I fully expected to sit here today and tell you all about giving away the Chrome World 2007 Win-A-Wing Gold Wing to Richard Califano. I expected to tell you about the excitement and laughter. I expected to tell you about watching Richard drive off into the sunset on his new GL1800. In fact, all of these things did happen and I do intend to tell you all about them. But something else happened. Something that made me remember why I love motorcycles. Or maybe, more to the point, why I love people who love motorcycles. This was to be a story about something I was giving away. Somehow it has become a story about what I came away with.
As you may recall, if you follow this blog, I recently surprised Richard Califano with a phone call to let him know he was Chrome World’s 2007 Win-A-Wing winner. Richard was out to breakfast with a bunch of his friends when I reached him on his cell phone and gave him the good news. As I listened to Richard share the news of his good fortune with his friends I remember thinking that I was really going to like Richard and that his friends sounded like a lot of fun. Only now, after spending the weekend with them, have I realized how short of the truth my initial impression was on both points.
Richard and I spoke many times over the ensuing days making arrangements for delivery of his brand new, dark red, 2008 Gold Wing GL1800. During our conversations he told me much about himself and the Osceola Misfits, the group he rides with. I shared with you some of what Richard told me in my previous post. I was glad I was finally going to get to meet them.
Now I have to tell you I was pretty excited just to get to go to Florida considering there was snow in the forecast at our store in Selbyville, Delaware. I also didn’t have to twist many arms to get people to go with me. So I headed south with my wife Beverly, Chrome World VP Jim Zervakos, and Jim’s wife Lucia joining me.
We arrived at our hotel Friday night and were met by an Osceola Misfit welcoming party. Richard, Ruel Clifton, and Roy and Barb Seamans rolled out the welcome mat and made sure we were all settled in. Richard explained that after we presented him with his new Gold Wing that the Misfits were inviting us to join them for breakfast and a nice ride to Tarpon Springs on the Gulf Coast. I agreed with the plans and looked forward to riding in the gorgeous Florida weather. We swapped stories over iced tea and then, at Ruel’s insistence, we retired for a good night’s rest before Richard’s big day. It wasn’t until later that I came to fully appreciate Ruel’s wisdom.
The big day was Saturday, February 9, 2008. At 8:30 in the morning I met Richard and a whole crew of Misfits at city hall in Saint Cloud, Florida. I wasn’t sure if a collection of misfits were a gaggle, a pod, or something else. The answer presented itself in the form of Michael “Captain B” Bausman and his wife Robyn. Mike is the self proclaimed last true pirate in Florida. We were introduced after I was assaulted by the most foul (no pun intended) mouthed mechanical parrot I have ever seen or heard. Said parrot is owned by Mike and is proudly perched on the rear of his and Robyn’s Valkyre Interstate. Needless to say Mike’s crew, otherwise known as Misfits, got a big kick out of watching me blush. This kind of fun would prove to be the rule with Misfits.
Finally the big moment was at hand. We parked Richard’s dark red 2008 Honda Gold Wing in front of city hall and we all lined up for pictures. I presented Richard with the keys to his gorgeous new GL1800 as Richard’s wife Gloria, his daughter and her family, and the Misfits looked on. Richard’s Gold Wing now had a total of four miles on it. That would change by the end of the day.
After all the photographs were taken we saddled up for our ride. Ruel graciously allowed Jim and Lucia to use his GL1800. Richard suggested that Beverly and I ride the Win-A-Wing Gold Wing while he and Gloria used his old bike. I argued that I really didn’t want to be on his new bike during an encounter with an armadillo, but he insisted. So off we went to Fat Boys restaurant for breakfast.
At breakfast I sat with Bob and Sandy Kelly from New York. They are GWRRA members and former couple of the year. They spend a good deal of time traveling around the country, Gold Wing in tow of course. They met the misfits some years ago and have been riding with them whenever they are in the area. They called recently to see if there was anything going on and were able to join us for the day.
