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.