Sunday's Ride
07-04-2010
The Misfit Chronicles Continue......
Hello Misfits,
19 Stalwart Misfit Bikes showed up @ the HESS rendezvous point on Sunday to celebrate America's 234th Birthday! The plan was to get in a good ride with a great destination and get everyone home in time to attend parties, fireworks displays, shack up, disturb the neighborhood, or whatever it is that MISFITS do without adult supervision. The weatherman pretty much said that rain would be a part of this Fourth of July, but screw it; let's ride! John was back from his nephew's wedding in St. Louis, and it was good to have him home ridin' with his Misfit buds! Bill rode in on his 1997 Heritage Softail Classic along with his friend Dave Williams after a longgggg hiatus. He didn't just ride in; he made a Grand Entrance on his Softail that had been converted to a trike! You have to see it to appreciate it, so I'll be sending a pic of Bill and his steed right after this email. I think you will agree that it is gorgeous.
Donna made the 40 mile trip up from down south just so she could be in the saddle again with her new Misfit friends. She rides a Harley Sportster 1200 that has a sound that is music to my ears! Amber, riding her gargantuan Triumph Rocket III that weighs in at a whopping 900 pounds, was back today along with her man Bruce who rides a Harley that is a beaut. Welcome back, Misfits! Rowdy Bill joined us today as well, and so did Tim and Shelly-great! I had my "Easy Rider" bud and my "Wingman" back! Millie rode in on her Sportster "Paloma" who was sporting new saddlebags. She has added some other neat little tricks to her bike like skull bolts on the handlebars that are really cool. Ted was back today, and he had on a patriotic 9/11 shirt to go with his Fatboy. That new Fatboy Low with the silky aluminum engine finish is an attention getter, and Vince seems to like his just fine. Cheryl & Doug arrived on their cruiser; hey when are we going to see that yellow Kawasaki 900 again Doug? Our caravan also had Adam back today, and he was riding his Harley that is near and dear to my heart, a Dyna Low Rider. You rock, Adam! Kerrie also made the trip up from beachside on his Honda Shadow for another run with the Misfits. Our group wouldn't have been complete without two Misfit denizens of the road that are always a pleasure to have along-Rich and Steve! Duff was also @ HESS, and I have an email from him I'll pass along about his son Jeremy who recently participated in the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge. Finally I had my lovely wife Bonnie running drag on her big trike "Lucy."
We roared out of the HESS parking lot about 9:25 AM and rode north on U.S.1. Doug's hat blew off, so that slowed us up a little, but he got it back! We didn't really get our line back together 'til we got to Mims and the intersection with S.R.46. I knew we were intact when I looked back and saw Bill on his trike and the "Lady in Red" astride her trike "Lucy." Once on 46, we settled in to the ride and enjoyed the fine rush of the wind. The sky was full of clouds, but so far so good! Bart cruised along contentedly beneath me as we rode westbound taking in the sights offered by Lake Harney, the verdant landscape, and the meandering St. Johns that we would cross thrice. "Wingman" Tim was riding beside me as we approached Geneva, and I hollered over to him and his lady Shelly inquiring as to whether they were ready for a butt check? Shelly nodded in the affirmative, and I could see some of the other Misfits getting the "I need a drink; I need to pee; I need to stretch my butt" look too!
The Marathon station in Mims is a stop right out of the old Eddie Albert show "Green Acres." It sits at the crossroads of S.R.46 and 426 and is in the country big time. Today as we pulled in, we were greeted by some roosters, hens, and a bevy of baby chicks walking hither and yon around the parking lot. I'm surprised some pigs didn't come oinking across the lot too! The stop gave everybody a needed break and allowed the Misfits to play with the animals. What a scene. You have bikes parked all over the lot, Misfits walking back and forth, and a bunch of chickens from Old MacDonald's farm joining in. Hey you Misfits know we have a good time! Kickstands up-time to head to DeBary and the Swamp House.
In Sanford we had to play ring around the rosy coming off Melonville Road due to some detours caused by a shut down of the Lake Monroe Road. As soon as we could, we got down to lakeside and took in the views as we cruised around the south side of Lake Monroe. We passed Wolfy's on our right and then Johnny Rotten's on our left before taking the bridge over the St. John's to DeBary. At Highbanks, the Misfits cut back to the river and in due time rolled into the Swamp House Grill parking lot just ahead of the first rain shower. Perfect timing! We all got parked as the curious onlookers tried to absorb the original and colorful scene of the Misfits arriving. One guy asked me, "Are you people on some kind of run today?" I told him we were the Misfits and that we run from reality every Sunday!
Right after we arrived, the music started-cool. The guy on the mike cranked out a variety of good tunes. Some Misfits were upstairs on the deck overlooking the St. Johns; some were downstairs at the Tiki Bar; and some just strolled around taking in the beautiful views of the river. The staff at Swamp House is getting used to the Misfits now, and the hospitality was most cordial. The manager even thanked me for coming back with the Misfits-neat! We definitely spent a relaxing hour and a half at this scenic stop perched on the east shore of the St. Johns River. Then Mother Nature said, "I hope you enjoyed the ride over 'cause I'm gonna soak your happy little biker asses on the ride back!" And she did....but it wasn't too bad. We had another good time; everybody made it home safe, and the day left us with smiles on our faces! See ya Sunday, Misfits!