We picked up SR 78 in Okeechobee and headed towards Moore Haven and US 27, it still wasn't dark but it wasn't far off either. I had been using my high beam light all day, as I normally do, but now it was beginning to bother the on coming traffic. Both of the accessory lights on the light bar were still operational, so we could be seen and had some light, just not much when we met on-coming traffic.
By the time we reached US 27 it was definitely dark-thirty though and we would be getting on a major 4 lane highway with a good deal of traffic. Merging onto the highway south bound I got on the radio and told Bryan that once we cleared Moore Haven it would be 12 miles of open road before we got to the outskirts of Clewiston. Once out of town I wanted him to tuck up in behind me and to my left so that I could use his lights as much as possible. He understood and did as I asked.
The road to Clewiston is basically straight having only one turn at the intersection of SR 60 & US 27, so it wouldn't be that hard to maintain our positions and it turned out to be a piece of cake. It was also cool as heck to ride up close and in formation with my son for that many miles on end. He and I have ridden in very close proximity on the dirt bikes, showing each other a fender in turns and bumping elbows on rough straights, but this was another first for us.
I'm proud to say my boy is a rider and handled it like a pro.
We checked into the motel, and like the back-asswards dummies we sometimes are, changed the headlight bulb. Then got some supper and settled in for the night.
Dad's house in Clewiston, where I grew up.
The canal in front of his house.
Another view of the canal and the palms lining it.
My Dad.
His wife Eleanor.
Dad had been in the hospital with Pneumonia prior to our arrival and was released the day after we got there. He was still weak from it, but in good spirits and looked great!
Sassy the wiener dog.
Sassy loves Bryan. Sassy loves everybody!
Miranda, dad and Eleanore's granddaughter and Julie play stick ball in the back yard. 
Bryan, Jordan and Miranda on the front porch.
Miranda and Bryan playing. We rode over to Lake Harbor and stopped at the "John Stretch Park". The park has a ball field, play ground area, picnic tables, a pavilion, an historic pump display as well as access to Lake Okeechobee.
Julie on the slide. Weeeeeee!!!!
Jordan's turn!
Bryan, as usual, does it his way...
...and gets a face full of sand in the process.
Whoops!
The pho-tog at work.
Jordan walking down the dike.
Bryan and Jordan by the rim canal on Lake Okeechobee.
Me telling the kids about having to drag a piece of truck tire out of that pump when it became lodged in the impeller assembly. "It was about this long and..."
These are huge engines that due to the long stroke of the crank would only reach a maximum of 350 RPM's. You could almost count each stroke while it was running and the older pump operators could tell when they lost oil pressure just by the sound of the exhaust note.
This picture gives you an idea to the enormous size of the engine.
Cheese!
Julie on the slide. Weeeeeee!!!! Jordan's turn! Bryan, as usual, does it his way... ...and gets a face full of sand in the process. Whoops!
The pho-tog at work.
Jordan walking down the dike.
Bryan and Jordan by the rim canal on Lake Okeechobee.For well over 20 years my father was the General Manager and head engineer for several of the local drainage districts. It was a rewarding job for him and provided me with an interesting childhood at times.
While most people took shelter from the tropical storms and hurricanes that are so predominate to Florida, we were out working. Making sure pumps were operating, storm gates were in position and that local towns and sugar cane fields didn't flood.
The photos below are of an engine and section of pump tube that was in a pumping station in one of dad's drainage districts until a few years ago. I have actually started and ran that very engine and pump on many, many occasions and helped put crank and rod bearings in it one time too.
It was the last of a dying breed of engines used in some of the older stations. Originally installed in the 20's they were all eventually replaced with Caterpillar industrial engines.
Me telling the kids about having to drag a piece of truck tire out of that pump when it became lodged in the impeller assembly. "It was about this long and..." 
These are huge engines that due to the long stroke of the crank would only reach a maximum of 350 RPM's. You could almost count each stroke while it was running and the older pump operators could tell when they lost oil pressure just by the sound of the exhaust note. 
This picture gives you an idea to the enormous size of the engine. 
Cheese! We visited dad for a couple of days and then it was back on the road again. Places to go, things to see, miles to cover...
