Stormy

On Saturday it was nice for around here so I took the ponies over to the big pen and let them play followed by a good brushing. Here is Stormy playing and standing to be brushed.

Have Delta Cruisers Met Their Match?

How is this for proof that my aesthetic preferences do not trump all else: I think the old, nondescript tires on my vintage Gazelle may have been ever so slightly more comfortable than the gorgeous, creamy newDelta Cruisers I replaced them with. I replaced the old tires not for the looks, but because they were 15 years old and worn out. I rode with the original tires for the first 5 months of owning the bike, but winter was coming and it seemed like the right time to get new ones. And as long as I was replacing them, the 28" Schwalbe Delta Cruisers were the natural choice: beautiful, gloriously shock absorbent, and puncture resistant. I love them on my Raleigh DL-1, I loved them on the Steyr Waffenrad I rode in Vienna, I love them in the 700C size on my Royal H. mixte, and I loved them in the 26" size on my formerly owned Pashley Princess and Raleigh Sports.



What I like about Delta Cruisers in terms of functionality, is that they are both fasterandcushier (i.e. better at dampening road shock) than other tires I've tried in equivalent sizes and widths. Whenever I replace other tires with Delta Cruisers, the change has always resulted in an "Ahhh, much better!" feeling... until now. It's a tiny difference, but I think the old tires on the Gazelle may have felt softer. I am not ready to state this with certainty, because the roads are in such worse condition now than they were before winter's start and part of me hopes there may just be more potholes now than before. But on the other hand, I remember the feeling of going over thepotholes themselves as having been a bit better with the old tires. Darn! Just when I thought I was done with this bike, there is something new to obsess about.



It took me a while to determine the brand of the old tires, as they were quite worn out. But finally I was able to make out "Kenda NL 40-635." Ah, so they are Kendas, made for the Dutch market. The checkered tread pattern looks just like this, but I don't see any 28" tires on Kenda's website. I've been able to find some on ebay that look like they might be the same model - or at least the current version of the same model, as the tires on my bike were made 15 years ago. But will they feel as good as my old ones? I've read so-so reviews of Kenda tires and it's hard for me to believe that they could be more comfortable than Schwalbe Delta Cruisers. Still, I am open minded and will readily admit it if indeed this is so. I don't want to replace the lovely Delta Cruisers, but for me ride quality is an area where comfort wins over aesthetics. Does anyone have 28" Kenda tires on their bike?

Wauchula FL to Cape Canaveral FL

We are attending a rally with other FOTR (Families on the Road) so we drove over to Cape Canaveral where it will be at. We are staying at Jetty Park which is right on the beach.





We arrived much later than we'd planned so we haven't done much beyond a short walk to the beach, getting set up and having dinner. It is still sooooo cold here.





I'm hoping it warms up so we can enjoy the rest of our time here with weather that is more favorable. The campground is nice and you really can't beat the location so we only need the weather to make it fabulous!

The Candy Shop 1103 H Street NE

Peter Cokinos and family Pota, Catherine and George--early 1920s.

Time for Play

Here is a photo of Traveler playing in the little bit of snow we got last week.

We have a winner.

Sorry climbers, this post suffers from missing photos. I did some deleting of online albums, turns out they were linked to here. jj






Or "Michael" as his mother prefers to spell it. Sorry Mrs. Houghton. Thanks Lee.
Have you ever seen Michael look this good?






Michael recently became a follower of jjobrienclimbing to win this sharp new Consina T-Shirt from Ubud Adventure.

Instantly transforming him from style tragic to covershot cool.

Michael already knows the superior traction and style power of Dunlop Volleys.

Fact: sign up to jjobrienclimbing.blogspot.com and you are on your way to better climbing style.















Michael climbs rocks too.

jjobrienclimbing supports Michael's choice of photo-approved brilliant yellow chalk bag.













Thanks for the support Michael.













Need more Nick? Who doesn't?









