Club Ride - September 5, 2009 - Orange Groves and Turkeys Running Wild

Our weekly club ride started out in the usual way and with a big crowd of bikes and riders showing up for breakfast. After enjoying the morning meal and some good conversation, a bunch of us headed out to crisscross the center of the state in a rambling pattern of wandering that culminated in our arrival at the famous and fabulous Wild Turkey Tavern, located in the southern suburbs of Avon Park.

Here's a shot of us making tracks out of Plant City as we make our way south on SR 39; by the way, I did a lot of over-the-shoulder photography during this ride, so please bear with me:



Our travels took us over to Agricola Mine Road where we all enjoyed the challenging assortment of curves to be found on the eastern end of that road:











Of course, Mr. Sarcasm had to make the run more than once. Here he is headed west to do it all over again:



Leaving Agricola Mine Road behind, we headed east toward Ft. Meade:



Just as you come into Ft. Meade from the west, they have this old mine train on display at their town museum:



The train is on display just across the highway from the old Ft. Meade train station:



The train and the train station are just a few blocks west of the city hall where they have a nice flag rotunda, complete with cannon:



Our arrival in Ft. Meade was the culmination of a 60-mile leg of riding, so it was time for a short break at the Sunoco gas station:



From Ft. Meade we headed east-by-southeast as we moved ever deeper into the center portions of the great state of Florida:



There were plenty of nice views of the surrounding orange groves, woodlands, lakes, and even a few sweepers to keep things interesting:



Here's a nice shot from mid-pack as we motor along somewhere close to the outskirts of Avon Park...the far east side of the outskirts of Avon Park, I might add:



That's Kent aboard the motorcycle formerly known as "Red Velvet":



And here's a rare shot of Mr. Sarcasm and "Max" actually going slow enough not to be blurry:



Stats seemed to be enjoying the ride as we motored south along US 27 into the bowels of Avon Park's most congested environs:



After nearly three hours of really great riding, we arrived at our destination:



The fake dinosaur is still chained to the sign out by the highway:



Once inside, Mr. Sarcasm tried to act like he wasn't part of our group; probably a smart ploy on his part. Too bad it didn't work:



Preacher and Big Ed were ready for some good grub...that or plotting their escape before things got too wild in the old Wild Turkey Tavern:



Roooooaaaaaarrrrrrr!!! Don't be too scared...it's stuffed:



This sign could be a metaphor for some of our rides:



After a great lunch, we were back on the road and headed toward home with Gunny in the lead:



The fellas were lined up like ducklings behind Gunny...wait a minute...so was I!!!:



The landscape changed from orange groves and rolling hills to flat scrub land and pine forests as we headed west:



Tucked in tight behind Gunny like a fighter on the tail of a lumbering bomber...Check six!!! Check six!!!:



Sorry, Gunny, you can't out turn this fighter pilot...:



Since I hardly ever include a photo of myself on this blog I thought now might be a good time to do so:



Back in civilization, we were promptly cutoff and halted by a passing train:



So there we sat, like desperadoes waiting for a train:



Out on SR 60 and headed west, we encountered this semi hauling phosphate stuff:



The truck was driving along just fine and not bothering anybody...I just don't like to ride beside them and their big ol' wheels for too long at a stretch:



Eddie was just chillin' and enjoying the last few miles of the day's ride:



That's it for this week's ride report. All in all a great day of riding and seeing the countryside. Kudos to Gunny for another superlative job of ride planning.