New Mini Van

 We started having some issues with the Ford Deathstar that we have had for close to 8 years.  Nothing major, but enough to wonder if it would last through family vacation at the end of the summer.  And I definitely didn't feel comfortable sending the wife on a road trip to visit her parents.  We have been saving for a couple of years now, once I realized that in order to get something nice, that will last.

Neither of us have ever purchased from a dealership and after hearing the horror stories of old,  I was a bit nervous.  After researching and deciding on  a Dodge Grand Caravan,  we did some "window shopping" at some local dealerships before finally driving one.  We were pretty sure that this would be the type of van for us, until that test drive.  Then I wasn't so sure.

I called our mechanic and chatted,  got some recommendations.  Frankly,  I was tired of the search and research and we had enough saved for a large down payment.  (My goal was to pay the full amount, but it didn't look like that was feasible).  We have never had car payments either,  new territory.

I started looking at Toyota Siennas.  Mike and a bunch of other friends have them and they are still rolling with over 200K miles.  I found one online Friday night at Jim Barkley Toyota in Asheville, ( highly recommend them).  I sent an e-mail reserving it for a test drive and drove it at 9am on Saturday.  2 miles into the drive, I called the wife.  "We don't want a Dodge Caravan,  we want this Toyota Sienna".   So many packages and options,  this van had what we needed and wanted.  Rear folding seats, rear AC/Heat control, and middle row roll down windows.  And it is the sport model so it looks really cool.  I like that. 

We sat down to make a deal and it was going so smoothly, and I was so ready to be done that I failed at negotiating.  But considering the price had recently been dropped, and I felt like it was  a fair deal, I rolled with it and drove it home on Monday.  

Adventure van is ready to adventure!

In other news, I have not gone on a ride in 1.5 weeks.  With the kid out of school and me getting ready for summer ride programs, things are crazy.  So when a neighbor called and offered to keep the kid for the day,  I jumped at the opportunity! 

So hot, but so nice.

Takin a Break

 I've taken some time off the bike for a couple of weeks.  It is too stressful and nearly impossible to ride this time of year.  With Rhonda's weird schedule, the kid out of school etc.  So,  I don't try any more.  Instead, I spend time doing things that I have not had the time for.

Things like scrubbing the hull of the sailboat..... and going windsurfing.

 While spending 6 yrs in the Caribbean,  I picked up the sport of windsurfing.  This was my go to, my get away.  I would get a ride out to Sorobon, one of the windsurfing meccas of the world and stay out there all day,  jumping waves, and chasing sunbeams.  When I move to Charlotte I held onto the sport, but then moved to NE GA,  for college and it was not practical to keep chasing wind anymore.

Fast forward 19 yrs later, and I'm once again riding the wind.

That first day back on the water early this fall was simply amazing.  It was like reuniting with a child hood friend.  A friend who had taken me under her wind and guided me those day,  had helped me escape the life that had been chosen for me.  The friend who helped me see that I could be good at something,  helped me see outside of the boundaries that had been laid around me.

As exhilarating as that first day back on the water was though,  the experience woke up a lot of sleeping emotions that I had no clue were still there.  Once again, my old friend was helping me work through life! 

The wind is a quite different up here in the mountains than the trade winds in the Caribbean,  lots of gust and swirls,  but, I'm thankful that I can get back out on the water.  

I promised the kid that we would learn how to fish this summer.  He wants to catch bass.  I have only a slight clue how to catch bass.  We went to Dick's Sporting Goods, got some advice, bought some supplies and went fishing.  We have gone out  a couple of times over the past week with no luck.  Finally over the weekend, the kid caught a nice sized one!

I'm not that great at fishin',  but maybe the kid has hope!

