The Florida Gator Tale

Transcription

1 The Florida Gator Tale Newsletter of the Florida Chapter of the Motorcycle Sport Touring Association Volume 6 Issue 5 Events in May Details on Page 8 In This Issue: Page 1 Feature Article Page 1 Editor s Monthly Note Page 3 Safety Talk Page 4 Florida News Page 8 Florida Rides Page 9 Future Florida Events Page 10 Mystery Hyperlink Page 10 Classified Ads Contact Information: Northeast Florida Director: Phil Ridgdill rfoxrdr@bellsouth.net Central Florida Director: Bob Shields boju29@msn.com South Florida Director: Van VanSteelant busavan@flahsta.org Safety Editor: Doug Westly flwingrdr@msn.com Florida Gator Tale Editor: Don Moe editor@flahsta.org 1 of 10 The Florida Gator Tale Feature Article Visiting Port Mayaca by Jim Park I know many of you stop at the locks on the east side of Lake Okeechobee. It s usually a nice break and lots of riders stop there to talk about their rides. I often take company there to see the gators and boats passing through the lock. For the past several months, the gates to the parking area have often been locked. I spoke with the lock tender as to why they were being locked. I had assumed that it was due to maintenance or for security reasons. To my surprise it was none of those things. The lock tender told me that people drop trash when they are out there and it s his job to pick it up and he simply doesn t want to do that. While I don t condone littering (and there is a trash can at the parking area), I can t see that the public should be denied access to a public area based on that reasoning. I contacted the field office in Clewiston for the US Army Corps of Engineers, which is in charge of the lock, and the next time I was at the lock the parking area was Editor s Monthly Note: We ask each one of you to consider writing an article about your experiences traveling by motorcycle and sending it to the Editor of The FL MSTA Gator Tale. To be added to or removed from the newsletter mailing list, please contact Choon Gan, the MSTA membership director, or visit the MSTA National Website to set your subscription preferences. You must be an MSTA member to receive it. We wish you all safe and fun rides! Don Moe

2 open. However, the chain-link gate into the lock area observation deck has remained locked. In recent weeks both gates have sometimes been locked. It seems hit-or-miss. Perhaps different lock tenders have been on duty. If you enjoy this stop and would like to see it be open to the public, please take a moment and contact the Corps to let them know this should consistently remain open to the public...the people who are paying for it. Thanks for your help. The Corps office contact information: Lake Okeechobee U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 525 Ridgelawn Rd Clewiston, FL Phone: (863) P.S. All photos are courtesy of Jim Park. Click on a photo to see the higher resolution version on Jim s Flickr website. 2 of 10 The Florida Gator Tale One of the local residents of Port Mayaca

3 SAFETY TALK IMPORTANT NOTICE: Ultimately, the safety of motorcycle riders and their passengers is their own responsibility. Nothing presented in the column supersedes, negates or relieves a motorcyclist and/or passenger from assumption of personal responsibility for their actions and safety. New Safety Trends At the MSTA STAR Rally in Lexington, KY this year, I ll be presenting an hour long discussion on New Safety Trends in Motorcycling. So what s new? Technology isn t standing still in the motorcycle safety arena. If you haven t kept up lately, there is probably too much to absorb in just one sitting. New safety trends encompass everything from satellite emergency apps for your iphone or Android phone to something as (not so) simple as new tire construction. New safety options for riders and passengers include technology such as inflatable air vests that deploy in as little as.25 seconds in case of a crash. The Hit-Air inflatable motorcycle air vest. This is just one example of new air vest technology now on the market for motorcycle riders. Aerostich uses a TF3 armor pad that is soft until impact, and then stiffens upon contact. While not currently CE-approved, it does perform as well or better than some CE-approved systems armor. Tire manufacturers are now offering multi-compound tires for adventure touring motorcycle applications. You can finally get a tire that has great wet road properties, combined with good cornering grip and a high mileage center area. I m having a set of the new Michelin PR3 Trails installed on my GS just today, so we ll see how they do. If anyone is going to next week s rally in Helen, GA, check in with me and I ll give you some feedback on them. If you re a long distance rider and DON T have a SPOT satellite messenger or SPOT Connect, then you re probably overlooking a valuable safety aid. The former is a stand-alone satellite one-way broadcast device. The latter is the same principle, but smaller and connects via Bluetooth to your smartphone (iphone or Android). Other new technologies even include the first commercial HUD (Heads-Up Display) systems available for motorcycle riders. This is probably the latest safety innovation application for SPOT Messenger motorcycle riding and is still under development. The current systems appear a bit cumbersome and challenging to use, but like everything else, it is probably only a matter of time before HUD systems for bikes are a practical reality. The bottom line here is that as motorcycle riders, we should take advantage of the currently available technology. How much of that technology you choose to employ is up to you. It is all about risk management. However, new safety technology could not only make your ride safer, it may also just extend your riding career! Ride Safe! Doug Westly Safety Editor 3 of 10 The Florida Gator Tale

