New Blog Format

Hey, everyone, I just wanted to mention that Google has changed the blog format.  (I had nothing to do with it!)

I'm not sure if you are being notified as before when I create a new post or when someone makes a comment on the blog.  If you aren't, you may have to find the feature on blogspot which provides that for you.

It was also mentioned to me that some members see the older posts first and have to scroll down to the newest posts.  There is a feature that allows you to choose to see the most recent posts first, so you don't have to scroll down for them.  I haven't played with the new format, so don't know how to specifically direct you to that, but if you are a little tech-savvy, I'm sure you can find it.

If anyone finds where to do either of these actions, please make a comment to help the others!
Thanks!

Barbara

I'm Here

WCS Cyclists:  I'm here and thought I'd share some photos of my rental for this season.  It's a warm 70 degree day here with little traffic and few people...nice and calm.  But I'm looking forward to seeing you all! 

                           Click this link:  http://barbara-beachorbust.blogspot.com/

Happy New Riding Season, Everybody!

We're going to try to have 2-3 weekly rides on the calendar this season (M, W, F or T, Th) with occasional Saturday rides for "the girls."  I'd like to provide a variety of choices for cyclists, since everybody is involved in other activities, too.  I may not be able to make all of the rides and in that case, might ask for volunteers now and then to lead.  Please let me know if you would be willing to lead rides, if needed.

Wednesday Ride Cancelled Due to Lack of Interest
Our first registration is Wednesday, Jan. 2 from 8:30-10:30AM, so our first ride will be after that at 11:30AM.  Meet in the Market Shops parking lot (corner of Emerald Coast Parkway and Sandestin Drive) and we'll ride about an hour around Sandestin.  After our ride, we'll have lunch at Rum Runner's in Baytowne Wharf (Beef O'Brady's is closed.)

Our second ride of the season will be Friday, Jan. 4 at 11:30AM in Freeport.  Meet in the library parking lot, which is across from TJ's where we'll lunch afterward.

Be sure your bike is in riding condition and remember your helmet, sunscreen, ID, health insurance cards and money. A spare inner tube and pump might be a good idea, too.

Please RSVP here (under comments at the bottom of the post) if you are planning to make either or both rides, so we know who to watch for! You can always modify your RSVP if your plans change.

Note:  As always, rides are weather-dependent, so be sure to check this blog about an hour before ride time to be sure it hasn't been cancelled!

Welcome to the 2012-2013 Winter Biking Season!

 

 

Hope everyone had a wonderful summer and is eager to connect with WCS cyclists again this winter.  If my plans don't change, I will be returning to Destin this year November 15th and warming up the trails for the rest of you!  Please let me know if any of you are here early, too, before we "officially" start our group biking in January, so perhaps we can warm up the routes together.

 

I'll soon be posting January's first week of rides here, so check back.  Remember that our rides are weather-dependent, so always check an hour or so before we shove off to make sure we are still "on!" 

 

See you soon!

 

Barbara

P.S.  Ken Hendricks did the first half of a cross-country bike trek this summer, from Seattle to Minneapolis!  You can see photos here:  http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/10676

Hi From Atlanta

hi everyone---not doing many caps, too hard with one hand, and my left one, at that---just wanted to give you an update here, as individual email proves a bit tiring at this point.

had surgery yesterday for my wrist---several things were not done correctly in Florida---but the good news is that i didn't have to have a plate put in, just screws---will be in a cast for a few weeks more, then a custom-made smaller one to allow for physical therapy, which will be several months---

thank goodness there is Duke-trained advanced hand orthopedic surgeon at my son's hospital and he knows what he's doing!

hope you are all doing well, whether back in your respective homes, on the road, or still at the beach!

Biking Week of March 11-17

I'm hunting and pecking for those cyclists left and wanting to ride Freeport with John Beach leading.  Here is his email text:

Next Thur, March 15, 11:00 A.M. at the City Hall in Freeport for a ride encompassing the full Freeport loop (15-18 miles) for those that are still here and want to dodge the Spring break crowd. I will watch the blog or those that are interested can email me @ sailmoor49@yahoo.com. We'll have lunch at TJ's after the ride unless another suggestion is made.

NO MORE BIKING FOR ME THIS SEASON

SORRY.  SOMEONE ELSE WILL HAVE TO LEAD RIDE THURSDAY. 

