Finally, Finishing the Vacation

(Well, it took some time, but I've FINALLY added photos to this post)...
“The man that needs a vacation is the man that is just getting off a vacation”. A truer statement has never been muttered. Here it is, the 22nd of July and I’m finally getting around to updating the end of what proved to be one really fun visit to the Philly area.

On Saturday morning, Cathy and I stumbl out of bed and wolf down a quick breakfast, then join Barb and Les on our journey to Wicahession Park. A few weeks before our departure, I started investigating mountain bike trails in the Philly area. It just so happens that the latest IMBA Singletrack News had a brief article on the formation of the Philadelphia Mountain Bike Club and I visited their website and was met with a warm greeting.

Our ride started with an agonizing 1/3 mile climb up a fall line trail to a ridge above the park. I remembered making this climb with Travis and Matt a few years back and once on the top, we found some nice rolling singletrack. There were plenty of TTF’s (technical trail features) to roll over and test our skills. We were fortunate to meet many helpful locals as we got turned around a few times. All in all, a fun 12 mile ride, hopefully proving to Cathy that she does indeed have the skills to ride just about anywhere.

We returned to the park area, met Les and Barb, retuned to the house, wolfed down some lunch then hit the road to Citizens Bank Part to catch a Phillies game. We were lucky enough to pick the steamiest day of the year, which also just happened to be Italian Heritage Day at the park.

As a formerly HUGE baseball fan, it was really fun to slip back into the game and to see Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks take the mound in search of his 291st career victory. The Phils ultimately made it easy on him as they gave up a club record (Arizona) 8 runs in the top of the 4th inning, highlighted by Johnson’s two run double and a monsterous 3 run shot by another Diamondback. His homer is still circling the earth looking for re-entry.

Having enough of the blow-out (and the heat and the cost of beverages) we packed it in and headed back to the Xponential Music Festival, arriving just in time for one of our favorite bands, Railroad Earth. A mix of bluegrass, folk, rock and jamband, RRE didn’t disappoint, the highlight was seeing their multi-instrumentalist play two saxophones at the same time.

Amos Lee was next up and Cathy and I took a break and cruised the festival grounds in anticipation of Michael Franti and Spearhead, the evening’s headliner. We had seen Franti and his band a year ago in Asheville and the man can really put on a show, his enormous height (well over six feet) is an imposing figure on the stage. His talent as a songwriter, especially his passionate pleas for a much need peace, Franti commands your attention. His dancing and twirling from such a tall man is fun to see.

After what was a really long day, we left a few songs early and headed to the house to prepare for our return voyage home on Sunday morning. A great, albeit packed vacation had come to an end and Monday morning was looming for all three of us.

More Jam!

Friday started off a little slow, I’ve been having a few issues with my right hip, not certain if it’s related to my back (nerves) or I’ve overdone it riding the big ring on my bike. Regardless, I sipped some coffee, too a shower, read a little, then we packed up and headed into trendy Collingswood for lunch at a Cuban restaurant. The food was good, although we need to stop ordering appetizers, as we get so loaded up we can’t see to stuff in the entrée.

Friday night was a return to the waterfront for what I thought would be my most enjoyable evening. And I wasn’t disappointed. Reminding me a lot of Jonatha Brooke, Dar Williams opened the show with some nice acoustic folk. A gifted storyteller, she held the crowd (mostly female) in her grasp.

We ventured over to the side stage for Jim Bianco and his unique brand of Brooklyn Americana. His set was a unexpected treat. I’d like to see him again.

The showstopper for me, was Chuck Profit . Chuck is a gruff, in your face kind of singer songwriter, and his work is always just a little left of politically correct. His groveled voice reminds me a little of Leonard Cohen. The crowd went wild for Profit and his tight band and David Dye nominated them for the set of the festival ranking. Catch his show, you won’t be disappointed.

Next up was Alejandro Escovedo. His six piece band included violin and cello. His latest album Real Animal was co-written with Chuck Profit who joined his band onstage for a tune or two. Alejandro has made quite a comeback from hepatitis C that he contracted some time back. And the world is better for his return to health. His band really rocked the place and for all intents and purposes, the show should have come to an end there. But headlining was Beth Orton. I love her work, but whoever put Beth on following these two hot rods should have had their head examined.

XPonNential!

