provided
Date: Saturday, August 11
Destination: Moon River Pizza
Details: None provided
Date: Saturday, August 4
Destination: Jeremiah’s in Mt. Dora
Details: 8 bikes, 1 passenger, 1 guest. Group enjoyed a gorgeous sun-filled ride thru Ocala National Forest and thru the thriving downtowns of Altoona, Umatilla and Eustis before arriving at historic Mt. Dora for a great meal and even better fellowship. The ride home included ample moisture to keep everyone cool. Road Captain:Tom Bott
Date: Sunday, July 22
Destination: Metro Diner, Mandarin
Details: 14 bikes, 2 guests, 2 passengers. This early morning breakfast ride (KSU 7:30) was Lee Blankenship’s qualifying ride to be the latest OPHOG road captain. Everyone agreed he passed with flying colors, leading the group on a 40-minute, 27-mile ride under the oak canopy along the St. Johns River. Everyone also agreed that the Metro Diner provided more good food than anyone could eat.
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Date: Saturday, July 21
Destination: Whiteys Fish Camp, Fleming Island
Details: 13 bikes, 1 passenger, 1 guest. Post-meeting ride to Whitey’s was a little warm, but the ride was relatively short–about an hour and fifteen minutes. Good to see new members on the ride plus a guest. That’s how we grow the chapter.
Road Captain: Mark Stephens; Tail Gunner: Brian Brannon; RCC Lee Blankenship.
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Date: Sunday, July 15
Details: New member orientation ride cancelled due to strong storms
Date: Saturday, July 14
Destination: Sunrise Ride to Village Inn, St. Augustine
Details: No report
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Date: Saturday, July 7
Destination: European Street Cafe, Jacksonville
Details: 14 bikes, 1 passenger, 0 guests. Can you make a 55 mile ride with no left turns? Right! We made about a dozen right turns on our way to our destination, but no left turns. Note that two wrongs don’t make a right, but three rights do make a left. It was a little warm, near 90 degrees, but bearable. We did seem to hit more than our share of red lights, though, and that increased the heat factor. But we made it and enjoyed lunch with several refills of the water glasses.
Road Captain: Brian Malek; Tail Gunner: Brian Brannon; RCC: Ronnie Dampier & Lee Blankenship.
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Date: Saturday, June 30
Destination: Matanzas Inlet Restaurant
Details: 13 bikes, 3 guests, 2 passengers. This 65 mile ride was Ron Reynold’s qualifying ride as a Road Captain. The ride was well planned and executed and Ron is now the chapter’s newest road captain as well as its new director.
Road Captain: Brian Brannon; RCC: Ron Reynolds; Tail gunner: Ron McCain
Date: Saturday, June 16
Post Meeting Ride
No details provided
Date: Saturday, June 9
Destination: Betty’s Restaurant, Ormond Beach
Details: No Ride. Cancelled due to rain.
Date: Sunday, June 3
Destination: Jack & Lori’s, Jacksonville Beach
Details: Ice Cream Sunday Ride! 12 bikes, 3 passengers, 2 guests. A 45 mile ride from Mandarin to Jacksonville Beach on a cloudless day to Jack and Lori’s where they hosted the group for ice cream sundaes. Great ride and and a great time. If you missed this one, you missed a good one.
Road Captain: Lori Morris; Tail Gunner: Jack Morris; Photographer: DrD
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Date: Saturday, June 2
Destination: Sterlings Restaurant, Astor, FL
Details: 10 bikes, 0 passengers, 0 guests. Nice 90 mile ride through the Ocala Forest to Sterling’s Restaurant on FL 40 near Astor. This was Lee Blankenship’s first outing as a Road Captain Candidate alongside Road Captain Tom Bott. Nice day for a ride and good food at the end of it.
Road Captain: Tom Bottt; Tail Gunner: Brian Malek; Photographer: DrD
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Date: Saturday, May 26
Destination: Loop Ride from Adamecs OP to Military Museum Green Cove Springs to Adamecs OP
Details: 16 bikes, 4 passengers, 2 guests. Great start to the Memorial Day Weekend. Brief tour of Clay County backroads, then a one-hour stop at the Military Museum then back to Adamecs of OP. Museum was a great reminder of what Memorial Day is all about.
Road Captain: DrD; Tail Gunner: Tom Bott; Photographer: DrD
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Date: Saturday, May 20
Destination: Great Outdoors Restaurant, High Springs
Details: 9 bikes, 2 passengers. Beautiful day. First time to this destination but probably not the last. Nice place, good food, good service.
Road Captain: Jack Morris; Tail Gunner: Steve Lee; Photographer: DrD
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Date: Saturday, May 19
Destination: Post-Meeting Fleet Reserve Loop Ride
Details: 11 bikes, 2 passengers While the election committee counted ballots, 13 members went on a short loop ride of about 20 miles.
