Since 1996, The Stagecoach Café in Stockton Alabama has been swarmed by motorcycle enthusiasts every December 30th. Dubbed “the last ride of the year”, this is a Ride To Eat (RTE) event, and folks ride from all over the country to attend. There are no club or manufacturer affiliations, and no money is charged to attendees. The event was hosted by John Harrison who’s a multiple time Iron Butt Rally Finisher and has held the honor of IBR Scribe multiple times. Awards were given to: Youngest Rider: 18 Oldest Rider: 82 there were two, the winner went to a man whose birthday is in February Farthest Distance: 4575 miles in less than 72 hours Oldest Bike Ridden: 1969 11 Sandies  and two  family members made the trek up to Stockton. I clocked us in at just under 252 miles  round trip. The adventure was filled with harrowing tales of Sand Dollar U-Turns, fuel anxiety, attempted formation hijacking, an embarrassing hot mic moment, and a deafening arrival of the local chapter to one of the largest motorcycle clubs in the world. George “ Cat Herder ” E, Sam E , Tommy “ GQ ” N, Sandy S , Bobby “ Waldo ” B, Dennis O , and Joe W  met up at Good Things Donuts and rode together towards Stockton. We picked up JoeJoe , Tony “ Ace ” G, and Nikki G along our spirited journey towards food. As we passed under I-65 another motorcyclist on an adventure bike decided to merge from the exit ramp into the middle of our formation. Since there wasn’t room, he rode on the shoulder and tried to muscle his way in. He might have stood a decent chance; except we were on the way towards food. No one should ever expect curtesy from a Sand Dollar when between empty stomachs and buffets. Stagecoach Cafe, Stockton, AL As we pulled into Stockton it became evident that this year had an amazing turnout. There were bikes everywhere. The parking lot was full. The gas station across the street was packed. There were bikes lined alongside the road. Every drive had bikes parked. The shoulders, ditches, and dirt paths had adventure bikes facing every which direction. Half of our group found some space on the shoulder next to the restaurant. The rest of us parked at an abandoned building across the street. As we were getting off of our bikes and removing some layers (the day was really heating up), there was a thunderous roar with some of the loudest exhausts that I’ve heard since the days I rode with Ricky D . A dozen or so members of a local chapter of a very large club pulled in next to us. Multiple riders kept blipping he throttle making it impossible to even think. I was starting to get really annoyed until they disembarked and started screaming at each other. Not in an angry way, but in a hard of hearing way. I then realized that many of these gentlemen probably had no idea how loud their bikes were. I suspect nothing would have changed if they could, but it’s hard to stay annoyed at someone who legitimately couldn’t hear how much they offended everyone else’s ears. In the pandemonium, I dropped my key to my bike and was having a difficult time finding it. Eagle Eye Dennis O spotted my key wedged between the exhaust shield and the sprocket cover. Overflow Parking Walking up to the front door Once inside, the line moved quickly. Food was a little limited, but it was to be expected given the large number of bikes outside. Shortly after sitting down, I spotted a Victory jacket two tables down from ours. Who was wearing that glorious logo? None other than Shayna K ! oh, and Wes H  and Greg L  were sitting at the table with her. Pleasantries were exchanged. After eating, paying, bathroom breaks, and losing Nikki, I was able to catch up with Wes, Greg, and Shayna outside. I caught Wes and Shayna admiring a slammed Road Glide with an oversized front wheel. They quickly walked away as soon as I tried to get a picture… Ok, maybe it was coincidental. The impromptu meetup was short lived, as the group was restless having found Nikki (who was never lost). Parking Lot: Full House Speaking of lost, George led us towards every road in southern Alabama that had the word “old” in it. Apparently implying that something has some historical significance, attracts Road Captains like moths to flame. Somewhere along the two and a half U-Turns Dennis and I may have run over a moccasin that was desperately trying to cross the road. As we circled around Bay Minette, we saw other groups of riders parked in the shade discussing how lost we were. We eventually circled to Old Pensacola Rd, which was our route home and towards the next (much needed) fuel stop. As we were pulling into a Cantonment gas station, we heard “Oh Look, there’s a whole herd of them coming” break in over open mesh. Would have been fine, except a rider in the group proceeded to poke fun of our motley group. George broke in with a “Hey Buddy” and everyone in both groups broke out in laughter. It was that special kind of moment where someone was tasking shoe leather, it wasn’t us (this time)!  After fueling up, we made our way back to our respective homes and called it a day.

11 Sandies  filled up with food rode through Northgate to see the fantastic lights. Had a new couple join The Sandies and ride with the Sandies and didn’t ask for their money back ! This was even after meeting Sandy S  and Tony G  they stayed anyway. I’m  pleased to have all of you meet Harold ( Smurf) and Karen Williams.   Harold  and Kim ride a very pretty Harley Tri-glide, nice to have you aboard. We left Golden Corral meeting Tony  and Nikki G  out in the parking lot. JoeJoe  forgot his camera and still took some great pictures via IPhone. Speaking of pictures Sandy S  took a bunch, some came out blurry, Christmas magic ?   While on the ride through Northgate we were warned there was a black bear ahead. Tony  an Nikki,   who live in a neighborhood that has a large bear infestation were pretty casual so I pretended to be also.  Well think about it, I’m in front so where is Mr. or Mrs. Bear  and I’m not doing a gender check by the way. So who do you think they would be PO at for interrupting dinner ?  Huh ? Yep me, certainly not Sandy  back there waving arms and hollering  “Here Bear, look this way, need a picture, yoo hoo”.  So I proceeded cautiously, trying to ignore the noise behind me.  Thankfully Tommy   N  was Sheepdoging it that night so I knew we were in good hands, in spite of the interruptions  from the peanut gallery.   Have you noticed we don’t have just ordinary rides ? Most have some kind of excitement happening along the way. In spite of the excitement we had a great ride. We all  enjoyed some beautiful light displays it was a very pleasant night with good friends.   Next event is The Last Ride of The Year , put on by The Iron Butt Association. It’s open to everyone and it’s in Stockton AL. We have quite a few members of The Iron Butt association  here in The Sandies by the way. We leave GTD Monday at 8:30 am heading west .   Here’s Hoping everyone has a great Christmas   !!!!!