After breakfast we were off to Tarpon Springs located on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Not all of the misfits could join us so we said our goodbyes in the parking lot and off we went. The ride was led by Glenn Hanscom and his wife Pam. He rides one of the most beautiful burnt orange GL1800s you will ever see. He particularly likes the color matched add ons and has tastefully decked out his bike with a mix of amber lights and burnt orange accessories. I can honestly say I have never met anyone more excited about riding than Glenn. Pam was telling me that she can’t keep him off his bike long enough to do the honey do’s. We finally decided she should reward him with credits for accessories when he completes his chores. Glenn thought that was a great idea. I’m just proud to see another marriage saved by accessories.
The three hour ride to Tarpon Springs was incredible. Especially for us northern folk because it was all new to us. The air was warm and had that tropical smell and feel. There were palm trees and other tropical plants and wild life everywhere. We weaved our way west along a series of back roads and saw very little four wheel traffic until we neared the coast. I was fascinated by the number of cattle farms we passed. It seemed odd to see cattle grazing among palm trees. I was surprised to learn that Florida is among the largest cattle producing states.
Tarpon Springs has a harbor filled with shrimp boats and sponge boats. The harbor road is lined with Greek restaurants and shops. It didn’t take us long to settle into Hellas, a local favorite. The lunch highlight was pickled and grilled octopus. It tasted like scallops only a little tougher. My fear that the little suckers on the tentacles would stick to the roof of my mouth went unrealized. Roy shared with me that he was a Marine sometime back and that he loved to hunt back where he lived in New York. Stuffed, fat, and happy, the fellas settled on the harbor front benches with a coffee, a good cigar, or in Roy’s case a piece of venison jerky. The ladies hit the shops for some must have Greek merchandise. All in all this was a wonderful ride destination.
Late in the afternoon we mounted the bikes and headed east. This time our destination was Old Town just southwest of Orlando near Disney. Old Town is a collection of restaurants, bars, arcades, and shops all positioned along a street closed to vehicular traffic. It reminded me of the streets inside the Disney theme parks. We arrived at 8p.m. just in time to catch a parade of four hundred plus vintage cars. What an incredible show. After the parade we hit a local pizza shop for a light dinner and conversation.
Stuffed, fat, and happy once again, we set off for Richard’s house in Saint Cloud. As each of the bikes riding with us turned off for their own homes we waved and promised to meet again the following day for dinner. We finally arrived at Richard’s home around midnight. As we rolled his new Gold Wing into his garage I realized with a twinge of guilt that there was now nearly three hundred miles on the odometer. But I knew that that would never bother Richard. In fact, I would bet that Richard would say those three hundred miles were some of the best miles on that bike because he got to share them with a friend. That’s the kind of guy Richard is.
What a full and wonderful day. Short of an iron butt I can’t remember the last time I spent so much time on a bike. I sure am glad Ruel had the wisdom to suggest an early night when we first arrived.
We all met for dinner on Sunday night. We talked about motorcycles, our ride together, Richard’s new Gold Wing, and the fun we all had. Even after dinner we stood outside and talked. It was obvious that none of us wanted this wonderful experience to end.
As my flight left Orlando on Monday I suddenly felt a little sad that I was leaving. As I thought about the last few days and the Misfits I realized why I was sad. I had been with a group of people of various ages, from various places, and with various backgrounds. They had two things in common. They loved motorcycles and they genuinely cared for each other. There was no political bickering. A wrong turn leading to a u-turn became something to laugh about, not gripe about. They accepted me the moment they met me. And they invited me to be one of them. I felt as at home with the misfits as I do with my own family. The Misfits embody all that I love about motorcycles and the people who ride them.
Just as suddenly as I felt sad I felt joy. Although I was leaving I knew I was taking with me a wonderful memory and the comfort provided only by lifelong friends. I knew that I would ride with the Misfits again.
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