Let's play a little catch up shall we? I think I left off turning 60 and don't remember anything else. Just kidding. We finally did something we've wanted to do for a few years and that was do dinner and a movie in Yellow Springs at the Sunrise Cafe' and Little Art Theater. For 49.95 plus tip we got a good dinner and saw the movie Moonrise Kingdom, about 2 runaway kids and their adventures. After a stop overnight in Jonesboro Mo. We drove to our destination on the Katy trail, Katfish Katy's Kampground on the Katy trail. Full HU in full sun on the Mo. River with temps hovering around 106. What's the definition of insanity? The answer is take a record breaking heat wave, on the hottest day of the year so far, and the hottest time of the day, in the hottest part of the country and go for a bicycle ride on a dusty trail. And on this bike ride, stop on the way back lock up the bikes and hike up a bluff .3 miles to get a glass of wine. That my friends isn't insanity, the fact that it was fun, is. So I guess we're insane, ahhhhhh! 7/20/12 WOW, a respite from the heat with a breezy high of 97. The news of a 24 year old prick shooting up and killing and injuring people in a crowded movie theater opened the otherwise beautiful day. We rode to Columbia Mo. For coffee and a look around town. The trail was very busy and very dusty with walkers footfalls kicking up clouds of dust. The bikes and we were a mess after that ride. For lunch we rode to and hiked up to Les Bourgeois vineyards for lunch. Sounds like we're living high on the hog but we haven't moved the van for 2 days so we're spending the gas savings. As for the asshole in Auroura Co., I wish someone with a concealed carry would have taken the dirt bag out before he did the damage he did. 7/23/12 We'll be here in Olathe Ks. For a week visiting Cindy's folks and trying to get an early morning ride or two before it gets too hot on the Millcreek Streamway, and Indian Creek trails. Check Hampton's Edge face book page for a pic or two?

Woke up this morning, my first day as a 60 year old, to an overcast sky and had breakfast and Cattle Dog coffee before heading out to ride from Roxanna New Burlington road to Morrow to meet the group from Fairfield Cyclery riding up from Loveland to Morrow. The urge is strong to do a "to Morrow tomorrow" but been there done that already so I'll refrain.  Our friend Mary Ann drove down from Toledo to spend a few days and ride with us.  This is all taking place in Ohio by the way.  The ride down the Little Miami Trail 20 some miles to Morrow was just glorious, shady and not too hot. Some of the Fairfield group was already there and more coming.  Lots of trikes, a few 2 wheel bents, a tamdem terra trike, and Cindy's Rans Cruz CF. Mary Ann rode Cindy's Catrike Road, her first time on a trike. The destination, Miranda's Ice Cream.  While inside ordering and eating the once, over cast sky opened up to a deluge of rain and it came down for over a half an hour drenching all the nice foam seats and shiny bikes. It was good to see old friends like Larry Varney, Jim Murphy, Frank and Mary and others from their shop riding group. Needless to say the ride back was wet at first but the sun shone through and dried everything but my cotton undies, so wet butt  all the way back.

     On the way back to the camp ground we stopped at Trader Joe's for some grocery restock and a few bottles of wine.  Picked up a few nice grass fed sirloins and a couple ears of corn to put on the fire and man were they good.  A perfect ending to an almost perfect day, and I won't complain about the rain because they need it bad here in the Buckeye State.  So, happy birthday to me!
    

     The heat wave of the last week has finally broken and yesterday was a beautiful day for a ride on the Great Allegheny Passage in PA. between Connellsville and Ohiopyle.  Cindy took her first ride on her new Catrike Road with rear suspension, which came in handy with some rough bridges and rocky places on the trail.  The whole way between towns was shady and cool, and lunch consisting of a delicious portabella  ruben and home made chips at Trailside Cafe' with a cold micro brew beer hit the spot.
     The days prior to this was spent grieving with my sister and brother in law and relations on the untimely death of my 31 year old niece Marcie.  She worked with autistic children and their families and gave all of her self to the detriment to her health. Rest in peace Marcie.
     We will be leaving tomorrow and heading for Ohio and our favorite, Yellow Springs, maybe with a stop to ride the T.J. Evans Trail near Columbus to try something different. 
   

Eight hours of driving and in Walterboro SC. at the New Green Acres Campground, the place to be.  Acres of green grass and tall pines, 30 amp service for AC and fridge and a few mosquitoes. All for 26. per night.  Saw lots of standing water along the way on the sides of interstate 95, and lots of JEA power trucks heading for northern power outages in NC and WVa.  Npr reports 50,000 people without power in the high 90 degree heat.Tomorrow should be in PGH. PA. or a close proximity thereof, depending on stoppages for farting around.  Exciting isn't it!!  La Balla de Plata, out.

     Tomorrow we will be heading out for Northern environs, destination, Canonsburg Pa. My beloved niece Marcie died Wednesday, a caring person who worked too hard and cared too much to the detriment of her own health.  She will be missed by many, me in a BIG way.
   
After PA. we'll be looking for cooler temps but will attend the Midwest recumbent rally in Stevens Point WI. Plans were to ride the Katy but maybe Michigan will be first. Seems the UP has temps. in the 70s and 80s.  Sounds a lot better than 3 digits through the South and Midwest.  Anyway the Airstream is packed, the bikes are in the van along with Cindy's new Catrike Road with rear suspension.  Candy apple green, sunlite rack mounted on the rear swingarn. Pics while in use. Stay tuned for more excitement as the adventure unfolds.