How did I end up with 25 stuffed toys, stuffed in my motorcycle? While my heart was breaking? My best friend, Michael McMillan, and I go way back and share a deep love of motorcycles. I was in Arizona; he was in Florida. Though he’s ten years younger than I, he had a heart attack and was hospitalized. We talked often while he was waiting for his open-heart surgery, I laughed and promised to make lots of great motorcycle trips for him, til he could get back on his own bike. But Michael died on December 4, 2024. There are no words to convey that loss. My voice cracked, tears flowed as I explained to his wife, Elise, that I’d keep my promise to ride often, be safe, take pictures, and think of him. The day after Michael died, I went into a frenzy of downsizing and dropped off unnecessary stuff at a local thrift store. And there it was – a large bin full of stuffed toys, on sale “today only” five for $1. And suddenly I had an important motorcycle trip to make. For Michael and for some kids. After migrants are legally processed at the southern border, they have to wait for their sponsors to arrange transportation to various locations. The Border Patrol has a long history of delivering them to the Annunciation House in El Paso, Texas, and the Annunciation House has developed an efficiently run operation to provide food and shelter for the few days it takes for sponsors or families to arrange for bus or plane tickets from El Paso. The Annunciation House has provided humanitarian aid in this period of transition, at no cost to the U.S. government, since 1978. Yet, Texas Attorney General Paxton has now declared that the Annunciation House a terrorist organization and is trying to close it. The Texas Supreme Court will hear the case in January. I have friends in Silver City, NM, who routinely provide supplies to the Annunciation House. So I stuffed 25 stuffed toys onto my motorcycle to made a quick trip from eastern Arizona to Silver City, NM, (320 miles round trip – I didn’t want to make the 450 mile round trip to El Paso in one day, not at my age of 76. And I needed to get back to feed my dog). I had to hurry, for the group in Silver City could make only one more trip with supplies to the Annunciation House before it shut down services in light of the threats by Paxton of legal action. But, Santas are like that – taking off quickly with an overstuffed sled. My hope was to be a tiny part of delivering a smile to a child overwhelmed by a new country (that may not always be kind). And the toys are SO cute! The weather looked best on December 9 for a bike trip. It was 35 degrees when I left Arizona, and then the winds kicked up. I was dressed like the Michelin Man; if the bike were blown over, I’d just bounce. I watched a few tumble weeds blow across the road; I wouldn’t want to hit one of those on my bike. After less than an hour I had to stop at a filling station to run hot water over my hands; a cup of hot coffee later I was back on the bike and soon up into the mountains. I only stayed in Silver City long enough to unload the stuffed toys and have another cup of coffee and sandwich with friends. The winds were getting stronger, and there were dust devils dancing on the desert flats. I got back to my RV as the sunset and in time to feed my dog. My broken heart needed the saddle time as perhaps only a biker would understand. I miss you, Michael.

Eight Sandies braved a 43 ˚F morning to enjoy one of the best riding days of the year. Oh and we rode 126 miles to get food. When the Cat Herder asked if I had any ideas for the Tom Turkey ride, I had no idea what was in store. I thought, sure, I’ve been wanting to checkout The Hideout . I rode past after Thunder Beach and they were packed with bikes. It looked like a new Outpost . I also thought about how I’ve been enjoying a few roads out that way lately, so why not. I put together a route. I mapped and exported it nine different ways, only to find out that none of them would actually load on a device. There were two problem areas that mapping software just didn’t like. I put it together as best as I could, then explained the rest to the Cat Herder via text and email. We forwarded it to JoeJoe who immediately ran into trouble uploading the Navi on his H-D CVO Limited. He eventually got something uploaded, but can’t view or delete it… In other words, everything is starting out just like one would expect. We all met up at Good Things Donuts . I just had to get a small coffee and one donut because that place lives up to its name. There was a line for the restroom when it was time to head outside. I was last in line, so by the time I’d made it out most already had their gear on. Flustered, I rushed to put all my stuff on and get ready. No one likes being left behind, and the Sandies have a habit of departing a few minutes early. I hurried out and put on my helmet, gloves, headset, music , and then the mesh comms. Ok, I’m ready just in time for the Cat Herder to motion for me to pay attention. He then says I should go ahead and lead the way since I have all of the turns programmed into my barely functioning Garmin… So I’m no longer in danger of leaving myself behind. That’s great news! Before I could bask in the newfound enjoyment of not being left, I realized what this meant. I’d be the one responsible to get fellow club members to lunch. I was between Sandies and food! There was only about 70 miles planned before lunch. We left at 8:58 (after all of that - we were still early) and had to go slow to take our time getting there. Being early would mean that we had to sit around and wait while thinking about the food we couldn't have. That’s the last thing I wanted to be responsible for. Fortune shined upon us though. The temperature started climbing quickly, the sun was shining, the pavement was dry, and we had a very scenic stroll through the countryside planned. Going slow on some of those curvy roads was tough. It has its perks too. We saw three fawns playing and two decided to run across in front of me as we got closer. About 15 families had dogs run along the fence line to welcome our presence near their homes. The roads didn’t disappoint, and everyone was smiling when we got to The Hideout . One of the owners met us in the parking lot and redirected the three wheelers to the rear of the parking area. I later found out that they get a lot of trikes, Can-Ams, and other three wheeled vehicles there; they have their own designated area. Another treat, one of the staff met us as we got off of our bikes with a kettle of apple cider. They told us it was there to help warm up anyone that may have been frozen from the ride. Inside, we were able to enjoy some very good sandwiches and burgers. Mark S commented that the Turkey was smoked really well. Munchkin make a joke about how it’s difficult to keep it lit but not too many people heard it. Sandy S had a pretzel so large she couldn’t finish it all. Sam E didn’t finish her burger either, and was kind enough to share some of her onion rings. Ace had been fairly quiet all morning but was getting a few light hearted jabs in as some of us recounted the worst of our most recent trip. Ace went the week prior, and apparently did not have the unfortunate weather we encountered. Also, Ace did not share any onion rings ( he might of offered, but I wasn't given him the opportunity to withdraw the offer as soon as I accepted ). After we ate, I went outside to check out the grounds. There were people doing sound checks or just jamming on the stage. Munchkin and I talked to one of the regulars who rode a Victory Vision. Naturally I wanted to ask about the bike I just wasn’t ready to own until it was too late. Not too long after we went outside JoeJoe took off like he was late for work. That was weird because JoeJoe has been retired from work for a few months now. Shortly thereafter, I got the look from the Cat Herder that says hey it’s time to go. The place was starting to get busier, so we said our farewells and loaded up. We headed back a slightly different route but almost just as scenic. My Garmin threw a fit a few times, and I ended up missing the one road that I wanted to show everyone. Those of us on mesh all agreed that it was easy enough to turn around and Sandy S  was that only one that couldn’t speak up. So I made the Sand Dollar Motorcycle Club Signature Turnaround™ . Then we all see Munchkin  in the back and remember he’s not on mesh also. He probably thought we were silly to go back for a road that took us to the same place we were already heading. Once back on the correct road (CR280B) we ended up at the 331-intersection traffic light across from Coy Burgess Loop Rd. We weaved our way back to Bob Sikes Rd and stopped at the gas station just in case Munchkin  needed fuel. We wait… and we wait… no Munchkin  to be seen. Mark S  says he waited at the corner of Chesser Rd, but he never came. After a brief discussion about how Munchkin  typically peels off towards Navarre at the end of our rides. It’s strange though, because he also usually waves goodbye as he does a fly-by. The Cat Herder putting back on his Chief Cat Herding Hat , doubled back to make sure Munchkin  isn’t lost, stranded, or worse. He makes to it all the way back to 331, and nada. He goes up 331 to the end of Bob Sikes, and comes back that way. The only thing we can figure Is that he went north on 331 and either too I-10 or 90 to 87 before heading south to home. Wherever you are Munchkin , I hope you are safe, warm, and with Helen. The rest of us load up and head back to our homes. It was 76 ˚F inside the fairing of my bike by the time I made it home. It was a beautiful day for a ride. The food was good, and we got to hear the story of 2-Tom and how the Tom Turkey ride came to be.

