It was a rough start for Paul and I this morning. When we arrived at the airport at 4:30 AM we thought everything would go just fine for our departure time of 5:30. Got on the plane and because their computers wouldn't work they had to shut everything down and re-boot. This all took, would you believe 1.5 hours. We took off just before 7:30. This caused us to miss our connecting flight to Fort Myers, FL through Atlanta. Luckily we got on the 10:40 AM, next flight out. Several cell phone calls to Toni and Ellen who were already at the airport waiting for us -- they waited - got the rental car, and we came in at 12:30. To our pleasant surprise Nelson and Polly Caley were there to greet all the people coming in from Ohio for this bicycling week. They are wintering down here and only live a short way from the airport. They said they would try to come on some of the rides this week.
After we arrived into Venice, Florida - a little over an hour's drive down I-75 from Fort Myers, got checked in to the Veranda Inn we hurried over to the local supermarket to stock up on snacks and breakfast items to have in our rooms. There are refridgerator, microwave and coffee makers in our rooms. Our bikes arrived safe and sound with Ed S. and we picked them up from his room.
Our first group meeting was held by the poolside at 5:00 PM. Karen Erdos and Al Jones conducted the meeting and gave us an over view of the week. Karen had spent many hours getting the maps copied and color highlighted for each of us. There are about 35 people here.
A group of us walked across the street to an Italian restaurant. Jim & Kathy E., Bob F, Rich A, Toni P, Ellen P, Erika S, Paul and I. We enjoyed our first dinner together. We look forward to tomorrows ride. One route is 32 miles, the longer one is 51 miles.
Here are a couple of photos from today:
Karen E gets ready for the group meeting. This is our information board that we will use all week.
Toni P shops for her supplies to take back to the hotel. She found a wine glass with a PINK stem. Toni, you know only buys pink!