Ahhh, some vacation time. Les and I ventured over to Crows Woods/Mountwell Park in Haddonfield today, on the hopes of finding some singletrack. What we found was a poorly designed and built trail that at times petered out into overgrowth. Still, it was good to get a few miles in, just get the legs spinning, especially after the drive in on Wednesday. Les and I had dropped Cathy and Lyndsay off in Haddonfield while we hit the trail. When we returned to pick them up, we were greeted by Haddonfield’s own dinosaur, aptly named Hadrosaurus foulkii. Les being the brave soul showed us there was no reason to fear the duck billed beast and they took a moment to pose for a photo.

It’s so good to hang around with a dog, I really miss having a pet. Max is a svelte 88 pound chocolate Labrador and he rules the roost at the Bowen abode. Just look at those eyes. “Yep, I’m a dog” …

I love to drift through the neighborhoods in the area around Barb and Les’ house. The architecture is incredible. In Charlotte, any building older than 50 years gets torn to the ground, making way for the next concrete structure to the gods of banking. Some of the homes have to date back into the 1800’s.

We dinned Thursday at the Tortilla Press where we enjoyed an eclectic “Mexican Influenced” meal. Despite spilling a glass of water while unloading our BYOBeer, we managed a delightful time. My nephews Matt and Dan are great young men and it’s fun to listen to their stories. Their futures are bright.

From dinner, Les took Cathy and I to the XPonNential Music Festival where we saw the Salvador Santana Band. Salvador is the son of music legend Carlos Santana. A mix of hip hop and rap with some of the soulful underpinnings of his father, it was a fun, albeit short show (we arrived a little late). The setting for the festival, Camden’s Wiggins Park overlooks downtown Philadelphia and is the same basic area where we enjoyed a Fourth of July fireworks display a few years back.

The headlining act for the first night of the festival were the Blind Boys of Alabama. Lead by the soulful Jimmy Lee Carter we were treated to a wonderful night of gospel music. Backed by a tremendous group of musicians, they sang all four of their Grammy winning songs. The highlights were “Spirit in the Sky” and “Amazing Grace” sung to the melody of “House of the Rising Sun”. If that didn’t send a chill through you, nothing will!

Playing a Little Catch-Up

Over the past two weekends, we got in killer rides at DuPont State Forest. On June 28^th, we had a group of 12 riders - Doug and Terry joining Edward and Robin, Doug and Jodee, Diana and Gordon, Frank, Andy, Ashley and Rich joining Cathy and I. We rode the usual out loop to the base of Bridal Veil Falls, then turned and retraced our path up Airstrip, before caught Corn Mill Shoals back toward the trail head, 17 miles or so. Several of us continued up Burnt Mountain adding several climbing miles to our ride. I made the mistake of riding the Heckler, which wasn’t an issue at first, but I paid a severe weight penalty on the Burnt Mountain climb. Still haven’t cleaned the armored decent, 5-in of Santa Cruz travel or not. Note to self – don’t make the same mistake in the desert this fall.

I got in several rides during the week at N. Meck, LNSP and a couple of road rides with Bob at work. I'm attempting to up the ante on my mileage in preparation for my fall trip to the southwest (see Three Amigos). Gotta get stronger to hold up my end of the bargain.

We were invited to spend July 4^th at Tom and Amira’s house in Arden. They have a beautiful home in a natural setting on the mountain. Jerry and Carol joined us. I hadn’t seen them since the late winter and we celebrated Jerry’ 59^th birthday with a sparkler laden chocolate cheese cake from Earthfare. Later in the evening, we took a newly opened road over the mountain to the Cliff’s to a vacant lot to view fireworks. Tom and Amira had recently sold the Cliff’s a parcel of land and they now have driveway access through the gated community. We could see the pyrotechniques over Lake Jullian and downtown Asheville, with some tremendous private displays throw in for good measure.

We returned to DuPont on July 5^th and were joined by Robin and Larry, and locals Lois and Ken. Even though the weather was threatening (and I took a swim at the Corn Mills Shols river crossing) we had a tremendous ride, even adding the Turkey Knob trail off of Reasonover, just for good measure. Lois and Ken are strong riders and I enjoyed trying to maintain their pace. As always, cool Galec’s were waiting for us at the car, then on to Dugan’s for lunch in Brevard.

Finally, I am enjoying a much needed break from the office. Off since July 4^th, we are now in Haddonfield, NJ, follow yesterday’s 9 hour odyssey along I-95 through Washington and Baltimore. We arrived at Barb and Les’s home a little before 6:00 and just before the start of a nice thunderstorm. We cooked out some brats, drank a few beers, took Max for a walk, then turned in for the evening. I needed it bad.