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6
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General / Where to Ride? / Southern Ridge ATV trails (Alabama)
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on: March 15, 2007, 12:58:03 PM
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Not really in Florida but it's the closest legal riding in the panhandle. Only 40 miles north of the Alabama-Florida line about 65 miles north of Crestview, FL. In case you missed the ride last weekend, the next scheduled ride at SRATV trails is March 23-25, 2007. According to their schedule it looks like they are open just about every other weekend. Last year they were only open about once a month. Start making plans now.  http://southernridgeatvtrails.com/\ |
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7
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General / Open Discussion / one voice
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on: September 21, 2006, 10:32:20 PM
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Found this story on another message board.
Its a little on the long side but a good read nonetheless. Enjoy.
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The following story was written by Lori Kimble, a 31 year old teacher and proud military wife. Mrs. Kimble, a California native, currently lives in Alabama.
I was sitting alone in one of those loud, casual steak houses that you find all over the country. You know the type--a bucket of peanuts on every table, shells littering the floor, and a bunch of perky college kids racing around with longneck beers and sizzling platters.
Taking a sip of my iced tea, I studied the crowd over the rim of my glass. My gaze lingered on a group enjoying their meal. They wore no uniform to identify their branch of service, but they were definitely "military:" clean shaven, cropped haircut, and that "squared away" look that comes with pride.
Smiling sadly, I glanced across my table to the empty seat where my husband usually sat. It had only been a few months since we sat in this very booth, talking about his upcoming deployment to the Middle East. That was when he made me promise to get a sitter for the kids, come back to this restaurant once a month and treat myself to a nice steak. In turn he would treasure the thought of me being here, thinking about him until he returned home
I fingered the little flag pin I constantly wear and wondered where he was at this very moment. Was he safe and warm? Was his cold any better? Were my letters getting through to him? As I pondered these thoughts, high pitched female voices from the next booth broke into my thoughts.
"I don't know what Bush is thinking about. Invading Iraq. You'd think that man would learn from his old man's mistakes. Good lord. What an idiot! I can't believe he is even in office. You do know, he stole the election."
I cut into my steak and tried to ignore them, as they began an endless tirade running down our president. I thought about the last night I spent with my husband, as he prepared to deploy. He had just returned from getting his smallpox and anthrax shots. The image of him standing in our kitchen packing his gas mask still gives me chills.
Once again the women's voices invaded my thoughts. "It is all about oil, you know. Our soldiers will go in and rape and steal all the oil they can in the name of 'freedom'. Hmph! I wonder how many innocent people they'll kill without giving it a thought? It's pure greed, you know."
My chest tightened as I stared at my wedding ring. I could still see how handsome my husband looked in his "mess dress" the day he slipped it on my finger. I wondered what he was wearing now. Probably his desert uniform, affectionately dubbed "coffee stains" with a heavy bulletproof vest over it.
"You know, we should just leave Iraq alone. I don't think they are hiding any weapons. In fact, I bet it's all a big act just to increase the president's popularity. That's all it is, padding the military budget at the expense of our social security and education. And, you know what else? We're just asking for another 9-ll. I can't say when it happens again that we didn't deserve it."
Their words brought to mind the war protesters I had watched gathering outside our base Did no one appreciate the sacrifice of brave men and women, who leave their homes and family to ensure our freedom? Do they even know what "freedom" is?
I glanced at the table where the young men were sitting, and saw their courageous faces change. They had stopped eating and looked at each other dejectedly, listening to the women talking. "Well, I, for one, think it's just deplorable to invade Iraq, and I am certainly sick of our tax dollars going to train professional baby-killers we call a military."
Professional baby-killers? I thought about what a wonderful father my husband is, and of how long it would be before he would see our children again.
That's it! Indignation rose up inside me. Normally reserved, pride in my husband gave me a brassy boldness I never realized I had. Tonight one voice will answer on behalf of our military, and let her pride in our troops be known.
Sliding out of my booth, I walked around to the adjoining booth and placed my hands flat on their table. Lowering myself to eye level with them, smilingly said, "I couldn't help overhearing your conversation.
You see, I'm sitting here trying to enjoy my dinner alone. And, do you know why? Because my husband, whom I love with all my heart, is halfway around the world defending your right to say rotten things about him"
"Yes, you have the right to your opinion, and what you think is none of my business. However, what you say in public is something else, and I will not sit by and listen to you ridicule MY country, MY president, MY husband, and all the other fine American men and women who put their lives on the line, just so you can have the "freedom" to complain. Freedom is an expensive commodity, ladies. Don't let your actions cheapen it."
I must have been louder that I meant to be, because the manager came over to inquire if everything was all right. "Yes, thank you," I replied. Then, turning back to the women, I said, "Enjoy the rest of your meal."
As I returned to my booth applause broke out. I was embarrassed for making a scene, and went back to my half eaten steak. The women picked up their check and scurried away.
After finishing my meal, and while waiting for my check, the manager returned with a huge apple cobbler ala mode. "Compliments of those soldiers," he said. He also smiled and said the ladies tried to pay for my dinner, but that another couple had beaten them to it. When I asked who, the manager said they had already left, but that the gentleman was a veteran, and wanted to take care of the wife of "one of our boys."
