Our summer trip to Evergreen was very enjoyable. We relaxed, etc..............

Greenland: It Doesn't look like this on GLOBES!!

So much has happened and there has been so little time to update but I will try to get better at doing this.

While I attempt to put together a little more organization to this ramble, I just HAD to post the following sets of pictures I took on my way back from Frankfurt, Ger.

We've all had that experience of trying to get to sleep on a very long, uncomfortable flight and the very thoughtful pilot breaks into your a sound sleep with the "For those of you on the right side of the plane, you can look out your windows and blah, blah, blah.........crop circles in Nebraska, oil derricks in Texas, the Grand Coolie Dam, Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo, etc.........(and why is it that you never realize that you're sitting directly under a speaker until you're asleep?)

Well, NOW THAT I'm AWAKE!!!!! But I was certainly NOT prepared for what I saw and it was unbelieveable enough that it got me up off my butt to find my camera and onto this update. The following pics were taken from my seat on the plane:

Everybody Go Surfin, Surfin USA..........

Welcome back to the latest (actually, not so latest) happenings in all that is Jelnicky from Florida.

Not wanting to get out of the timeline, I wanted to drop in these photos of the family during our time recently in Cocoa Beach, one of the best places to surf in Florida.


















We arrived the night before and were all set for our 2 hour surf lesson in the briny Atlantic. We paid no attention to the newspaper warnings about shark attacks and kept the TV off during our stay so as not to upset the chillren......


















Having been to surf lessons previously during our visit to San Diego, we really just needed a refresher course here at Cocoa and out instructor quickly saw that this was true.
















And so off to the water we went.

You'll soon no doubt notice that all these photos are being taken from the beach and not from the water, and I'd love to say that it's because we didn't bring our waterproof camera with us.

That would be a lie.


















Steph had everyone beat pretty badly right from the start, and I think it was due to the lack of meat on her bones making it that much easier to push herself up off the board in order to get to her feet.........some thing those of us with more than enough meat on their bones found exceedingly difficult.

















Many hours were spent in the water, with many more spent by me looking for beer............ and it occured to me after during the search that perhaps my years in youth WERE in fact wasted, that perhaps I hadn't utilized my time wisely.

















I mean, a beach adopted by a SORORITY and a limit of a GALLON of alcohol, well, that just screamed to me that I was not going to get those prime years back. Best to stear drinking!

And I think everyone was ready for a break anyway.
















That's our hotel in the background, picked simply for it's proximity to the beach and it's free breakfasts, which kept the family from spending too much on early morning wake up feedings.

And these kids are active so keep the food coming!


















From the terrace of our room you could see the Kennedy Space Center to the north.

You can easily imagine seeing the take off of a shuttle from this vantage point.

















One of the pilgrimages one MUST make when they arrive in Cocoa Beach is to shop at Ron Jon Surf Shop, which is seemingly unparalleled in it's expanse of all things surf.....

From boogie boards and surf boards to clothing and lessons, Ron Jon has been around for as long as I can remember.


















Growing up in NY and seeing bumper stickers saying "Come to Ron Jon Surf Shop", I always wondered where the heck Cocoa Beach was, New Jersey??


With a few more dips in the surf we were ready to call it quits and move on to other things Jelnicky!

Harris Comes to Gator Basketball!

We're going to backtrack slightly here and pick up a few pics from early this year that we didn't get a chance to put up when they happened.


I guess this was about late Feb. '07 when my studly nephew Harris came down to Florida for a very short three day visit. Besides a long Harley ride the high point of the trip was our drive to Gainesville to visit with the now twice won NCAA Champion Florida Gator basketball team vs. Tennessee.


Once inside the O'Connell Center, also known as the O-Dome, we found that everyone had a Gator Bsketball T-Shirt placed on their seat in either orange or blue depending on where their seats were in the arena.

The Rowdy Reptiles, or the exclusive student seating in the arena pictured above, all wore their trademark deep orange (vs. the Creamsicle orange of UT!). The student seats are given away to the students free for each game, however, there is definitely a pecking order involved in getting them!

As a freshman, Michael is very low on the pecking order. It goes something like this: Seniours who have achieved full fledged Rowdy Reptile status by having gone to at least 8 games the year before get first dibs to the tickets.......on down the line. As Michael is just getting his first round of games under his belt, by the time Freshman tickets came up there were no more free student tickets available.
The only way to get in was to pay a "bit" of a premium to get good seats.......and OY is such a great word to USE here!

We ultimately were able to scare up some very choice seats about 10-12 rows up from the floor in time for Harris' visit. When compared to our normal top of the stadium seats, we immediately became spoiled!