Road Captain: DrD; Tail Gunner: John West
Date: Saturday , May 12
Destination: Crystal River/Ozello Trail
Details: 11 bikes no passengers. Longish ride to the gulf coast but a beautiful day. Love bugs were swarming like a Biblical plague and their carcasses covered our previously clean bikes. Two hour delay at the break to replace a battery and 7 riders gamely pressed on to the destination while 4 returned home.
Road captain: Mark Stevens. Tail Gunner: Brian Brannon. Photographer DrD.
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Date: Friday, May 11
Destination: Moon River Pizza, Jacksonville
Details: 7 bikes, 4 passengers
Road Captain: Ron McCain , Tail Gunner: Tom Bott
Date: Saturday, May 5
Destination: High Jackers, Flagler Airport
Details: 14 bikes, 0 passengers. Warm May day in the 90s by mid-afternoon, but a leisurely morning ride along the river and to High Jackers, which never disappoints.
Road Captain: Brian Brannon; Tail Gunner: Mark Stevens; Photographer:: DrD
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Date: Sunday, April 29
Destination: Aunt Catfish’s, Port Orange
Details: 7 bikes, 2 passengers. Early start but great weather. Russ once again found new roads for most of us. 120 miles and 3 hours of great riding. And, of course, a great Sunday buffet. Had to drag Brian away from the cinnamon rolls.
Road Captain: Russ Prothero; Tail Gunner: Brian Brannon
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Date: Saturday, April 28
Destination: Leesburg Bike Fest
Details: 7 bikes. On the way through the Ocala Forest the group was forced to detour because of a multi-bike accident that produced a fatality. A strong reminder to BE CAREFUL on the road.
Road Captain: Ron McCain; Tail Gunner: Rick Kirtley
Date: April 21
Destination: Adamecs of St. Augustine
Details: None provided
Road Captain: Ron McCain; Tail Gunner: Billy Schofield
Date: April 14
Destination: New Port Ritchie for RLP Training
Road Captain: George Howard; Tail Gunner: Russ Prothero
Date: Saturday, March 31
Destination: VA Domicile
Details. None provided.
Road Captain: Butch Hubbard; Tail Gunner: Russ Prothero
Date: Sunday, March 25
Destination: BJ’s Brewhouse, St. Johns Town Center.
Details: 5 bikes, no passengers. Great weather. Short ride but nice route.
Road Captain: Russ Prothero; Tail Gunner: Brian Brannon
Date: Saturday, March 24
Destination: Benito’s Italian Restaurant
Details: 3 bikes, 2 passengers
Tom Bott: “Great riding temperature on the short ride along the river to Benitos Italian Restaurant on CR 210, St. Johns County. Fantastic “I”talian food!”
Billy Schofield: “Quite possibly the smallest ride of the year. 3 bikes, 5 people. That’s a R/C, T/G and 1 couple! Weather may have scared some others away, but we had a dry ride to and from the restaurant. Most items on the menu were $6.95, including soup or salad and bread. And the food was great!! Will definitely be going back there in the future.”
Road Captain: Tom Bott; Tail Gunner: Billy Schofield
Date: Sunday, March 11
Destination: Ducks Dam Diner, Oklawaha
Details: 5 bikes
Road Captain: DrD; Tail Gunner: Steve Lee
Date: Saturday, March 10
Destination: HOG pin stop, Daytona
Details: 14 bikes.
Road Captain: Brian Brannon; Tail Gunner: George Howard
Date: Saturday, March 3
Destination: Aunt B’s, Kingsland, GA
Details: Adamecs Orange Park was hopping as at the same time our ride left, the Clay County Animal Shelter had a Poker Run also beginning from the dealership. We had 11 bikes and 3 passengers on a heavy overcast morning to begin, but only had 3 rain drops on the way to Aunt Bee’s. As always, the food was outstanding. Got 6 rain drops on the road home but all is well.
Road Captain: Tom Bott; Tail Gunner: George Howard
Date: Sunday, Feb. 19
Destination: Original Holiday Restaurant, Deland
Details: 10 bikes, 0 Riders. Clouds and the threat of rain didn’t keep 10 Sunday morning riders from heading south 100 miles to DeLand for a great buffet at the Original Holiday House Restaurant. And, aside from a couple of 2 minute sprinkles, it never did rain (going or returning). Good ride and good lunch.