After a grueling 13 minutes of business discussions, engines roared to life with the promise of a country buffet with Brazilian/Hispanic style dishes. Seven Sandies rode 133 miles to Bigfoot Crossing Campground and Eatery in Jay. The Cat Herder and Sam led us through winding roads lined with what passes for fall foliage in northwest Florida. The overcast day helped tamper down the heat as weaved through the backcountry. There were a few joked over the Bluetooth headsets and the occasional factoid. JoeJoe took advantage of a particularly pesky light at PJ Adams to get a group photo. M2 Sensei kept road boredom at bay by weaving through particles of dust on the roadway. Munchkin , sans communicator, roared away not so quietly in the back. The buffet was a little different than what we had previously enjoyed. It was a little pricier, but they stepped up the food quality quite a bit. There was a lot to choose from, and I don’t think you could have sampled it all. Ace opted out of the buffet and enjoyed a single muffin. Granted it was a giant muffin that was the size of three! We laughed, we reminisced, and we made new memories to carry with us until the next ride. When we had our (literal) fill, we made our way back to our respective homes. There were a few sprinkles along the way; shocking us all that the forecasters got it wrong in northwest Florida.

Periodically Sensei , M2 , will teach his Read the Road Class  to us lucky Sandies. This class is normally $300.00 but Michael  shares it with Sandies for zero dollars. Michael  is a fantastic teacher coupled with his encyclopedic knowledge of all things motorcycle you have a class and a half.   This Saturday 7 Sandies  were that lucky to have another Class. Michael  had already taught the classroom part last month. Saturday was the practical on road portion , with Michael  going over all the things a rural road will tell you. We use rural cause it is hard to find a nice curvy no traffic urban road. Thing about it, 129, Cherohala, in our world Bob Sikes or a Tim W  discovery road are all rural ,are they not ?  So it makes good sense for Michael  to teach us how to see the road for real. We learned to really see the road, how to see the road and what direction the road curves , without seeing the curve. All of the clues that are there for your taking, what the road tells you in volumes.   We met at GTD it was chilly, not turn on the seat heater cold, but you hoped it would warm up soon. Seven Sandies set out for the first classroom, College Blvd at the 850 volleyball. Here Michael  pointed out the clues then how to take the curve better, safer and what everyone wanted, faster . Let’s take a pause here, this class is of benefit to both two and three wheel motorcycles. You read the road, the in-out –in method of the curve handling is the same for both types of motorcycle.   Then it was practice back and forth on Bob Sikes getting better. Michael would follow you to see how you were doing, always giving good advice to help improve your riding .   Then it was time for lunch, Eds restaurant in DeFuniak fit the bill perfectly.  After it was again riding using all the things we learned. Tommy N  and JoeJoe  were already good, this class just put a bit more shine to their abilities.  It was a great day we learned to be better riders and can’t thank Michael enough  for the instruction and suggestions.

The day was outstandingly  beautiful, the temps perfect. The bonus was that for The Sandies  who made the trip to The Chautauqua Wine Festival it was a fantastic day.  8 Sandies made the 135   miles  of great roads and Wine Fest to boot.  We got to GTD early, well   JoeJoe and Tony   G  decided a pre-breakfast of doughnuts and sweet rolls were in order. Sam  jumped off her Ride and hot footed inside to join the fun. M2 showed up on his new Transalp . It is always a pleasure to ride with Michael, anytime Michael  is with us it’s a good riding day.  We normally meet Tommy  and Sandy  under the Beach connector bridge. I love throwing around Troll remarks but this time it was at the CEFCO, darn it.   We arrived at the Festival site just after it opened and it was already filling up. We had a very pleasant surprise, motorcycle parking was on a concrete slab by ourselves, it was great.  We kinda spread out, JoeJoe  and Sandy  headed up to the wine tent to what else, buy copious amounts of wine. One of the pictures from JoeJoe, shows his packing a full case into  his Tour Pac. I  wonder the clinking sound made by the bottles on the rough roads made JoeJoe  a little more cautious    Sam  and I roamed around looking and yes buying stuff. Sam  had bought a nice cat bag at a booth. This is where Sam  channels her dad, John loved to bargain. Sam  inherited that gene, bag was marked eight bucks. Sam  offered four, lady went to seven, Sam  four fifty, both agreed at five. This was at all the booths we bought stuff from. I  really think that’s why Sam  goes to these Festivals, don’t even get me started on yard sales.   After a bite to eat it was decided to ride a bit. So off to the Valley we went. Here I  gotta thank Tim   W  for his Lewis and Clarking throughout the local roads. He put an incredible ride together on these new roads. Michael  had to get back so we headed back ourselves. This was such a great day, roads, fellow Sandies and a very nice local Fall Festival it don’t get better.   Next Saturday is the riding portion of Michaels Road Aware Program . Meet at GTD at 8 am, understand we will probably be gone the better part of the day. The class is open to all Sandies in good standing. This is an outstanding opportunity whether on Two or Three wheels. This class does make you much more aware of the road and the clues it shows.

