One day FL Gators...the next day GA gators.....canoeing the Suwannee Canal

After the GA/FL game, we had enough of the Florida gators and decided to visit some more civilized GEORGIA gators. Ha ha   We met up with some good friends, the Horans, to canoe the Suwanee Canal in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.

Karina, Jared and Robert all had kayaks. That left me, Joe and Donna up the creek without a paddle....or a canoe. (That was a little bit funny, right?) You can rent a canoe or kayak for about $30 a day at Okefenokee Adventures  and the people there are always very nice and helpful. (You can also get guided boat tours if canoeing isn't your thing.) They have souvenirs, sandwiches and drinks too.

It is soooo beautiful out there and you really don't have to be super experienced. I went for the first time in April with Joe and although he knew what he was doing, it wasn't hard to 'get'. I would say you can't have a fear of wildlife - alligators to be exact. We didn't see as many gators  on this trip as we did in April but they are everywhere. I quit counting at about 80 in April but we only saw about 20 this time. 
It really is a great time (if the weather is nice) and pretty decent exercise too. 
I really want to do an overnight trip at some point. You can rent a chickee (a floating dock basically) and camp out overnight. Due to the recent swamp fires and the low water levels due to drought, there are only a few open next season (2012) and you can only stay one night. Hey, you'll definitely see it on here if we decide to do that!

In the meantime, enjoy a few pics from this adventure! 

World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party GA/FL 2011 GO DAWGS!

OK, so this isn't about riding the Harley or great food...but it is about the BEST party - I mean game - in college football.

The GA-FL game is the biggest college rivalry in the SEC. You don't really need to be a Georgia Bulldog or a Florida Gator to enjoy the tailgate. Miles of RVs and tailgating setups of all shapes and sizes. Football fans in every direction. You might even find a beer or two. It isn't called the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party for nothing!

Bulldog Man (Mike Woods) & me!

We were just at Everbank Field Monday night for the Jaguars game....GA/FL KILLS it. There are SOOOOOOO many more people here. 

It's really kind of crazy.

It is a rivalry unlike any other...but it's a friendly rivalry (for the most part).

Bulldog man on TV

Much like the Jags game, we got tickets very late to the game. (Thanks to Danita for the ticket offer - couldn't have gone without ya, we love you!!!!!) 
We really didn't have much time to make plans and get a tailgate set up...but luckily we were able to meet up with some friends! We had a really good time hanging out with Robert Smith and his wife. Good good people. 

We had time to get in a few beer before the game. And, since I was sitting next to my boss's daughter and husband, I promised I would behave!  LOL

I was really excited to run into Bulldog Man on the way to the stadium...and lo and behold, he ended up on TV too. I'm thinking that man hugs A LOT of blondes! Way to go Bulldog Man! 

Game was GREAT! Weather was perfect! Haley and Ray were so much fun to sit with! 

Look at those happppppyyyyyy fans! GO DAWGS!

Monday Night Football 10/25/11

Never known to pass up a good time, Joe and I decide Sunday night that going to Jacksonville the next day for Monday Night Football might be fun. 



Twenty minutes and a few (ha ha) dollars later, we have tickets in the nosebleed section for the Jaguars/Ravens matchup.
Why the nosebleed, you ask? 
Two reasons: 1) NFL tickets are way too expensive 2)we aren't even Jaguars fans. 
We just live close to Jacksonville, would that make us fans by proxy? :)



My sweet husband thought we would be able to easily find our seats if we went in a gate other than where our seats were.....needless to say, after circling the stadium at least twice, buying at least two $11 beers apiece and missing most of the first quarter.....we find our seats. I love you Joe!  ha ha


The game was really good actually. Not a lot to say about the food and drinks....really expensive and very packaged...just like it should be at a stadium. We had a lot of fun....the Jaguars won.

Spoiler alert: I think we may have been good luck for the Jags, they didn't have much success later in the season. (12/5/11)

BIKETOBERFEST!!!!!!! WOOO HOOOO!!! Oct 15-16

Main Street, Daytona

Let me start off by saying I LOVE BIKETOBERFEST!

If you've never been to Bike Week or Biketoberfest....PLEASE make plans to do it. There is just nothing like it. 
We take our usual ride from Fernandina Beach, Fl down A1A to Daytona....the weather is BEAUTIFUL. We aren't in much of a hurry, and we make lots of stops along the way.
 
First stop: Iron Boot Saloon in Flagler. (pics below)
Here we met Kirby. He is a cool old guy who takes pictures of everyone that stops by. He passes out his business cards and wants you to enjoy his pastime. We think he's just great....and what a gig, he gets to check out all the biker babes without getting beat up! Let me just say, I think he's a boob man. :) 
Check him out @ http://picasaweb.google.com/KirbysPhotos

As you get closer to Daytona, there are so many great places to stop. 

We stopped at Lagerheads in Ormond Beach when we needed to wet our whistles again. We did not have the best service here....but I'm not going to give them a thumbs down just yet. I think they just weren't prepared for the number of people that they had.(I think they SHOULD have been, it shouldn't be a surprise this week!!!!) I just think the place has too much personality to put it on my bad list.

Our Bike Week/Biketoberfest/Daytona 500 hotel: The Streamline. Umm, where do I start? This is by far the cheapest hotel in walking distance to Main Street. That's the biggest - and pretty much only-  good point. It is an old (run down) hotel with a lot of history under its roof....and a gay bar on its roof. If that bothers you - Do Not Stay Here. You will see gay men and probably a lot of them. This doesn't bother me or Joe. We are only in the room for a couple of hours a night anyway and we really just don't care. Getting a room for less than $100 during peak times in Daytona...makes us care even less than we did before.  Ha ha ha. It isn't packed with bikers....but many of us take the room less expensive. It is right on A1A and takes maybe five minutes to walk to Main Street.  We just love that fact when making our way back to the room at 3 or 4 am.

There are SOOOOO many places to go and things to do on Main Street and beyond....I'm just going to mention some of what we did this time.

Full Moon Saloon - crowded, loud, great bands (Full Circle ROCKS), lots of contests, etc.
Joe (kind of) hula-hooped on stage for the Jack Daniels girls. Hey, he got a Jack Daniels shirt out of it.

I was going to dance - until they wanted me to put on hot pants. Here's the deal, I'll dance on stage....but some things are for my husband's eyes only. I'm all for people doing what they want, no judging here....but not everyone wants to be almost naked in a strange crowd!

Froggy's Saloon - love it. The outdoor back sections.....wow. Girls dancing everywhere....drinks flowing...good times.

Riding Main Street: The most fun you will ever have going 5 mph on a motorcycle. The things you will see.....bikes, people, animals, anything goes.