October 26, Sunday - 12 members and 1 guest met at BK on this fantastic morning, the sun shone brightly and there was a little chill to the morning air. The group had no preference as to where to go or what direction to go in, so we headed up Dale Mabry, then US41 in the direction of Inverness. In Floral City we took CR48 and CR39A around Hampton Lake and out to SR44 to the Cove Pub & Restaurant on Lake Tsala Apopka for a Big Ass Burger (3/4 lb. of meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato and pickle). The service and food were good, but the price was a little high with everything being ala carte. After lunch everyone broke into small groups to head home. Because it was my kind of weather T and I crisscrossed all the northern and eastern counties to get back (about a 100 miles). Til next time---------

October 25, Saturday - 10 members using various means of transportation met at CMS on what was a cloudy wet morning. After the normal tire kicking, it was decided that we should go to Maria's Kitchen in Largo We took a scenic ride though the Bellaire towns and past the fancy golf courses along the way. We arrived at the restaurant to find our table ready for us, our orders were taken and delivered quickly and for the most part the food was good. After breakfast, since it was Demo Days at Jim's HD 7 of us went there to ride the 09's and have lunch. This is a way for you to ride something you like, but not necessarily something you want to buy. After a few hours of test riding, all of us except Ron headed home. Ron went to the Victory Dealer for some more lunch, a test ride, and free gas. Til next time-------

October 23, 2008 - 14 of us met at the Tilted Kilt on Drew Street in Clearwater for Thursday night’s dinner ride. Don and I arrived early, due to the fact I get up so early (4:30-5 AM) to make my commute to Pinellas County. We arrived and noticed the parking lot was full and hoped Bruce had called with our reservations. (Of course, he always calls and makes our reservations, because he is so efficient!!!)

We entered the establishment which was bright and cheery! The walls were adorned with Irish items and cute sayings. There were TV’s everywhere and it was obvious the establishment was awaiting the start of the RAYS World Series game.

We were greeted by big smiles from the employees. Their outfits were adorable, similar to Mugs N Jugs Restaurant, but with a Scottish flair!! Steve McDermott would have fit in nicely, for those of you who remember when he wore his kilt at a past SRC. We still didn’t have that one question answered, as to what he was wearing underneath the kilt!

Peter and Barb arrived shortly after us and we were seated. We went ahead and ordered, knowing the large crowd would be arriving soon. Two by two, the other members started to trickle in. This allowed a more comfortable kitchen, versus all of us arriving at the same time and the kitchen being slammed.

Joe E and Marie arrived and they made their rounds, greeting everyone. In the Joe E tradition, he hugged and kissed the ladies around the table. I noticed that as he approached Gary to greet him, Gary backed up. He commented that he was afraid Joe E was going to try to kiss him!

The menu was nice with a lot of choice and varieties. Vic said he wanted lasagna – wrong restaurant, Vic! Gary was trying to decide what to get and when the server came to get his order, he hesitated by saying, “I want a ?”. Still thinking, our resident comedian Peter D helped Gary fill in the blank, “You want a kilt?” We all laughed!

Many of the members ordered the famous Sheppard’s Pie, that which the Tilted Kilt is known for. It was served in a big, handled pan with high sides. It looked like a cooking pan you would cook corn in, but a smaller version. It was said that Gary should put the pan on his head after he finished his meal. Gary said he would need a larger pan to fit his head. (I think he was trying to get a larger pan of Sheppard’s Pie!)

The Rays game started and it was fun to be with our BK family. It was almost like we were at the game together (could you just imagine?). When they played the National Anthem, the restaurant went wild and clapped afterwards, in the true spirit of America! When the Rays scored a run, the restaurant went crazy again!!!!!! You could see the many TV’s from all angles, so it was really cool to experience it with our friends!

I overheard Ron ask Vic if he had any disabilities to which Vic said, “No”, and again, our resident comedian Peter D jumped in with, “except for mental ones!” Peter D keeps us laughing and our sweet Barb, just rolls her eyes and smiles.

At one point, Don got up to use the restroom. A short while later, Rosalie who was sitting next to me, commented that the one guy across the room looked “just like Don!” I looked over to notice it was Don and said to Rosalie, “That is Don!” She laughed so hard and said she thought it was bizarre to see a man look so much like him! He had run into someone he knew on the way back from the restroom, and was speaking to them across the room.

It was dessert time and the server talked Gary into cheese cake (my favorite!). She really had to twist his arm, as you can imagine. When the server asked me if I wanted a dessert, I said, “No, I would just be needing a spoon!” She looked over at Gary, knowing that my intentions were to eat some of his dessert! ha!

We had a fabulous time and the food was excellent and the wait time was minimal. Our server was very responsive to our needs and we had a great time visiting with one-another!