Road Captain: Steve Coleman; Tail Gunner: DrD; Photographer: Susan Coleman
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Date: Saturday, Feb. 18
Destination: Columbia House, St. Augustine
Details: 4 bikes, 5 riders. R/C: Billy Schofield. T/G: Tom Martin. A leisurely ride of 55 miles along the beautiful St. John’s River and on into the Ancient City. The food was excellent with piping hot Cuban bread. After lunch, we strolled down St. George’s Street to Adamec’s shop to chat with Carol and congratulate her on her new position as Store Manager. And the best part of the trip? NO RAIN!!!!
Date: Sunday, Feb. 12
Destination: Back to the Beginning
Details: 5 bikes. Temperature at 1 p.m. when ride began was 43 degrees but it warmed nicely to 48 degrees during the ride. This chilly loop ride began and ended at the Wells Fargo parking lot on Park Avenue and covered 129 miles going through Green Cove Springs, Interlachen, Palatka and Spuds. Cold weather gear is the key to riding in cold weather.
Road Captain: DrD; Tail gunner: Brian Brannon
Date: Saturday, Feb. 11
Destination: Stone E Cabin BBQ, Middleburg
Details: 13 bikes, 3 passengers. Is it possible to go through two dozen traffic lights and not split up a group of 13 bikes? Road Captain Rick Kirtley proved it can be done on this 65 mile ride.
Road Captain: Rick Kirtley; Tail Gunner: DrD
Date: Saturday, Feb. 4
Destination: Hoggetown Medieval Faire, Gainesville
Details: 10 bikes, 2 passengers, 1 guest; 1 member on 4 wheels. Cool but nice February morning for a 66 mile ride to the annual Medieval Faire in Gainesville. Plenty of wenches and fools and jesters. And then there was the Faire. Lots of fun and great weather made it even better.
Road Captain: DrD; Tail Gunner: John West
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Date: Saturday, Jan. 28
Destination: Perard’s Italian Restaurant
Details: None available
Road Captain: Butch Hubbard; Tail Gunner: Rick Kirtley
Date: Sunday, Jan. 22
Destination: Sloppy Joes, Daytona Beach
Road Captain: Steve Lee; Tail Gunner: Mark Stevens
Details: 6 bikes, one guest rider from St Augustine HOG, started in some fog that cleared off and became a great day for a ride. Small group but nice 3 hour ride down along the St Johns River, past Crescent Lake, and onto the Loop into Daytona Beach. Nice restaurant in the Oceanwalk Center. Good food and great view of the beach.
Date: Saturday, Jan. 21
Destination: Salt Life Restaurant at Jacksonville Beach
Details: 21 bikes with five passengers. This post-meeting ride drew a large following and consequently was split into two groups. Original Road Captain Brian Brannon led the first group and original Tail Gunner George Howard commanded the second contingent. Pressed into duty as tail gunners for the ride were DrD and Tom Bott. Several new riders/members joined the ride, which took about 2 hours. It was a good ride with one break and a good lunch at the restaurant.
Road Captains: Brian Brannon and George Howard; Tail gunners: DrD and Tom Bott.
Date: Sunday, Jan. 15
Destination: High Jackers Restaurant, Flagler Airport
Details: Upper 30s again at KSU and 7 bikers were up to the challenge. Warmed up to the mid 50s by the afternoon and it felt like the tropics. Nice 85 mile ride and good food again at High Jackers.
Road Captain: Steve Coleman; Tail Gunner: BIlly Schofield; Photographers: DrD & S Coleman
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Date: Saturday, Jan. 14
Destination: Jimbos BBQ, Homerville, GA
Details: Upper 30s when 6 bikes set out for Georgia, where it was low 30s. But everyone layed well and except for a few thumbs, everyone was warm enough. Jimbos is a basic BBQ and country cookin’ restaurant. Nice ride on some Georgia backroads.
Road Captain: Brian Brannon; Tail Gunner: DrD
Date: Friday, Jan. 13
Destination: Harry’s Seafood Bar and Grill, St. Augustine
Details: This hooky ride brought out 8 bikes, 1 passenger and 1 four-wheeler on a another chilly day (low 40s). The creative route wound through the west and south side of Jacksonville before heading south from Mandarin on FL 13 along the river. 55 mile ride under blue skies is a good way not to be working.
Road Captain: Lori Morris; Tail gunner Steve Lee
Date: Saturday, Jan. 7
Destination: River Grill Ormond Beach.
Details: 23 bikes, including two new members, and 3 passengers took off on a chilly January morning through the fog to River Grill in Ormond Beach. The 90+ mile ride went very well with only an occasional–and brief–separation due to traffic lights. Nice ride, including one stretch of road new to many of the riders.
Road Captain: Steve Lee; Tail gunner: Mark Stevens; Photographer: John Garrow
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Date: Sunday, Jan. 1
Destination: Brewster’s Ice Cream, Mandarin
Details: None Available
Road Captain: Ron McCain; Tail gunner: Tom Bott