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Salty Pelican Ride

July 8th, 2026

Lenny Ovrutsky and Michele Yergin started the ride up from the southside and met up with the bulk of the riders at the Gate Station located at Heckscher Drive and I-295 exactly on schedule. After a brief break, we mounted our bikes and headed towards Fernandina.

If you haven’t been on Heckscher Drive, you should add it to your bucket list. It’s one of the prettiest rides in Jacksonville skirting along the St John’s River. The constructions crews must not work on Wednesday’s as the lanes were all clear where they are correcting the flooding issue close to the Atlantic dunes.

Fernandina wasn’t too congested and we arrive on time at the Salty Pelican. They have a corner ready for our group which now totaled 14 members. The waitress was excellent as was the food. Everyone seemed to enjoy the ride and fellowship.

Next Ride is the 3rd Saturday where we head north to Mudcat Charleys in Georgia.

Off-Road Training 101 with Scott Acheson

The first Off-Road Training event was held on June 27^th at Jennings State Forest in Middleburg, Florida. Seventeen riders gathered at Love’s Doughnuts at 8:30 a.m. before leaving for the forest at 9:00 a.m. After a short ride, Scott led the opening training session at the park entrance, covering bike setup, body position, and other essential techniques. Once the group was warmed up, he guided everyone along hard-packed limestone roads for an easy introduction to off-road riding.

For the next part of the training, Scott had chosen a shaded area in the forest. The group practiced “Stop and Go” without putting a foot down, figure eights, and a slow-ride challenge. With confidence growing, everyone headed back out for another spirited ride on the forest roads before stopping for lunch at Bono’s BBQ at noon.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the event and got a good workout,There was already talk of holding another training session at the end of July with more sand training. Check the website for updates.

Special thanks to Scott Acheson for sharing his time and expertise, and to BMWNEF for hosting the event.

For more pictures go to the top of the page and click on the pull down menu "Off Road Training 101"

Doing the Double

This year, the BMWMOA and BMWRA rallies were just one week apart, so some BMWNEF members made a loose plan to attend both. The route began in Jacksonville, Florida, and led to Essex Junction, Vermont, for the BMWMOA Rally, held Thursday, June 11, through Sunday, June 14. From there, the plan was to leave Vermont on Sunday and ride to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, for the BMWRA Rally, which began Thursday, June 18. After Wisconsin, we would take our time to return to Jacksonville—about 3,900 miles in all.

BMWNEF had 25 members at the BMWMOA Rally. We arrived by different routes—some leaving from the recent T.W.O. Suches camping trip, others visiting family or friends along the way, and others choosing to fly to Vermont while their bikes were trailered by another member. However we got there, everyone arrived safely. The BMWMOA Rally was outstanding, with an excellent selection of vendors, activities, demo rides, and training opportunities. On Friday night, our club gathered for dinner at McGillicuddy’s at Five Corners, where the food and service were excellent. A quick rainstorm soaked an unfortunate few on the way, but it did not dampen anyone’s spirits. The rally drew 4,432 registrants.

On Sunday, a group of us left Essex Junction and rode north through the lake region before heading west into upstate New York. Rain caught us as we turned toward New York, but we crossed into Canada without issue and continued through Ontario to Sault Ste. Marie. From there, some riders continued west to Wisconsin, while others headed south across the Mackinac Bridge toward the Badger Ferry.

We arrived at the BMWRA Rally on Thursday and either set up camp or checked into hotels.

The BMWRA Rally was smaller than the BMWMOA event, but it was excellent, with great people enjoying each other’s company. While there were fewer vendors, they offered quality products at reasonable prices. The nightly entertainment, $5 beers, and brat dinner provided by Bob’s BMW were all well received.

Everyone made it home safely and are already looking forward to next year’s rallies. Unfortunately, the events will be a month apart: the BMWMOA Rally in Great Falls, Montana, is scheduled for June 17–20, 2027, and the BMWRA Rally will be held in Pennsylvania in July. Hmmm….

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BMWNEF Ride to 3 Bananas, Crescent City

March 21, 2026

Video by Larry Dengler

Click Here

Ms Carolyn's Restuarant

Eleven members met at Ms. Carolyn’s Restaurant in Fernandina on March 4 for a great meal and conversation.  Bernie arrived as everyone was finishing up with their meals rounding the group out to an even dozen.

It was a beautiful day to be out on the bike.  There was still an early morning fog hanging over the Intracoastal waterway and you could feel the temperature dropping as you rode into the mist.  As Tony the Tiger used to say, “It’s GREAT!!!”

Tom Nolan and I rode back to town via the “Jimmy Buffet Highway” and caught up with Woody Potter at the Intercoastal Bridge.  What a great day. 

Thanks Everyone…

Sally Dark Studios

Twelve of us—members and guests—gathered right at noon at Sally Corporation’s Forsythe Street location in the heart of Downtown Jacksonville. The anticipation was palpable as we entered the workshop. Our guide, brimming with enthusiasm and deep knowledge, led us through the intricate journey of animatronic design and creation. We started in the concept studio, where artists sketch and refine characters, often using digital tablets alongside physical clay models to visualize movement and personality.

Next, we moved into the engineering workshop. Common workshop tools are used to make the creations like lathes, bandsaws, welders and more. We watched as a partial character, torso exposed, flexed its limbs using compressed air and servos, demonstrating how mechanical components mimic lifelike movement. In a corner, a T-Rex lurked, bursting from a shipping container, its jaws snapping and letting go a roar to wake the dead. Also, a Scooby Doo laser tag game buzzed with activity as Bill’s grandsons tested its interactive features.

We learned that each ride is crafted in modular sections right here in Jacksonville, with the final assembly only happening once the animatronics reach their destination. The same team responsible for building the ride—including artists, engineers, and effects specialists—travels to install it, ensuring every component fits perfectly. If adjustments are needed, the team handles tweaks during installation, so there’s no passing the buck. The workflow is seamless: design and build in Jacksonville, then install and fine-tune on location, guaranteeing a polished final experience.

As we explored, we were captivated by the glowing fluorescent paints—applied under black lights to create dazzling effects that only reveal their true brilliance in the dark. Sounds of chirping Tiki birds and thundering dinosaur roars filled the air, making the animatronics feel alive. If you ever have the opportunity to tour Sally Corporation, don’t miss it. The experience is not only fascinating and immersive—it’s free, making it an absolute must for anyone curious about the magic behind theme park rides.

Ride to Half Wall - DeLand

In honor of our riding friends up north dealing with the surprise winter snowstorm, BMWNEF took a ride on the backroads to DeLand, Florida. You know where DeLand is right? It’s next to DeWater. (Sorry, old Florida joke).

Twelve brave souls met at 9:30 in the terrible cold weather of Northeast Florida, yeah it was 57 degrees. Lenny Ovrutsky and Tom Nolan led two separate groups down past Silver Leaf and Molasses Junction on our way to Bunnell. We survived the Red-Light jungle in Palm Bay which led us down to the canopy roads and streets around the DeLeon Spring township and ultimately to our destination, Deland.

Lunch was served quickly and it was worth the ride. The table where I sat enjoyed fish and chips, salads and soups. Other tables had a variety of burgers which Half Wall is famous for. It was a very enjoyable 2 ½ hour ride to the restaurant.

Riders paired up or took a solo ride home. 

Thanks everyone for a safe and enjoyable ride and lunch. Hopefully our northern friends can break loose from the snow and make it to our next ride. Joking aside, we wish all of you warmth, safety and a quick restoration of services.

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