4 Florida News South Director s Report APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS... We will see about that... Fortunately, our South Lunch Ride turned out to be rain free, despite the dire prognostications of your favorite weather diviner!! Even if we were just lucky, I ll take it!! Now a word about the southness of our ride!! We went just about as north as our south lunch Van VanSteelant rides will go this year. We made our way to the East Lake Fish Camp in Kissimmee! Most of the 13 riders and friends rode more than 100 miles to try out our new RTE. Some nearly hit 200 miles one-way! And the miles were worth it! Nestled up to shores of East Lake, (go figure!!), this is more a destination than just a restaurant. They have cabins, tent camping, and RV hook ups available for modest prices. And the general store/resort restaurant took care of us just fine! We were impressed enough to ponder using this location for a Just-For-Fun event. Further investigation will be instigated! And we added a little more adventure to our lunch by running our first 50/50 raffle. Don Moe was the first to benefit for his modest investment! The other half ($7.50) will go toward the FL MSTA treasury. So far, from the T- shirts sales and raffle, we have $81.50 in the cash box. We thank everybody for their participation!! With May just ahead, here s what s in store: On May 4 th for the South Lunch Ride, we will once again return to the Laishley Crab House! This is in Punta Gorda with a fantastic water view and outside deck. We had such a wonderful time there last year, nobody wanted to leave! Really! Come out and find out why... Details at AND FOR THE MAIN EVENT OF THE MONTH Riding Into History! The FL MSTA will once again have a booth at this spectacular show. If you plan to attend, let Van or Phil know! We can always use a volunteer or two to man the booth, and you can rest your dogs after walking around the lake drooling over all the fine machinery on display!! If you don t know about this annual event (what!??!) check out Not only do they attract the best of the best on two wheels, but the whole event is a 4 of 10 The Florida Gator Tale

5 charity fundraiser. This year, like in the past, is for the Wounded Warrior Project. Entry fee is just $10! Come out and support the Club and many of our members many of the Event Staff are Club members! In addition, some of our members will have their pride and joys on display!! You will be impressed by what you see!! And if you d like to make a weekend out of it, there are several hotels in our MSTA discount program just south of the event location. (Many members find that this discount program easily pays for their membership each year!) Be sure to check out the National website for the BIG events that happen all year long. A Just-For-Fun event is going on in Helen, GA the weekend of May 4 th. And TriSTAR will take place in Sparta, NC over the holiday weekend of May 24th-27 th! And we are just that much closer to STAR at the end of June! You are going, right?!? It s just up the road in Lexington, KY this year. And you ll just have to endure riding through some of the finest biker roads in all the land to get there from here!! Start planning your route(s) now. Be sure to register NOW, so you can book your room. Did you know that a hot breakfast is included in your room cost?! And I ve heard from some of the organizers that the planned routes will not disappoint! Membership News! As we receive updates about our current state membership after we go to press, we don t always welcome our new members as soon as they sign up! That said, we have no new members to welcome this month. If you need more Invitation-To-Ride quad folds, let one of us know. We will happily send you a stash to hand out to every suspect you come across! Get out and ride!! Do so safely!! ATGATT Van MSTA Florida State Co-Director Central Director s Report Our Central ride for April ended up at The Perfect Spot located at the Deland Airport. Sorry about the multiple s the week of this ride. We originally had this planned for the Dublin Station in downtown Deland, but, when I called to re-confirm our space, the restaurant advised me that there was a music festival planned for that day and it would be a zoo to find a seat. That s the reason for the scramble. You would think it is as easy as finding a lunch/brunch spot, telling everyone when to be there and just running with it. Sometimes it is and sometimes it s not. Although there were threats of rain in the forecast, the worst I heard about was a couple of sprinkles. The temps were mild, the streets were dry and it was just another beautiful day in paradise. We had 11 riders show, including Tim and Teresa Vipond, who just recently transplanted from Texas where they were long time MSTA members. Welcome to Florida! If you haven t been to The Perfect Spot before, you should pay them a visit (whether with MSTA or not). This is known as one of the busiest and best skydiving airports in the USA and they sure lived up to their reputation 5 of 10 The Florida Gator Tale Bob Shields

