Date: December 31
Event: Last Ride of the Year to Knucklehead Tavern Yulee
Details: The end of year ride for 2015! A great way to celebrate while also expressing our thanks to the outgoing primary officers (George Howard, Barney Messer) and welcoming our new Director Stu Hughes, Assistant Director Jack Morris, returning Treasurer Lori Morris and new Secretary, Tom Blakeman. Eighteen (18 ) Bikes, and 21 riders, along with the return of Carlos Villa who is on active duty in the Navy now serving aboard a ship stationed in San Diego, CA (WELCOME BACK CARLOS)! Our in-coming secretary and his wife also brought along several new faces as guests for this auspicious ride into Yulee! Great to have them join us. Thanks to the Blakeman’s for inviting new folks to come ride with us.
Date: December 19
Event: After Meeting Ride to the Pig
Date: December 19
Event: December Meeting
Date: December 18
Event: Adamec Regency Bike Night
Date: December 12
Event: Tri Chapter Christmas Party
Date: December 11
Event: Adamec Orange Park Bike Night
Date: December 5
Event: Captain Stan’s Smokehouse
Date: November 28
Event: Kings Head British Pub
Date: November 21
Event: Wreaths Across America Chili Cookoff
Date: November 21
Event: After Meeting Loop Ride
Date: November 21
Event: Chapter Meeting
Date: November 14
Event: Simply Sara’s
Details: Details: 12 riders and 8 bikes …Gorgeous, clear, cool weather with most braking out the chaps to keep them warm.
RCC – Glenn Davis
RC – Mike Dennison
TG – Tom Blakeman
We knew it was gonna be a beautiful day when while we were just about to start the drivers meeting a bald eagle flew right over the top of us. A true sign! It was nice straight shot to Simply Sara’s with Glenn Davis leading for his Road Captain qualifying ride. Good food and even better company.
Congratulations Glenn….job well done!
Date: November 7
Event: Pitmasters BBQ
Details: What a beautiful day to ride through Ocala National Forest. We had 5 bikes and 6 members on the ride with a brief stop in Salt Springs. No bears were seen but we saw the warning road signs. The food and company was good, another great ride.
Date: October 31
Event: Shrimp ‘R Us
Date: October 24
Event: Salt Life
Date: October 18
Event: Orientation Ride
Details: Eight riders on five bikes. Partly cloudy skies with temps in mid 70’s.
OK, has to change route and destination but still DQ but on Blanding due to power lines down at 17/Loring. To avoid we elected to turn onto Plainfield but got caught in rerouted traffic from 17. Looped back to Wells and headed to Blanding.
Perhaps the most congested traffic ever experienced by this ride. All agreed it was an experience to remember.
Great ice cream and fellowship at the new destination.
Date: October 17
Event: Ride to Biketoberfest
Date: October 17
Event: Monthly Meeting
Date: October 8
Event: Florida State HOG Rally
Date: October 3
Event: Connor’s A-Maize-ing Acres
Details: The group persevered through the cold damp Saturday morning to arrive at Connor’s A-Maize-Ing Acres before 11:00 AM. There were 4 bikes, 5 members and 1 guest on the ride to Hilliard. We went in and visited the opening day vendors to purchase a few things. We got to see the corn cannon being shot and many cows, horses, and geese. We went through the Corn Maze using the Music, Movie, and Television hints to guide us on our half hour journey. All that rain this summer was great for the corn, as it was over 6 ft. tall. When asked if we got lost in the maze, I replied “We’re men and never get lost, we just explored extra paths.” For those of you that couldn’t make it, they are open until November 7th this year. They have FREE Admission to those with Military ID, Police ID, and Teacher ID’s, everyone else is $14 for adults.
