Memorial Weekend Bike Ride

My friends Rick Masta, Paul Gibbons, Mark Brunner and I left Mark's house in Blairsville on Saturday morning of Memorial Weekend heading for Sylva, NC. Rick's sister has a very nice second home there and we had the place to ourselves for the weekend. All we had to do was get there! The first day was a 95 mile jaunt with about 5000' of climbing. It went well, except for my cleat sheering off the bottom of my shoe at mile 35. I could only push on the pedals, instead of push/pull. Fortunately my foot only came off the pedal 4 times. We left about 9 and rolled UP about 5. The last quarter mile to her house was straight up. I pushed, but Paul was the only one to go all the way.

Day 1 at Mark's house
Relaxing on the deck after Day 1
We called this our "album cover" picture. IF we were a band....
Downtown Sylva after a well deserved slice of pizza pie and beer!
Day 2 was a 90 mile out and back ride to the top of Clingman's Dome in Smoky National Park. Mark and I "opted" for the 76 mile ride to the top of Newfound Gap instead, just before the turn off to Clingman's Dome. The body can only take so much, and we weren't ready to try and keep up with Rick and Paul. Unfortunately the roads were really busy with cars on a holiday weekend, and lots of Harleys, as seen above. But the landscape at the top of the gap changed to Rocky Mountain type, or at least it seemed to me. We were only at 5048' in altitude, but the trees changed like no place on the Eastern seaboard I've seen before.

Day 3 we changed the return route a little and ended up with 90 miles, but probably a bit less climbing. I was worried that 3 consecutive days of almost 100 miles would really kill me, but all-in-all I felt pretty good. Here we are just outside of Hayesville, NC.

Four tired but hosed off puppies.

Beach bums

Dave got a sitter for the kids and we went out for a ride! Lo and behold, we ran into Joe Gasser who is one of my friends. His girlfriend is from the area and he was out for a solo ride, so he joined us.
Yet again a few more miles down the road, we ran into another friend of ours, Sven Eisenhauer and two of his buddies! So our group of two expanded to six! We took it easy and finished up with a light lunch at the Sea Grove Market. That evening we all met back in Sea Side at Rendezvous for some great sushi then over to Bud and Alley's for beers with some very nice scenery! (Sea Side is the township that the movie The Truman Show was filmed at with Jim Carrey).
What day is complete without PB&J at the beach?!? Chloe was so cute licking the PB&J off of the bread before eating it! She's a mess, but a cute one, thank goodness she takes after her mother! Except for the red hair..... :)

I think they like playing in the sand castle pool more than the ocean. But that will change when they learn to swim!
Day 3 at Water Sound beach. It was pretty overcast and the waves were obviously choppy. But it was a nice Sunday stroll, good times!
Miss Peyton and I about to head back to reality.... Good things do come to an end.....

Life's a beach

My good friend Dave Tufts invited me to his beach house near Destin with his two girls Peyton (3) and Chloe (2). His wife Jennifer, and her mother went to Seattle so I got the "pseudo uncle" call! We came down Thursday afternoon and made it in time for dinner in Seaside, near their vaction home that they rent. The last time I was in the Destin area was at least 8 years ago, and also with Dave, and also on Mother's Day weekend. (Sorry Mom to miss out on celebrating with you AGAIN this weekend. I LOVE YOU!) Here are pics from day one at the beach, I had a blast playing uncle and spending time with my friend!

Chloe (aka Coco) all wrapped up getting warm and dry after SO much fun!

Both girls love mermaids and here are their fins, although hard to see.
After the beach we pulled the Burley's (pull behind bike trailers for kids) down 30A on the bike path to the Water Color pool. Dave didn't go very slow through the mud puddles and she got covered, but she still looks cute! Both girls were passed out for the 7 mile trip. What a rough day. :)
Chloe LOVES con queso! I think the nacho was just a mechanical device to get the cheese to her mouth! Imagine that!

Riding back after dinner. Dave asked Chloe what the best part of the day was and she said "bike ride". That's my girl!