Before boarding our American Cruise Lines riverboat, we enjoyed a Nashville city tour led by Adam Pope, a local singer-songwriter who kept us entertained and laughing along the way.
Much of the tour celebrated Nashville’s legendary music scene, with stops and sights including the impressive full-scale replica of the Greek Parthenon, a tasting at Tennessee Legend Distillery, and even the Taylor Swift bench.
A fun, music-filled introduction to Nashville—and a great way to begin our cruise!
by Dennis Augustine
Dinner at Cascades American Café was just the beginning of a special Nashville evening.
After dinner, Cecile and I joined our good friends Susie and Nelson and hopped aboard the trolley for the short ride to the legendary Grand Ole Opry — celebrating its 100th anniversary this year!
Our tickets were complimentary as part of our upcoming American Cruise Lines cruise, making this a wonderful prelude to the journey ahead.
Tonight’s Tuesday Night Opry featured seven performers — a great mix of bluegrass, country, Americana, roots and Western music.
There’s something pretty special about sitting inside the home of the Grand Ole Opry, where generations of performers have stepped onto country music’s most famous stage since 1925.
by Dennis Augustine
Our longtime friends Susan and Nelson flew in from San Jose and joined Cecile and me for a wonderful dinner at Ravello at Gaylord Opryland.
Seated on the garden terrace, we were surrounded by lush greenery, soft lights and the soothing sound of cascading waterfalls. It felt like a little taste of Italy in Nashville.
We shared meatballs in marinara, house-made focaccia and wine, followed by dinner and plenty of conversation and laughter.
A sweet finish: complimentary tiramisu and vanilla ice cream, courtesy of our Marriott Bonvoy membership.
Great food, longtime friends & La Dolce Vita — Nashville style.
by Dennis Augustine
This morning, Cecile and I took an early walk through Gaylord Opryland’s lush indoor gardens, surrounded by tropical greenery, exotic plants, pedestrian bridges and cascading waterfalls.
The cool, climate-controlled atmosphere felt wonderfully refreshing as Nashville’s temperatures climbed into the 80s and 90s.
Beneath the glass atriums, winding paths, leafy gardens and rushing water created a peaceful, almost magical world of their own.
The photos capture the beauty, but the video clips bring the experience to life—the movement, sparkle and sound of the waterfalls are something special!
After our morning exploring, it was time for pool time and lunch.
Not a bad way to spend a Nashville morning!
Note: If you can’t see the video clip, double click on the title!
by Dennis Augustine
We checked into Nashville’s spectacular Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center and, thanks to our Marriott Bonvoy membership, were upgraded to a beautiful room with a balcony overlooking the atrium. What a view!
Calling it a “hotel” hardly does it justice. Beneath its soaring glass atriums lie acres of lush tropical gardens, winding waterways, fountains, and cascading waterfalls—all glowing beautifully as evening falls.
For dinner, Cecile and I enjoyed a fabulous Mexican meal at Solario Cantina, where the colorful, lively atmosphere made the experience even more fun.
Afterward, we decided to “walk off dinner” and explore the resort. With its gardens, waterfalls, lights, restaurants, and seemingly endless pathways, Gaylord Opryland feels like an adult Disneyland—without ever leaving the hotel.
And this was only our first evening in Nashville!
Our friends Nelson and Susie will be joining us tomorrow for dinner.
by Dennis Augustine
What do you give a dad who has everything?
At the end of last month, for our birthday, our son Jason, daughter Michelle, and son-in-law Kyle had the perfect answer: a gift card to one of our favorite restaurants, Dry Creek Grill. Thank you all!
Cecile and I put their thoughtful gift to delicious use with a date night in San Jose.
We settled into a cozy private booth surrounded by warm wood and stone décor. Housed in a historic former Moose Lodge, Dry Creek Grill is now an upscale yet comfortable dining space featuring a beautiful redwood bar.
We shared a beet salad to start. Cecile chose oven-roasted Shetland salmon with winter root vegetables, sautéed kale, roasted shallots, cauliflower purée, and pomegranate-balsamic glaze. I opted for blackened wild mahi mahi with Blue Lake green beans, herb-roasted potatoes, and heirloom tomato relish.