Another Amazing Weekend

Selfie at 60mph is difficult

 One year ago, we bought tickets to Navitat for the kid's birthday.  We weighed him at his doc's visit a couple weeks before to make sure he met the  70lb min.   We excitedly drove out to the site, checked in and got weighed.  According the Navitat's scale, he was 64 lbs.   I accepted the lame dad of the day award and the kid cried.  We were all very frustrated.  Navitat was kind enough to refund 2 tickets and give us a voucher for the 3rd. 

Winter rolled around and we monitored the kid's weight.  He is growing and active but had not gotten much over 70.  I bought 2 more tickets on with a groupon type deal.  We weighed the kid at the dentist, at home and at school.   His weight was just under 75, subtracting 4 lbs according to the Navitat scales, he should just make it. 

We decided not to push the reservation back but go for it.  We arrived again, checked in, got weighed....  he was right at 70lb.  Good to go. 

The experience for me was.... meh.  The wife and kid had a blast.  I was having  a little bit of stomach gurgling, and had to constantly focus on relaxing so it didn't turn into an emergency "run" in the woods.  Might have been more fun if I didn't have to deal with that.  I don't do well in situations where I am not "free to move around".   I would recommend it though,  I just don't plan on paying the money to do it again.  But, the family wants to....

Sunday, the Fletcher Flyer loomed.   It was 2 weeks since P111K, and I had ridden my bike 2 times since.  What was I thinking?  I dusted off the single speed and got out to Oskar Blues for the start.   There was a good chance of rain and thunderstorms so that was exciting.  

They started the ride a little early and the leaders rolled by as I was getting ready.  I saddled up and almost caught the lead group before settling into  a good cadence.  

I was geared at 46x16,  a pretty spinny gear, but one that I could manage.  This was the first time I had tried this gearing,  last year's 46x17 was not quite enough.   I found that I was rolling on average around 20-22mph.  If I kept that average, I would wind up close to 5 hrs for the century.  I have never broken the 6 hr mark, and 6:10 was my fastest time a couple of years ago.  I held a steady pace, riding with several different groups and enjoying the scenery.   

The last 15-20 miles was the most difficult.  It was warm, around 80 and probably about 90% humidity.  My body just wasn't cooling off.  I force myself to keep drinking and ate another gel. 

I was thrilled to cross the finish at 5h34 mins!  PR by 31 minutes!   I'm not sure how or why, since I only rode 2x in the past 2 weeks.  The only thing I can figure is my legs were super rested... something to consider for the future!  

Fast Forward

 This week has flown by.  Memorial Day I spend with the kid.  I always know he had a great time because he won't stop talking from the time we are done with whatever activity, until bed time!   This was one of those times!  I think I'm going to name the boat "Zippy".  It is a little 12 foot fiberglass motor boat, but with the 20hp motor on it, that thing "zips" along.  We were the smallest craft on the lake too! 

 We started saving for new appliances last summer.  Just setting aside a little every paycheck.   I'm not sure why it took us so long to learn to save and plan ahead, maybe it is due to the fact that the wife and I both have steady income and we have some extra to save (so we can spend?)  It feels good to exercise the discipline though, and  save up $1000 to buy some nice appliances.  And the wife loves them!

Next on the list.... mini van. 

 Mid-Evil days are the topic in Social Studies, they were having a field day and we were invited to chaperone.  I dressed up as a castle. 

I'm averaging 1 ride per week now that my race season is over.  It feels good to get out, but I can't wait to get out more.  In a couple of weeks, I'll be riding every day, thanks to the Trips For Kids WNC ride program!  Can't wait to get some kids in the woods. 

 To finish off the week, we said goodbye to our pup, "Texas".  He was 15 years old and lived a full life.  He taught us how to be good dog people!  I definitely learned some things about myself and how I needed to improve, from working with him!  Letting go was hard, but I know that he is better off, and I got some good sleep.  He typically woke up to go outside a couple times each night.  I have not slept through the night in a very long time.   Ollie is the alpha dog now.  I'm looking forward to seeing him get more spunky without the grumpy ol' Tex barking at him every time he makes a move!