Evidently posting to blogs is not a hot weather endeavor. After the Smoky Mountain Velo on Waits with a side of golf, there was de Tour de France, coinciding with a month of 10-12 hour days of back breaking, knee blistering labor, and now live streaming of all the badminton, field hockey, team handball and rhythmic gymnastics you can keep your eyes open for. But my fan is nothing if not insistent, persuasive, and a little creepy.
So let's start with vacations. My most recent post was meant to be merely the tip of the iceberg of posts about that great week so long ago. Knoxville for Tom Waits on Sunday, RideRx 'bout ripping off my legs off of me on the Blue Ridge Parkway and grilled salmon in the hot tub on Monday, flattish tour of some valley and a not delightful meal in Bryson City on Tuesday, Josh's baptism by fire on the Cherohala Skyway (which I told you about already, although I downplayed a certain Liontamer's crankiness) followed by a mixed grill and a soak, a nearly almost got lost flattish ride and a round of golf in which I shot two (2) birdies in a losing effort followed by a forgettable repast in the clubhouse on Thursday, the Firecracker (easy on the fire, heavy on the cracker) 5k run in which the 'Tamers took two silver medals and 2 certificates of participation, followed by a big ride on the roughest paved road in the lower 48, which turned sorta kinda maybe almost in a way into a race which produced the biggest smile and the loudest cheer of the week as Li'l Lotto sped past an oblivious Prince "Laddy Buck" Josh to snag a bronze medal, followed by some weapons grade grilled salmon. Also beer. And of course, commencing with the arrival of the Boy Wonder on Tuesday, every night was about euchre. Me and Lotto against all comers. Well, Rider and Laddy Buck. In which occurred the Incident of the Two Aces, and in which we gained a valuable insight into the value of the king. But it's a secret.
Saturday broke rainy and we packed it in, loaded up and lit out. They all headed North and West, and I just went to Bryson City, rode the Road to Nowhere after the rain stopped, with the help of T-Flo booked a room at the Hyatt in Atlanta and took off south to try to score a ticket to the Tom Waits show that night. Which I did. You can hear the entirety off the evening's performance here. Some parts won't make much sense without the video. Or a memory. Plus the atmosphere of the fabulous Fox Theater (made around the same time by the same people who made the Fox in Detroit). So, to belatedly answer your Question, M.Bear, yes not only would I see the concert again, I did. And after all the laughs, all the sweat, all the euchre, all the cooking and eating and drinking and planning and playing, and as much as I'm looking forward to the week in Ohio, if it's half as fun it'll be fantastic. I wish the whole crew could be there for the whole week. Their loss, mostly, but ours too.
I was talking to RideRx the other day about our nearly two year ago trip to Colorado and she couldn't remember if she brought (or rode) her mountain bike. She did. On some of the greatest, most breathtaking trails in the world. And then yesterday I was watching this video of Lance at the Leadville 100, a mountain bike race in Co., (which made me sorta like him a little maybe) and saw a race they did in May up Independence Pass, which is around Aspen. Rider and I bagged a lot of passes while we were out there: Cottonwood, Berthoud, Hoosier, Boreas, Loveland. But I don't remember if we rode that one. Could these two incidents mean anything other than that it's been too long and it's time to head out to the high country again?
So I got my pastel violet shirts (and matching shorts) all ready for the Hills of Hocking. I'm still not sure why we each have to wear the same color every day (and purple?) but if that's what the M. Bear wants, that's what the M Bear gets. I know. Just kidding. Only on Friday starting promptly at oh, 9:30 ish.
The bad news is that Princess Bliss may not be there. She is heading off to Greensboro College next weekend to study drama. She could teach the Master's Seminars in that particular field, but that's a different story. So we're working on it (and her). J is riding up on Thursday with Shizzle and her beau. T and I are gonna bring a tent and associated accoutrements in case someone/anyone needs the space.
In terms of extracurricular activities, the ropes/zip line thing sounds great. My only concern is when to squeeze it in. Folks rolling in on Thursday, picture taking gonna eat way into Friday, then some sort of party on Saturday and loading 'em up of a Sunday. So . . . ?
Goshlookathetime. Igottagotobed.
Smoke 'em if you got 'em.
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I just checked the zipline website, and as the parent of an under-16-year-old, I vote we try to do that on Thursday evening when he goes for free! We'd have to get up at the butt-crack o'dawn to make it down there in time, but it could work.
Too bad about those 12 hour days, big brother - I've been missing your posts!
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