The Gators playing Tennessee is a divisional game that always turns out great and contains lots of drama. Todays game would foreshadow an even BIGGER game two months later in the NCAA round of 64 where they would meet again, the winner moving on to the Final Four and the loser going home. (I guess you can figure out what happened.)


The Gators had won the 2006 NCAA Championship and in a show of determination and solidarity, all 5 starters elected to return to school and put off entry into the NBA. Here Joakim Noah takes one of his unorthodox foul shots with Al Horford on the line with him and Taureen Green in the backcourt.

With Billy Donovan and the Gator bench anxiously watching the action, the Gators withstood nearly every Tennessee Volunteer surge.

One of the exciting facets of attending any live sporting event is the action that takes place in the stands, with the fans, and specifically during television timeouts.

Not realizing the clamor building up around me during ONE of these TV moments, I turned to my right and was surprised to see none other than Gtor BBall mascot AL E. Gator giving out High-Fives to the fans. (I know what you're probably thinking but you can't make up a name like that folks......)
As a minoir aside, one of the OTHER aspects of live games is trying to understand what would posess a person, no less a student AT U of F, to attend a UF/Tennessee game, sit in the student section, and dress in a TENNESSEE UNIFORM!? Above you can see this very occurrence underneath Al's right arm............not sure what mental hospital he was let out of but he was soon readmitted after the game.



As the game drew to a close the Gators began their trademark secong half surge a nd won the game going away.......the score not even being material at this point.


With our perfunctory Post Game pic now taken, we went off to find Michael who was sitting in the student section. However, we still had one more surprise left for Harris.

One of the undercurrent stories to this Gator basketball team for us is the presence of Garrett Tyler, who is a backup forward AND a Palm Harbor University High School graduate. Garrett was a star forward at PHU and walked on at UF to win a place on an extremely talented Gator club that any player would just die to join. Michael was a freshman at PHU on the JV team when Garrett was a senior and we were always impressed with his tenacity............a trait that no doubt served him well in gaining acceptance of this Gator squad.

Garrett's parents, Gary and Janet Tyler, really helped Carolyn and I as new UF parents and helped us not only learn the ropes at UF but also helped direct us in how to get partial season seats to the Gator games in the first place........a feat which ain't easy but was most definitely worth it.



Here Garrett joined us for a post game pic, taken by his Mom, Janet. After each and every home game Garrett signs autographs for all the kids in the stands who want them......and there are PLENTY of them. But he's patient and gracious and taking the time to enjoy his place with the team. No doubt you can see that Garrett stands a full "head" above all of us..........and unseen in this pic was another of the backup squad, Marese Speights, who appeared to make Garret look like we did compared to him! These guys are simply huge! And we can't wait till next year!!

I'll leave you with a pic of Harris and Michael back at Michael's dorm room.

Bike Week in Daytona Beach, FL 2007!

VOICEOVER:
When we last left our friends, Rocky and Bullwinkle were travelling in Frostbite Falls, Minnesota and

Bullwinkle: Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat!
Rocky: Again? That trick never works.
Bullwinkle: Nothing up my sleeve.......Presto.............
OOPS! Wrong story........must be in my other shirt.

ROCKY: AND NOW FOR SOMETHING WE HOPE YOU'll Really Like!



Frank Jelnicky, Peter Gendusa, and Michael Jelnicky on the road to Daytona!

ON THE ROAD AGAIN, Day 1

Certainly a LOT has happened since we LAST posted here and hopefully one day we can backtrack a bit and fill in all those trips and life trivialities that I've missed updating but for now I will dispense with all the minutia and get right down to our recent trip to Daytona Beach for Bike Week 2007!

(Actually, if the truth be told, not much else really occurs between Biketoberfest in October and Bike Week in March, it's just filler really.......right?)

Our trip started out this time with my Uncle Joe, left, flying in from NY to reacquaint himself with his Road King Classic, which has been residing in my garage all winter since he was LAST here in October.
We went to see "Wicked" the night before at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Joe taking Rachael's unused ticket as she was in Orlando at yet another Club Volleyball Tournament.

With a quick ride up US19 thru New Port Richey to Spring Hill, we picked up my Uncle Peter and were off to what was promised to be an excellent four day trip to Daytona Beach. First up, the GREAT BIKER SWAP MEET in Webster, Fl., rumored as a place to find the bargains and miscellaneous biker items that you just don't see elsewhere. Well, it IS true, the crap we saw there you JUST don't see elsewhere and I give my BLESSING for that! Webster, which we couldn't even find on the map, was biker central for a wide variety of people looking to take a break and scope out the bargains. While it wasn't much to look at we were simply enjoying the best part of riding around on bikes; leisurely exploring the areas of Florida (and elsewhere) that you are normally too rushed to even pay attention to let alone stop and smell the ...........Alligator Hides?

