360Bikers Looping the Lake
Almost 200 miles from door to door, this ride was definitely one of the best we’ve ever had. We had two new riders today, Connie and Slick. Everyone got there with time to spare and the only problem was Lori’s bike refused to start for her. She came in her car and rode with me. It was interesting how many had never seen the lake. That came later in the trip.We started with the mandatory ride out SR80, but chose to take CR880 when we got to 20-mile bend. This presented us with entertainment in the form of alligators in the canal along side the road and the acrobatics of a crop duster as we road between sugar cane and vegetable fields. The overcast was like a fog that was 500 feet above us. That weather lasted all the way to Clewiston where we had planned to stop for breakfast.
The town seemed closed until we got to the plaza where Beef O’Grady’s was located. After a consensus decision between back-tracking for the Clewiston Inn, Clock’s, or trying O’Grady’s we decided to stay since they were serving breakfast according to the banner they had out front. The convenient 10-person series of high-boys made the perfect table for our group and breakfast was pretty good. We got out the door quite full for about $12 including tip.
After some photos, I gave Lori the video camera to try on the road. She took video on the ride to Okeechobee along SR78. There, Slick peeled off (after we stopped to explain the route), we topped off gas for the smaller bikes, and gave the video camera to Diane. She took video all the way to Port Mayaca where we stopped to show the lake. At least three of the riders had never seen the lake, though a couple had taken the ride around it. There were lots of huge gators and the group socialized on the levee.We got underway, riding out to SR710 / Beeline Highway which took us back to Royal Palm Beach and our ride into Wellington. Will peeled off after Northlake and the rest of us went back to Starbucks. After more socializing and talk about the great ride, we finally broke up and rode to our homes just before the storm came through.
You can’t beat riding with a great bunch of friends. While it was the first time in our group for Connie and Slick, they fit in like everyone else has in our group: like friends we’ve known all along. I can’t help but to be proud of the people I ride with. They are great riders, great friends, and great people.