Date: October 2
Event: Light the City Ride
Date: September 26
Event: Tri-Chapter Ride
Date: September 19
Event: Battle of the Badges
Date: September 19
Event: September OPHOG Meeting
Date: September 5
Event: Beach Diner
Date: August 29
Event: PAL Charity Ride
Date: August 22
Event: Sunrise Ride to Barbara Jeans
Date: August 15
Event: After Meeting Ride to Powell’s Dairy Freeze
Date: August 15
Event: August OPHOG Meeting
Date: August 13
Event: Hooky Ride to Sandollar
Date: August 9
Event: Oasis Restaurant
Date: August 8
Event: 6th Street Steakhouse
Date: August 2
Event: Nicki’s Charity Poker Run
Date: August 1
Event: Shrimp ‘R Us
Details: An auspicious start for this first ride in August, the morning after a “Blue Moon.” Our Harley family meet a wee bit later in the morning so some folks could get that “additional shut eye” after having “moon watched.” The skies were clear, but the weather radar depicted a wall of rain, and yet, we saddled up and ventured forth for a great ride along the St. Johns River. Our rest stop destination in Hastings provided an opportunity to check that radar against an ominous cloud formation headed in our direction! A brief conversation, the breaking out of rain suits and a decision that focused on safety coupled with a phone call to Welaka that revealed “its really coming down here now” lead to our decision to not tempt fate further and head home. So Shrimp’s are us remains to be a future ride.
Date: July 31
Event: Pauly’s Cafe
Details: Let me start off first, by saying this was first official Road Captain ride and having Tom Burke as my Tail Gunner was truly an assist. Thanks Tom. The Ride was to St. Mary’s Georgia with the ride ending Pauly’s Café near the water front. KSU was 10am at Beaver St and Chaffee Rd Kangaroo station. We headed West on Beaver St. to Otis Rd and then North on Hwy 301 for about 45 miles passing through Callahan and Hilliard (Mike Dennison thought it was Hawthorne yes he was lost or was it the country fragrance of cattle) and then at Folkston Georgia we turned East on 40 for about 30 miles to St. Mary’s – our destination. We had one stop that was Folkston and it was nice to stop for potty and thirst stop. And yes Kathryn Garrow, our HOG Chapter photographer took pictures. There were 6 bikes 8 members on the ride. All got there with no problems although there was one casualty prior to the ride, Al Mann with a rear flat tire (valve stem broke after just replacing that tire, tow truck ride and he was home ok). The food and service was good at Pauly’s Café we had great conversation and best part for me was the ride and trust I gained from all those that rode on my first RC lead ride.
RC Terry Gossell
Tail Gunner Tom Burke
Date: July 26
Event: Valdosta’s Smok’n PIG BBQ
Details: A nice sunny Sunday morning for a ride that began with seven bikes of which two were guests enroute to Valdosta, GA for lunch, stopping briefly in Fargo, GA. A wall of rain fogged up glasses, and helmet visors for our intrepid riders, who were not to be daunted for after a brief stop they continued on, although the guest riders indicating a preference for another day albeit without rain. The blue sky soon revealed itself with sun, clouds amidst smiling faces and a great ride through Florida and Georgia’s back roads for the 118 mile journey. A great Sunday, amazing Harley riders who displayed great perseverance, dynamic riding skills and camaraderie. It’s rides like these that gives a bit more “zing” to riding and being members of HOG.
Date: July 25
Event: Tri-Chapter Ride
Details: July 25th we had our 2nd Tri-Chapter ride with JAXHOG setting us up with a nice ride thru some pretty country roads ending up in Live Oak. Thanks to Hart Sutton and his team for a great ride.
Date: July 18
Event: After Meeting Ride to The Pig
Date: July 18
Event: OP HOG Monthly Meeting
Date: July 12
Event: Sundae Ride
Date: July 11
Event: Camp Blanding
Details: Camp Blanding’s Museum and a tour of its memorabilia that led to the creation of this Florida Army Training facility in the early 1900’s and its importance in training US Army and National Guard Divisions to prepare for their roles in WWI and WWII for both the European and Pacific Theaters, led by the Museums Curator was the highlight of the ride.