With a lump in my throat, I gratefully turned to the soldiers and thanked them for the cobbler. Grinning from ear to ear, they came over and surrounded the booth. "We just wanted to thank you, ma'am. You know we can't get into confrontations with civilians, so we appreciate what you did."
As I drove home, for the first time since my husband's deployment, I didn't feel quite so alone. My heart was filled with the warmth of the other diners who stopped by my table, to relate how they, too, were proud of my husband, and would keep him in their prayers. I knew their flags would fly a little higher the next day.
Perhaps they would look for more tangible ways to show their pride in our country, and the military who protect her. And maybe, just maybe, the two women who were railing against our country, would pause for a minute to appreciate all the freedom America offers, and the price it pays to maintain its freedom.
As for me, I have learned that one voice CAN make a difference. Maybe the next time protesters gather outside the gates of the base where I live, I will proudly stand on the opposite side with a sign of my own. It will simply say, "Thank You!"
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11
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General / Open Discussion / Support the troops
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on: September 07, 2006, 02:29:25 PM
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Received this in an email, thought I would pass it along:
SOMETHING COOL THAT XEROX IS DOING,please open this one! If you go to this website, http://www.letssaythanks.com/ you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can't pick out who gets it, but it will! go to some member of the armed services. How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! This is a great site. Please send a card. It is FREE and it only takes a second. Wouldnt it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these? Whether you are for or against the war, our guys and gals over there need to know we are behind them...
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13
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General / Open Discussion / Re: Member Map is Back!
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on: August 31, 2006, 10:24:01 PM
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You ain't kidding, that's deep. Are you sure that's still considered Florida....lol
 Well some folks do consider this part of Florida as Lower Alabama (L.A.). /\ |
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14
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General / Tech Corner / Re: Cheap quads...
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on: August 31, 2006, 03:20:34 PM
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Have to agree with LovenIt about the Kazumas. I bought my daughter one a year ago and have zero problems. My brother also got one for his kid at the same time and has not had any problems either. I figured I would start with a cheapo (< $500) and if she had the aptitude for riding and enjoyed it, then I could always upgrade to a name brand. I didn't want to spend upwards of $2000 for a name brand one and then end up having it just take up space in the garage. Now I have $500 investment in a great little machine that will most likely be the starter quad for my youngest when she gets old enough to ride, but right now she is only 3 months so hopefully the quad will last that long  For some pictures and videos of the little Kazuma in action, see my post in the Photo Gallery. http://www.atvflorida.com/forum/index.php/topic,17272.0.html/\ |
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15
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General / Open Discussion / Re: Member Map is Back!
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on: August 31, 2006, 03:02:53 PM
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just looking at the map, i feel like no one lives remotely close to me, scary that there is no one of my nature in my area
 You are kidding right? You think no one lives close to you? Look at that lone blue flag way up in the nw corner and then imagine how lonely I feel.  Thats ok though, just more room for me to ride. /\ |
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16
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General / Photo Gallery & Videos / Re: Now that we have been getting a little bit of rain...
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on: August 31, 2006, 02:14:06 AM
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where is that at? it looks familiar. anyway cool pics. looks like you had fun.
I think most powerline roads look similar but this particular one runs through a subdivision (Holly by the Sea) in northwest Florida. Thanks and yeah it is pretty fun, notalot to do there on a ute (unless it rains) but my brother has fun on his 400ex and it is a nice place to take the kids. /\ |
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17
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General / Open Discussion / Re: How old are your kids who ride 4 wheelers
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on: August 30, 2006, 12:42:02 AM
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\/Daughter is 5 (almost 6) and rides a Kazuma KMX 50. Latest ride pictures are here. Are the restrictions on age/CC actually laws or just suggestions? I take them more as a suggestion. Like others have said, it should be up to the parent(s) to determine the skill level of their children, teach them to be safe and responsible riders and to not let them ride unsupervised. But if the restrictions do manage to deter one inept irresponsible parent from purchasing a machine and keeps one kid from getting injured (or worse) then the restrictions have served a greater good. .02¢ /\
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19
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General / Where to Ride? / Re: New to Florida
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on: July 24, 2006, 06:15:44 PM
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The best and closest (legal) place to ride around here is SouthernRidge ATV trails about a 90 minute drive north-northwest of Crestview. http://www.southernridgeatvtrails.com/It is fantastic place to ride. We have had a blast riding there twice this year and would go more but they are only open about once a month. Only one more ride this year at the end of September. 29 April 2006 ride pictures. 1 July 2006 ride pictures. Another close legal place to ride is Roaring Hills. It is a bit closer than SouthernRidge, but from what I understand (haven't been there myself, yet) it is not as extensive as SouthernRidge. The closest to Ft.Walton is (or should say was) a place up by Mossyhead, but people have been run off by the sheriffs up there so it is essentially closed. Another place to consider is Tate's Hell National forest. Trying to get a trip planned there for this fall, but from what I have read it doesn't sound too exciting. http://www.atvflorida.com/forum/index.php/topic,8756.0.htmlThere are a few place out in/around Navarre but nothing too substantial. Then there is all this Eglin range land around here, but it is not exactly legal to operatate an ATV out there. /\ |
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