By Joe Our business meeting and after meeting ride started with the important stuff first; breakfast at Golden Coral in Fort Walton Beach, FL. I arrived at our designated meeting spot and started chowing down when M2 shows up and does the same. Shortly after the rest of the crew started trickling in Tony G., Edna, Munchkin, Tommy and Sandy, George  and Robert W . and Bobby B . The meeting was short and almost sweet then we headed for the parking lot to ride sorta North to Jay, FL. Since our illustrious Road Captain had prior commitments, I was elected to lead a ride somewhere. I found out a while ago that the Royal Mexican Grill in Jay, Fl had closed down and was eventually replaced with Pam’s Country Kitchen. I’ve wanted to make a trip up there to check it out so today was the day. I later found out that they have been open there for about a year now. I had laid out a route from Good Things Donuts to Jay and saved it to a GPX file quite some time ago. I elected to follow it up to Jay via Shalimar and parts North, so I did not have to mess with my Harley GPS too much to get the route to work from Golden Coral. The ride up to Jay was a pleasant one as we had overcast skies and no oppressive heat and sun to make things uncomfortable. We rode through Holt, FL and into the Blackwater Forest to get to Jay. We ended up meandering through the wooded backroads all the way up there. There were a few grumbles from the peanut gallery asking when we would get to lunch. We arrived in Jay pretty much on time, just a little past 11 AM. We got our own table in the back after I helped them slide a couple tables together. That is when we found out they had an all you can eat buffet. Menus were quickly thrown aside, and the food bar was attacked in typical fashion by the Sandies. After we had had our first helping and were working on seconds the waitress mentioned that they had cake as part of the Buffett. Orders were taken for strawberry and lemon cake post haste and it was delivered quickly to the table of ravenous cake monsters. Their food was pretty good and no complaint was heard from anyone. Pam’s is going to have to be visited again soon. We took a direct route south after getting fuel in Jay. Bobby, Sandy and Tommy split off at Hwy 90 with the rest continuing south to Navarre, FL. We only had one slight bout of barely perceptible drizzle on the way back although Bobby  mentioned he had run into a rain shower for about a minute and a half. Another Business meeting and after ride is now in the history books. Hope to see you on the next one. JoeJoe

Ignoring the call of the backroads and smells of fresh biscuits in the air, seven Sandies came out to help work the annual SRI-TRI in the very early Saturday morning hours. Four members volunteered to carry judges and ride during the cycling portion of the event, offering their riding expertise to transport race officials along the 21 kilometer (13 mile) cycling route. This allows race officials to closely monitor the cyclists, ensuring adherence to the rules and providing immediate assistance if needed. Monitoring participants throughout the course is required for all USAT sanctioning. A big thanks goes out to all involved. M2 Sensei coordinated with race officials to pull this whole thing off. He was the first bike out and make more laps than anyone else. JoeJoe had the honor of carrying the only road course judge and pulled super six duties for the day. Munchkin who was fashionably late to join the group and was the last to leave the cyclist. The Cat Herder , Sam E , and Ace who cheered from their rolling couches produced by Can-Am.

Lets start off by saying that any day where everyone makes it back home safely is a good day. Add on that there were no mechanical woes that stranded anyone and we have a great day. To those ends, we had a great day today (September 14, 2024). Seven Sandies rode 252 miles for ice cream and food. Six of us met at GTD this foggy morning, but only one enjoyed breakfast. George walked in an immediately announced that we will be riding Hwy 20. There were a few curious glances, but the comment was largely directed towards JoeJoe and I ( Waldo ). We had a few email exchanges during the planning portion of this ride. JoeJoe was elated to have the .gpx file import into his Navi without fanfare ( imagine foreboding font utilized for emphasis ). I on the other hand was protesting, ok flat out whining, because riding Hwy 20 is about as much fun as getting a root canal. Just a few minutes before the start we meander out to start donning all of the appropriate safety gear. Munchkin gets a little sidetracked talking bike accessories, but got back on course just n the nick of time. Just as the wheels start to spin, we hear Tony G come over comms and say "wait, hold up". I don't think we ever knew what the issue was, but he got it sorted in a few minutes. Ok, now we were off. Tommy ( GQ ) met up with us as we rode through Bluewater Bay, and our sextet was officially a septet. Everything seemed to be perfectly normal. It was still a little foggy near the water, and Hwy 20 delivered on it's promise. We were fortunate to not be behind a group of vehicles holding up traffic ( read as we were a large group of bikes holding up traffic ). We turned up 79 and stop to stretch in Vernon. Not much to see of Vernon where we were, but they do appear to be doing extensive work reusing old shipping containers. As soon as we were back on the road, we started noticing a peculiar behavior from our Road Captain. Before he would speak to us on the radio, he would call for us; he called for Sam often. When any of us would respond, he wouldn't say anything. A minute or two later, he would repeat this pattern. "Hey Sam ?" asked George "Yeah ****** " replied Sam (redacted for our squeamish readers) Silence for 90+ seconds. Eventually, "Hey Joe?" George would ask. "Umm yeah George?" replied JoeJoe Silence again. This pattern continued until the Cat Herder  missed the next turn. As he's sharing his distain for the electronic hell he has found himself in, JoeJoe cuts back on to exclaim that it's OK, Navi didn't want us to turn there anyways. The Cat Herder  thinks we might be able to loop around - nope middle of the two lane roadway we have to u-turn back the way we came. Making a left onto our previously missed right, the fun really began. One by one, our GPS systems started redirecting us in endless waypoint loops. As best as I could tell either we had some waypoints slightly off the roadway, or they were simply in the wrong order. Either way, the Garmin devices and the Navi were not happy. A short while later we made a right when we should have gone straight. That's when George tells us that every time he would say something (i.e. "Hey -insert name-") Siri would start talking to him. We quickly realized that our Road Captain was being seduced by Siri's siren song. Unlike the fabled Beowulf, we did not have our Cat Herder  tied to a mast for safety. So we were left alone to perilously wander through the backroads on our own. We revert to calling out the various directions our devices show and guiding our Cat Herder extraordinaire by committee. Even with JoeJoe 's Navi in the mix, we somehow managed to complete our journey across NWFL to a dessert oasis. After enjoying some refreshing ice cream from the Ocheesee Creamery in front of the Shady Nook Farm, George announces that we will be heading to Jim's Buffet and Grill in Marianna . Tommy is slightly disappointed with this news as he just had ice cream. Nevertheless, Sandies must endure! We took a much more cautious route ( straight up HWY 69 to 90 ) to Jim's. We get in, eat, have some laughs and hydrate. Afterwards, we head back on 90... nearly the whole dang way. The Cat Herder  disabled his headset to avoid calamity. Boredom and heat exhaustion have set in firmly. Munchkin was not having great luck with his cruise control, and found himself rotating between lane positions. Tony G was taking in the sights of the road and the five hundred roadside flea market/garage sale stands lined up along the way. GQ peeled off to get more water and to stretch. However, the Cat Herder  still had his headset disconnected. By the time he realized we were missing a rider we were miles down the road. GQ passed us a half hour later while we were stopped for fuel and a rest. Sticking to his namesake, GQ stopped and waited for us to catch back up. Overall it was a day filled with small oddities and annoyances. You know, all of the stuff that can frustrate and distract a rider on the road. The Sandies stayed positive. We cracked self depreciating jokes, and keeping on moving forward. I suppose that's what separates our humble club from the rest. We keep reminding each other of the silver linings and the assortment of puns you could use in the situation at hand. Whether genuine or sarcastic, we keep a smile on our faces.

