But this past weekend was quite busy and fun.
It started with Sarah and I going to Gainesville Friday afternoon to see Kylie and attend a Gator Basketball game against William and Mary. We arrived at her apartment complex, parked and went up to her apartment. Within five minutes we heard a horn sounding, like an alarm was going off. I paid no attention to it until Kylie said that it sounded like a car being towed. She ran to her window to see our car being towed away. We went down, found the phone number of the towing company, drove there, paid $100. ransom and were back at the apartment after being in Gainesville for a total of 20 minutes. What a total rip-off.
We then headed to get something to eat, then to the game where the Gator basketball team looked good in their first game of the season.
Kylie, a graphic design student, has been working as a consultant with Swamp Records to do design work for a new band, the Savants of Soul. They just released their first album, available on iTunes, and Kylie designed the cover and the graphics for the band. They had an album release party downtown so we went there to see them perform. They were quite good and put on a great show.
We spent the night at her place, got up and had breakfast downtown. Then Sarah and I went to the football game, sitting in a skybox with Sarah's good friend Candi. The game was going well until the end when the Gators had two kicks blocked and ended up losing to South Carolina in overtime. The coach was fired the next day.
We drove home after the game.
I got up and headed back to Gainesville on Sunday morning to go racing in my Miata. We reserved the road course at Gainesville Raceway, better known for the Gator Nationals, a drag racing event that has been coming to town for probably 50 years now. They have a small road course out back that we use occasionally. It is a favorite of mine as the road course feels more like racing than the runways we usually use. It is quite fast too, especially as set up this time.
I finished 7th out of 90 in the PAX (handicapped system) and was very pleased with two of my five runs that felt perfect. The day ended with me calling Kylie and having an early dinner with her before driving home.
What a fun weekend.
Gator Basketball in the friendly confines of the O'Connell Center
Kylie designed the logo.
The Savants of Soul in action
At the beginning of the game. Skybox view.
Miata getting ready to run
And in action, leading to a nice finishing position.
Beyond doubt, a great weekend Bill. I hope Rocket gets the new header it needs soon.
ReplyDeleteThanks David. It was a lot of fun. Yesterday was nearly a perfect day for me. If I could have been faster than Fast Phil, then it would have been perfect. But it is great to have good competition so I loved it anyway. Phil and Larry make it fun to attend these events, and I got the best of Larry this time.
ReplyDeleteHi Bill,
ReplyDeleteSomething to think about: with a little luck I'll be in Florida for a week or two in February, or thereabouts.
I've been trading e-mail with Jim Mandle, a new GTS owner. I don't where he is exactly but somewhere in the more northern parts between Tampa and Jacksonville I think.
We're at the very early and tentative stages of setting up a ride to Key West.
In my case I'd rent a bike in Lauderdale or Miami and do a two-day ride down to Key West and back.
I was thinking that in a perfect world, I'd rope you, Ken Wilson, and Rob Wilson (no relation to Ken) into the plot.
Just a thought, far from being a real thing at this point.
Regards,
d.
David,
ReplyDeleteI would gladly join in for at least part of the ride. It sounds like fun. If I can get my two GT's up to speed (should be simple) you are welcome to borrow one, or my Honda if you are comfortable with its size and shifting. It is very reliable.
Please let me know as you gather the information.
Bill
Bill - I just discovered by chance your blog last evening when I read about your scooter group on the posting of ModernVespa and then couldn't stop reading all the old blogs and found that you are doing a LOT of riding. For the months of Dec. & Jan. I volunteer at Stephen Foster Cultural Center & State Park in White Springs (demonstrating blacksmithing) and if you get up that way on a ride would love to meet you. I am planning on taking my Vespa back today from home in Hernando for my first 100 mile ride. Hope our paths cross. And ditto if David comes down, I'd love to ride with you guys too. Jim
ReplyDeleteHi Jim, I am pleased to find someone new to communicate about scooter riding. It has turned out to be a great hobby for me.
DeleteI rode my Honda through White Springs a few months ago. I was looking for cool roads and found one heading north from White Springs. It was closed at a bridge about 15 miles out, but I enjoyed it anyway. I would enjoy planning a ride through White Springs soon. Maybe late January would work. Feel free to ride over here for our 7 Bridges ride in mid January. It is an easy one (some big bridges but they are cool). When I was a kid, my family, including grandparents, used to drive to your park for the Florida Folk Festival. Those were good times.