Above, Joe discoveres a pretty funky sidecar that's similar to the one he has for his Road King while below are the aforementioned hides of all shapes and sizes.

If the pictures here are any indication, you could get just about anything to hang off your bike.........living or not! Pelts, hides, heads, tails, whips, chains.......a virtual cacophony of delight for one and all!

While Peter and I had a quick brew, thankfully provided FREE just for showing UP here, Joey bought an ice cream at a most unusual stall......



How he manages to find these places I've stopped wondering but the ice cream is being freshly made and churned in the barrel pictured in back, powered by a steam engine put-put-putting along.

It made for quite the site and it ALSO made good ice cream (from what I was told.)
With a few more cursory looks at some of the stalls, Joe found some seats and saddlebags that might help him on his trip back to NY as he planned on riding back straight from Daytona, weather permitting.

We then found out that some of the vendors bought parts back from some of the Harley Dealers in FL that are replaced when bikers replace the factory installed parts with customized chrome and whathaveyou. You won't be buying original PIPES here but it's a great stopover for the miscellaneous.

A few quick purchases and we were off again.......next stop?

Bruce Rossmeyer's Destination Daytona! I-95 and US1!

The first night we got to Daytona, we went straight to DESTINATION DAYTONA, about 200 acres of property on the NW corner of I-95 and US1 that was purchased by the owner of Daytona Harley Davidson years ago as a go-to Motorcycle Mecca. By the time we got there it was closing up shop but we were able to get into the dealership, the largest in the world from what I understand, and view some of the many booths and vendor stalls outside.


One of the vendors is a renowned Motorcycle artist and sculptor, some of his work is pictured here. (I will get his name from the multitudes of stuff I brought home just as soon as I unpack.....and we got BACK two weeks ago


This last pic of the night I took for Noah Campanelli to see!
To INFINITY, AND BEYOND!

THE DAY AFTER

The next day, a MONDAY no less (who ever heard of taking a MONDAY off and riding motorcycles to Daytona Beach...........it's nearly sacriligious!), after some quick eats at the Hilton Garden Inn across the street, we moseyed over to the Daytona Speedway where the bike vendors are stacked on top of each other like orphan puppies in a shoebox. The misconception about bikers usually made by non-bikers is that they are a do nothing lot with no purpose or direction simply cluttering up the streets. The FACT of the matter is that this is a major source of income for Daytona and an even greater source of commerece for the bike vendors here for the 11 day duration.


I really liked this hybrid off-road bike with Mad-Max doggie carrier while some of the paint jobs were simply incredible.


While we all took different interests meandering among the different booths, bike stops, and kiosks (Joey was taken with the 8 cylinder, 350 HP Trikes, Peter was enamored with the neon light add-ons, I spent a lot of time at the beer window) there was enough to occupy our attention.











Despite having a PERFECTLY GOOD MOTORCYCLE, a 2006 Road King that I just bought in August,I suddenly had major Bike Envy. Everywhere I looked was another bike that looked better than the last......


With a quick minute to spare, we ducked down thru the tunnel and into the infield to see the inside of the famed Daytona Speedway.


Apparently WALKING was not the way to do this!




There was still much to do so off we went on a ride to the Beach, to the Harley dealership downtown, and to participate in some additional mayhem and merriment,
usually involving beer.

However, we avoided all enticements to go under the needle despite signs and omens to the contrary everywhere.

My Cell phone rang and we were informed that my son Michael, now a happy freshman at the University of Florida, had arrived on HIS bike, a Suzuki GS500. (As an aside, after I sold my first bike in 1977 I purchased my first NEW bike, a GS550E, which I rode for nearly 6 years including on my relocation to Denver. Now many years later my own son was on his first bike and I couldn't help but reminisce a bit and at the same time feel that I was looking at myself simply jaxtaposed into the future.

We met him at the hotel, an extended stay hotel across the street from the racetrack (and at a very economical $69/night, which is what you WANT during BikeWeek....cheap, close, clean!

In the parking lot were a number of custom trikes that had just arrived. Here Joe, Michael, Joe's friend Fred, who joined us from NY/Ormond Beach, and Pete all try to make heads or tails of these machines.



After Joey waxed poetic about the cole slaw for what seemed to be hours on end, and then opined on the benefits of his new protein diet (is this the same guy who introduced us to "mushrooms" way back when??), Pete took the site of a coffin trailer as a sign we should turn in for the nite!

DAY THREE









We then received a phone call from a very good friend of mine from California, Roger Behrendt and his wife Debbie, who were in town visiting from San Diego and were in nearby Palatka (or was it Welatka? I keep on getting my latkes mixed up.....and if you put ketchup on a latke, does that make it less of a latke?)



Roger and Debbie with Michael and I at Destination Daytona.

