Welcome to
The Adventures of Goldwing Bravo
Every Road Has A Story.
~GWB~
Road Notes
RoadCam Dispatches
All you have to do is decide...
In his book, "Walden" [1], Henry David Thoreau wrote, "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." I've been there... Haven't you? I mean, how much of our lives do we spend wasting time on trivial, meaningless things? I s'pose in the big picture we could argue that it's all meaningless, but that doesn't mean it has to be boring and trite.
This is the quintessential reason I ride... I just didn't want my life to pass sitting on the couch watching TV.
Live a life worth remembering, my friends. Smile. Eat the cake. Ride the rollercoaster. Live. Laugh. Love.
[1] Thoreau, H. D. (1854). Walden; or, Life in the Woods. Boston, MA: Ticknor and Fields.
To the OCC & Back in 55 seconds
First ride back after surgery — and apparently I decided easing into things was overrated.
I pointed the Crimson Ride toward Clearwater and the Orange County Choppers Roadhouse, taking the long way through Morris Bridge, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa International Airport, the Courtney Campbell Causeway, and a few other worthwhile detours.
Along the way, I talked my way through the gate at the Buccaneers training facility for a photo under the giant football, chased airplanes around Tampa International, picked up a few new Goldwing Bravo followers, and—for the first time—had someone recognize the bike from Instagram.
Then came lunch with friends at OCC and the real challenge: a 90-minute ride home with the Goldwing thermometer reading 103°F. Lots of water. Lots of stops. One very faithful elephant guarding the hydration supply.
The old boy made it. I was back.
And Now, This PSA from F.D.U.M.
Let's have a look at what our Deputy Assistant Regional Supervising Acting Senior Field Liaison is doing...
I'm diggin' my new performance shirt from TheDeerly.com!
It’s not often I’m surprised, but...
I recently picked up a few fishing shirts from The Deerly. After my order, I replied to one of their emails with a few design ideas. To my surprise, they actually wrote back... and then created four brand-new shirt designs based on my suggestion.
That kind of customer service is rare these days. Extremely rare…
Needless to say, I bought two more. You'll probably see them in upcoming Goldwing Bravo videos. For the record: this isn't a paid advertisement. You read that right… The Deerly is not an official Goldwing Bravo sponsor (although if they're reading this... it certainly wouldn’t hurt my feelings if they were. …just sayin’😄).
I simply believe in giving credit where it's due.
Anyway, if you're into motorcycles, fishing, camping, wildlife, the outdoors, or you just appreciate good sporting shirts that keep the Florida sun from turning you into bacon, ya’ might want to check out TheDeerly.com. Their shirts are comfortable, the print quality is excellent, and their customer service earned my respect.
And sometimes good people deserve a little free publicity.
Ride safe, and I'll see you down the road!
J.J. Gandy's Key Lime Pie
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.
To Ozello
Sometimes the best rides are the ones that don't quite go as planned.
Join me for a quick 60-second sprint down Florida's beautiful Ozello Trail, where winding roads, quiet coastal scenery, friendly folks, and one massive Gulf Coast thunderstorm all compete for attention. I managed to stay just ahead of the rain... barely.
Every road has a story. This one's over in just 60 seconds.
To the top of Sugarloaf Mountain!
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.
Go for Throttle Up!
Every once in a while, everyone finds themselves stuck behind a slow driver who is apparently oblivious to the growing line of traffic building behind them. Thank God the Wing has a sport mode. Time to light this candle and launch this puppy!
Lake Wales and Back in 30 seconds!
The weather forecast called for rain. Naturally, I ignored it.
Great roads, great scenery, great company, and an outstanding grouper sandwich made for a nearly perfect Florida riding day. Nearly. On the ride home, I found myself staring at a massive wall of thunderstorms stretching across the entire northern horizon. For a while, I convinced myself I might beat it home. I was wrong. Very wrong.
About 90 minutes from home, I rode straight into what felt like a waterfall and spent the next 40 minutes navigating heavy rain, standing water, and visibility that ranged from "poor" to "are you kidding me?" I made it through safely, and once the storm passed, the rain-cooled air made for a surprisingly pleasant ride home.
Sometimes the best rides aren't the dry ones.
Rolling Thoughts #1: Sunrises
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.
Rolling Thoughts #1: Sunrises
I was blessed to catch this beautiful sunrise on my way to Cape Canaveral Saturday morning.
Many years ago, when I was a police officer working third shift in Huntsville, Alabama, there were occasional mornings when the radio was quiet, the paperwork was done, and I had a few precious minutes before the end of shift. On those days, I’d make my way up to Monte Sano State Park and park on the east side of the mountain overlooking the valley below. As the darkness gave way to first light, I would sit and watch the sun climb above the horizon over the Flint River Valley. No traffic. No calls. No sirens. Just silence, fresh air, and a view that never got old. Those moments were a reminder that no matter what kind of night I’d had, the world always seemed to hit the reset button at sunrise.
While riding this morning, I found myself thinking about those days and those quiet moments on the mountain. Funny how a beautiful sunrise can transport you back decades in an instant and remind you just how quickly time goes by...
Enjoy your day, my friend.
Come Back in Time to Ginny's Knickerbocker Barbershop
This video is the companion piece to my blog of the same name. If reading for five minutes sounds like entirely too much work—or you’d simply rather experience the ride, the laughs, and the adventure firsthand—grab a seat and come along. Sometimes it’s more fun to watch the story than read it.
The Weekly Roadshot
White Bridge Over Troubled Water
I found this little white footbridge tucked away in Wilderness Conservation Park, just off Morris Bridge Road. I shot it with my Nikon Zf and the 105mm macro lens—which, as it turns out, works just fine when the subject is considerably larger than a bug.
I was standing on a dock beside a small boat ramp when I took it. Nearby was a rather enthusiastic warning sign about alligators, snakes, swimming, and the general wisdom of not wandering up to the local wildlife for introductions.
So, yes... the water looks peaceful.
Pretty bridge. Nice reflections. Quiet little slice of Florida.
Troubled waters.
I wouldn't wade into it.
Just sayin'.
Want to see more?
My image gallery was getting so large, I had to rethink how to present my photos. So, I've created a "Time Travel" page for the older photos. You can click below to get to it.
In the meantime, I'll feature one "Roadshot" from my weekly rides here. That way I can give you a bit more background on the image itself and maybe even some "photographer's insight" about what I was thinkin' when I snapped it.
Hope you like them.
~GWB
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