I’m going to make up a new word. It’s going to be sorta like pressurized, simonized or chumpenized . Notice  a word like chump is used  in there. I shoulda known when Munchkin  jumped up and volunteered to lead the Breakfast ride.  Alarm bells should have started ringing like fire bells at a six alarm fire.  But no, not a naïve trusting Old Catherder like me.   Okay back to the beginning, As Sam  and  I drove up to GTD, we watched a Publix’s big truck try and do a u-turn from the parking lot of GTD. Now JoeJoe  and Harley are between the trailer and the street. Did   JoeJoe  move? Not an inch, JoeJoe  just calmly sat there as this wall of aluminum moved a foot from his Harley and him. That should have been an omen but  I  missed the clue.     7 Sandies met at GTD on time. It was supposed to be a  rainy Sunday, 88%  chance of showers I  was surprised that we had that many to be truthful. I  was really surprised to see Kasey K  who hails from the sunny shores of Crestview. I know Kasey  likes to ride, Kasey  just didn’t know he was going to a part of Sandie lore. Then Bobby B  from the far environs of Niceville showed up. Now Bobby  is a savvy fellow but even the Great Waldo neve r  saw it coming.   Munchkin s howed up  with this grin, I  shoulda been warned but for some reason the internal alarms were strangely silent. “Follow me, folks!” declared Munchkin , now giving credit to the Munchkin. It was exactly 7 am when the kickstands came up and off we went, trusting as ever. Turned on to Eglin Parkway, went .4 of a mile and turned onto Mother Earth Café. That’s when  I  knew I  had been Munckinized ! ( cue dramatic music ).   Now being a part of Sandie lore i.e. Taking the shortest Sandie Sunday Ride, ever. It just couldn’t wipe the fact that  I  had been Munckinized . As I  sat there in the parking lot I  had to admit I  never saw it coming. We decided to make the best of the joke and eat breakfast. While sitting there we did watch it raining at least we avoided that.   Next Saturday is Our Saturday ride the schedule says 7 am  but let’s move it to 8 am

After our monthly business meeting, 7 Sandies explored 136 miles of backroads and stopped for food. The Cat Herder headed straight north towards Crestview and Baker. We made a brief stop to reattach Sam ’s sena unit to her helmet. It had leapt for freedom, but forgot it was still tethered with audio wires. MacRocket pointed out that his helmet has all of the electronics packaged inside the shell; he doesn't have to worry about such trifling incidentals. He says it plays music well, but he had never bothered to try and talk to anyone else using it. Back on the road, we meandered through the backroads past the Strawberry fields. From there, we looped back to Holt on some partially shaded and fairly fresh blacktop. I was very happy to avoid as much sunshine as I could on the canopied backroads. We saw lots of families enjoying the holiday weekend. Picnic goers, swimmers, boaters were all enjoying the shade from the trees and the cool water of the river. We rode into downtown Milton and parked all together in front of Boomerang Pizza Kitchen . We went inside and gathered around a dim table in the back. M2 Sensei and I had a brief battle over which lefty got the seat with elbow room. I didn’t try hard because that seat faces backwards… I was taught to respect my elders... …ok, it was because Michael won. Munchkin decided that he was only having dessert. Forever a thoughtful husband, he ordered a to-go dessert for Hellen (who didn’t make it out with us today). JoeJoe might have a picture of Dave eating ice cream in a strange bowl made for traveling. Feel free to ask him about the origins of said ice cream. I split off as the group headed south on 87 . My ride home was uneventful and I somehow managed to sweat out the entire glass of tea I had just enjoyed. I imagine the rest of the group's ride south was the same. I'm betting they had more cars and standstills though. I briefly considered 90, or some long way around route back towards Niceville. I ended up opting for the quickest path; traffic wasn't too bad for I-10 on the weekend before Labor Day. We missed those that couldn’t make it, but were happy to enjoy the day together.

