Wedding Weekend

The first race team Sean and I joined when we moved to SC was Charlotte Sports Cycling with Neal Boyd, who continues to be a great friend.  Also on that team was a young, fast boy straight out of high school, Dave and his delightful girlfriend, Bonnie. Almost 10 years later we're still great friends and see them all over the country at bike races.  This weekend Dave's little sister Allison tied the knot with an awesome guy, who both went to App State as well.  We have been fortunate to be friends of the Forkner family and watch these amazing young folks grow up.  It was an honor to be included in their wedding festivities and we made a weekend out of it staying in a cool lodge and mountain biking in our honeymoon spot, Tsali Recreation Area.

 

 

 

Outer Banks

Visiting the Outer Banks (OBX) has been on our "to do" list since we moved to North Carolina.  I listen to my students rave about it and started to feel like I was left out, or certainly not a true North Carolinian unless I visited. So, this summer a student who's family has a home in Buxton, NC (mile 61 on HWY 12-almost at the end of Hatteras Island) offered a stay.  Consequently, he is also doing his internship at an exclusive resort in OBX, so I was able to work and play.  Words cannot describe the natural beauty of the OBX, although a few come to mind; breathtaking, inspiring, majestic...you get the point. And Sean and I aren't "beach people."  I dropped him off to ride his bike in the 50 mile HWY 12 to the house on our trip in and I drove slow, stopped to take pix, and enjoyed the evening glow on the ocean and dunes (one way in and out).  We tried to pack as much in as possible for four days, so we paddle boarded, visited the Hatteras lighthouse and Wright Brother Museum, rode our bikes to Ocracoke, and ate seafood every meal.  The highlight of the trip was Ocracoke.  We rode 12 miles from our house to the ferry (a 40 minute ride), then 14 miles to Ocracoke.  The lady at the bar said, "Goddamn, you rode that far?"  And although I laughed at her, the last leg of our trip in 90 degree heat when Sean couldn't take it anymore and rode home in front of me, I did start to agree with her!  It was a great day, although the heat got to me (my cryptonite) and I was thankful for a tailwind home because I'm pretty sure I wasn't peddling.  I would highly recommend the trip, it is truly a special place and one worth protecting!

End of Our Summer Midwest Tour

After Tour of Dairyland we spent a few more days in Indiana visiting family.  Unfortunately, we were unable to see the fireworks show at the 4th of July Festival due to the drought and fire ban.  I will admit it was the hottest I've ever been in Indiana with temperatures in the 100's and we forgot how violent storms can be.  The tree below fell on our deck while my Dad was sitting on it watching the storm blow in.  It's a 100 year old black locus tree. The wood is extremely durable, hard, and VERY heavy.  It was sad to the see the tree I grew up swinging on fall.  The storms that night had winds in excess of 60mph and took out our power for the night.  Unfortunately, little rain followed. We decided to head to the local pool (recently remodeled) and cool down with our nephew.  Now it's back to work teaching summer school, visiting interns, and catching up on house work.  Happy July!