Finger Lakes Summit 2009

The Finger Lakes 2009 Summit was my first "official" Summit since 2005! It went from Friday, June 12th thru Sunday, June 14th. We drove out to New York State and back (two days driving there, three days at the Summit, and two days driving home) instead of flying. Irish Jones (Kevin) and Eileen (my wife's best friend and Kevin's girlfriend) joined us from Minneapolis for the Summit as well. There was a lot to see and do, and a fantastic time was had by all. Kudos again to Curator Rick, our wonderful host, for putting on a FANTASTIC weekend! Click on 'em for the full size pictures. WEDNESDAY JUNE 10TH Wednesday, June 10th we left Minneapolis to go thru Chicago, IL all the way to the South Bend, IN area (approximately the 1/2 way point to Bath, NY). We first stopped in Chippewa Falls, WI at the Leinenkugel Brewing Company for a free Brewery Tour and of course a couple free beers. It was lightly raining when we left Minneapolis, but the rain soon stopped by the time we hit Chippewa Falls and it stayed nice the rest of the day. Then it was on to Chicago and a stop at Superdawg, the best darn hotdogs in the Midwest. Then it was on to the motel for the evening.

Loaded up and ready to roll! MJ's fancy hat balancing trick It's Wisconsin! The Leinenkugel Brewery Beer is good Superdawg! The sun sets over Superdawg as we get heading for Indiana		Hey, it's Minnesota Jones! Group shot in the van Irish Jones and Eileen at the Leinie Lodge The best beer is FREE beer! It's Illinois I got the goods! Stupid flash, it was suppose to say "Welcome to Indiana" - oh well...
THURSDAY JUNE 11TH Thursday, June 11th it was time to get out of South Bend, IN and drive thru Ohio, Pennsylvania, and finally New York to the Finger Lakes Region. We pulled in right about 8:00 PM as most of the early attendees arrived from dinner at the Microtel the majority of us were staying at for the weekend. It was raining when we woke up and it rained ALL THE WAY to Bath, NY!!! Argh! Have I ever mentioned how much I HATE driving in the rain?

Hello Ohio! It's Pennsylvania Finally, it's New York State!		Cleveland, OH Again, I HATE driving in the rain!!! 1000 miles!
Checked in and the gear's ready to go FRIDAY JUNE 12TH - IT'S SUMMIT TIME! Friday, the Summit is finally here. Most of the gearheads were already here, but some were still on their way. We hung out, caught lunch at a local greasy spoon with Curator Rick, and got the Glenn H. Curtiss Aviation Museum ready for that night's "Club Obi Wan" dinner. The dinner itself was the first "official" event of the Summit, and was a huge success. Also, everyone went home with a cute little bottle of champagne (from the Pleasant Valley Wine Company) with the Finger Lakes Summit logo on it.

Breakfast at the Microtel It's Canyon and Barry Hey McFly! By the power of Greyskull! Let's get ready to rumble! Lunchtime Hi-Tech Mirror Shot Some of Canyon's stuff MN Jones' Screen Used ToD Holster Screen Used Webley that shot Wu Han Mr. & Mrs. Minnesota Jones Dejah Thoris and binkmeister Rick The most excellent band Diving for diamonds Curator Rick mops up the place Bink and Dejah cut a rug Group Shot Wearin' Bink's fez Our nifty champagne bottles Hangin' in Gater's room after the dinner		Hi Bufflehead! Mmarosy! Chewbacca Jones does some crackin' Me and the binkmeister MN Jones and his lovely bride Slurp! Club Obi Wan Props from the collection of MN Jones Screen Used bugs from ToD Dinner scene Screen Used Raiders Props Irish Jones and Eileen Chewbacca Jones and Canyon More champagne? That ice has GOT to be cold! MN Jones, at gunpoint with Chen's Webley Where's that antidote, darn that Bink! The lovely twilekjedi I may have to get a fez myself now... Mmarosy and a future COW member Bufflehead tells us his "Rabid Raccoon" Story...
SATURDAY JUNE 13TH - TRAIN RIDES AND WINERIES Saturday we carpooled to the Tioga Central Railroad just south of us just outside of Wellsboro, PA. They had some great old Alco and Baldwin diesel locomotives and run quite the excursion railroad. Lunch was served on the train (wonderful fried chicken, potato salad, and beans) complete with vintage Coca-Cola bottles we could keep as souvenirs. After the ride, a few of us went to find the train depot in Wellsboro on our own. Then dinner was at the Pleasant Valley Wine Company for our "Temple of Doom" dinner and a raffle. I won a wonderful old wristwatch I'll treasure always. Then it was more after hours hijinx at the Microtel.