6 when we were there. There was a steady stream of skydivers landing just outside the restaurant the entire time, as shown in the adjacent photo. Most of use stayed around after lunch to watch them swoop over the restaurant and flair right before they reached the ground. It really is a sight. We have a couple of historic locations set for the next couple of Central rides. The May 11 th ride is to the Red Wing Restaurant in Groveland, FL. This place has been there since the 40 s and one in the heart of the citrus fields. If you have the chance to explore before or after lunch, there are very nice roads all around this place and they are typically light on traffic and high on curves, at least for Florida. Just north of the restaurant is a hang gliding airport where you may be lucky enough to find some crazies catching an updraft. The May ride will be our last lunch before we move to brunch rides to beat the summer heat. On June 8 th we are scheduled for another historic spot that should be well within the reach of riders in both our Central and North areas. The location is the The Old Spanish Sugar Mill located at De Leon Springs. This place is truly a treasure in Florida. It is right at the De León Springs State Park and you can walk a few paces out of the mill and dive into the spring to cool down before the ride home. The drawback to this location is that there is a fee to get into the park where the restaurant is located and this ride may be a little bit of a stretch for some of the more southern Central riders, especially in June and at brunch. I will confirm the entry fee for motorcycles (I think it was $2 last time I went) and get that information out next month so we can decide to stay with this spot or move to another. In July we were planning to go to the Speckled Butterbean, but we have heard that it may have closed. If that is confirmed, we will just roll right across the street to the Hayseed Café (map). The Hayseed has an outstanding buffet that s almost too good. Make sure to wear pants that adjust at the waist! 6 of 10 The Florida Gator Tale

7 A little motorcycle humor: I saw this on a guy at the Daytona 200 this year dedicated to Doug, our safety guru! [Ed: See this article for additional perspective on loud pipes.] Ride Smart, Ride Safe, Ride Home, Bob Shields MSTA Florida State Co-Director Northeast Director s Report [Ed: Due to a sore neck, Phil could not attend. This report is by Don Moe.] There was a good turnout of 20 for the RTE in High Springs on Saturday, including several non-msta BMW members. The restaurant had set up two long tables for our group on the outdoor patio. They were just big enough to seat everyone in our group. The food was quite good. On the way there, I personally enjoyed riding the nice county roads in the area. The following photos were taken during the event. Thanks to Alan Singer for his photos. Phil Ridgdill 7 of 10 The Florida Gator Tale Photo by Don Moe

8 Photos by Alan Singer Questions? Give me a call at Phil Ridgdill MSTA Florida State Co-Director Florida Rides This Month MSTA Florida South Lunch Ride When: Sat, May 4 th, 12 pm 1:00 pm Where: Laishley Crab House 150 Laishley Court, Punta Gorda, FL (map) Description: We are returning to an old favorite! We had a perfect day there last year, and we hope to repeat history!! Contact: Van - busavan@flahsta.org or MSTA Florida Central Lunch Ride When: Sat, May 11 th, 12 pm 1:00 pm Where: Red Wing Restaurant State Road 33, Groveland, FL (map) Description: Just fine food in a Country Setting. Contact: Bob Shields - boju29@msn.com or MSTA Florida North Ride When: Sat, May 18 th Where: Riding Into History Concours d Elegance World Golf Village, St. Augustine, FL (map) Description: Riding Into History, one of America s premier vintage motorcycle events, will return to the beautiful World Golf Village on May 17-18, The World Golf Village is located just north of St. Augustine on I-95, exit 323. The Florida MSTA chapter is planning to have a display booth at the event. Contact: Phil Ridgdill - rfoxrdr@bellsouth.net or of 10 The Florida Gator Tale

9 Future Florida Events MSTA Florida Central Lunch Ride When: Where: Sat, June 8 th, 9:30 am 10:30 am The Old Spanish Sugar Mill Ponce Deleon Blvd, DeLeon Springs, FL (map) Description: Be advised, you have to pay State Park admission fee to get to the restaurant! Contact: Bob Shields - boju29@msn.com or MSTA Florida South Lunch Ride When: Sat, June 15 th, 10:30 am 11:30 am Where: Crossroads Restaurant NE 128 th Ave., Okeechobee, FL (map) Description: This is favorite of the Eastsiders! We always have a great time here. Lots of parking, lots of tables, and great service! If you re interested, you can stop by a local dealership just down the road on SR70, or head a little further south and take in a view of the Big O!! Contact: Van - busavan@flahsta.org or MSTA Florida North Lunch Ride When: Sat, June?? Where: TBA Description: Contact: Phil Ridgdill - rfoxrdr@bellsouth.net or For additional Florida events and information, click here to see Florida MSTA web site Events page. MSTA website information on upcoming events: click here. National MSTA Florida MSTA Paul Van VanSteelant South Director 217 S.E. 3rd Street Boynton Beach, FL busavan@flahsta.org More Contact Information Bob Shields Central Director 710 Crescent Hills Drive Lakeland, FL boju29@msn.com Phil Ridgdill Northeast Director rfoxrdr@bellsouth.net ALL GRAPHICS WERE PROVIDED BY THE CREDITED AUTHOR, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. 9 of 10 The Florida Gator Tale

10 This month s Mystery Hyperlink is in keeping with our safety article. C L A S S I F I E D A DS To find a buyer for your unwanted motorcycle items, please send your ad and pictures by to editor@flahsta.org 10 of 10 The Florida Gator Tale