Meeting An Old SPD Friend, The Ride To Crystal River….RAIN!!!

Dateline The Infamous Florida Turnpike. Your Intrepid Cancer Cure Rider had quite a wrap-up to yesterday and a heck of a trip to Crystal River today.

Yesterday afternoon Mission Control contacted me to remind me that a good friend from Seattle PD had lateralled to Fort Lauderdale PD. Mike Berndt is a great cop and was a real loss to our department. However, his wife Eileen’s (Pronounced A-Leen, long ‘A’) father had taken ill and they moved their family to this area to help take care of him. Mike has already been promoted to Detective, holds a position on the dive team, and fills in when needed anywhere else. It was really great to see you Mike! Thanks for dropping everything just to spend a little time with Yours Truly. By the way. Mike is an active member of the Blue Knights Florida 4.

This morning Mission Control assured that the ‘Wing was topped off with Jet – ‘A’ because I had a somewhat long ride to Crystal River. She has decided that I shall swim with the manitees. And so I set out on the Infamous Florida Turnpike (toll road…darn thing cost me about 30 bucks by the time I was finally off of it.)

Along the way I pulled in for fuel and while filling up ran into Bart and his wife Karen. We talked bikes awhile and of course about Cancer Ride America. Turns out they just lost a very close friend to cancer and are very interested in our efforts. Without hesitation Bart opened his heart, and his wallet. To Bart and Karen….I really enjoyed the little time I had to talk with you. You’re great people and made my day!

And then I headed North. And into this. Man, when it rains in “Sunny Florida” it gets serious! I had to drop my speed to around 40 and tuck in behind a semi just so I could see the road. And even with rain gear, I got soaked. It was so bad that many drivers were pulling off onto the shoulder of the freeway and stopping to wait it out. But I managed to blow on through, and Mission Control granted me another roof over my head to dry out under before tomorrow’s big excursion with the manitees.

C.C.R.