Pine Barrens Stroll: Epilogue

Pine Barrens Stroll: Epilogue

BEHOLD! Viddy Oh!

Pine Barrens Stroll: Chapter 2

Pine Barrens Stroll: Chapter 2

BEHOLD! Viddy Oh!

Pine Barrens Stroll: Chapter 1

Pine Barrens Stroll: Chapter 1

BEHOLD! Viddy Oh!

The Adventures of Ava and Bailey

While not as widely chronicled or as infamous as "The Adventures of Jorbo and Mappy", Ava and Bailey still have their stories to tell...

Gimme a treat!

No's, yous says? Then I's don'ts wants to talks to yous!

I luvvvvvvvvv crotch!

Hmmmmmm...I wonder if there's any crotch I can nuzzle over this way...

Ahhhhhhhhh...Medford!

Verrazzano Bridge

Leaving NY behind...

Coney Island Exit

On To Base Camp 3

Medford, NJ

Gull Remains

A Dip In The Atlantic

Cold.

Long Beach, Strong Island, Yo

Stalked by the Evil-Eye Gullz?

Who Wantsa Slice?! Part Deux

Pasta Pizza!

Ooooooooooooo! Spooky!

The Ugliest Building In Existence?

Say hello to the architectural atrocity known as King David Manor in Long Beach, NY. These photos do not do this yellow and orange eyesore justice.

On to Base Camp 2

Oceanside, Strong Island, yo

Holbrook Diner

Holbrook Special (Chicken breast, melted Swiss & Mushrooms on garlic roll), side of potato salad, Cup O' Chicken Rice, Diet Pepsi, Coffee, and Rice Pudding with a heaping dollop of whipped cream...

Adios to The Big D's Flannel

Schlock-o-rama!

Just a small sampling of the goodies available at the flea market.

The fairy lamp came in all sorts of varieties/poses/haircolors, but I thought this one best summed up the genre.

The over-sized gangsta style of the white leather, black stitched Scarface jacket was a personal fave. Loaded with quotes and Scarface mugs. A true gem. When I took the photo, the woman who rented the booth came running at me yapping "Excuse me! You like? You like?" Her desperation to sell the jacket was pretty transparent, I'd say. I told her I wasn't interested and moved on.

The light up Jesus, Mary, Sacred Heart mirror speaks for itself.

The Flea Market

More worthless junk than imaginable. Gonna go gift shopping there tomorrow.

The wall just right of the entrance.

Grillo's

The single room shack on Grundy Ave. that housed the local candy shop has seen better days. No idea how long it has been boarded up, but it appears to be years. The odds of Old Man Grillo still being alive are slim, indeed. From my former home at 976 Cheril, the journey to Grillo's, by bike, seemed epic. Today, about 3 minutes by car.

The Shore of Lake Ronkonkama

Legend has it a Native maiden, both beautiful and fair, drowned herself in the lake when she was forbidden to marry her love, a young strapping European lad. Every summer since her demise, her tormented spirit, swirling around the depths of the lake, desperate for a reunion with her forbidden love, has claimed the life of a young man foolish enough to swim in the waters of Ronkonkama after dark. She never got this young lad...

The Evil-Eye Gullz Gang!

Who Wantsa Slice?!

HELLZ YA! I do!

Aegean's

Well over 20 years later, and my favorite place to grab a slice still occupies its nook across from the PathMark Supermarket in the Sun Vet Mall.

The view from inside. The Pac-Man machine used to reside against the right wall towards the front, where the small TV now hangs. Soooooo many quarters...

What's a sump?

On Long Island, at least where I was from, there are huge holes dug into the ground, surrounded by fences topped with barbed wire, that serve as drainage ditches for the surrounding neighborhood. They also served as a place for punky kids to burn stuff, smoke, break bottles, sled, drink booze and, in general, participate in things they ain't supposed to be doing. This is the gate to the sump just a few hundred feet down the street from 976 Cheryl Dr., just as I remember it.

The Big D's Flannel Arrives Home

870-something miles later, The BD's flannel makes it to 976 Cheryl Dr., it's first home. I don't remember the original color of the house, but I know it wasn't sky blue. However, it coordinates well with The BD's flannel.

Half Penny Pub

Sipping Jameson, writing, waiting for my escort to 976 Cheryl Dr.(the former home of The Big D, his wife and son)

Sayville Modern Diner

Cup of Yankee Bean, grilled cheese, couple cups of coffee.

Clam Bar

Boarded up, awaiting summer.

Map of Eastern L.I.

Montauk

Can't get much farther East in the US. The seagull was giving me the Evil Eye.

800 Miles from home...

...and finally at my first destination: the home of long time family friends within the humble hamlet of Holbrook, nestled in the middle of Long Island, NY.

Crossing the G Dub Bridge

It never ceases to thrill me.