Cecile enjoyed a Cabernet, while I had a Chardonnay.
We passed on dessert—sometimes knowing when to stop is part of a great meal.
The evening reminded us that the best gifts aren’t necessarily things; they’re experiences we get to share. Thank you again, Jason, Michelle, and Kyle!
by Dennis Augustine
One year ago today, Cecile and I arrived in Minneapolis at the beginning of our vacation. I felt compelled to buy a bouquet of flowers and visit Annunciation Catholic Church to pay my respects.
I will never forget the sea of flowers outside the church — or the feeling of standing among strangers brought together by shared grief and compassion.
I placed my flowers at the memorial for 10-year-old Harper Moyski and 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel, two young lives taken far too soon.
A year has passed, but that quiet moment remains with me.
Remembering Harper and Fletcher today, their families, and all those whose lives were forever changed. May their memories continue to be held with love.
by Dennis Augustine
Before heading back to the Bay Area, Cecile and I enjoyed one last Folsom meal with our son Jason at one of our favorite breakfast and lunch spots — the Gold Miner Cafe.
This cozy diner has a special Folsom flavor, with murals, photos and memorabilia celebrating Johnny Cash and his legendary connection to nearby Folsom State Prison.
Flashback — June 25, 2022: Cecile and me in front of the restaurant’s colorful Johnny Cash mural during an earlier visit.
Four years later, we’re still coming back — this time for good food, a little Johnny Cash nostalgia, and most importantly, family time with Jason.
by Dennis Augustine
After a full day — an early Folsom bike ride for me, Emmy’s soccer game and Lyla cheering with her team — we gathered for one last family dinner before heading home.
Jason, Michelle and Kyle treated Cecile and me to a wonderful birthday dinner at Sienna in El Dorado Hills. We enjoyed cocktails, fresh fish and family favorites for the grandkids in our private booth overlooking the hills.
We finished with mango sorbet, and mine arrived with a birthday candle as everyone sang “Happy Birthday.”
Tomorrow we return to the Bay Area after breakfast. The week flew by, but the family memories will stay with us.
by Dennis Augustine
For my family birthday dinner in Folsom, Cecile put together a wonderful feast, ordering an array of delicious, authentic Burmese/Myanmar dishes from Burma Light, followed by specialty birthday cupcakes from the Palladio Shopping Center.
We missed having our daughter Michelle at the table, as she was in Denver for a work conference. But she made sure to call and wish her dad a Happy Birthday, which meant a lot to me.
Good food, family, cupcakes—and yet another birthday celebration. At 76, I’ve decided there’s no rule saying you can only celebrate once!
Feeling grateful for another year and, most of all, for the family I get to share it with.
Note: Can't help not thinking of our Burmese friends in Allentown, PA.
My 21-Mile Birthday Ride on My New Aventon Bike — with Kyle
What better way to celebrate my birthday than with a 21-mile ride on my new Aventon Pace 5!
My son-in-law Kyle led the way from Folsom on a beautiful ride around the iconic American River, giving me the perfect opportunity to put my new e-bike through its paces.
On our return, we crossed the historic truss bridge into Folsom, stopped at the Johnny Cash Trail’s artistic guitar memorial for a photo, and continued across the impressive Johnny Cash Bridge — a fitting finale to a memorable birthday ride.
The story of this bike actually began with my longtime biking partner and friend Bill Rothenberg. Bill first spotted the colorful Koi Aventon at Sports Basement in the Pruneyard in San Jose and encouraged me to give it a test ride. I liked it so much that it eventually became my birthday gift to myself — and a bike I can keep in Folsom and enjoy whenever we visit the kids and grandkids.
And Bill had one more birthday surprise. He secretly gave my wife Cecile a framed gift to present to me on my birthday, featuring a few familiar and notable faces offering their own humorous words of encouragement — including, appropriately enough, “Keep riding, Dennis!”
by Dennis Augustine
Whenever I visit our family in Folsom, I always look forward to spending time on its exceptional network of bicycle and pedestrian trails. Each ride offers something new—peaceful lakes and wetlands, shady tree-lined paths, colorful wildflowers, abundant wildlife, and friendly people enjoying the outdoors.
