The Adventures of Goldwing Bravo

While riding the Okeechobee Loop, I stopped at the Pahokee Marina and met Megan and her crew just after they came in from an alligator hunt. 

Their catch? An 11-foot Florida gator.

Well, obviously I had questions.

Megan walked me through how the hunt works — the hooks, the ropes, the bang stick, the permit lottery, and what happens after you successfully haul a prehistoric reptile out of the water.

She also explained what she planned to do with the gator, including keeping the head, processing the meat, and using the hide for leather goods.

It was one of those unexpected roadside encounters that turns a good ride into a great story.

Every road has a story. Sometimes that story has teeth.

 This week, I pointed the nose toward Hillsborough River State Park—only about 13 miles from home—for a little motorcycle therapy followed by a proper photo walk. 

Armed with my Nikon Zf, a 105mm macro lens, and a GoPro Mission One Pro, I wandered just over two and a half miles of trail looking for wildlife, interesting textures, and anything else Mother Nature felt like putting in front of the camera.  I heard a wild boar. Never saw him.  A turtle saw me and immediately left.  A bright red wasp, however, decided to cooperate.  

Otherwise - butkis on the wildlife. Oh well... but the scenery was wonderful.  

I'll be back ;o)

Let's have a look at what our Deputy Assistant Regional Supervising Acting Senior Field Liaison is doing... 

Years ago, my mom and I discovered J.J. Gandy's after learning that the incredible key lime pie we enjoyed at the Columbia Restaurant came from this little bakery tucked away off Alt. 19 in Palm Harbor. We made a special trip, loaded up on pie, cookies, and their legendary frozen "Key Lime on a Stick," and it instantly became one of our favorite hidden gems.

Fast-forward to this weekend's ride through Tarpon Springs and down scenic Alt. 19. The craving struck again... but fate had other plans. The last FOUR frozen treats had just been sold to the customer ahead of me! 😆 No matter—I happily settled for a fresh slice of pie instead and had the pleasure of meeting the new owner, Rob, who shared some exciting plans for the bakery's future.

Every road has a story... and sometimes, it tastes like key lime.

Some rides don't start the way you planned. Mine began with a dead battery, a forgotten manual saddlebag release, a quick YouTube tutorial, and enough walking back and forth to count as my morning workout. Fitting, really, because this would be my final June ride for the 400-Mile Challenge to End Alzheimer's. For a few frustrating minutes, the confusion and chaos gave me just a tiny glimpse of what this disease steals from so many families.  

Once the bike was rolling, though, the day turned into everything I hoped for. A gorgeous sunrise, the winding roads to Sugarloaf Mountain, breakfast 226 feet above the ground at the historic Citrus Tower, a stroll through downtown Clermont, and some outstanding Cajun dry-rub wings at Game On. I wrapped up June with exactly 970 miles ridden for the Alzheimer's Association. This one was for my dad. I think he would've enjoyed the ride.  

Ride safe... and I'll see you down the road.

In this educational film, I demonstrate the ancient and highly technical art of dropping your bike at approximately 0.3 MPH. 

Watch closely as years of riding experience are instantly defeated by three powerful forces of nature:  

☀️ The sun in my eyes. 

🛣️ A sneaky drainage slope. 

🤦 A momentary lapse in brain function.  

Using a carefully choreographed sequence of poor decisions, questionable lane positioning, and impeccable timing, I transform a perfectly upright motorcycle into a gravity-assisted parking ornament.  

This groundbreaking instructional video proves that you don't need speed, danger, or excitement to embarrass yourself. Sometimes all you need is a slight incline and the confidence of a man who thinks he's paying attention.  

Special thanks to Sir Isaac Newton for his continued contributions to motorcycle education.  Warning: This stunt was performed by a certified professional doofus. Please do not attempt to recreate these results. Most riders spend years developing this level of expertise.  

The good news? No injuries. No damage. And Little Al the stuffed elephant survived the incident without so much as a wrinkle.  

Watch and learn, my friends. I work hard to achieve this level of dooficity.