SPRING-BREAKER ON PATH MOVED OUT IN FRONT OF ME TONIGHT AND KNOCKED ME OFF BIKE.  BROKEN RIGHT WRIST.  CANNOT BIKE.  CANNOT DRIVE.  CANNOT DO MUCH OF ANYTHING AT THIS POINT.  WORKING ON ARRANGING FOR MY SON TO COME PACK UP MY STUFF AND DRIVE ME TO ATLANTA. 

THIS ONE FINGER TYPING IS A PAIN

SEE YOU ALL NEXT WINTER.  :)


(P.S.  LET ME AMEND THAT...DROVE BACK TO EMERGENCY AT SACRED HEART AT 3AM...THEY HAD TO ADJUST SPLINT...SO I GUESS WE KNOW I CAN DRIVE A SHORT DISTANCE!  :))

Bike the Drive -- Chicago

Hey WCS Cyclists!

If you are looking for a fun summer biking event, one that would plop you down smack dab in the heart of the city to enjoy Navy Pier, Museum Campus (Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Planetarium), shopping, dining, theater, Buckingham Fountain and the lakefront, take a look at Bike the Drive!  (Click on live link.)  Read all about it and see rotating photos on the home page.

It takes place Sunday, May 27.   There is an entry fee (see the info...might be about $35 pp) but that includes four hours -- if desired -- of biking along Chicago's main lakefront thoroughfare, Lake Shore Drive, rest stations with water, juices, fruits, bagels, energy bars, and more.  And of course, the infamous BTD T-shirt for 2012! 

Come for the weekend (get your hotel now -- I can tell you which ones are right on the park) and we can make it a group event!  We could do Bike the Drive together and have breakfast afterwards (my biking group, which we could either join OR I'd ditch for YOU, always meets in Grant Park at 5:30AM and takes off at 6AM...it's like nothing else hearing only birds and people talking and laughing along Lake Shore Drive, traffic-free for four hours!)

Before and/or after the biking event, we can do stuff together or people can go their own ways or some of both.  I've lots of recommendations for dining, music, art, dinner cruises, architectural boat cruises, theater, farmers markets, etc.

If anyone is interested, let me know.

And if anyone has a neat biking event in their town or knows of one at which we might all want to meet, please suggest it!  It would be fun to get together in the summer!

Biking Week of March 4-10

WCS Cyclists -- Well, I spent the morning Friday checking out Defuniak Springs and some rides plotted online by other cyclists, only to come away disappointed.  While Defuniak has an interesting (though worn) historic district with large Southern homes positioned in a circle around a little lake with walking path (a dozen or so in good condition and possibly worth a drive over to see) that is about all there is.  The pond/lake is 1.3 miles around.  The rest of the plotted route, I'm sorry to say, has many bumpy, cracked and unkempt roads and few sidewalks.  Much of the area is quite rundown, hence, scary to me.  So I'm scratching Defuniak as a possible place to do a ride.  If anyone cares to go over and try to map out a safe ride, please have at it and let us know if you are successful!  I haven't driven all of the roads around there.


Monday, March 5:  Well, guys, unfortunately Banjo Rama is not playing at Cabana Cafe anymore this snowbird season.  So let's meet at 11AM at the Village of Baytowne Wharf on the Sandestin Resort property  (you can park in the garage there OR you can park at the Market Shops on #98 and ride down to the village to meet us.)  We'll do an hour to an hour and a half in Sandestin at a pace of 10-12mph.  I'm aiming for us to either eat at Graffiti's afterwards, as we've heard good reviews OR Hammerhead's outdoor eatery, if it's nice enough to sit outside.
Update:  Thanks, everybody (we had 11) for coming out for what I think was the nicest ride weather-wise all season!  And Sandestin is such a breeze to bike (before spring-breakers arrive) that we can often ride two abreast and chat!  Though a bit overpriced, Hammerhead's on the deck, with a live band, was a fun place for lunch!


Thursday, March 8:  Ok, since few really wanted to pay the $6 round trip over the bridge to Bluewater Bay near Niceville (and I don't blame anyone) we decided on a #30A ride, hoping that the Quacks of our group (and you know who you are) will take a packing break and join us for one last hoorah!  Meet at 11AM in the public parking where we met (briefly) for the potluck before Stan led us to his house -- the  parking lot at the intersection of #30A and #393.  We'll ride an hour to an hour and a half and end up back there to have lunch at Smiling Fish.  Hope for temps nice enough to sit outside (and no wind.)