One of the things I appreciate most is seeing the signs recognizing Folsom’s Adopt-a-Trail Partners. Their volunteers help conserve, maintain, and beautify these treasured pathways, keeping them clean, safe, and inviting for everyone who walks, runs, or rides.
Every ride reminds me that the heart of Folsom isn’t found in a single destination—it’s found along these trails. From families out for a stroll , people walking their dogs, children learning to ride , and runners training , to cyclists exchanging a wave or a smile , there’s a genuine sense of community that makes every mile memorable.
by Dennis Augustine
“Surprise is the greatest gift which life can grant us.”
— Boris Pasternak
Four years ago today, I experienced one of those unexpected gifts.
After Michelle and Kyle visited, our conversation turned to bicycling. Kyle had recently bought Michelle a Trek bike, and when I mentioned how much I’d love to ride with her someday, he happily offered to watch the kids.
The next day, Michelle and I set off on a 15-mile ride along the Los Gatos Creek Trail. It was our first bike ride together as adults—and our first uninterrupted father-daughter outing in years.
As I glanced back and saw Michelle riding behind me, I felt both grateful and emotional. The last time we had ridden together, she was a toddler in a child seat on the back of my bicycle.
That ride became a treasured memory, and we both promised we’d do it again. Thank you, Kyle, for making that special day possible.
Sometimes life’s greatest gifts aren’t planned—they simply find us. As a middle aged mother of three, she's still my little angel
by Dennis Augustine
Bill and I met his cousin Dell at his home near downtown Willow Glen, hopped on the Three Creeks Trail and pedaled our way toward downtown San Jose.
Along the way, we discovered some colorful new murals and stopped to chat with one of the muralists working on the latest additions. As you’ll see in the photos, we couldn’t resist becoming part of the artwork ourselves!
Our destination was San Pedro Square Market, where we cooled off in the shade on the patio over a Vietnamese salad and bánh mì sandwich.
On the ride back, we stopped by the Children’s Discovery Museum to visit the mammoth.
And that’s when things got a little…wild.
Before we knew it, Bill’s AI imagination had transported us from downtown San Jose to The Lion King gone mad—complete with giraffes, zebras, a gigantic elephant and one lion that apparently thought I was the bánh mì!
21 miles, three friends, colorful murals, good food and donne completely unexprected safari. Why waste 18 hours on a plane when you can bike there from Willow Glen?
by Dennis Augustine
Happy 49th Anniversary to Sister Josie & Brother-in-Law Joe!
Cecile and I send love across the miles as Josie and Joe celebrate 49 years of marriage.
Cecile and I married on March 25, 1977, and Josie and Joe followed five months later—two marriages, one year, 49 years of memories.
Josie, my younger sister by five years, remains a strong part of my Hoboken roots. Joe, a mostly Irish guy who married into our Sicilian family , didn’t just survive—he thrived and became my brother and “bro.”
Over the years, we’ve shared
unforgettable adventures with my late brother Michael (Kenya, Zambia, Botswana), Steve (Costa Rica), and Joe and I, South Africa, and Cuba
From Hoboken to Rutherford, NJ, the years have flown.
Happy 49th Anniversary, Josie & Joe! Cecile and I love you both and wish you many more healthy, happy years together.
Irish luck + Sicilian love = 49 years and counting!
by Dennis Augustine
With temperatures headed for 96°F, I got an early start on the Los Gatos Creek Trail and was home before the afternoon heat arrived.
Today’s highlights included a group of cormorants drying their wings. They may look a little funny standing with them spread wide, but their partially waterproof feathers help them dive up to 150 feet to catch fish.
A little farther down the trail, I got a bit too close to a graceful great egret, capturing it just as it took flight.
Then came the biggest surprise—a beautiful hen pecking around a backyard near the Highway 85 overpass pedestrian bridge behind Rolling Hills Middle School. Ironically, that same yard once had an emu!
