22 Comments

I lived in Jersey for 25 years, the last 15 in Matawan (exit 120!). I worked in Nutley for the first 6, down on River Road. And I had a customer in Haddonfield. I remember the dinos.

I still ride my Merlin I bought from the Peddler in 2001. Is Donny still there? Or did he retire?

Thanks for the story.

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I think Donny retired, I'll ask when I go pick up my Surly after they install a seat dropper. Where on River Road? I grew up on East Centre Street, and we played at the ITT grounds on River road a lot.

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75 River Road. It was called Sel-Rex when I was there. They tore the building down and put up condos, early 90s that would be. Places we'd go out to lunch included Lyndhurst Diner and of course Rutt's Hut. If we were entertaining a customer we might go to Gondola.

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And I forgot that I didn't pack hiking shoes to force myself to rest. I can go for a short walk and listen to a podcast.

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I remember it. Nearly all my playgrounds are concrete now.

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founding

You did take an amazing mushroom picture! And that snake is gorgeous. In terms of gecko vs dragon I realize this is probably not a great call from the peanut gallery but ... why not both?

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Because she needs to start small! 😜

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The Dennis Nedry costume is perfect. My kid and I used to the eye thing he did with the dinner check when squaring off over the last piece of pizza.

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You're not cheaping out on me, are ya? He was perfectly cast as a UNIX administ-hater. I've worked with his kind, and did my best not to be him!

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Nov 5, 2023Liked by Thomas Pluck

Where's the picture of my burger??? We definitely need to revisit that diner!!! I need to nature hike more often... With AND without the kids/dogs in tow.

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That burger was pornographic.

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We have a large network of rail-to-trails here. I love my tax dollars going to stuff like that! I mostly walk on the one that is about four minutes from our front door, and I love how much I notice because I’m so familiar with it. But I recently got a new gravel bike and have been going farther distances on it. This week, I was coming back from lunch with a friend on my bike on the trail, and a red-tail flew completely parallel with my shoulders for a good stretch of trail. My eyes were gigantic and I just kept side-eye looking at it RIGHT THERE next to me. I decided that it’s nice to have a faster and a slower way of engaging with the trails right outside my door.

Kudos for that footnote and to your local police for taking such quick action!

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What a wonderful experience! I'm looking at gravel bikes next, what do you ride?

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A Salsa Journeyer Advent. I love it. My kids accuse me of only buying it for the chile pepper on the stem, but it's perfect for what I wanted. I mostly wanted a commuter for paved trails, but I didn't want to have to be precious with it on sidewalks or gravel like I would with a road bike.

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Very nice. I will try one for size when I am ready for road and gravel. Right now I'm loving my Surly Ice Cream Truck. It's a small frame and feels perfect. I rode my usual rooty trail today and had no problem clambering up a root-infested windy uphill section that has always made me stop and walk it before! But I need a road-ish bike.

When I sell the Fuji Wendigo I will buy a gravel bike.

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I used to ride bikes a lot more in town when my kids were littler and wanted to ride to school instead of walk. Taking the fat tire out in winter always reminded me of those dreams where I’m running hard but not getting anywhere. They’re such a great idea but I find them so frustrating!

My oldest niece had two bearded dragons she loved, but heartbreakingly both died of a disease they’re prone to. They’ve had better luck with geckos, and the two constrictor snakes who are now in their late 20s.

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My first mountain bike experience was with a fat tire monster, so I'm used to pumping that leg power to get it moving. It helps that I'm very leg strong, I was a powerlifter into my late 40s. They aren't for everybody! I need a road bike eventually. I'm sorry you're niece lost her dragons. I am team gecko but they are weird looking and dragons are very stately looking.

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Nothing quite like when a bearded dragon slow-waves at you from the other side of the glass. 🐉

Have to admit I’m fond of the snakes, too, though more so when they were little and could curl up on a shoulder. They’re huge now! 🐍

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I loved to hold my friend's ball python. She was a friendly cutie. And I'm very warm, so cats and reptiles like me.

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Sounds like a great outing!

"the caboose from the now-defunct rail line" sounds like a euphemism for something.

But I don't know what...a versatile metaphor, at least.

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License plate: DUNTWERKN

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