Thursday, December 11, 2003
The Rural Ride ‘Round the Islands in Charleston had set a limit of 800 participants, but ended up with possibly over 1,200. Needless to say the food line Friday night was LONG. But, it was a pleasant weekend, rode about 26 miles Saturday in 50 degree weather, will send pics to family later today from the Shutterfly web site. The party at the Maritime Center Saturday night was GREAT as usual! It was 31 degrees in my tent Sunday morning, but my electric heater warmed the tent nicely!
Go to Ginger’s later today and return with her to Rincon tomorrow afternoon. We go to annual CBTC Christmas Party Friday night and a night bicycle ride Saturday night around the squares downtown Saturday. Take her back home Sunday, then we go to friends Lowcountry Boil Monday night, I return to Rincon Tuesday. Have an appointment Wednesday with Savannah Cardiology to discuss again sponsor Earth day Ride and will also propose they do Historic Savannah Bikefest. The Jekyll Island Challenge Century and Sunset Ride is on “hold” because G8 Summit people have told all motels/hotels to hold 5,000 rooms beginning May 1st for security and other G8 personnel. Have someone who may be a title sponsor for this years ride and may have to CANCEL the ride because of G8 Summit, %#**&^!
Shipped all Christmas presents to family this week. UPS store sent Webb’s to Kaki’s in Montgomery, but getting it back and will re-ship it in time for Christmas. Bought a new color TV, 27 inch flat screen to replace dying older 25 inch TV in entertainment center. Can watch TV, but will have to get someone to configure wires from VCR and DVD as I cannot get those to work. Have a neighbor who may do it for me.
Have seven paid participants to the January Florida Trails Tour. They come from Tacoma, WA, Buffalo, NY, Aurora, CO and Naples, FL. Taking Ed Jewell (has done both trail tours I have done before and knows trails, he will pay his meals only) with me to be ride leader and ride with them while I take car and bike rack along adjacent roads to take out anyone who needs to be taken off trail. Will rent a seven passenger van for transporting them (if necessary), add two trays to my bike roof rack, buy a four bike trunk rack, take my two bike trunk rack and can carry ten bikes. The Naples man said he will bring his bike rack to use, too. If have more than 12 bikes, will buy another four bike trunk rack and put on someone’s car who is willing to drive. Will pay them for gas or mileage. This will be better than buying a $250 trailer hitch and borrowing a trailer from Charles Fox in Charleston and renting a 12 passenger van, attempting to install a temporary trailer hitch on the van. Hope the participants don’t think I am cheap ... just frugal!
Go to Ginger’s later today and return with her to Rincon tomorrow afternoon. We go to annual CBTC Christmas Party Friday night and a night bicycle ride Saturday night around the squares downtown Saturday. Take her back home Sunday, then we go to friends Lowcountry Boil Monday night, I return to Rincon Tuesday. Have an appointment Wednesday with Savannah Cardiology to discuss again sponsor Earth day Ride and will also propose they do Historic Savannah Bikefest. The Jekyll Island Challenge Century and Sunset Ride is on “hold” because G8 Summit people have told all motels/hotels to hold 5,000 rooms beginning May 1st for security and other G8 personnel. Have someone who may be a title sponsor for this years ride and may have to CANCEL the ride because of G8 Summit, %#**&^!
Shipped all Christmas presents to family this week. UPS store sent Webb’s to Kaki’s in Montgomery, but getting it back and will re-ship it in time for Christmas. Bought a new color TV, 27 inch flat screen to replace dying older 25 inch TV in entertainment center. Can watch TV, but will have to get someone to configure wires from VCR and DVD as I cannot get those to work. Have a neighbor who may do it for me.
Have seven paid participants to the January Florida Trails Tour. They come from Tacoma, WA, Buffalo, NY, Aurora, CO and Naples, FL. Taking Ed Jewell (has done both trail tours I have done before and knows trails, he will pay his meals only) with me to be ride leader and ride with them while I take car and bike rack along adjacent roads to take out anyone who needs to be taken off trail. Will rent a seven passenger van for transporting them (if necessary), add two trays to my bike roof rack, buy a four bike trunk rack, take my two bike trunk rack and can carry ten bikes. The Naples man said he will bring his bike rack to use, too. If have more than 12 bikes, will buy another four bike trunk rack and put on someone’s car who is willing to drive. Will pay them for gas or mileage. This will be better than buying a $250 trailer hitch and borrowing a trailer from Charles Fox in Charleston and renting a 12 passenger van, attempting to install a temporary trailer hitch on the van. Hope the participants don’t think I am cheap ... just frugal!