It wasn't too long before we discovered some of the fringe benefits of what Mr. Rossmeyer has created at Destination Daytona, the largest Harley Dealership in the world. First came the beer stalls, which I was all too happy about. Yet it was the server that drew the most interest.
And then, with my attention diverted for oh just a second, Joey was back up to his old tricks and showed this young pup just what a seasoned veteran is really known for.

Now, for a donation of only $5.00 you TOO can have a officially signed color photo of little Miss Not Wearing Much, an offer Joey couldn't refuse but one that Phil was investigating feverently as to how much money he DID have and what it would take to buy ALL the photos and rescue this fair maiden from the life of a photo saleswoman!


Miss Pocahottie was the center of attention for a few brief, choice moments and then..... with Roger now fully understanding the true meaning of "Is this a great country, or WHAT!"


There was a genaral deflated feeling among all the members of our little group, except Debbie of course who professionally smirked thru the session as if in homage to Mrs. Billy Martin. The wife of the former Yankee 2nd baseman and manager, arrested in a strip club in Houston along with Whitey Ford and Mickey Mantle in the late '50's, offered up this choice gem when asked for a statement, "I don't care where he gets his appetite just so long as he comes home for dinner!"

It was quickly decided that nothing more could be gained from staying and we headed on over to the Iron Horse Saloon, one of the destination watering holes in Daytona for bikers all year round.

Out onto US1 heading south, Michael sits with Phil to his left, Pete in front of him, and Joey to his left as well.


The Iron Horse is part multi-bar, part wild west show, part treetop fortress with a canopy of walkways above the grounds connecting overlooks, skyhigh bars, and eating areas.......all done in wood as if just put up that weekend for the festivities.



We secured a comfortable spot above the treeline and watched the festivities while taking in frosty beverages.
The Iron Horse is right across the street on US1 from the Hog Pen, which has a stage for bands and many people selling biker gear, and this is right next door to the Broken Spoke Saloon which has an even bigger stage and had Molly Hatchett and Iron Maiden playing while we were there that week. (Not that we stayed to watch......)


Michael and I were enjoying ourselves with our friends and biker relatives, just absorbing in the aptmosphere along with the stress free conditions of not having to be anywhere at any time, just being.
But not before one final picture of the entire group.


One of the things we look forward to doing while at Bike Week is actually riding together. With Michael's time with us coming to an end only 24 hours after his arrival, it was time for him to return to his "studies" at school.

Joey had other plans that evening and Roger and Debbie were due elsewhere so Pete and I decided to partially accompany Michael 1/3 of the way back to Gainesville just for the ride.

We got out to who knows where Florida and pulled off at the East-West cutoff where we said our goodbye's.



And with a whisper of wind we headed into separate directions, he back to the thicket of the best times in his life and we back to trying to relive ours. With such cornball thoughts going off in our heads there was only one thing to do.....go to another BAR! Off to The Hog's Pen it is!


One of the best surprises at Bike Week this year was meeting up with Mr. Bob Conway, who I have now know for 17 years. Bob and I have worked together off and on with different companies over the years and he has endeared himself to me time and time again.









And it had only a LITTLE bit to do with him plying us with beer from sexy babe bartenders.





And with a final look at Evel Kneivel's rocket powered motorcycle, wrecked in the ill fated attempt to jump the Snake River, we ended a third day.......in the daylight anyway.


AND WE NOW ENTER OUR LAST DAY - And it was a GOOD one!


This time we rode into the infield of Daytona Sppedway as they were running the Superbike Races on the oval track and on the inner Gran Prix track.

It was awesome watching the bikes hug the 30 degree incline turn as it was all I could do to simply get one of these bikes IN a picture at the speeds they were going.



We then watched the superbikes test the inner Gran Prix track from the infield grandstands, entrance to which was free for HOG Members.





Collecting our bikes, we headed out to the beach for one last run and to visit Main St., which was an area we didn't get to see that much while here. We saw the Ball of Death, some more bikes, and a surprise visit from Rog and Deb again.



A bit tedious to see in some spots in this format but a fairly straightforward depiction of SOME of the events of our four day deal.

What I didn't show was the episode where Joe's motorcycle got fried and we spent three hours in a shop watching the lights flash on a code to us from his speedometer.....or the whole Frank buying pipes for the Road King, or some of the evening activities as flashbulbs are simply uncool.

We left Joe in downtown Daytona for his eventual ride back north (yes, all the way to NY) and Pete and I drove westward, he to Spring Hill and me to Palm Harbor again.

Hopefully we will go again but we're looking to a possible Sturgis, ND trip, a mountains of Denver trip, and squeezed in there somewhere I'll be heading to Shanghai and Hong Kong, looks like mid-May so we'll keep you posted as the events occur and you do the same!