Biking Week of Feb. 26-March 3

Monday, Feb. 27:  We'll try this again guys, since the weather postponed it last time.  Meet at 11AM at the east end of the Market Shops parking lot (shops at the main entrance to Sandestin, along south side of #98.)  We'll ride Sandestin and back to Beef O'Brady's for lunch.
Update:  Ten mile ride through beachside and bayside Sandestin today...a little cooler than we all would've liked, but we did it.  Stopped to see the little island on Sandestin and then some of the spouses joined us for lunch.  Great company, thanks everyone!

Thursday, March 1:  Oh no, it's already March!  Not much time left for us and some will have already left by now.  Let's hope the predicted 30% chance of rain means we won't see any.  Let's meet again in Freeport at 11AM and have lunch at TJ's afterwards.  What's nice about this ride is no traffic or pedestrians or cracks in the sidewalk!  All smoothly paved bike path!  Directions:  East on 98 to 331, North on 331 to Hwy 20, West on 20 to Freeport City Hall/Library, where we'll meet and park.
Update:  Seventeen of us enjoyed lunch together after the ride in Freeport!



Annual End of Season Potluck

P.S.  End of season potluck doesn't mean end of season riding.  We'll still be riding in March, as many of us aren't leaving yet!

W H E N :        S u n d a y , F e b r u a r y   2 6

W H E R E :    G u l f P l a c e   P u b l i c   A c c e s s   #3 0 A

T I M E :          2PM

There is a pavilion with tables where we will eat after the ride.  However, we can't reserve it, so we'd appreciate any spouse(s) who don't plan to ride with the group, but would like to share the potluck with us, playing "sentry" and staking it out for us during our one-hour ride.  Bring a good book or an ipod and watch the water as you guard our territory!  :)  Please contact Newbys if you can volunteer for this duty!

Potluck:  If your last name starts with:

A - L   please bring an appetizer or salad

M - S  please bring a main dish

T - Z   please bring a dessert

(There are charcoal grills if anyone wants to bring charcoal and meat to grill.) 

If you have any questions, please call Stan or Diane Newby at:
6 2 2 - 1 2 2 6 ( l o c a l )   o r   5 1 7 - 6 7 7 - 1 5 0 5
or email at:  t w o n e w b e e s @ g m a i l . c o m

Please RSVP here so we know how many to expect!

Biking Week of Feb. 19-25

Monday, Feb. 20:  Meet at 2PM at the main doors of Majestic Sun (1200 Scenic Gulf Drive, Miramar Beach) and we'll ride along Scenic #98 to the very end and return by way of the beach neighborhoods.  After the ride, we'll go up to Cabana Cafe again for Banjo Rama and eats/drinks/merriment!
Update:  Fun ride today with the Olsons, Hendricks and me.  Just five so we decided to change our route and rode Sandestin.  Thanks for the company guys!

Tuesday, Feb. 21:  Meet at 11AM in Freeport (directions John provided below) to do the Freeport ride.  I emailed John to see if he was free to lead this, but as of now haven't heard back.  Since many people were interested in this ride last week, and it may rain the rest of the week, we'll put it on anyway for Tuesday.  If John responds he is free to lead, great!  If not, we will figure it out ourselves.
Directions are easy, East on 98 to 331, North on 331 to Hwy 20, West on 20 to Freeport City Hall/Library, where we'll meet and park. Lunch at PJ's Table across the street from where we park.
Update:  Great 15 mile ride with nary a car and no pedestrians to dodge!  Thanks for leading us on the new route, Allen!  That is going to be one of our favorite routes, for sure.  Ken, Terri and Anita, thanks too, for the fun company!


Thursday, Feb. 23:  Anybody want to do a Sandestin ride at 11AM, ending at Beef O'Brady's for lunch on this day?  Doesn't look like we'll have a chance to ride before Sunday's  #30A ride and potluck, so this could be our last chance before then.  Meet in the Market Shops parking lot near Beef O'Brady's entrance and we'll enter Sandestin from there.  Then we can just put the bikes back on the cars (or lock them up, if you've ridden there) and do lunch afterwards.
Update:  I'm cancelling this ride, because the latest from the weather channel has our winds at 20mph, gusting to 30mph.   Sure, we could manage and sure, it would be good exercise, but we are primarily about f-u-n in this group, and winds that high are not fun!  We'll have to get our exercise some other way today.  :)

Old Destin Ride

Some of the Walton County Snowbird cyclists on a bike break at a park on the bay during the Old Destin ride....and at the site of the original Kelly plantation and mausoleum wherein rest Mattie Kelly and her husband.