Friday, December 05, 2003
Today I leave for Charleston for the Rural Ride 'Round the Islands Event. The ride is attracting over 900 bicyclist this year as the result of Charles Fox good promoting (with a lot of help from me). I ride free because of my advice on where to promote. This is the third year and my third year. It's a sentimental ride for me because the first time was right after Ginny's death and Dave got me a room at downtown Holiday Inn. I had she crab soup at dinner and broke down and cried while eating the soup from memories of Ginny and I eating in Charleston years ago.
I had hoped Ginger would go with me this year, but the weather forecast of freezing temperatures Saturday night changed her mind for camping.
I will take my electric heater, put towels over the roof vent to "seal" the top and the heater should keep me reasonably warm when I get up the next morning ... Taking lot's of blankets and cover.
Now have four people signed up for the January Tour in Florida, plus two more say they are sending check. Taking Ed Jewel (Bike Club Member) to assist and ride with the riders while I drive support. Ed will pay his own meals and share a room with me. Adding two more rails to my roof top bike and will buy a four bike rack, use my two bike rack and rent a car or van to transport riders. Will be able to transport ten bikes with this arrangement. So, looks like I will be okay for this tour. February tour already has two paid riders and two more say they are mailing check. A BICYCLING MAGAZINE classified ad appears this coming week, maybe that will bring a few more.
Next week I will stay home, get one more Christmas present, get all of them in the mail, finish collating four more Tour Manuals for Tour riders, clean my townhouse and go to Ginger's Thursday morning. Then Ginger and I will return to my place for the weekend. Friday night we will go to Annual Coastal Bicycle Touring Club's Christmas party at Jan and Art's house near Savannah Yacht Club on Wilmington Island. Saturday night we will do the CBTC Downtown Night Ride around the squares where we all decorate our bikes with battery powered lights then eat at a very good Mexican Restaurant downtown. Lot's of fun!
Chris Trangas is stopping for lunch on Dec. 19th on her way to South Carolina for Christmas. On Dec 23rd, Ginger and I leave for Venice Florida to visit her sister Liz for Christmas, we leave Liz's Dec 26th and stay two nights near Disney World, one night with George Cheney in Longwood (near Orlando) and return home Dec. 29. Have not finalized those plans but Ginger and will do all that the Saturday she is here.
Yesterday, I put 300 lights up in the two trees in my front yard and hung the large vine wreath (painted white by your Mom) with the pretty ribbon Ellen added last year on the front door. Put flood light to bath the front door. Looks nice but brings sad memories of your Mom and I planning what outside decorations we wanted every year. But looking forward, can't change the past!
Hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving!
Dad
I had hoped Ginger would go with me this year, but the weather forecast of freezing temperatures Saturday night changed her mind for camping.
I will take my electric heater, put towels over the roof vent to "seal" the top and the heater should keep me reasonably warm when I get up the next morning ... Taking lot's of blankets and cover.
Now have four people signed up for the January Tour in Florida, plus two more say they are sending check. Taking Ed Jewel (Bike Club Member) to assist and ride with the riders while I drive support. Ed will pay his own meals and share a room with me. Adding two more rails to my roof top bike and will buy a four bike rack, use my two bike rack and rent a car or van to transport riders. Will be able to transport ten bikes with this arrangement. So, looks like I will be okay for this tour. February tour already has two paid riders and two more say they are mailing check. A BICYCLING MAGAZINE classified ad appears this coming week, maybe that will bring a few more.
Next week I will stay home, get one more Christmas present, get all of them in the mail, finish collating four more Tour Manuals for Tour riders, clean my townhouse and go to Ginger's Thursday morning. Then Ginger and I will return to my place for the weekend. Friday night we will go to Annual Coastal Bicycle Touring Club's Christmas party at Jan and Art's house near Savannah Yacht Club on Wilmington Island. Saturday night we will do the CBTC Downtown Night Ride around the squares where we all decorate our bikes with battery powered lights then eat at a very good Mexican Restaurant downtown. Lot's of fun!
Chris Trangas is stopping for lunch on Dec. 19th on her way to South Carolina for Christmas. On Dec 23rd, Ginger and I leave for Venice Florida to visit her sister Liz for Christmas, we leave Liz's Dec 26th and stay two nights near Disney World, one night with George Cheney in Longwood (near Orlando) and return home Dec. 29. Have not finalized those plans but Ginger and will do all that the Saturday she is here.
Yesterday, I put 300 lights up in the two trees in my front yard and hung the large vine wreath (painted white by your Mom) with the pretty ribbon Ellen added last year on the front door. Put flood light to bath the front door. Looks nice but brings sad memories of your Mom and I planning what outside decorations we wanted every year. But looking forward, can't change the past!
Hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving!
Dad