Until we eat again,

Karen Lumpkin

Ride Reporter

October 19, Sunday - 11 members in total met at the 2 locations for the special ride to Cedar Key. It was a picture perfect day for this trip, sunny, breezy, and cool. The Circle K in Homosassa didn't have any water, so there was no coffee or potties for the break, but we survived The ride to Cedar went quickly as we arrived at noon, and had lunch before checking the festival activities. We agreed that we would look around and when we were done leave on our own, not as a group. Since this was an anniversary ride for T and me we were there until 5:30pm and then hustled back to Ft. Island Beach Park in Crystal River for the sunset before coming back to reality. I hope everyone enjoyed the day as much as we did. Til next time-------

October 18, Saturday - 9 members met at Mickey D's at SR50 and I75 at 6am for the ride to Biketoberfest. It was a cool morning (cool enough for me to wear a long sleeve shirt). At this time of the day the ride is easy because there is no traffic. We arrived at the FOP Lodge at 8am for breakfast, where we met 3 other members that were over there for the weekend. We stayed at the lodge for a few hours socializing with other Blue Knights before we left to do our thing. We went to a number of locations, checked the vendors, bought shirts, had a beer, ate a snack, took a ride along the coast and then down Main St. before returning to the FOP Lodge for the Oktoberfest Feast and auction, 50/50 and raffles. Most of the members returned home after lunch, T and I stayed for the afternoon/evening events and then went back uptown for a few hours. Other then the little rain on the way home it was a great day. Til next time-------------

October 12, Sunday - The usual suspects met at Burger King with no destination planned. Jimmy S suggested the group try Lupton’s Buffett in Zephyrhills promising to lead us on some nice country roads. Thinking that El Presidente Johnson was going to join us we waited until 10:16 to head out. Unfortunately, El Presidente Johnson was under the weather – a condition attributed to way too much breakfast, lunch and dinner the previous day.

With Jimmy in the lead and Joe E riding tail we made our way down Columbus Ave to Armenia Ave up to Hillsborough Ave. From there Jimmy took us on a mini ghetto tour through one of the seedier stretches of Hillsborough Ave. He was pointing out the hourly rate motels for us. I wonder why Jimmy is so familiar with the motels and rates on this stretch of road. A couple of our active members who work undercover were cursing at Jimmy under their breaths for taking them through an area they were all too familiar with.

Once we safely navigated the Ghetto, Jimmy took us on some beautiful country roads in north Hillsborough and Pasco counties. Too keep us from arriving at Lupton’s too early, Jimmy did a fantastic job of finding some great roads complete with curves and hills arriving at the restaurant just before the church crowd arrived.

Lupton’s was able to easily accommodate our group of fifteen hungry Knights. As an added bonus, they gave us all a law enforcement discount and didn’t charge us for our drinks. The food was good and plentiful. The company and camaraderie was priceless.

Until we eat again.

Don McLaughlin, filling in for Ride Editor Karen.

October 11, Saturday - It was a cool, very foggy morning when we left Spring Hill to meet the 17 members and guests that were at CMS for the Saturday breakfast ride. We went to another new spot called the NY Skyline Diner in Palm Harbor, the restaurant had a long table ready for us and even had Welcome Blue Knights signs on the wall (Vic and Joe E. were thrilled as they could speak NY with the owner using their best accents). For the most part the restaurant was ok, the food was decent, although somewhat overpriced, the service was poor though, but we still enjoyed ourselves. After breakfast a group of us went to the Cotee River Bikefest in NPR, for whatever the reason it was extremely hot in the park, making things not as enjoyable as they could have been. After a few hours and Roland getting the part he needed for his GPS we left NPR and went south to Clearwater and the Tilted Kilt's 1st anniversary party, which was also the location for the COPS FOR THE CAUSE  benefit. It was fairly early and things hadn't really got going yet, so we looked around, had lunch and went home. Til next time-------------------

October 04 and 05, Saturday/Sunday - 8 members and 2 guests met at Jim's HD at about 11pm to participate in their annual Midnight to Dawn Poker Run (usually around 200 miles covering 6 or 7 counties, this year was no exception). The weather was strange as it was warmer then forecasted and the showers that were supposed to stay south of the Bay Area moved a little farther north, although very light we had a few. After we made the first stop of the 5 that were scheduled and we were heading south on US 41 in Gibsonton, I was riding tail behind Vic when his Suzuki started making a loud clicking sound and throwing sparks, He pulled over to check on the problem, with me with him. The rest of the group pulled over up the road in a safer location. After checking the bike we found a flat rear tire (the clicking and sparks must have been the debris that was picked up and then thrown as it was not in the tire, but the hole was). Vic called his tow service and Tim came back to wait for them to arrive with him. It took less than an hour for them to get there and then they took the bike back to his home. The rest of the ride went smoothly, the temperature cooled down a bit and the showers increased a bit, but all in all it was a good ride. Back at Jim's we drew the cards for each hand, T had Vic and Tim's sheets as well as ours, so she pulled all the cards, Tim had the only good one - 2 pair - 3rd place at the time, but there were still some bikes out when we all went to the Egg Platter for breakfast, so I don't know if he ended up staying in that position or not. Til next time-------------------

October 04, Saturday - It was a nice clear, cool morning and it brought 21 members to CMS for the breakfast ride. Peter D. who has been battling battery problems for a while was in his Jeep, everyone else was on their bike. T was not with me this morning due to the job. After the morning tire kicking session and everyone's arrival we decided to try a new place in Palm Harbor which Vic gave us a month ago. We called and were told come-on down, So we went to give it a try. The restaurant is in the Best Western Complex on the shores of Lake Tarpon a nice setting from the dining room. Service was not the best from the beginning (we had to wait for coffee too long) and was on the slow side in the beginning, but did improve as time went on. The food though was very good and priced fairly, All the breakfasts include coffee in the price. As we were leaving Roland, who had to take Patti to the airport, saw our bikes and stopped in. We again had to talk some more as Roland hadn't heard the latest. After we were done, would you believe it was lunch time, so it was off to Gulf Coast HD for Burgers. Til next time----------------------