by Greg Lynd Editors Note:  Greg met one of NW Florida's Bambi's. Many times the deer and motorbike rider suffers injury and/or death. Fortunately Greg walked away sore as hell but okay. Greg has done a terrific write-up and we are lucky to share it. Greg has some great points to say about equipment and what saved Greg's hide How many times have you heard that saying? Like me, probably enough to where you roll your eyes when you hear it. Here is my story. On a beautiful Tuesday morning, we left Good Thing Donuts to ride to Nowhere, Alabama. I was just looking to put some miles on the bike before its upcoming service appointment, and to enjoy Fall coming to Florida. Fifty-some miles later, that all changed. I was the trail bike of five. We were on a great back-country road called Old River Road. Just came out of some nice curves and enjoying the cool temps. All the sudden, a flash of brown crosses my vision. My brain screamed DEER, felt a shudder as it hit the fairing and windshield, and next thing I know I’m sliding along the ground on my right side. I come to rest on my back, I look to my right and the bike is in the trees. I look left, and the deer is trying to stand up and looking at me. The thought crosses my mind that I hope he doesn’t charge me, because I don’t think I can get out of the way. His front leg is broken, he falls and doesn’t move anymore. I call everyone on Mesh to let them know I hit a deer, but by this time they are out of range. I lay on my back and starting at my toes try to see if I feel any pain. I get all the way to my head and neck and don’t feel any problems. So, I get up and go check on the deer and start taking pictures. About that time, riders were showing up to see what happened to me. I still have my helmet on walking along taking pictures. Music is still playing on the speakers, and the bike is standing in the trees almost like it is still moving along the road. About this time, I noticed my modular had flipped open but stayed on my head, so I take it off and check it out. Not a scratch but has some deer hair lodged in the chin bar. So now I start trying to recreate what happened after someone mentions it looks like the bike flipped. My mind has gone over this a hundred times in the last few days. As near as I can remember the deer comes from my left side and I think was trying to jump the bike. He hits and rolls over the windshield and since he came from the left, I am knocked off the right side of the bike. As the deer is rolling over the bike, he must have hit my knee, because I have pain on the knee cap, left side of the knee, and left side of the thigh. As I am sliding along the ground on my right side, I think to myself that I’m glad I have my jeans on that have hip and knee armor. (Funny what you think about in an accident). I also have a jacket on that has shoulder and elbow armor. More on this later…. I slide about ten meters.  The bike is another ten meters on my right, the deer is about five meters on my left. As near as I can tell, as soon as the deer hit me and I fell off, all this sliding was in the dirt on the side of the road. There is a huge divot in the dirt where it appears the bike dug in and flipped. I didn’t think at first the the bike flipped, but when I opened the top case everything was upside down. I thank God that the deer knocked me off the bike before it flipped, or my injuries would be much worse. My injuries:  I have a scraped knuckle, a scratch on my right arm, my left knee hurts, the top of my right foot hurts, and my right shoulder and shoulder blade hurt. But NOTHING is broken. I started wearing motorcycle-specific jeans about two years ago after seeing how little protection you get from regular jeans. This particular pair is rated AA and has level one ghost armor in the knees and hips. My jacket also has ghost armor in the shoulders and elbows. And I had a modular helmet, full fingered gloves and boots on. I walked away from this with no serious injury and a couple scratches. I am incredibly blessed and lucky! My wife wanted me to go to the ER to get checked out. I grudgingly went, but I’m glad I did. They took some X-rays and determined that I was okay. I’m glad I didn’t have to take a helicopter ride to the hospital! Bottom line, I am glad I had all my gear on. Without it, this would be an entirely different story!  Also, I was riding with a great group of friends who also happen to be very good riders. Luckily, we spent the morning in the shade on a back country road instead of waiting on Life Flight. Everyone had water, and the locals were incredibly friendly. One rider left to get his trailer, we took the bike to Pensacola and had Bar-B-Q for lunch instead of sausage in Alabama. I still see a flash of Brown crossing my vision when I lay down at night. My mind goes over this time and again. What would I do different?  That’s hard to say.  I had no time to react, I was watching for animals while we were riding (I had already noticed some dogs). The deer came out of nowhere. I will definitely be more vigilant next time I’m on a bike, whenever that will be. I thank the Lord above that my injuries were not as serious as they could have been. Greg Lynd

Well now, let me tell you a tale that would make even the most seasoned rider tip their hat in admiration. Tim W , led on a 200-mile journey on Friday, only to follow it up with a 300-mile adventure on Saturday. The Sandies then saddled up for a 125-mile ride  today, with six of their finest, including the Mileage King himself, JoeJoe . Now, JoeJoe,  bless his heart, clocked in a staggering 700 miles this weekend. That’s the kind of mileage that legends are made of. Not far behind was Bobby B , who racked up a respectable 500 miles. Kasey K joined the fray today, and thanks to Bobby, we discovered a newly paved road that added a dash of excitement to the ride. Lunch was at Basil And Baxter’s try the Hangover Bowel or The GOAT. Today’s weather with its lower humidity, provided the perfect backdrop for these escapades. Speaking of Tim’s Rides, they are of the finest kind. Tim has a knack for finding the newest, smoothest roads, making every ride a delightful adventure. So, if you ever get the chance, don’t miss out on Tim’s Rides. They’re sure to leave you with a smile on your face and a story to tell. A tip of the hat to JoeJoe for capturing those moments in pictures.

I have family coming for a visit Saturday, yes Virginia, I have family. But I can Ride Sunday , if you prefer. Now someone can put a ride together Saturday. Just let me know if your going Saturday. I would put the leave times at 8 am not 7am like I had. Sunday leave GTD at 8 am and ride and be home before the pavement blisters.

Today we had our August Skills, Indoor Class. Michael M a.k.a. Sensei  was gracious  enough to teach this Class. 10 Sandies  took advantage of this opportunity to learn from some super Rider Coach’s. Chris, The Mitchell  , another so very good Rider Coach was on hand to add to the information taught.  Our newest Sandie Kasey K  was there and remarked what a great class it was. The Chief, Dennis O  and Joe W   also took part in the Class .  I don’t know if you have seen Joe   W  in a while but Joe has lost weight quite a lot and it looks good on Joe , keep it up sir. Speaking of Joe’s, JoeJoe  rode his Hayabusa to Class. Have not seen that Ride of Joes in a while,  still looks and sounds great .  I was glad Bobby B  was among us today. In case you haven’t noticed   Bobby has done a tremendous job bringing the Sandies more into the 21st Century.   Bobby  has reorganized and cleaned up a lot of old fluff .   Bobby  is also working on a History of the Sandies.  If you want to help in this project let Bobby  know. 44 years is a lot of history to catch up on.   It wouldn’t be a Sandie Day if something out of the  ordinary didn’t occur. As we got ready to leave for lunch, M2’s  Transalp would not start, Michael  deduced he had left his lights on . Some scrambling around  occurred but we did get the jump, thank you Kasey  and JoeJoe. We then decided on a most inappropriate lunch at Stubbies. We will do the road portion in the fall, be on the look-out for the dates.   Thank you again to The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s   Office  for the invaluable use of the training room. Mostly though to Michael,  you as always teach a great class.