Choctawhatchee Bay break

Mattie Kelly plantation site, live oaks abounding

One of our photographers (gotcha Gerry!)......

...thanks to our other photographer, Lynn!

Biking Week of Feb. 12-18

There will only be two rides this week, unless someone else wants to step up and plan a ride in addition to the two listed here.  If so, contact me!  I'll be in Atlanta Tuesday till Friday night, house/dog/cat-sitting while my son's family is on a cruise.


Monday, Feb. 13:   Change:  My bike is in the shop (getting a tuneup, cleaning, new odometer and bell!) and won't be ready until 10AM tomorrow.  I'll test ride it in the shop parking lot and just in case it needs tweaking, I may not make a ride at 11AM.  It's also looking a bit chilly in the morning (more so if there is wind) so I think I'll postpone the Sandestin ride with lunch at Beef O'Brady's to a future time.  No RSVP's for this ride as of 9PM Sunday anyway, so I'm thinking it didn't disappoint anyone.  See you next week!


Thursday, Feb. 16:  Jon and Luan Beach will lead a ride in Freeport, with lunch at a great little restaurant there at the end of the ride.  Here are the directions and restaurant straight from Jon:  Directions are easy, East on 98 to 331, North on 331 to Hwy 20, West on 20 to Freeport City Hall/Library, where we'll meet and park. Lunch at PJ's Table across the street from where we park. My cell is 231-633-7059.  Enjoy your ride, everyone! 

Biking Week of Feb. 5-11

New cyclists:  We ride about 9-12mph, which is considered "beginner" by most cycling clubs. We emphasize safety by wearing helmets, checking your bike's condition before riding, and knowing the rules of biking.  Know, too, that you can ride as much or as little of the route as you like.  If you are riding for the first time in years or rehabbing a knee or other injury and need to stop and rest part way through and rejoin us to the end or only ride part of the route, it's up to you!  We just welcome any participation on your part!

Everyone:  Please RSVP using the comment link at the end of the post.  You may have to create a free Google account (if you've signed up for gmail, you have one) to be able to RSVP.  Call me at 815-592-5923 if you have any problems with it.

Monday, Feb. 6:  Let's go exploring!  Meet at 2PM by the front steps of Majestic Sun (1200 Scenic Gulf Drive, Miramar Beach) and we'll spend 60-90 minutes or so biking down Scenic Gulf Drive (Scenic #98) and going in and out of as many little neighborhoods and developments as we can!   A spontaneous follow-the-leader, see-if-we-can-ride-all-of-the-off-streets route!  We will aim to end up about 3:30PM at Majestic Sun so that we can put our bikes back on our cars and head up to the Cabana Cafe behind us in Ariel Dunes to have drinks/eats/and listen to Banjo Rama who play from 4-7PM.  This is a fun evening...join us!
(Note:  Big group tonight, guys!  Thanks for riding and for enjoying the food, comraderie and great music of Banjo Rama up at Cabana afterwards.)


Thursday, Feb. 9:  #30A Ride. Rosemary Beach.  Meet at Wild Olives on Barrett Square right off of #30A in Rosemary Beach at 11AM.  There is plenty of parking in the square and along the little park just west of the square.  We'll bike along #30A past Alys Beach, off #30A down a side road that leads to a golf club and back to #30A for another few miles before turning around and heading back the same way.  Total = approximately 10 miles or an hour's worth of riding.  Once back at Barrett Square, we'll lunch at Wild Onions (for those who did the Seaside to Rosemary Beach ride last year, this is the same place at which we ate then.)  It's 10PM now...sorry for the late posting, but I was out tonight.  Hope you all check in the morning and RSVP to join us!
(Note:  Fun ride today, gang, even it parts were a bit windy.  I don't know about you, but I'm getting more and more interested in road bike lane riding as my non-suspension bike doesn't take those sidewalk cracks very well!  Great company and food at Wild Orchids....uh, I mean Onions....wait, no, OLIVES today!  Thanks!)


