Christmas Week -- lots of fun

Christmas came as always and was a good time to reflect on the Birth of our Savior.  Pretty cool when you think that the God of the Universe took on the form of a man in order to pay the penalty for our sins. It is interesting to think of all the giving that happens this time of year and yet many people forget the simple truth in John 3:16 -- 
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son...that whoever believes in HIM might have everlasting life.  From the ruler of the Universe to a baby to the ruler of the universe.....he is the reason for CHRISTmas.

On the day after Christmas Michael had to feed Justin's fish in Gainesville ....so ... Bernice, Derek, Cayce's Dad (Randy) and I decided to go up with him and travel by bicycle -- 94.4 miles.   We met early in the morning with a light fog and some trepidation on Randy's part-- his longest ride before this was 55 miles.  Bernice & I rode the tandem which meant we led the whole way because it is too hard to draft a single bike with the tandem. It goes too fast fast downhill and not quite fast enough uphill.  Both boys offered to lead --- but they did not mind drafting us.


We stopped at Paines Prairie on the way up enjoying the warm weather and hoping to see some Gators. Nope not one in sight on the east side of the road. But the break was nice.   We made it to the apartment and got the fish fed.

Along the way we had a total of 4 flats Randy learned not to ride in the piles of debris in intersections. He was a trooper and pumped them up with out complaining. He did VERY well keeping up and did not complain once....all in all a good sport and a good ride under his belt.

On the way back across the prairie we saw a boatload of Gators. There were dozens of them sunning themselves in the near 80 degree sun.  Shortly after that we had a great lunch at a cafe called Blue Highway in Micanopy.  YUMMY!!!!

Our last rest  stop was in Anthony at the little BP convenience store. Sam is the owner from India and is VERY friendly. He used to ride when he lived in India and always makes a point to make our stops at his store nice. This day he gave us some fresh sugar cane which was tasty.

Randy surpassed his old record by nearly 40 miles and was still smiling so it was a good day for all of us.


Yesterday I went about 315 miles on the motorcycle with a group of friends. 10 bikes in all --- we cruised through north Florida to almost the Georgia line then looped back. It included a lunch and breakfast stop and PERFECT weather. 

Sunny skies.... warm weather is it December

This was a great week of Florida weather... we had mid 70's and low 80's with very low humidity....oh and did I say Sunshine.  This while my family in NY was enduring 2 major snow storms and my friends in Wisconson were freezing.  It is a tough life but someone has to live here. 

Fairly short week at work as we only saw clients Monday and Tuesday.... a little followup on Wednesday and I am done for the year.  Michael will be there on a limited basis through year end.  It has been a great 7 months having him work with me in the practice--- He has learned a lot and does very well with clients.

The flowers were in bloom and the skies blue and we were enjoying the Tandem.  This picture was taken with the camera balanced on a rock -- hence the low angle.

Bernice and I rode to the Villages on Friday it was a great ride about 60 when we started which was was short sleeve weather-- it seems wierd for December but I will take it. 

We got our Christmas present to each other early as our racks and saddle bags (Panniers) arrived.  I put them on and everything fit  like a charm.  This is what we will carry our clothes/ tools/ etc when we ride down the west coast in September. 

There are 4 bags altogether--- 2 larger ones in the front and 2 smaller ones in the front.

Cold --Party--guests

I started the past week with a cold and it got the whole fever etc to go with it ....long & short I missed nearly 3 days of work.  The good news in the scenario is Michael is capable and fully licensed to carry on with clients now a days without me being there.  It was a good test for him and a relief for me.   By the end of the week I was feeling better.

Friday was my Holiday Open house where we invite some of my clients to our home for some food and fellowship.  It was a nice afternoon.  The food was yummy as usual. 

My clients really enjoyed the Chocolate fountain and told me I should have it in my office continually.  I think we will stick with homemade baked goods and good coffee -- I like chocolate too much for the fountain to work. 

Cayce was able to come over and help Bernice in the Morning with preparations -- that was a real help

One of my clients had just taken delivery of a Smart car.  It was the hit of party and at 3:00 the designated end of the open house he pulled it into the driveway--- Whoosh the house emptied and every body wanted to see the little vehicle. 

I actually drove it around the block ....it drives much bigger than it looks. 

Many of the clients wanted their picture taken with it.  They get about 41 mpg and cost about $14,000.  An interesting vehicle but not one I am ready to go out and buy.

Friday after the party we had some cyclist come and stay with us. We are on a list to provide hospitality to touring cyclist--- Christopher and Karen are from the NYC area and are headed to New Orleans. Nice folks and good conversation was had.  This is them leaving on Saturday AM 

I felt well enough to get in a 40 mile ride on the Tandem with Bern on Saturday AM after our company left.

