Bernice & I found recently that at the end of our street if you traverse a small field you intersect with the Florida Trail. This has provided us with some interesting after dinner hikes. The wild flowers are in full bloom right now in the meadows along the trail.
Last Tuesday Michael and Cayce joined us on our hike. We went about 3 miles round trip down the trail and found a mixture of meadows and woods.
One place they made and easy crossing of a fence and you actually traverse through an occupied cow field-- fortunately the herd was through an open gate and down a bit when we passed. In watching where I was walking -- I noticed this cactus in bloom.
On Saturday we did a 48 mile ride with our friend Don. He says he likes following us on the Tandem. I think he enjoys the draft ---it was funny-- He said, " I feel really fit while following you guys -- not so much when I am leading"
On Friday Bernice & I did a 60+ mile ride in the horse farm area north of Ocala. It was pretty with all the farms, ponds and horses. Some of which get all frisky and want to run with you as you go by.....others do not even notice us
This coming week we will head to Washington DC for a conference I qualified for-- should have some good pics for next week.
Recently Michael and Cayce made a trip to Tampa to visit their friend Jason who deals in bicycles online. They were able to get a great deal on a bike for Cayce. She is excited about riding and loves the Orange & Blue color scheme of the new Trek.
They were beaming after riding to visit us -as is evident by their smiles. She looks like a cyclist and is already riding 18- 20 + miles -- so the prospects are good for her cycling future. She has a good teacher too and that never hurts.
Derek is finished with High School and will graduate on June 6th. Here is a pic of one of his last days when he rode to school in a makeshift swimming pool in the back of a pick up truck. The good news is he is accepted to the University of Florida and did qualify for a full academic scholarship (covering tuition and some $$ towards books). In his class of 570 only 11 qualified for that level of support.
The rest of the pictures are from a 63 mile ride we did yesterday to benefit Hospice of Marion County. The first one shows what happens when you ride a tandem with single bikes. They line up like it is Talladegah to enjoy the big draft the tandem puts out.
Here are the boys and I enduring the heat for a photo opportunity. 
At the bottom is a picture of two of my favorite clients Lil & Ruth who do tons of volunteer work in town and we there serving food to the riders