Friday, Feb. 10:    Old Destin Ride with lunch or brunch (your choice --- both served until 2PM.)  Meet at 10AM at Clement Taylor Park (131 Calhoun Avenue, Destin) and we will ride old Destin neighborhoods along the bayside down to the location of Mattie Kelly's original plantation.  We will see the mausoleum she and her husband rest within and then ride back for a total of about 10-11 miles.  Afterwards, we'll eat at The Florida House next to AJ's, just a couple of blocks away.


Check our site often for updates. And remember to always check the site before rides, since weather, no RSVP's, or emergencies can cancel them!

Ride from Goatfeathers

No, I wasn't taking the photo...I was riding in circles on my bike while the rest of the crew went down to the beach at Topsail.  Once I'm on a roll, I just can't stop.  (This was a 13-14 mile ride.)  Thanks for the photo, Al!

Left to Right:  Al Quackenbush, Ron Thompson, Chris Schaal, Carol Thompson, Diane Newby, Lynn Quackenbush

Biking Week of Jan. 29-Feb. 4

Note:  If anyone cannot get the RSVP feature  to work (by clicking on "comment" at the end of this post) please call me at 815-592-5923 and I'll walk you through it.  We appreciate RSVPing for several reasons:  To know who to expect and wait a few minutes if you might be running late;  to make reservations for restaurants who require/prefer them;  and to let others know who is riding!

Monday, Jan. 30:  Meet at 2PM at Majestic Sun's front steps.  You can park across the street along #98 (Scenic Gulf Rd.) or in back of Majestic Sun.  We'll bike the sidewalk down to Sandestin and do some bayside riding, then return to Majestic Sun.  We'll head up to the Cabana Cafe in Seascape (Ariel Dunes) 3:30PM, have a Coke or a drink, and enjoy some music by Banjo Rama, starting at 4PM.  If you want to have dinner there, you can do that, too, as they play until 7PM.  (As of this posting, I'm planning to do dinner about 5PM there.)  Who's interested?
(Note:  Beautiful day for biking.  Five of us enjoyed the in's and out's of Sandestin Bayside and then some of us ended up for drinks and dinner up at Cabana Cafe, joined by some spouses and other friends.  Fun day, guys!)


Tuesday, Jan. 31:  New ride!  We'll try an early morning breakfast ride today!  Meet at 8:30AM at Majestic Sun's front steps and we'll ride down to the end of Scenic Gulf Rd.  Halfway back, we'll turn down a side road which will take us to Don Pedro's for a great breakfast!  (If you routinely eat breakfast before this time, maybe just grab a piece of fruit to hold you over so you can join us!)  After breakfast, you can choose to just ride back to Majestic and put your bike on the car and head home OR ride home from there OR do some more biking (which I plan to do.)  Your choice! 
(Note:  A little windy in spots, but a nice sunny morning for the ride!  Thanks to the Olsons, Don Pedro opened just for us!  I had read (wrong) that their other location was open at 7AM every day, not this location.  But Terri and Roger had dinner at this location last night and mentioned we'd be here this morning, so the owner came in especially for us 8 to open and serve us a delicious breakfast!)


Thursday, Feb. 2:   Meet at 11AM at Kelly Plantation (restaurant/golf club parking lot.)  Kelly is gated, but all you have to tell the guard is that you are eating at the restaurant and he'll let you in.  We'll need to do two loops to get in 10 miles (I'm diverting us off of that bumpy road section we did last time) but Kelly does not have busy streets and it's lovely.  Afterwards we dine at the golf club restaurant. 
(Note:  We were turned away from Kelly Plantation.  Seems the homeowners association is not allowing "outsiders" to ride bikes on their property, even if we do give them the lunch business afterwards.  We rode at Sandestin and it was a lovely day for riding!  P.S. to group:  By the time I got my bike all hooked up on my car, I had an emergency of sorts and had to skip lunch.  Sorry I couldn't reach you at the restaurant;  hope you weren't worried.)