I thought I would put this in to help those of us who live in Fl remember why--------

Dare to Dream

I have used this sign once before because it encompasses my view as to how things get done.  I like to Dream ----Visualize-----Plan---and Execute.  

Now as a Christian-we also pray about it and seek God's Will about things as well.   

This leads me to disclosing our next big dream--- In September of 2009 we are planning to ride from Tacoma (actually Spanaway) Washington to San Diego California.  It will cover about 1,800 miles and over 77,000 feet of climbing.  We are planning to do this on our new tandem-- just Bern and I (no tour group) -possibly a friend or two-- we will carry everything in panniers (saddlebags) .  I am currently working on the mapping (turn by turn) and have the first 10 days done. 

All of today's photos were taken with my I-phone and not in great lighting but they get the point across.  This one shows the tandem in a parking space in the Villages using our new  "kickstand" -- it is like a folding wand that holds up the bike. Much to the chagrin of several golf cart drivers who thought I had taken "Their" spot.



We did a 48 mile trip which included going around Lake Weir and on to the Villages.  I decided to show our northern friends  where oranges come from.  Pardon the bright early morning sun.... and to answer the inquiring minds-- No we did not take an orange-- tho I was tempted.

I like to capture recent gas prices when I think of it.  Actually they are now down to $1.65 per gallon for regular. 

I put this in for Wes & Rudy.  We recently sponsored a  golf hole for Rudy's K of C tournament.  To answer your question Wes...."Yes--Michael did have socks on and for the most part Rudy still has most of his anatomy"

This last picture is a warning as to how not to pose when I take your picture.  I warned Regan that he would show up on the Internet looking a bit silly.  You can be the judge.... 

I think he favors his Dad in this one....Cullie???

Have a great week and leave a comment if you would. Lets me know somebody is reading this stuff.

Busy week.... Good Week

This was a busy but good week filled with a variety of things.  We worked the first 3 days of the week -- taking time for a nice off road ride on Monday from 4:30 till 6.  Then on Thursday we had Thanksgiving at our house, and though the crowd was down we had a great time. We sometimes have 25+ but this year there were only 14 present.

As  is the custom we usually have some folks there we have never met before and this year was not different.  We had Mike and Becky from Michigan. Becky is the niece of a client of mine who recently had to relocate to Michigan and they were down to do some work in her house.  I figured no sense in having Thanksgiving alone in a strange town so they accepted the invite and had a great time.

We did have Aunt Teresa and Uncle Chuck along with my cousin Linda .  They drove up from St Pete on Thursday to join us. It is always nice to have them here....and on top of that they brought several bags of grapefruit and tangerines (Yummy)

We had good food, great deserts, a fun time with the puzzle, some games and a time of giving thanks. It was a nice relaxing day-- the notable regulars missing  --- My Dad who decided not to drive down, The Aikens -- who moved to the snowy north and Michael who went to South Carolina to visit his new wife's family      

On Saturday we packed up the Tandem and headed to the east coast for a meet up with 3 other couples for a tandem ride.  We met up with Rick and Deb,  Don & Carol and Greg and Joanie.  Rick and Deb were the tour leaders for the day and mapped out a nice 43 mile route that ended up actually being 58 miles.  This was fine by us as it was a great day,  we rode with great people , saw pretty scenery and then had an excellent meal together. 



This is our group at a stop at Bulow St park to see the Fairchild Oak.... as you can see this is one BIG tree. From left to right-- Don  Carol, Joanie, Greg, Bernice, Rick , Deb and Me.
Sorry Rick for getting your bike dirty on the brief dirt section (grin)

It was nice to ride with other tandems and I learned a lot by watching them and asking questions.  This is all new to us and very different than riding a single bike

Friday night Bernice and I went downtown and took in the sights on the square. The whole area was arrayed with beautiful lights and the weather was mild ....great night to be outside.

Our reason for going was a concert being put on by a band called FEE.  The lead singer is Steve Fee pictured here. It is a Christian band with great music and a good message...the square was PACKED

On Saturday we headed to the Villages and met some more new friends.  Bob & Jan (pictured to the left) . They lead us all over the south end of the Villages covering 25 miles ...ending up at TwoJays for coffee and conversation.  They were an experienced tandem couple and very nice people. I am sure we will ride again with them. 

Today is a nice quiet day with church this am then a nap and now time to enjoy the remainder of the weekend. 

Brrrrr..... I thought this was Florida

We had a week where the lows were consistently in the low 30's or high 20's..... and that my friend is chilly weather. For my northern family and friends --- you know I ski regularly in the single digits while up in NY -- so I am not going soft. But with the Florida humidity 30 feels like 15.