The morning was beautiful as best as I could tell through the helmet. The sun rose against my back while I rode into town. Ok, so it was actually my left side - but I couldn't exactly watch the sunrise and stay on the road. Starting at a donut place, Six Sandies rode to Navarre Beach for breakfast. We ended up riding 159 miles on some of the most iconic scenic roads in the western most end of Florida. To All of the Local Riders Yes, we rode some of the most boring, straight, and traffic ridden roadways in the area. The views were amazing, and it is nice to take a moment to enjoy what others come to visit to see. George and Sam E lead the way to Navarre Beach. George tried everything within the confines of traffic code to shake Munchkin  off the trail but he kept up. Munchkin 's white shirt (with a club patch affixed to the rear) flapping gloriously in the wind. We dodged the legendary potholes of Racetrack, hit the slow sweepers of Martin Luther King Jr BLVD, slalomed through two roundabouts, and descended the trench between Doolittle BLVD and HWY 98. With no sideroads remaining, George headed due west. A few miles down the road, our band of five became six as we heard JoeJoe 's "Howdy" on the open mesh intercom. We stopped at Andy D's and had a pretty good breakfast. Both Munchkin and JoeJoe had the " Kitchen Sink ", which apparently has everything you can think of thrown into it. Munchkin ordered his sans fromage (French for cheese, my words not his). Neither Munchkin NOR JoeJoe were able to finish their plates. It's a rare sight to see JoeJoe , la menace pour la cuisine - the menace of the kitchen, too full to finish his plate. It's the first time I've seen both Munchkin and JoeJoe tap out in the near 12 years that I've been riding with this crazy bunch. As we waited for the checks, George mentions that he and Sam are riding out to Opal Beach , then turning back around and getting out of dodge before the heat index ticks 100. I had no idea where Opal beach was, but I used context clues to determine it was somewhere on shade-less Santa Rosa Island. It helped that he said they were taking a left from the parking lot... So, having consumed my mental faculties deducing the location of the aforementioned Opal Beach, I say that I realized yesterday that I have never ridden the HWY 90 Scenic Bluffs of Pensacola. I think I'll press on a little further and hit the touristy roads people drive down when they visit the area. As we head for the door I overhear George telling folks again that he plans to turn around shortly, but that I had a ride planned if they were interested. Greg L chimes in with if there's a ride, he's down for it. By the time I got out of the restroom it had been decided that I'm leading since I have a ride planned. Me having a ride planed was news to me, but I still walked past the group like I knew what I was doing. I had that sinking feeling like there was a lesson in there somewhere that I should be learning. Instead, I donned helmet and took off. For those not familiar with the Garmin XT2, it is fantastic for displaying and navigating your planed route, it is not fantastic at routing on the fly. We headed west, and rode along the barren land of sun scorched earth known as the Santa Rosa Island. Having avoided this road since the almost a no shirt tri , I did not know that they had recently repaved with the darkest of blacktops. They have also reduced the speed limit for your photographing pleasure... This ensures motorcyclist have the opportunity fully enjoy the day's UV index. Today it was 10.7. Crossing the bridge back into Gulf Breeze, Sam and George say their farewells and turn back east. Greg , Munchkin , JoeJoe and I continue north through Gulf Breeze across the three mile bridge until we see the new exchange that takes us to Graffiti Bridge . JoeJoe notes that the bridge is always more colorful each time he sees it. We head along the Bluffs, and I check this off my list of things I have no intention of ever doing again. Now I find myself on HWY 90, headed into Milton just before noon. I knew there were some roads to the northeast I wanted to check out. I also knew I didn't want to go through Milton. The night before I had mapped out a general route in REVER for a tourist to ride without getting lost. Not knowing I would be leading that ride the next day, I had not uploaded said route to the Garmin. I was left to 'wing it', which I now understand is far less cool when you aren't on an actual gold wing. So I turned left on Chumuckla Hwy just as we reached Pace. I couldn't remember if I wanted to take Berryhill Rd or if I meant to avoid it. When I realized we were about to pass it, I panic turned to keep from missing the opportunity. Nine seconds later I realize this was not the direction I needed to be going as it was leading us straight for Milton. A zigzag of seven later, and I eventually made our way over to 87 to cut further north away from Milton. At this point, JoeJoe and Munchkin knew I was making it up as I went and they cut back towards Milton, Navarre, then their respective homes. Greg either felt sorry for me, was lost in his thoughts, or just wanted to make sure I didn't disappear in Alabama. Either way, I made the Neal Kennington Road turn by dumb luck. I still wasn't 100% sure which way I wanted to go, but I knew I needed to come into Sweet Southern Farms from the north to get where I had intended to go. I touched on the map about where the Farms were, and the Garmin plotted a course for me. Awesome, we are back on track and headed where I had intended to go. Now I only have Greg left to call me out for wandering aimlessly around west-northwest Florida. We finally get to Popular Head Church Road. I'm starting to feel like this might be salvageable. We get a few miles down the road, and I spot our next turn on the map: Lighthouse Church Rd. Just then, Greg comes over the intercom and comments that this is a pretty nice road. He says he's never ridden it before. At this point, I lose the never to take what would likely be another wild goose chase down unfruitful roads. So I call it; we enjoy what was left of Popular and make our way back to 90. The rest of the ride home was pretty standard, and boring for NWFL. However, we are always thankful that it was a safe ride and there were no unplanned stops. Nothing about it was planed, you get the idea.

8 Sandies  took off after the business meeting to hunt for lunch. The hunt ended at Ye Old Brothers Brewery on 87, north of Navarre. Even though it was hot, that caught you by surprise huh ? We did put in over 100 miles  just to do lunch. Food, get it? food lunch, I got a million of them, the adult show is at 10, try the fish.  M2  joined us for lunch, Michael  will be the speaker at our Annual August Inside Skills Cause its Hotter   than Hell  class .  We have done this inside skills for over 25 plus years. Its free, yep free, for paid up members this is normally a $125.00 class. It will be at 9:00 am  on August 18th the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Training Room in Shalimar, Fl. This class entails learning how to read the road ahead of you, what traffic around you is doing, and the signs of what’s going on around you. Many Sandies will testify to how this class was the reason they came home from a ride and not taking a helicopter ride. To sign up please RSVP using this form ; we do need a head count. Bobby was also a participant of the Hot Lunch Ride and will be keeping the headcount for the aforementioned class . Tony G  was with us in a symphony in Orange. I mean orange literally head to toe. You couldn’t miss Tony at midnight in a snowstorm. Kacey K , our newest Sandie was also with us, always a pleasure. Munchkin  was on time and nothing untoward happened, a first. It was just a very nice ride and lunch. This Sunday is a Breakfast Ride , 7 am GTD.  Heading west for those that want to meet on the road. Not sure yet where but we got choices, should be home before melting temps occur. Special Thank you To Joe R for the great Pictures

