Flowers

Saw these at the store today
Made me think of you

I hope you are looking down from heaven and can see their beauty

Manzano's Deli

Manzano's Del had been on our to do adventure list for a long time.

The are open Tuesday - Saturday 11 AM - 2 PM.
This has made it difficult to cross this one off the list.

I left Daytona Beach so that I could get there for lunch.
It did not disappoint. I got two meals out of a half a sandwich.

Clubber Lang: Roasted Turkey, Honey Maple Ham, Bacon, Sharp Cheddar, Lettuce, Tomato, Red Onions, and Ranch Dressing.

 

Bongoland Ruins

Bongoland Ruins

R&L Carriers Ambassador Suites

Ambassador Suites Daytona Beach

August 23 - 29, 2026

Mental get away

Tiki bar and pool

Room 308, right corner

Morning sunrise

Hotel at night

Full moon over the hotel

Full Moon Rise

W International Speedway Blvd Bridge

W International Speedway Blvd bridge as seen from the Main St Bridge.
I biked from the hotel and crossed the Main Street Bridge heading west.
I rode south to the larger W International Speedway Blvd Bridge.
I shot Go Pro video going across the bridge that I will add a link to.

 W International Speedway Blvd Bridge as seen from Main St Bridge

Main Street Bridge as seen form the W International Speedway Blvd Bridge

SeaSide Bistro & Bar

At the Holiday Inn nextdoor

BBQ Chicken flatbread 

Passion Fruit Martini 

The Martini was strong

This was the first sit down restaurant that I went to by myself. I have been avoiding this. I made it through it, I think the ocean helped with the sound of the waves in the background. The outdoor part of the restaurant was pretty empty, only 2 other couples.

Daytona Beach Pier

Bike ride down to the pier.

Then went the other way up to highway 40.

Stopped at the Spark hotel by Hilton that Jeni and I stayed at for Christmas 2025.

Probably rode around 8 miles. Bike riding is more enjoyable when there is less work involved. It is fun to ride again.

Time - Gandalf

All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.

    Gandalf

    The Fellowship of the Ring

Death is Nothing at All

Death is Nothing at All - Henry Scott Holland

Death is nothing at all.

It does not count.

I have only slipped away into the next room.

Nothing has happened.

Everything remains exactly as it was.

I am I, and you are you,

and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.

Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.

Call me by the old familiar name.

Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.

Put no difference into your tone.

Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.

Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.

Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.

Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it.

Life means all that it ever meant.

It is the same as it ever was.

There is absolute and unbroken continuity.

What is this death but a negligible accident?

Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?

I am but waiting for you, for an interval,

somewhere very near,

just round the corner.

All is well.

Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.

One brief moment and all will be as it was before.

How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!

Empty Chairs

8 months ago tomorrow we were at Daytona Beach celebrating Christmas.

It is so lonely now.

Beach Sunrise

 Beautiful sunrise this morning

R&L Carriers Ambassador Suites

 Spending the week working from Daytona Beach.

I was able to get the bike into the back of Jeni's Honda so that I can store it out of the rain and secure it over night. The GoPro camera was not charged so I was unable to capture any video. Charging it now so if the weather is good after work tomorrow I can try again.

It was difficult to pack this morning and drive over here without Jeni. This is my first trip to the beach without her. An anxiety pill helped. Once I got checked into the room I felt a little better.

The hotel and beach are not very crowded. School is back in session so that probably helps a lot. Hopefully it will be a quiet week.

The view from the balcony

Room 308, corner room

     

 

Checks

Down to the last couple of checks. I do not really write a lot of checks anymore but I guess I need to get more of them.

It makes me sad because they will no longer have your name on them since your name was taken off the accounts.

Maybe I will keep the ones with you name on them and go ahead and use the new ones.

Kayak Silver River

A Quiet Farewell on the Water

Monday, August 17th was a scorcher—90 degrees by noon, but a beautiful day to be out on the river.

I was there to bring some of Jeni’s ashes to her favorite places along the water. In the end, I chose three spots. The second was the “Gnome of the River,” a place we always used to stop at together. My personal favorite was the third: a calm, tree-lined bend in the river just before the Silver and Ocala and Oklawaha rivers merge. As you round that curve, a serene view opens up ahead—a place that has always felt peaceful.

Shortly after leaving the third spot, a young manatee with a completely pristine body—no scar marks at all—swam upstream right between Gary and me. I turned my kayak around to get a better look, and to my surprise, the manatee turned around too.

It swam in a circle around my kayak, moved up along the right side, and lingered underwater, gazing up at me. Then, it raised its nose and face above the water’s surface, staring right at me for several moments. I spoke quietly to it as it watched. After a minute, it dipped back under, circled my kayak one more time, and then calmly continued its journey upstream.

In all the years Jeni and I paddled these waters, I had never had a manatee pay attention to me or interact with me like that. Neither Gary nor I thought to grab a camera for a photo or video—we were too busy just being present and absorbing the moment.

Gary turned to me afterward and said he believed it was a message from Jeni, I believe she was thanking us for returning her forever to her favorite place in Florida.