Even with the brisk weather we still got nearly 100 miles on the tandem. We are getting more & more comfortable on it. There is a large amount of communication necessary --- every thing from clipping into the pedals to starting, stopping, shifting, and even coasting has to be communicated.

We do very well and with a grand total of 4 rides we are already getting more and more proficient. I will say that riding into the wind is easier on it than on a single bike & rolling terrain is just plain FAST.

On other fronts Derek has been sick for about 3-4 days now....mainly a stomach thing where he can not keep food down. Oh for wisdom on his part to take it easy and heal.

This week is thanks giving and I would be remiss if I did not mention a few things I am thankful for. My family (all of you), our country and the freedoms we have, Christ for dying on the cross to forgive my sins, my friends that form a patchwork of memories and support from coast to coast, my Job and my staff along with my business partner Michael, and the Internet that is just one more way we can all stay connected.

We will have a crowd of about 14 on Thursday some family, some friends, and as usual some strangers. I think this Holiday more than others is a time to gather with all sorts of people and share the blessings.


It was cold but we had a new bike so we bundled up and off into the wind we went. This particular ride was our longest at just under 40 miles and by time we were done it was a comfortable 62 degrees.


We visited a long time client and friend Ruth who at 80+ years had to throw a leg over the new bike. I will say at one of her birthdays over 80 she hopped on my Harley and we went to lunch some 20 miles away.


She is a sport and heck of a nice lady, still very active --playing tennis, mahjong, and tirelessly raising money each year for our local hospice agency.

I think our trip to the Netherlands softened us a bit, as now we think nothing of stopping for a cup of coffee. This pic was taken outside the Yahala Bakery near Top of the World

Daisy Daisy.....

One bit of bright news during the recent ecconomic downturn is Gas Prices ahve more than cut in half....







After waiting since early August our tandem finally arrived yesterday November 15th. It is made by a company called Co-Motion in Eugene,Oregon. It was worth the wait-- it is gorgeous





The model is a Speedster Co-pilot. This is a coupled tandem which means has couplers that allow it to come apart and it fits in 2 suitcases that are checkable as normal luggage.





Yesterday we had ridden our regular bikes in the AM and got the message it was in so after lunch we picked it up-- we had just enough time for a 9 mile ride before kickoff for the Gator Game.





Today we got to go for a bit longer ride of 22 miles with a few hills. We got along very well, enjoying the teamwork aspect of Tandem riding. You have to communicate everything to your partner.









Two things that are odd are as follows. Starting /stopping takes some coordination and photo taking is wierd with only one of us in the picture....I enlisted my neighbor John to take this pic and the video

November... bicycles, football and friends

Cayce and Michael got a chance to travel north to Nashville to watch the Florida Gators spank the Vanderbilt Commodores --- she wanted to be sure to be warm so I offered to let her borrow my hat -- not sure but I think she found a different one to wear to the game.


Bernice was enjoying the mid 70's weather to do some studying out in our pool area. We use that area as an extension to the house this time of year. Delightful Florida weather--- 70 here and in Appleton Wisconsin it is 28.




We are certainly at this time enjoying FLORIDA Football. We CRUSHED the Georgia Bulldogs last week and Vanderbilt this week. We have clinched the SEC east. We have our sights set on South Carolina next week..... taking it one game at a time

On Friday night we traveled to the campus of UF and had dinner at Tijuana Flats (a good Mexican Restaurant on campus) It is always fun to walk around the campus. The reason we were up there was to see a good friend of ours.


We found her at the pool. She is a swimmer who happens to swim for the University of South Carolina. Sherah Aiken. She has been my friend since 3rd grade when I was her SS teacher and she kicked me in the shin for telling the Bible story about a guy named Achan (pronounced like her last name --- who hid stolen stuff in his tent) she did not like me saying that and OUCH.



We met her at the pool and followed her whole team to a restaurant and got to catch up with her. She is a senior at Univ of SC....luckily she did not kick me this time. It was great to see her and give her a hug.



Michael and I did a client event this past Wednesday. We sponsored a bicycle ride and breakfast in Inverness. It went well .....this is a picture of Bob, a retiree who moved to Florida from Montana. We had clients and their friends --- it was fun and we met some good people.


A nice time of year for flowers...


Today my neighbor John and I loaded our off road bikes up hand did just over 20 miles in the woods.




This is a picture of me on the Land Bridge overlooking I-75. This is a tri-use bridge for Bikes, Horses and walkers to cross the interstate safely.


Here is a short video of me in the woods today....click the arrow to watch it.


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