Date: July 3
Event: Whitey’s Fish Camp
Date: July 2
Event: Brucci’s Pizza
Details: The group met at 9:30 in front of the HOG Pen with kickstands up at 10:00. We had 4 bikes and 2 passengers for a total of 6 members make the short hour ride down SR17, across the Shands Bridge, and north on SR13. It was a hot day but the Oak canopy on SR13 provided enough shade to make it enjoyable. We got there at 11:00 when they opened and were out of there by noon, in plenty of time to avoid the afternoon showers.
Date: June 29
Event: Nation of Patriots
Date: June 28
Event: Don Patron
Date: June 27
Event: Ride for Justice
Date: June 21
Event: Orientation Ride
Details: Warm temps and only a couple light cooling rain showers encountered this afternoon on the ride.
Two new members and one guest passenger rounded out the group ride to DQ.
Five bikes, two passengers, nice ride, great conversation, with appreciative new members for the organization OPHOG puts into our chapter rides.
Date: June 20
Event: Blackwater Inn
Date: June 14
Event: Betty’s A1A
Date: June 14
Event: Advanced Riders Practice
Date: June 13
Event: Terry Gossell Qualifying RC Ride – Dairy Queen
Date: June 7
Event: Eaton’s Beach Sand Bar and Grill
Details: We had 11 bikes, and 14 beach bound Harley folks, which included three amazing “guests” on a 98 mile ride to Lake Weir. A clear day, great weather, and a discovery of Eaton’s Beach bar and grill at Lake Weir. A surf’n’turf lets go back to place.
Date: June 6
Event: Apalachicola Seafood Grill
Date: May 31
Event: Great Outdoors
Date: May 30
Event: Moon River Pizza
Date: May 26
Event: Road Captains and Activities Meeting
Date: May 16
Event: After Meeting Ride to Tom’s Real Pit BBQ
Details: We had 25 bikes, 28 amazing and patient Harley riders, of which two we’re guests, and one new Chapter member on a beautiful blue Trike for this ride. The event included Tom B’s Road Captain qualification ride and a visit to Tom’s BBQ (alas no relationship) located in Keystone Heights, via Lake Butler. We also welcomed back Ski who managed the Tail Gunner’s spot for this large group of riders. Been awhile since we’ve had so many riders and despite the length of the column, it was an awesome sight and everyone arrived safely. Congrats to Tom for stepping up to the challenge and doing so well, and an even bigger CONGRATULATIONS to everyone for joining in and making the ride.
Date: May 16
Event: OPHOG Monthly Meeting
Date: May 9
Event: Lake Fretwell – HOG Pignic
Date: May 9
Event: Lake Fretwell – HOG Pignic Ride
Date: May 2
Event: Lubi’s and Fernandina Beach
Details: We had 9 bikes and 12 people. Great day for ride. Some of the members had never been to Lubi’s before. I think they liked it. Started out and all went well but when we got to the ferry there was a 1 to 1.5 hr wait. We decided to go Dames point and catch Heckscher drive from there. ell construction on Wonder wood and McCormick slowed us down then a wreck on Dames Point slowed us even more. But after getting past all of that it was a great ride along the ocean to Fernandina. Nice cool breeze and moderate temperatures.
Date: April 26
Event: River Grille
Date: April 25
Event: Backwoods BBQ
Date: April 19
Event: Orientation Ride
Details: Orientation ride yesterday had 4 bikes and 5 folks. The banana split was great! Again, great weather. All got home before the storms.
Date: April 18
Event: After Meeting Ride to The Pig
Details: Post meeting ride to Callahan had 21 bikes and a cage. 20 folks stayed to eat. Weather was perfect.
Date: April 18
Event: Monthly Meeting
Date: April 11
Event: Ride for Smiles
Date: April 4
Event: Chicken Pantry
Date: March 28
Event: Tri-Chapter Ride to Terry’s
Details: YouTube available here.