Friday, Feb. 3:   Meet at 10:30AM at Clement Taylor Park (131 Calhoun Avenue, Destin) for a repeat of the Old Destin ride.  We'll ride on un-busy streets in bike lanes or along sidewalks down to the original location of Mattie Kelly's plantation, where we will see the mausoleum in which she and her husband lie at rest.   This will be a 10-11 mile ride.  Afterwards, we'll put the bikes on the cars and head over to The Florida House or AJ's or Dewey Destin's or Harborwalk, if anyone knows a good restaurant there.  Group vote!
(Note:  This ride is postponed to a future date.)

Biking Week of Jan. 22-28

Rain predicted on and off this week, so we'll try to navigate around it.  In the event we need to cancel a ride due to weather, I'll try to reschedule another day so we can still get in at least three rides this week.  Here's our schedule:

Monday, Jan. 23:  Meet at 12:30 PM in front of Majestic Sun on the bike path (we can sit on the front steps to wait for everyone to arrive and park the bikes on the grass so they are out of the way of walkers/bikers.)  You can park your car across from Majestic Sun along #98 or behind Majestic Sun in the parking lot or parking garage (parking garage behind the building, not the one below it as that is for owners only.)  Majestic Sun is at 1200 Scenic Gulf Drive in Miramar Beach -- it is part of the Seascape resort.  Google the address if you are new to the area and not sure what building it is.

We will bike along scenic #98 (not highway #98, known as the Emerald Coast Parkway) and weave in and out of the beach neighborhoods to the end and back.

We'll end up at Majestic Sun for those who need to put their bikes back on their cars and we'll hop over to the Cabana Cafe in Ariel Dunes behind Majestic Sun for a late lunch about 2:00 PMish. 

Bonus:  For those of us who are pumped up and would like to stay in good company after we ride and lunch together, we can stay and enjoy Banjo Rama from 4-7PM for a full day of fun!  (You obviously don't need to stay until 7PM...but maybe an hour of some good music would be fun!)
(Update:  Fun time today everyone who rode!  A few of us stayed to hear Banjo Rama and it was a fun day!)



Wednesday, Jan. 25:  Cancelled due to lack of interest (or short notice...sorry, guys, some rides will be kind of spontaneous!)
Meet in the parking lot of Embassy Suites on Scenic Gulf Drive (#98) at 10:45AM.  We'll ride sidewalks down to Sandestin and do some beachside and bayside biking before ending up at Beef O'Brady's for lunch around noon - 12:30PM.  It's a short bike ride back to Embassy Suites after lunch.



Friday, Jan. 27:  Old Destin Ride.   Meet in the parking lot of AJ's (park out near the street) at 9:30AM and we will eat after the ride at The Florida House next to AJ's.  You will be able to order breakfast or lunch at that time (11-ish.)  I scoped out about a 10 mile route in old Destin along the bay, with riding mostly in bike lanes on very un-busy streets and sidewalks.  This is a new one, guys! 
(Note: What a fun ride 9 of us had --- 12 miles, a little sightseeing and we had the lunch place to ourselves...how cool was that?! Thanks for coming and now that you all know how to RSVP, I'm looking forward to seeing your comments on here!)


Saturday, Jan. 28:   #30A ride with lunch at Goatfeathers.  Meet at 11AM at Goatfeathers and we'll take off from there.  We'll ride about an hour and lunch afterwards at Goatfeathers.  Google or mapquest Goatfeathers for exact location on #30A.
(Update:  Thanks, Quackenbushes, for the entrance to Topsail along our ride!  Great day for riding, great lunch at Goatfeather's afterwards!)


Check our site often for updates.  And remember to always check the site before rides, as weather, no RSVP's, or emergencies can cancel them!

Great Ride in Seaside

A group of about 15 of us had a fun ride through beautiful Watercolor and ended up at the Great Southern Cafe in Seaside Jan. 20 for a lovely lunch!

(Click on photo to enlarge)

Left to Right:  Terri Olson (Roger missed photo), Ron and Carol Thompson, Stan Newby, Linda and Ray Brazeau, Terry and Dick Beaune, Al Quackenbush (Lynn with friends at separate table), Gerry Beaupre (ducking out of shot), John and Luan Beach, Allen Price and Chris Schaal at next table

The group was too large to fit at this long table and some were at separate tables, joined by spouses who didn't ride.  Come join us next time!

To bike or not to bike?

Friday, Jan. 20 Bike Ride in Watercolor/Seaside ------  I'm watching the Weather Channel to see if showers will dissipate by our shove-off time.

