Airboat Ride in Everglades City

April 8, 2015

My family came for a visit the week after Easter.  Although we did many fun things I wanted to highlight our air boat ride in the Everglades City.  We chose Speedy Johnson's air boat since my brother recommended them.  It was a good choice.  Although we didn't see any alligators.....the water is too salty this time of year and the alligators are fresh water predators....we did see a raccoon and a dolphin.  The fun part of the trip was how fast the boat was speeding around the everglades.  I was sure glad that had noise resistance headphone for our ears.  We would have gone deaf with out them.

Steve.....our captain of the boat.  He was Coast Guard certified as we learned all boat captains have to be to operate an air boat.

Some other air boats we passed




And of course......

Rocky the raccoon.  Although he is nocturnal naturally in most other states he comes out at low tide looking for food.  People have trained him to beg.  Some of the people did feed him.  He stood up on his hind legs and begged for food from our boat but we had nothing to share.

Ride Cancelled on 4/15

Due to lack of attendance.....come on back Dennis, Bruce and Bob.....the Wednesday 4/15 ride is cancelled.

See you all next week if there is interest.

The Chocolate Bunny Ride

Friday April 3rd

Was I surprised to receive a package from Our Lady of the Perpetual Headwinds to remind me of tomorrow's Chocolate Bunny Ride.   Laura and I created this ride a number of years back.  It has become a tradition and each Easter weekend this ride takes place.  Barring any bad storms in NJ this ride will once again be done.  If you have never done the ride you owe it to yourself.....and your bike....to do this ride.  Check the ride book or contact Laura for the start time.

Laura has enhanced the ride over the years to include chocolate bunnies or eggs at the end of the ride to celebrate finishing the ride.  She has even added extra bunnies for jokes that merit a bunny.  I think John Kramarz is the top winner in this category....or at least he was on the last Chocolate Bunny ride I attended while living in NJ.

So Laura....package received and acknowledged. ( with the Homestead coffee beans as an added treat!!!)  It brought a smile to my face....and to my heart.  It makes me miss you all back in NJ and the fun times we had.

The best part below.....

The message from Laura....while private....did say that she and the gang will teach me how to climb hills again.   I have to say I am concerned about keeping up with the gang when I return for a long visit.  In Florida the only thing there is are flat roads.  Hopefully the wind training here will give me a little help when I come back to visit this summer.  Of course I will be on Seabiscuit ( my beater bike) which is heavier so I will have to use that excuse as much as I can while suffering on some of the most scenic hills in all of NJ!

Happy cycling until we meet this summer.  I plan to be in NJ from mid July until the second week of September thanks to a very kind person who will let me and my two girls, Cindy and Tracey, stay in their house.   What great friends I have.