Date: March 22
Event: Ride to Gator Joe’s
Date: March 21
Event: After Meeting Ride to Island Life Grill
Date: March 21
Event: Monthly Chapter Meeting
Date: March 15
Event: Blue Highway Pizzaria
Details:A gorgeous spring day with temperatures in the mid 80s brought out 12 bikes and four passengers for an 80-mile ride to Micanopy and a new restaurant for the club: Blue Highway Pizzaria. The day also marked the 80th birthday of the group’s tail gunner, Duane “Ski” Zaleski who was surprised at the restaurant with a cake bearing the message: “Our ‘Roll’ Model.” Good food and a good group. Some riders took the opportunity to walk through the town of Micanopy after lunch.
Road Captain: DrD; Tail Gunner: Ski
Date: March 10
Event: Road Captain’s / Activities Meeting
Date: March 8
Event: Advanced Rider’s Practice
Date: March 7
Event: Rodeheaver’s Ranch
Date: February 22
Event: Corky Bell’s
Details: As the rest of the country east of the Rocky Mountains was freezing or still digging out of snow drifts, 13 OPHOG riders and 3 passengers took advantage of 80 degree weather to take a 100-mile backroads ride to Corky Bells in Palatka. Some of the less-traveled roads we covered were new to everyone in the group, except the road captain. After a 30-minute wait to be seated, everyone filled up on Corky Bells seafood. Road Captain: DrD; Tail Gunner: Ray Wensell
Date: February 22
Event: Orientation Ride
Date: February 21
Event: After Meeting Ride to Joseph’s
Date: February 21
Event: February Monthly Meeting
Date: February 14
Event: 4Rivers Smokehouse
Details: 15 brave souls, 11 bikes, one truck on Valentine’s Day. Chilly start (low 40’s) but warmed to a balmy 55 by the time we reached our destination. Arrived 4 minutes before the doors opened for business. Great food and company. New member joined us today.
Date: February 8
Event: Advanced Rider Practice
Date: February 7
Event: Grumpy’s
Date: January 31
Event: Moon River Pizza
Date: January 24
Event: Ride to BJ’s Brewhouse
Date: January 18
Event: DeLeon Springs State Park
Details: On a crisp, 50 degree morning, 11 riders and two passengers showed up for what they expected to be a ride to a pancake feast at the Spanish Sugar Mill Restaurant in DeLeon State Park led by Road Captain DrD. Unfortunately, the group arrived at the destination to discover a 3 hour wait to be seated and decided to go elsewhere. We headed to the Sterling Restaurant in Astor, about 20 miles away after a call to the restaurant revealed immediate seating, a real plus today. Unfortunately, the restaurant was short staffed and the existing staff had trouble managing our orders. Everyone got fed, but it was not a pleasant experience. The ride itself was OK, but the destinations turned out to be a major Charlie Foxtrot.
Date: January 18
Event: Orientation Ride
Details: Yesterday’s Orientation Ride had clear skies and cool temperatures. Five riders, no passengers and we had one of our new members join us. Group riding maneuvers covered the gambit and our new member had favorable comments to share at the discussion following the ride particularly in how organized it was.
Date: January 17
Event: After Meeting Ride to Conestoga’s
Date: January 17
Event: Monthly Meeting
Date: January 15
Event: Road Captain & Activities Meeting
Date: January 10
Event: Houligan’s
Details: Cold and crisp with sunny sky marked this Saturday ride. We had 16 on 14 bikes braving sub 50 temps. All were dressed for the elements and the ride to Ormond Beach. Few ate as many had other commitments to get to. Thanks to those on the ride! RC: George Howard, TG: Mike Dennison
Date: January 3
Event: River Pub
Details: RC: Steve Lee, TG: Mike Dennison
Date: January 1
Event: First Ride of the Year
Details: RC: Duane Zeleski, TG: Mark Stevens