MN Jones and twilekjedi Ready.... aim..... Back to Pennsylvania The Tioga Central Railroad Dalexs and me Elsa and Marion outfits Daleks and Dejah In the lounge car Group Shot! Dejah and Bink "THE" Group Shot Recreating the truck chase... not! Vintage Alcos Life Magazine Photo Op #2 Wellsboro Depot On the way back, the train's next trip Canyon and Chewy, or is it a Thugee and Sallah? Okay, knock it off you two... The winery Fedora Girl in action Irish Jones wins the Crystal Skull		twilekjedi's Elsa Traveling Outfit was amazing! FIRE! MN Jones and a Baldwin Switcher Again, it's Mr. & Mrs. Minnesota Jones Curator Rick, twilekjedi, and their spouses On the train with Dejah! The Michaelson-mustached staff Out the window "NO TICKET!" "Here, let me wipe that smudge off you..." "Grab my hand!" HI! Life Magazine Photo Op Wellsboro Depot Canyon's Motel?!? Fedora Girl and Gater Ready for dinner Curator Rick has a "moment" Fedora Girl entertains Mmarosy dedicates the night in Sergei's honor The Pleasant Valley Wine Company
SUNDAY JUNE 14TH - WHIP CRACKING AND PULLED PORK Sunday was the last day of the Summit. After breakfast, we all went out to Curator Rick's place (he's quite the land baron) and he treated us to Pulled Pork Sandwiches for lunch, beverages, and the whole nine yards. The Idol Grab Scene was back from previous years for the ever popular Photo Ops, as well as whip cracking galore. After a wonderful afternoon, things died down and sombered a bit as this was the end of the Summit. Once more to our favorite truck stop "greasy spoon" for a group dinner, and a few beverages afterwards at the Microtel. Tomorrow, we were going home.

The Grail Swap Scene?!? twilekjedi goes for the "gold" Everybody wants a turn "Can't I keep it?" Crack that whip! Whip fight! McFly shows Indywan Kenobi the ropes Mmarosy gives it a crack Lunch! Screen Used skull from Raiders Ron wins the Marshall College Sweatshirt CR's Screen Used Russian Uniform That Crystal Skull's a real small guy... Screen Used ToD Club Obi Wan Fork Bink's wearing some of my original 1985 era gear... Bink's still in my "vintage gear" Bink, McFly, and me The Last Supper		Indywan Kenobi grabs the Idol Can't MJ get it right? Now it's the Falcon! Bink did it! Finally Minnesota got it right! Say no to crack McFly wraps the whip on Canyon MJ with new & improved whipping action Russians... I hate these guys Some of CR's original props Screen Used props from Crystal Skull Canyon wins a "vacation" from COW Mr. & Mrs. MN Jones with the Idol Ohhh.... pretty! Really, this doesn't hurt... much ...and it fits him too! Ouch! Double Fisted Whip Action Isn't this Summit over YET?!?
MONDAY JUNE 15TH - THE BEGINNING OF THE END Monday it was time to load up the Family Truckster and hit the road. Back the way we came, it was back thru Pennsylvania, Ohio, and finally Indiana for the evening. By tomorrow night, we'll be home.

See you next year Microtel! Lake Erie just outside of Cleveland, OH		Back in Pennsylvania Mola Ram helps with the steering
TUESDAY JUNE 16TH - THE LAST DAY Finally, it was over. Back thru Illinois and a second stop at Superdawg in Chicago. Then it was up thru Wisconsin for dinner at Sam's Pizza in Wausau (it's the BEST!), and finally we were home. Is it time for next year's Summit yet?

Illinois bound Superdawg, round two! Sam's Pizza in Wausau, WI - the BEST!		Chicago, my kind of town YUMMY! End of the line