Breakfast Ride Sunday Sunday is Breakfast Ride since its Breakfast we leave early 7 am . Its not so bad is it Sandy S ?   So its 7 am from GTD  going West toward Navarre. I held off saying anything cause of the high rain chance but it looks later in the morning. So Sunday at 7 am unless it's pouring down rain, then next week

On a sweltering day, 9 intrepid Sandies took on the heat and embarked on a memorable Skills Sunday. Gathered together were seasoned riders, fresh faces, and a brand-new 2024 Honda TransAlp, lovingly adorned with all the right “farkles” by Michael M, our resident Sensei. Kasey K , our newest Sandie, proved his mettle as a skilled bike handler. JoeJoe, the Asphalt Svengali, meticulously crafted part two of our journey. We encountered wide sweepers, tricky decreasing radius curves, and the full spectrum of real-world scenarios. Skills, after all, is about turning practice into muscle memory. Now, let’s talk about Munchkin . Was David B six months early or an hour late? When Munchkin rolled in at 9 am instead of 8 am, it seemed time itself couldn’t decide. But some things remain constant in this vast world, and Munchkin’s arrival at whatever time is one of them. Tony G showcased his sleek ‘Sea and Sky’ top-trim Spyder—a head-turner, indeed. And then there’s Bobby , fearlessly pushing the limits. When was the last time you heard a big Victory tourer scrape against the asphalt? Watch Bobby tackle part two sometime, and you’ll hear that unmistakable sound—the Sandie’s version of “gettin’ it.” After the ride, we retired to FatBoy’s in Crestview. Good food, attentive service, and blessed air conditioning— Thank you, JoeJoe!   For the lay-out.  Sam and Bobby handled the necessary range housekeeping, ensuring our day ended smoothly. As the sun beat down, we pondered next month’s Skills. Perhaps an indoor class could spare us the heat? Any volunteers?

The Sandies met up this morning on a mix of two and three wheelers, like a vehicular buffet where everyone gets a little bit of everything. We embarked on an early morning adventure. It was a culinary quest that would make any stomach quiver with anticipation. Kasey K,  the newest Sandie, astride his Indian steed was the last to arrive at Good Things Donuts. It was a good time to cover the pre-ride brief. Now, let me pause here to clarify something: not all Sandies have a full Happy Meal. Some are missing a few fries, if you catch my drift. Take  Sandy S,  for instance—certifiable, no doubt. But like circling sharks, the other Sandies can’t wait to hop on the short bus (not the literal one; that’s reserved for field trips). Then there’s  Tony G  and  Bobby B , the dynamic duo of puns. They’re like a comedy routine waiting to happen. Picture this:  JoeJoe  and  George  were discussing the new member checklist and  Bobby B  pops up on the radio, says in deadpan, “I think of Casey Kasem to remember Kasey K.” Now, for those of you who remember the Top 40 Countdown Show hosted by—you guessed it—Casey Kasem. This is pure gold.  George  barely got out, "Holly Cow, I haven't thought about Casey Kasem in years!" when  Tony G  chimes in: “So you can say the Sandies made the Top 40.”  Cue the silence, broken only by the hum of motors and the gentle swish of tires against asphalt. Now, I’d expect this kind of wordplay from  Tommy N ,   Bobby ,   or  JoeJoe,  but  Tony G ? Who knew he was harboring a secret stash of puns? It’s like finding a hidden snake in the picnic basket—unexpected and slightly alarming. Hey, we’ve got a whole collection of these punsters in the Sandies. To think  Tony G  is part of that club—it’s enough to break a Cat Herder’s heart. Speaking of words, during breakfast, I casually dropped “proclivity” into the conversation. You’d think I’d exposed the Sandies to raw uranium. “What did he say?” “Where did that come from?” The expressions ranged from baffled to mildly impressed. But fear not, I’m no sesquipedalian (that’s someone who uses long words just to show off). I’m just a rider with a penchant for vocabulary and apparently self-inflicted linguistic injuries. Mark S , sans Lorna, regaled us with the saga of his quest to corner the Blueberry Crown Royal market. Retirement hobbies, folks—sometimes they involve more than just shuffleboard and early-bird specials. And where did this breakfast adventure unfold?  North 85 Diner/Penny's Place , north of Crestview. It’s the official kickoff for the Sandie Breakfast Ride Season. We covered about  125 miles,  discovered a freshly paved road, and plotted our next escapade in Okie-Dokie County. Because life’s too short to ride boring roads, my friends. So here’s to the Sandies as we raise our Root Beer high, the puns, the proclivities, and the pursuit of breakfast bliss. May your wheels keep turning, your jokes keep groaning, and your adventures keep rolling down those newly paved highways. When in doubt, remember to clasp that punster snake to your bosom and ride on. A special Thank You to Sandy S and JoeJoe for the excellent pictures ,

Just a heads up Breakfast Ride Sunday, 7 am GTD Remember Dues are now Due

Sam and I arrived at the Skills range,. JoeJoe, the maestro of this two-wheeled symphony, had orchestrated the layout meticulously. Tri wheelers now joined the ranks—a motley crew of three wheeled Sandies “Tri Sandies,” JoeJoe declared, “need their slice of the asphalt pie.” And so, the Gates expanded, swallowing more real estate. The two wheelers—Bobby B, Tommy N—nodded in approval.  But finally Munchkin, perpetually late but always on time, sort of. On time if it was the hour later fall version of Skills.  Then JoeJoe cranked up the difficulty dial for part two. Technical maneuvers blurred into adrenaline-fueled ballet. “Faster, tighter, more fun.” We leaned into curves, tires gripping the tarmac like desperate lovers. An hour bled into ninety minutes—a symphony of lean angles, throttle finesse, and laughter. We called it a day, sweat-soaked and grinning. Soon again hope to have another Skills in the early morning coolness.

From Bobby B After our monthly business meeting, 11 Sandies rode 110 miles for food and fun. We were late to start as folks took a moment to admire the engineering that went into the newest Spyders. Tony G is the proud owner of a new machine and was happy to share the things he has learned so far about it with others. Given the heat index in northwest Florida, the consensus was to keep the ride fairly short. We stopped at the Eagles Nest at Blackwater for brunch. After lunch we headed northwest, and circled back down through Old River Rd from the opposite direction. It was nice to see some of these roads coming from the opposite direction. As we came back towards Niceville we were greeted by the effects of a controlled burn on Eglin. The smoke cloud was thick but we were thankful for the brief reprieve from the intensity of the sun.