Another rookie mistake...

We had a nice family weekend. I think the first weekend Kristen had off in about a month. So, we did some family things during the day. I cooked breakfast, french toast and bacon, yummy! Saturday morning we went to the pool at Nockamixon, fun but it was a little chilly and breezy, a great day to be outside, but a little on the cold side for hanging around a pool. The kids had fun, nobody got really wet, except when Kris went under the dunk bucket things...

Saturday night Brent and Alice came up for some dinner. We had margaritas, Jon G's recipe, and ribs, chef jeff's recipe. Jeb help me with the dry rub, the garlic powder came out a little fast, but hey its garlic! It was really nice to hang out with B&A, we haven't hung out properly in a few years. Thanks for coming up.

Sunday morning after pancakes and sausage, Kris went to the gym. After lunch I had a 2 hour window in which to ride. I can do the two hour loop I did, well tried to do, last week. The ride was going really well, not sure if my fitness is coming around or more likely it was the new 105 cranks (Thanks Henry's!). I didn't even make a single wrong turn. I was setting a good time, I was due to be back under two hours until... Flat! No big deal, stop and change the tube... what the?!? Crap a short valved tube!??! Oh man I hope I can get the pump on it... Nope! Now what? Maybe if I use the old valve as a sort of valve extender??? First I need to rip the old tube open to get to the valve. Dang it, nothing sharp... I can just stretch it to break it... good idea! Until...WHACK! The tube smacks my hand, OW! Get the makeshift valve extender on... Dang it, no air going into the tube!! If I only took my cell phone when I had my hand on it before I left!! So, there I am about 5 miles from home with a flat tire. Guess I'll ride it home! It was surprisingly pretty smooth for riding a flat... Now I wonder how much damage I did to the rim?!?!?! Next time: long valve tube, pump, food, cell phone, large water bottles and money. Be prepared right?

For dinner we had a picnic at Stover and the kids got to play on the playground:

Fugawee Indians

Sunday my parents came over to help with the kids and I got to sneak out for a ride. I decided I'd do my two hour loop. I figured it wouldn't hurt too bad and I could still function the rest of the day. Two hour ride? two small bottles should cover it, I'll bring this FRS chew just in case, thinking ahead right? 9:30 and I'm out the door.

The first hour or so was going great, I did miss a turn and had to go back to get back on track at one point. Next thing I know, well I didn't really know, I was on roads I have never been on, Buckwampum Road? Hmm? Keep on going... detour? road closed ahead? Aw, I'm on a bike I can make it. At this point, I'm hurting and figure unless the road is closed due to a major washout I'm crossing, even if I have to repel and swim across the thing. The entire road was gone, they were doing some sort of water main crossing or something. I crossed on a 3 foot wide precipice of rip-rap about twenty feet down on either side in road shoes! Finally, back en route and I was reminded of the Fugawee Indians. They were know for their navigational skills and often heard saying, "Where the fug-aw-wee?" Yep I was lost.

I got to the end of the road at a T-junction and I had no idea which way to go. I went left. Huh? water up ahead? Gee, I hope it is Lake Nockamixon. WHAT!?!?!? The Delaware River!?!? OH CRAP! I'm almost out of water! Oh man, I'm up near Rieglesville? Yikes! 212 all the way home! After an hour of rationing water and seriously thinking of stopping somewhere to beg for a Coke... at that point a nice cold Coke wold have been the best thing in the world! I made it home.

I inhaled, a Coke, granola bar, bowl of cereal, two bottles of water, took a shower and crashed for two hours! So much for being able to get anything accomplished.

After I recuperated I made Paella and sangria for father's day dinner... Yummy!

Happy Father's Day to all you fellow fathers!

New trails...

We bathed and put the kids down before Kris and I ate tonight. Delmonico steaks with caramelized onions and blue cheese, grilled potatoes, and Renwood Zinfandel. YUMMY! Yeah, I forgot the vegetable, shh... don't tell the dietitian ;-)

Last night (Thursday) I was able to get a ride in after work. After much deliberation the night before I decided I'd ride La Bala Blanca (my mountain bike). I wasn't really excited about riding Allamuchy again, same old stuff, even though this year I added an extra loop Derek showed me on our last hooky day.

After work I get to Allamuchy (Deer Park Rd {yeah DEER PARK}) I park next to two cars backed in next to each other. Funny how after years of going to state and county parks to ride mountain bikes you can see the "signs." Guy and a girl talking and giggling listening to music in their car on a beautiful Thursday evening...anyway? I start to unload la bala and remember I had to pump up the front tire because it had a slow leak. Pump it up and DOH! Valve rips out of the tube. Man, I should just go home. No, the family won't be home until 8:00 I need to ride tonight! Dang it! No tube in my bag... I should go home... No, I need to ride... OK I take the tube in my saddle bag and use it. That means I have to do the rest of the ride with no tube, if I flat I'll have a long walk out of the woods. Finally, I'm off.

Start the climb of the usual loop, huh? where's that trail go?
It goes up and down and around and over logs, over rocks, down exposed rock, over exposed rock, switch backs... THIS TRAIL ROCKS! Man it felt good to ride a new trail and a sweet one to boot! Eventually, I run into a guy with his son. He gives me the low down on the trail, it is new as of this year. He says that the other trails got ruined after the race they had there... (12 O' Muchy?) I end up back on the main trail and finish the loop and decide I should ride the new trail the opposite way I came, downhill! Get on the trail, cruising along... cross a log... oh look there's the trail that gees back to the parking lot... WHAM! ENDO! Dang it! I crashed! Ouch, that's going to leave a mark. I hit my knee on a rock. Maybe I should take that as a sign to take the trail back to the parking lot? Nah! Onward! The trail seemed a lot shorter this way, I guess when you're going down instead of up?

Back to the car, load up... Man my knee hurts. Maybe I should stop and get some frozen peas for my knee. Crap! I only have $2 on me... Two cheeseburgers or frozen peas for my knee? Yeah, cheeseburgers. Once I got home I could hardly walk. I immediately went to the freezer to get the kids "boo-boo buddy".

I had to do field work today with a bum knee. Fun stuff! I wonder how I'll do with my planned cover bridge ride Sunday?

Last minute ride

7:30 last night Jeb and I are sitting on the couch reading books and Kris comes down after putting Sophie to bed.

She says, "Why don't you go for a ride?"

Dumbfounded I say, "huh? Now? It is 7:30."

Reassuringly, "You'll make it back before dark."

"Jeb, can mommy finish Reading your books and put you to bed, so, daddy can go for a ride?" I ask.

Jeb says, "The sun is going down, you need to bring your lights."

"OK Jeb, I'll bring my tail-light the headlight needs to be charged." with that I'm off.

I made it out the door in record time! Cruising through town some ruffians say "Go Lance!" It took me a good ten minutes down the road to come up with this witty response, "Thanks, but my name's Dave." zing!

I'm cruising along, feeling great, legs are churning, flying...

until WHAM! BUG IN THE EYE!!!

Kinda like Mater in this Cars trailer (Link to you tube)

I couldn't see a thing. In twenty years of riding I've never had a bug hit my eye like that one. I could barely keep my other eye open. I had to pull off to the shoulder and get the thing out of my eye. After a few minutes I finally get it out and look up.



Yeah a bunch of llamas staring at me. They seemed concerned.

"I'm OK now, I just had a bug in my eye."


"Thanks for your concern, but I think I'm ok."


"Yeah, that little bug really got me good."


"Alright, I'll see you guys later. Thanks again."



My eye has been pretty oozy all day... I may actually have it looked at...