ICC Riders Forum

1. The only good view of a thunderstorm is in your rear view mirror.
2. Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul.
3. I’d rather be riding my motorcycle and thinking about God, than sitting in church thinking about my bike.
4. Life may begin at 30, but it doesn’t get real interesting until about 75 mph.
5. Midnight bugs taste just as bad as noon time bugs.
6. Sometimes it takes a whole tank full of gas before you can think straight.
7. A bike on the road is worth two in the shed.
8. Young riders pick a destination and go. Old riders pick a direction and go.
9. When you’re riding lead, don’t spit.
10. Catching a yellow jacket in your shirt at 75 mph can double your vocabulary.
11. If you can’t get it going with bungee cords and duct tape, it’s serious.
12. Only a biker knows why a dog sticks his head out of a car window.

Lets see….

There are a couple of things you need to know when the man named BOWTIE leads a ride. The first is, always expect to make at least one U-turn if not TWO. Second, always be prepared to stop “SUDDENLY”. It could be because of us coming up on a gravel or dirt road, or because he can’t remember where or when to turn. But no matter what, you’ll get there.

We coul have taken the short route to Palatka, but why do that. Instead we just go 115 miles before we stop for a break or drink, or even give your ass a break from the saddle. OHhhhhhhhh, but nooo…. We just ride in a straight line that seems like forever with the sun beating down on us, just hoping that Bowtie will pull over.

The only problem is there was NOTHING out there. The one time I thought we were going to pull over at the last chance in civilization, he just smiled while going by, probably saying to himself, “those bastards are just gonna have to buck up and drink the sweat off their bodies and duck behind Chooch to grab some shade.”

Yes, there’s nothing like following Bowtie for an afternoon of good HARD riding. We stopped by Cheyenne Saloon, and I had to laugh to myself. I felt like the movie in Wild Hogs, after they got in from pushing their bikes in the desert and everyone rushed in to drink up right away. So we got to chill for awhile.

Afterwards we took a short hop to Gators Landings. Yes another restaurant with the name GATOR in it. We tried to think about all the ones we’ve been at. See if you can remember any.  Lunch was ok, nothing great. We’ve had better and the break was a welcome relaxation. We had our usual laughs and cutting up on each other and insulting some of you that weren’t around. Before we knew it, it was time for the ride home.

We did miss you guys, I hope to see you guys again soon. Until then, ride safe….

- Chooch

Here’s another tale about a ride over to a place call Sleepy Hollow in Floral City. It was a great ride. If you’ve never been, we’ll have to take you.

We actually got all the way over to Floral City before we had to stop and look at the map. I had to ask for directions to this place, but it was worth it. The funny thing is, once we got into town the famous Bowtie GPS hook up looks hard to the left and “oops” makes one of his patented sudden turns.

The road was really nice. It went thru a little neighborhood, then right, then left, and little further down left again. We go past a couple of people working in the yard and wave and move on. A little further the road bends to the left and brings us right out onto the same highway we came in on. So, we go around again thinking we missed it, and those neighbors we waved at already just looked at us as, probably thinking “these guys are idiots.”

Round and Round we go, until finally we decide to look at the map, and I ask for those directions, “excuse me DARLIN’can you tell me how to get to the Sleepy Hollow?” The nice lady says, “Oh yes, just go down thru town and turn RIGHT. Go down about a mile and turn right again. Then go thru some curves and it will be on the right hand side.”

We finally find it, and Bowtie had to smile, because he then remembers that when he first went to this place he came in from the other side of town. And low and behold that’s why we went left instead of right. You just had to be there. It was funny at the time.

The food at Sleepy Hollow was really good. They have live music on the weekends and they run a special on the grub.

Oh, of course on the way home we had to stop more often because Yoda was with us, and yes “Yodas gotta go pee.” At least it gave Bo a chance to look at the map to make sure we were heading home in the right direction.

See ya……

-Chooch

Wow! What a ride! Good Ole Chile, he wore my ass out. Can you believe it 286 miles and the weather was absolutely gorgeous. Could not ask for a better day in June in Florida. Chile, Yoda, Jay Longhitano, Bandana, Hedge and me rode over and met Bowtie and Rico for breakfast at Dan’s and off we went. Bandana and Bowtie had to break off at 40 while we took off and found ourselves about 10 miles from St. Augustine. Chile found 13 along the St. John’s River and we stopped for some grub at a little place called the Outback Crab Shack. It was a welcome break as we logged over 150 miles to this point. On the way back, we stopped for a little refreshment at OB’s and it was off for home. What a day! No rain and a nice breeze, especially if you were moving. And we did a lot of that! My friend Jay said he was done when we finally got back to Avalon so he decided not to ride to Sebastian Inlet with the Long Winded Idiots on Sunday. I can’t say I blame him. Anyway, I hope everyone had a great weekend and a wonderful Father’s Day. Chooch, hope you had a great weekend too. You did a great noble thing, so I hope the kids had memorable time. I hope you had fun too!

–Turtle

We all had a great time at Leesburg Bikefest again this year. Boy, what a crowd. Lot’s of cool bikes, hot women, and cheesey vendors. And of course in Leesburg they let you walk around downtown with your beer in hand.