Four!
This journey starts with meeting friends and enjoying my ice cream favorite, the chocolate malt.
It should be noted that the Burger Station in Inverness is not shy with the malt powder, which is why I will be back. I was there on April 6th to celebrate a cycling friend’s birthday, a friend from Iowa I met years ago and have enjoyed our seasonal visits with her and her husband ever since.
Yes, Ruth and Bill are snowbirds, and oddly enough, I was on my way to a Snowbird Send Off at The Villages being hosted by the Sumter Landing Bicycle Club. Well, not exactly. The send off was at the Backyard Barn Winery and Microbrewery, which is one reason I decided to attend this club event.
I know, I’m a member of over 25 bicycle clubs and I should be attending club rides, but from the send off I headed to the east coast for FBA business. The next morning I made a Complete Streets Savvy presentation to the Palm Beach County BGPAC: Bicycle-Greenways-Pedestrian Advisory Committee. No chocolate malts or micro beers, but I did see Bob Sabin of the Boca Raton Bicycle Club and it’s always good to catch up with Bob.
I spent the afternoon in Palm Beach County exploring the Lake Trail, a paved path in the Town of Palm Beach that runs through the backyards of the Palm Beach rich. No really, it does. And for that reason, this is one of the best groomed trails you will ever see.
The Dahon is home resting while I travel with the Trek 520
From West Palm Beach, I headed north to Vero Beach. Along the way I stopped in Palm City to see Senator Joe Negron‘s staff to discuss the next legislative session, a very insightful meeting. Upon arriving in Vero Beach, I was treated to a cookout dinner prior to the Hibiscus Ride hosted by Vero Cycling Club member and 2015 FBA award recipient, Tad Diesel.
The pre Hibiscus Ride meet up
The Hibiscus Ride was a treat, a club event and club ride I was happy to attend. Granted the winds will be talked about for some time, but for me, there is something about the blue of the ocean water in this area that I find mesmerizing.
The iPhone will not do justice to the color of the ocean, so I shoot around it.
The Hibiscus Ride took place as downtown Vero Beach hosted the Hibiscus Festival. I managed to score some kettle corn for the road as I headed west to Arcadia for Bike Florida. Suffice to say, I took the scenic route and stopped in Frostproof for an ice cream treat.
Oh yeah, I discovered the Frost Bite of Frostproof during Bike Florida 2013
I arrived in Arcadia in time to check in with Bubba at Bubba’s Pampered Peddlers (an FBA business member), meet up with more cycling buddies and attend the first rider’s meeting. Although I missed the Day One rides, I had a great time on the Day Two short route.
From sand castles at Vero Beach to Solomon’s Castle, a featured rest stop during Day Two of Bike Florida.
Anyone wondering why this blog is titled “Four!”?
Well, I left Day Three of Bike Florida to head back to Vero Beach. Why? Because on what would be Day Four of Bike Florida, I was scheduled to present four FBA awards during the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners meeting.
FBA Elected Official Champion Commissioner Bob Solari and Bike Business of the Year, Malcolm Allen of Orchid Island Bikes and Kayaks, along with Indian River Board of County Commissioners and Vero Cycling Club members. Not pictured are Citizen Advocate Hugh Aaron and Volunteer Tad Diesel.
To my knowledge, this is a first to have four awards presented in one community for the same year. Reading the nominations and meeting the people, the honor is well deserved.
I plan to return to Bike Florida on Day Five, but won’t ride again until Day Six. I have a side trip planned to present a Special Recognition award to Earl Lang, a former FBA Director and member of the Peace River Riders Bicycle Club. Hmm..there may be a pattern of four that goes beyond awards.
Clubs: 1) Sumter Landing Bicycle Club, 2) Boca Raton Bicycle Club, 3) Vero Cycling Club, 4) Peace River Riders Bicycle Club
Rides/Events: 1) Snowbird send off, 2) Lake Trail, 3) Hibiscus Ride, 4) Bike Florida
Chocolate Malts: 1) Inverness, 2) Frostproof, 3) _______, 4) ________
Yikes! I have some chocolate malt catching up to do!
Do you have a bicycle story to tell? Photos to share? Be our guest and be our next guest blogger! Send your story and photos to Becky@floridabicycle.net. Speaking of stories, our quarterly Messenger newsletter is available online for your internet reading pleasure. Visit the FBA website Home page or click here. Want a hard copy of our Messenger? Join Florida Bicycle Association or visit one of our bicycle shop members!
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