ben in the zone.

I have ben privileged to know several world-class professional cyclists. When they are having a good day, they talk about riding in the ZONE. I may have had fleeting glimpses of "the zone", maybe once, but more often than not, I find myself riding more like a BOZO than my more athletically inclined friends. Welcome to the BOZONE!
It has ben a while since I have ben able to do a road ride without any time constraints. So yesterday morning I did about 20 minutes of yoga to loosen up, made a kick ass fruit smoothy for breakfast, and then headed out the door with no real plan other than about a fifty mile bike ride.

At 9 o'clock it was already hot. Sarah and I rode out of Annapolis and headed out St. Maragarets Road and ended up in Arnold on the B&A Trail, a paved Rails to Trails path that runs up to, and then around BWI Airport.

Sarah and the B& A Trail

We stopped several times to refill water bottles, but about 20 miles into it, the heat was getting to Sarah and she turned around and headed home. I continued North towards BWI. I made it to the airport overlook and cooled down with a sno cone. It was hot, so I opted not to ride the loop around the airport and began my trip back towards Annapolis.


I hadn't gone more than a mile from the overlook when my chain started skipping. I was fiddling with the derailleur adjustment when the chain completely jammed. Upon close inspection, I discovered that I had separated a link in my chain.



I'm about 24 miles from home and have a broken bike. Great! Hot just got Hotter. No problem, I have money in my seat bag, I will find a phone and call Sarah. Did you know that pay phones are extinct?


Welcome to the BOZONE!

I pushed and scootered my bike sereral miles before I finally came across someone with a chain tool. A quick fix and I was back on my way. However, by now I had completely lost what ever groove I might have had, and it wasn't going to come back. Did I mention HOT? With about seven miles to go, I found a 7-11 with a pay phone and got in touch with Sarah and let her know where I was. I slammed a 32 oz Gatorade and then continued to drag my butt towards home.

Deep in the BOZONE.

The City Dock in Annapolis is less than a mile from home. I was suffering like a big dog and had to stop for another break. I was treated to a little live music while I tried to hide under the shade of a tree and cool off.

Local Musician: Melody Page

48 point something miles and almost 5 hours after I started, I made it back to the house.

Even deeper!

It took a cold shower and a 2 hour nap in front of the AC, before I could move again. I' m pretty sure Sarah stuffed some pizza in me while I was crashed. I did manage to rally and we had a great sunset sail on the bay before turning in for the night.

Anybody want to go for a ride next Sunday?

ben wondering

ben wondering where the hell April and May went? I can't believe it is June.
Sarah and I usually go out west the end of March or the first part of April, but for numerous reasons, it didn't happen this year.
The highlight of April had to be an old girlfriends 50th Birthday Party. My friend Kathy and I dated back in 1982. Kathy lived in a house named Lofty Oak and it was the social hub of a group of us that called ourselves the Epicureans. We had a softball and a football team, but mostly we partied down. Kathy and I have kept in touch over the years and she has also kept in touch with her old roommates from Lofty Oak and most of the Epicurean gang. Kathy decided that her 50th would also be a great excuse for an Epicurean Reunion Party. The Epicureans came to party from all over the country. It was great to see everyone, Kathy, Dale, Kevin, Carol, Boom Boom and John, it was especially nice seeing my friend Greg from my old Backyard Boat days.
It was just a moment in time, but the memories were etched forever, and everyone who was part of it shares a special bond. It was awesome of Kathy to share her party with all of us. Here are a couple of pic's stolen from Dale.

Epicurean Ski Trip 1982

Kathy and Greg 198?

May was a blur. My plans to go to the Hatteras fell through. I did my first windsurfing race since 1997. I didn't win any races, but I sailed consistently enough to take 1st Place overall. Not bad for and old guy with a bad back!
Sarah and I managed to get in SUP sessions around Annapolis. Didn't get to the beach in May, but any time on the water is a good time.

Sarah, sunset paddle.

I had a limited number of road rides by myself or with Sarah, but haven't been on the mountain bike yet in 2010. I keep telling myself that if I can just wait a couple more weeks to give my back more time to heal, that I can ride the rest of the season and not end up back where I started.

just me and my shadow

We went to the airshow at Andrews AFB in May. They had a really good collection of WWII vintage planes on display and it was neat to see them sitting side by side with today's modern aircraft. The Blue Angels closed the show, and that is always fun to watch.

B -17

Freedom Flight: P-51 Mustang, F-16, and F-22 Raptor

Blue Angels

The shop started an SUP Race Series a couple of weeks ago. I got my ass kicked in the first race.

The guy who won is training for paddle around Manhattan. Mike Dant finished second. Former US Sailing team member and professional sailor Geoff Ewenson was third, and I followed a distant 4th. I could train harder.....or I could just buy a new race board.

My sweet new Limited Edition Jimmy Lewis Slice

Almost forgot to mention that Sarah and I got to see Neil Young at DAR Constitution Hall the end of the month. Simply incredible. The man is still rocking in the free world.

My friend MJ once posted on her facebook page "just threw the clock out the window to see if time really flies". I can assure her it really does.