Back from the Beach

I spent last week with Blake and the Fechtel family at their beach house in Duck, NC.  We had a fun, relaxing time.  I slept in (at least by my standards, which means anything later than 7am).  We went sailing on Tom's Hobie catamaran.  Blake and I threw a football on the beach and went crashing in the waves.  Good time had by all... and I even got 30 miles of running in!  I dragged Blake along with me, and he tried not to complain too much about my rather pedestrian pace.

We drove back yesterday and got in just before dinnertime.  We were able to meet up with Tyler, Ansley, Ralph, and Alycia for dinner to catch up with them and what they've been doing.  Afterward Ansley, Tyler, Blake, and I went out for a drink and spent the rest of the evening just hanging out.

Today, Blake and I just got back from a run (with Dixie!) out on the Chattahoochee trails between Cochran Shoals and Paper Mill.  They've apparently been doing a lot of work on the trails in the last two weeks because they've closed off many of the steepest up-and-down sections of the trail, places where there was exposed rock face and notable erosion, and instead cut switchbacks around them.  The new trails were smooth and rolling, and lots of fun to run.  I want to go out and ride them on the mountain bike tomorrow, because they look like great riding.

Busy schedule for the next couple weeks.  I'll spend tomorrow packing up the car, because I leave for DC on Wednesday.  I'm driving up to Fayetteville, NC, on Wednesday afternoon to spend the evening with an old friend, and then will continue to DC on Thursday.  Thursday, Friday, and Saturday I get to pick up, mess with, and do plenty of riding of MY NEW RACING BIKE!!!!!  Sunday I'm cheering on all of my friends (MCP, Alex, Michelle, Andy, many others) at the Eagleman race, then from there I'll head back to Alex's parents' place in New Jersey.  A day or two later, we'll set out for the long drive to Montana.  I haven't figured out the complete itinerary yet, but the trip will probably take about five days, and will involve a stop-over in Chicago to see family there.  Hopefully I can squeeze in a few updates from the road, but if not I'll let everyone know when we get there.

Until next time,

Mike and Dixie