It Takes a Long Time to Grow an Old Friend

Today, we just relaxed while Jackie and Ed awaited the delivery of their new living room furniture. Of course, we had to play with the electric reclining couches before we headed out for dinner.


We met an old friend and his wife for dinner at the Texas Roadhouse. Tommy was a regular at the Americade motorcycle rally every June, in Lake George, NY. A Bronx native, Tommy worked for Con Ed for forty years. They still have their home in Duchess County, NY but they also used to own a winter home in West Palm Beach, but sold it last year and have built a new home, right here in Palm Coast. It sounds like Tommy may start pitching horseshoes sometime, with Ed. We enjoyed a nice dinner together, with lots of laughs and plenty of stories.


When I think back on all of the adventures Brian and I enjoyed over the past 31 years, our annual trek to the Americade motorcycle rally, are memories that shine. My aunt Jill and uncle Mike introduced me to Brian just two weeks after they all returned from Brian's first Americade with them, in 1992. We began our yearly trips together in 1993. 

Just about the same people came every June, and we all stayed at Nordick's Motel. We came from far and wide, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Canada. We'd ride all over Vermont and New York State, clear up to the Canadian border. Those rides were the best, and always concluded with everyone hanging out on the veranda of the motel, enjoying drinks and munchies, then walking downtown for dinner. Afterward, we'd grab a bench and watch what Brian loved to call "the floor show." Students from Lake George High School (Rachel Ray's stomping grounds) would cruise up and down Canada Street gawking at all the motorcycles that lined both sides of the street, for miles. The sidewalks were packed with bikers and their families, who stopped to admire the bikes. Those were our glory days and we all loved the time we shared together each year. Here are some photos from past Americade rallies.

Tommy & Brian admiring the "Boss Hoss"

Tommy, Rich, me & Brian - lunch at the Adirondack Hotel

We've got our front row seats for "the floor show"

Dana, Kelly, Tommy, Brian and Chick, owner of the "Boss Hoss"

Ring side seats on Canada Street

Brian & uncle Mike

Mike & Jill

Brian, Mike & Rich

Brian with his daughter, Jen and son-in-law Ken at Fort Ticonderoga ~ Americade 2003

My lovely step-daughter and son-in-law

Partying on the porch

The Guys: Tommy, Brian, Rich, Jake and Sal

Scott & Mary, who I visited with in Naples last week ~ former owners of Nordick's Motel


Comments

  1. Linda OFebruary 22, 2024 at 9:17 AM

    Sounds like a perfect day and evening.. Wonderful pictures
    Enjoyed seeing all of them.

    ReplyDelete

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