Remember the protocol is to check this site before heading out to see if we've had to cancel/postpone.  But just in case, I may make calls to those signed up whose phone numbers I have if we have to cancel.....

Stay tuned.



Update:  Just checked www.weather.com and it has us at only a 10% chance of rain this morning!  I'll keep checking up until about an hour and a half before the ride, so let's cross our fingers, guys!

Sandestin Ride w/ lunch at Baytowne Wharf

We had a great group and a fun ride today, gang!  Thanks to everyone for coming (not you, Alligator Man...better watch your back...we're out to get you now!) 

(Click photo to enlarge)

Left to Right:  Rick and Rayne Bryla, Terry and Dick Beaune, Ray and Linda Brazeau, John and Luan Beach, Roger Olson, Mike Dougal, Chris Schaal, Ruth Ann Briggs, Stan Newby, Terri Olson, Pat and Joe Kershansky

Cross Country Bicycle Trip!

Cross Country Bike Trip Over Two Years

Ken Hendrick, one of our cyclists, is doing a cross country bicycle trip starting this year and ending in 2013. He thought there might be others who are interested in joining the group. The ride will start June 28, 2012 in Seattle, WA and end this year's leg on August 10 in Minneapolis. The trip will pick up again in 2013 in Minneapolis and end in Portland, Maine. The specific dates and price have not been set for next year. This year's cost is $3,700, which is considerably less than other comparable trips. Most of the meals are provided and the organizer carries all your gear. All but one of the overnights are in lodges, motels or churches. There is one camping night. The organizers are Ken and Nancy Wright from Vermont. For more information, you can contact Nancy at ngwright@valley.net You will also be able to discuss it with Ken in February when he joins us in Miramar Beach. The name of the ride is "Bicycle Across America - BAA".

Biking Week of Jan. 15-21

Upcoming Rides

I'm planning a ride on Monday, Jan. 16 and here is a new route I'd love to try.

Ok, who's up for an adventure?  I checked out the sidewalk from the LA Lounge and bowling alley at Matthews Blvd. and Emerald Coast Parkway (new #98) and it does appear to run all the way up to The Florida House, my favorite breakfast place.  (They serve breakfast till 2PM, along with the lunch menu.)  Parts of it are narrow and will necessitate slower, more careful riding and we'll need to do single file all the way, no riding abreast and chatting on this ride.  But I've always wanted to try it and am looking for riders who are up for the challenge.  We'll ride to the restaurant, have lunch, then ride back afterwards.   We will NOT be riding ON #98...sidewalk goes the whole way.  Meet at 11:15AM in the parking lot of LA Lounge and the bowling alley.  Who's in?  Be sure to RSVP by the comment feature below this post, or if you can't figure that out, call me on my cell:  815-592-5923 and I'll help you with it over the phone!

Rick and Rayne Bryla will lead a Sandestin ride on Thursday, Jan. 19, at 11AM.
 

You can park in the parking garage for free at the Village at Baytowne Wharf inside Sandestin (Bayside.)  Meet everyone outside the Starbucks, which is right at the entrance to the Village and parking garage.  Lunch will be at a mutually agreed upon restaurant in the Village at the end of the ride.  RSVP by the comment feature below.

Seaside, Watercolour, #30A ride on Friday, Jan. 20th,  my annual birthday ride!  :)

  

This will be a 30A ride with lunch at The Great Southern Cafe, cuz I love those Grits a Ya Ya!  Meet outside The Great Southern Cafe in Seaside at 11AM and we will take off from there to ride about an hour.  We'll return at the end, put the bikes on the cars, and eat!  RSVP by clicking "comment" and letting us know if you'll be joining us.

Be sure to check back here frequently for new info!  (And feel free to call me on my cell!)



Plan B

Ok, Walton County Snowbird Cyclists, this is our Plan B.  Given the fact that the internet service seems to be spotty at Majestic Sun, we cannot depend upon email as a reliable communication method for our rides.

So I've created this blog.

I will post rides here and you can RSVP in the comment space.

I hope this proves more dependable.

Let's give it a try.  Anyone who comes here to check the blog,  please leave me a comment on this post letting me know how it works for you.

Barbara
Your Frustrated, but Hopeful Honcho
P.S.  If you aren't sure how to make a comment, just click on "comments" below and it will take you to a comment text box in which you type.