The Pressure Is Off

I always figure I'm writing this blog so the family can keep up with my activities. There are times when I have a hard enough time keeping up with my activities, so I have decided to keep you as updated as possible.
After 3 back to back trips, I have finally caught up with laundry, my dogs know who I am again and I'm about to change my summer/winter clothes out. Ho-hum.
Last weekend Terry's son Christopher, got married. After months of planning, the girl that I had lined up to work for me, called and said she couldn't. Okay, so now the scramble is on. I called everyone to see if they were free. Short of flying Ryan home I was stuck, so I broke the news to Terry who was not pleased. So the plan now is after closing on Saturday, I will head directly to The Omni in Philadelphia, arriving just in time for the rehearsal dinner. At the 12th hour Tricia called and said they were not taking the trip, so she could work after all. I called Terry 1st thing Saturday morning and told him I was on my way.
The wedding and reception was lovely. The DJ at the reception played all 70's and 80's music. People were actually doing "The Bump". The bump... can you believe it. I was sure the reason that that genre was chosen, was so all of us old folks could feel young again, and remember when staying up passed 10:00 was an every night occurrence. That's the way.. ah ah, I like it.. ah ah

A Family That Travels Together......

I have been on many bike trips, and there is always one in every crowd. The group on this trip was, bar none, the best group I've ever traveled with. I think one of the main reasons was 9 out of 18 in the group was family. Actually there were only 3 siblings (out of 6) on the trip but they brought their significant other and 3 friends. We all know anyone who comes from a large family has a great sense of humor and plays well with others. These guys were great. I had so much fun on this trip that I hardly noticed the constant overcast sky.

I wonder how my family would do together on a bike trip. You are all cordially invited to join Terry and I in Tucson next year. We are planning a bike tour through the Sonoran Desert, February 28th-March 5th. Start saving your pennies.

Rude Awakening

The last thing I remember before my head hit the pillow, was Karen setting her cell phone to wake us at 7:30am.  Well at about 3:00am I heard this chirp.  Now, have you ever been in such a sound sleep that a noise becomes part of your dream?  Well that's what happened until about the 4th chirp.  I just thought, man Karen's cell phone has a loud alarm, and it goes off at such long intervals.   Even Karen, with her earplugs in, woke up, so I know it's not a dream any more.  Karen figured out it was the smoke detector. I'm still in a fog, trying to smell smoke.  Karen has thrown my suitcase on top of this chest directly under the smoke detector and is trying to unscrew the device from the ceiling.  The chirp is going off at 25 second intervals, Karen can't loosen it and I am fully awake now.  After  15 minutes, even with her bike tools, Karen decides to call maintenance.  Now this is a B&B, so it was probably the daughter of the owners.  30 minutes later we are back to sleep, but not before Karen has dubbed the dead battery, "The Chirp of Death".

Easy Rider

The Sojourn vans picked all 18 of us up from The airport and took us directly to our digs for the night.  The Heart of the Village Inn.  An absolutely darling B&B in Shelburne, VT. (technical difficulties with photos).  Once we all signed our waivers releasing Sojourn from any truck squishing, broken appendages,etc., we all geared up for a warm up bike ride.  After the 9 mile ride we went to "Shelburne Farms".  OMG!!  The farm was created back in 1886 by William Seward and Lila Vanderbilt.  You know if the name Vanderbilt is involved it's stunning.  It was built as a model agricultural estate.  It is now an educational non-profit center.  Unfortunately we got to the farm an hour prior to closing, so instead of watching the process of cheese-making, we got to see them wash out equipment.  They didn't let us go to the petting zoo, because there was a child's birthday party going on.  I think you all know what I was more disappointed about.  Anyway we finished up at the "Farm", and headed back to our B&B to shower and get ready for dinner.  Now remember, Karen and I have been up since 3:30am, and I am running on empty.  Dinner was delicious, but right after dessert I excused myself and went straight to bed.  I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

Vacation Fast Forward

I know I haven't finished my Wyoming Trip and you have yet to hear all about Costa Rica, but Karen and I have just landed in Burlington, Vermont to start our 7 day biking adventure.  It's our first planned trip since Montana last year, and yes, we opted to have a tour group take care of everything.  That means no lugging and extra 20 pounds, so I have packed something new to wear for every day of the trip.  I am also thrilled that all our hotel rooms will have WiFi, unlike the middle of nowhere, Wyoming, and Karen does not require the attention of my Costa Rica companion either, so sit back and enjoy our trip.  Photos will follow as soon as I figure out how to download them.