Ride Fast, Take Chances Tour

This week marked yet another Oyster Tour, Number Three of 2017, after Ken called to see if I wanted to meet him in Perry for another big ride.

I was on Rocket, just one day after getting it back with the fresher engine.  I thought that this would make a good shake down cruise for the renovated scooter.

I started by leaving home at 8:30.  It was supposed to be 8:00, but the temperatures were below 40 degrees so I took a little longer to wait for it to warm up.

The ride to Perry was cold but nice as the sun was shining and spring was in the air with new growth on many of the trees.

Ken was waiting at the Holiday Inn Express in Perry.  That is where he told me about a fellow biker he saw in the hotel.  That biker gave him this advice, "Ride Hard, Take Chances", so that became the theme of this Tour.

We headed to Carrabelle, taking a detour to see the St. Marks Lighthouse, located within a beautiful estuary near St. Marks, Florida.  We stopped a few times to take in the view, then walked around the old lighthouse.

Then we checked into the hotel in Carrabelle and headed to Eastpoint to meet Gary at Lynn's Quality Oysters, where we ate two dozen of the saltiest oysters I have ever eaten.  Maybe a touch too salty for me, but they were still very good.

We made our way back to the hotel where we had Ritz crackers, pretzel bites, plastic cheese and drinks on the balcony overlooking the marina before dinner at the Fisherman's Wife restaurant.

Saturday had us eating a quick breakfast at the hotel where we had a nice discussion with an English Couple.  They led an interesting discussion as they were in attendance at the Paris theater bombing in 2015.  The husband had helped patrons escape and was heroic in his efforts.  You meet the most interesting people on these trips.

After breakfast we said goodbye to Gary and headed to Newberry to spend the night in the wooded trailer of Ken's friend Larry.

On the way, we turned to go to the end of Alligator Point, finding it to be a bit disappointing after St. Marks the day before.

We ate lunch in a Bistro in downtown Perry, then the long ride to Newberry, where the dirt road to Larry's place added some fun to the day.

We dined at a Mexican restaurant in downtown Newberry, watched some NCAA basketball and turned in for the night.  The Gators won!

Sunday morning we watched sports center until heading to our respective homes.  It was another fine Oyster Tour and I look forward to the next one.

And the new Rocket was perfect.  Hitting 79 mph in good conditions on I-10 heading out and coming home. It started easily every time and didn't leak a drop overnight both nights.

A new mural at the Bank of America on Edgewood Avenue near home.

I had to stop to get a pnoto.

My usual Oyster Tour shot at the north end of 238 heading to Lake Butler.

The New Rocket in all of its glory.

Along the pretty 238

Picking up Ken at the hotel in Perry.

The estuary at St. Marks.

We stopped for a photo shoot with the lighthouse in the distance.

Ken closer to the lighthouse

Scoots at the lighthouse

This guy had just caught a few crabs.

You can starve to death eating those things, but they sure are good

St. Marks

We will be back for the big festival.  Or not/

We were wondering where the OFFICE might be.

Gary dining on salty oysters.

Ken and Gary at Lynn's.

Following Gary and his trailer on 98 heading back to Carrabelle.

Afternoon sun from our balcony in Carrabelle.

Saying goodbye to Gary

Ken stopped to get a photo of the big baseball on 98 near Carrabelle.

The end of the road on Alligator Point.  It should be a nice park, but the gate was locked.

The west end of the washed out road on Alligator Point.

The east end of the washed out road.

Spring in North Florida

Perry for lunch

Trees and Ken on 27.

The dirt road to Larry's place.  Ken was fast.

Larry's dog Ginger.  She was a sweet one.

Larry's wooded trailer home.  Ken slept in Dave's trailer home inside the pole barn.

An old farmhouse, barn and water tower near Larry's place.