From deep-diving cormorants and elegant egrets to a neighborhood chicken, every ride along the Los Gatos Creek Trail brings a new adventure.
by Dennis Augustine
Dinner with good friends is always a treat, especially when it introduces us to a new cuisine.
We enjoyed a wonderful evening at NAR Restaurant in Mountain View, the Peninsula’s first Azerbaijani and South Caucasus restaurant. Azerbaijan, nestled between Eastern Europe and Western Asia along the Caspian Sea, is known for its rich culinary traditions, and NAR brings those authentic flavors to Silicon Valley.
Originally a popular food truck, NAR has grown into an elegant restaurant featuring warm hospitality, beautifully prepared family recipes, and a striking pomegranate tree mural. (Nar means pomegranate, a symbol of health, abundance, and good fortune.)
One of the evening’s unexpected pleasures was the peaceful atmosphere. We could actually enjoy conversation without having to talk over the noise of the dining room—a rare treat these days.
A memorable evening filled with delicious food, wonderful friends, and the joy of discovering a remarkable new cuisine. Highly recommended!
by Dennis Augustine
Bill and I enjoyed another lunchtime ride, taking the car-free Los Gatos Creek Trail to Starbird Chicken in Campbell.
Long before Starbird opened its doors, the founders set out to reinvent fried chicken. Their mission was simple: create crispy chicken that wasn’t heavy or greasy, but fresh, flavorful, and worthy of being the star of the meal.
Bill ordered the Crispy Chicken Chop Salad with tomatoes, roasted corn, avocado, pepitas, tortilla strips, cotija cheese, green onions, and chipotle-lime dressing. I went with a delicious grilled chicken sandwich paired with their outstanding signature cole slaw.
After lunch, we pedaled over to Sports Basement at the Pruneyard to check out the new Aventon Pace 500 Step-Through e-bike.
Naturally, I couldn’t resist taking one for a test ride—just for the fun of it! While I’m very happy with my Specialized e-bike, it’s always enjoyable to see how the latest models of other brands ride.
by Dennis Augustine
My friend Bill and I rode our bikes to the 15th Annual Saratoga Classic & Cool Car Show—and what a day it was!
Saratoga Village is usually a quiet stretch of cafés, restaurants, salons, and local shops. But today, Big Basin Way was packed with gleaming chrome, smiling families, and more than 275 classic, custom, race, and military vehicles.
With thousands of visitors in town, many parked far away or took shuttle buses. Bill and I had the cyclist’s advantage—we simply rode in and walked our bikes through the lively crowds.
There was something for everyone: live music from Grateful Don Potter and his band , a fascinating steam-powered bicycle with an owner eager to demonstrate it, and some of the best people-watching of the year.
Whether you’re a car enthusiast or just appreciate great craftsmanship, this family-friendly event is pure eye candy and one of the South Bay’s favorite summer traditions.
Which vehicle would have caught your eye—the vintage classics, race cars, military vehicles, or that remarkable steam bicycle?
by Dennis Augustine
I planned a simple Saturday mourning ride to the Saratoga Farmers Market, but the universe had better plans .
I made a spontaneous pit stop at Jimi & Jennifer’s place in Monte Sereno and it completely stole the show . Jennifer brought me a cup of coffee leaving Jimi and I to talk and catch up. Moments later a large crow flew to a tree in their side yard. “Oh, that’s Ping,” Jimi said,” waiting for a snack.” Jen placed some cat food on a wooden rail, and as soon as she went back into the house it cautiously swooped down and pecked away.
Their front yard is a pure sanctuary—filled with everything from old freeway signs, an old surfboard in a tree, and remnants of a crashed bike that nearly cost Jimi his life to Tibetan flags and a collection of peaceful Buddha statues .
The yard and driveway felt more like a curated folk-art museum . Jimi proudly shared a painting of their home created by Jennifer. Early retirement has treated her well. When you create space in your life, good things happen. Way to go Jen! Thanks for the hospitality, guys!
Proof once again that the Journey is the Destination