Nick absolutely tears apart the crux traverse on "Evil". I can't believe this guy. I'm still refining this sequence after 191 attempts.

Lee Cujes, Matt Cochrane, Russel Bright, Tom O'Halloran, Vinny Day, Matt Schimke, have all made the demanding ascent.

I've forgotten someone. Who?

Then he flares his lats like a cobra and dispatches "A Knee Bar Too Far" 8a











Abi and Kaylee entertained/frightened us with some Aerial Tissue work.

Phend-Fisher Family Reunion Ledger (1932)

[page 1]
23rd Annual Phend and Fisher Reunion held at John Earnest home near Sugar Grove Goshen, Ind. Aug 28, 1932

The presiding officers were
President Claude Poole
Vice Pres Ruben Pletcher
Sec & Treas Cecil Phend

Death & Birth Reporter
Mrs Barton Thornton

Entertainment Committee
Fred Earnest Chairman
Mr Cecil Phend
Mrs Cecil Phend
Mr Russell Phend
Mr Barton Thornton

The day was dark and dreary and so the meal was served in Uncle John Earnest home, every one had all they could hold. Pres. Claude Poole ask that we sing Dixology and then Ruben Pletcher ask blessing before we ate. After a social good time the meeting was called to order at the Sugar Grove Church by Pres Claude Poole. A groupe song was sung.

[page 2]
Report of last Reunino was Read and approved. It was moved and seconed to have 1933 reunion at H. A. Phends - Columbia City Ind.

Entertianments
Short talks were given by Mrs John Earnest on first Phend Reunion
Mrs Barton Thornton reads the Phend & Fisher year newspaper which was rather shocking to many
a piano and vocal duet by Mrs Cecil Phend & Daughter and Mrs Victor Phend
a Piano duet by Richard & Anna May Thornton
a talk by H A Phend on Reunion
a talk by Fred Earnest on Honesty

Presents were given to
Mrs John Earnest oldest lady
Mr James Shaw oldest man
Ruben Pletchers Son youngest boy
Paul Phends daughter youngest girl
John Earnest Bald headest man
Henry Phend Largest family
Letter from Howard Phend

[page 3]
Financial Report 1932
In Treasure 4.35
Payed out for Cards 1.90
Coffee sugar Ect 1.58
Total expence 3.48
Balance on Hand .87
Collection 2.30
[balance on hand] .87
[new total] $3.17

Birth and Death Record By Mrs Bartan Thornton
John Phend. Son of Grandfather
Jacob Phend & Wife
Died Nov 1931 age 83.

[editor's note: John Phend died December 10, 1931. His third wife , Eliza Ann Shorb Sponhauer, died January 14, 1931. Jacob J Phend had died in 1929 and his second wife was still living in 1931 so I don't know what Uncle Cecil meant by listing "Jacob Phend & wife" in the deaths.]

Dela [Della] Phend Senniff [Senff] age 56 Died April 1932. Daughter of uncle John Phend & wife.

Born to
Paul Phend & Wife a girl, June Joan Phend

New Officers Elected for 1933
Pres H. A. Phend
Vice Pres Mrs James Shaw
Sec & Treas. Cecil Phend

Entertainment
Chairman Fred Earnest
Mr Barton Thornton
Cecil Phend
[page 4]
Birth & Death Reporter
Mrs Katherine Pletcher

A congregational Son was sung and the meet was dismissed.
Cecil Phend Sec.

Ballance 3.17
Cost of Cards 1.70
In Treasure 1.47
Collection 1.95
[total] 3.42



The Phend-Fisher families gathered for a reunion in Elkhart County, Indiana almost annually from 1909 until 1943. The events of the day were recorded in an old ledger book. Spelling has been retained as it was in the original though some punctuation and paragraph breaks have been added. To view all articles in this series click on the "Phend-Fisher Reunion Ledger" label at the bottom of this post.