butterflies in the middle of the bay
This weekend was good. The only complaint was some rain ruined Saturday as being the sand the back deck and front porch day. The ride to Forked River was awesome. I stopped and took some shots of Lake Chatsworth, a shot that captured my relief of getting to Route 72, and a really nice shot of some sunshine piercing through the canopy of pines onto the wild bushes below. Road
kill is a shitload more intense on a bike. Eau de deer carcass had me retching for a good solid 5 minutes after pedaling past it as fast as I could muster. Some where around Toms River a dead corn snake (I didn’t know it was dead) on the shoulder nearly caused me to soil my bike shorts.
My folks passed me on 72 before the Garden State Parkway and they stopped for a second to see how I was doing and get my lunch order. I got to the State Marina in Lacey Township on the Forked River just after noon. 
We had lunch and we got underway. The Bay was fairly crowded, but the day’s weather really couldn’t be better. A lot of sailors savoring the last good weather of the season. I still am confused why you see so many butterflies in the middle of the bay. I don’t think of butterflies as being sea hardy creatures of flight, yet we saw so many of them. I took a lot of macro photos of parts of the boat. We tacked around the Bay for a few hours and then headed back to our slip. We went to The Dutchman’s Brauhaus for a heavy German dinner.
I got home around 7pm (my parent’s didn’t make me ride home the 55 miles in the dark thankfully) and I was greeted by a very pouty Yogi, who knew full well that Sunday is swimming in the lake day. I’ll make it up to you big guy, don’t worry.
But aside from the reward of riding that bike all that distance and achieving a goal of mine, the real prize was the time with my Mom and Dad. 
They’ve been worried about their boy. They appreciate my time so much and that feels good. There aren’t many that do in my life right now…well, many in my life close to me. It’s only a couple weeks until I head down to Atlanta to see Van and Viv again. I miss them so badly. I can’t wait to read with them and just hold them. I go about everyday with so many things that I wish they were here to see.
- Simpsons Scenes and their Reference Movies
- Worth1000 Guide To Looking Like A Millionaire On A Hobo’s Budget
- Only a Paper Moon
- Kim Keever – photography of weird landscapes created in a fishtank
September 24th, 2007 at 8:56 am
I really enjoy your pictures. My favorite is of Viv in her wings…just more proof that she’s an angel, right?
Road kill on a bike is almost the worst thing on earth. You can’e escape the smell. It’s nearly impossible.
I’m glad you got your ride in. It was too hot here to get anything like that done. Isn’t it fall?? Where is the 70 degree weather?? I’m tied of 90′s.
September 24th, 2007 at 9:08 am
I like foot shots like that. I did one in a canoe. Glad your riding, boating, family-ing went well this weekend. It’s awesome that you get to see Van and Viv so soon.
September 24th, 2007 at 9:27 am
Yay for your parents!! Sounds like a great ride.
September 24th, 2007 at 11:32 am
Your daughter is so beautiful. I love how happy you look when talking to her. It is nice to see that you feel that good sometimes.
Are you wearing the Lance Armstrong shoes? If so, then we have the same shoes. My husband yelled at me when I bought them (well, he teased me about them…didn’t yell, in fact I can’t even imagine him yelling about anything because he is pretty quiet) because he said they were man’s shoes. But I bought the women’s version, I swear.
September 24th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
Of course they worry about you, as a parent you should know and understand that concept. I’m please to know you were able to spend time out in the fresh bay air and time with the rents.
September 24th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
That looks like an awesome ride. I’m glad you took some photos. Roadkill stench was one of the first things I noticed when I started road riding. It can be truly awful. Sometimes you just have to hold your breath until you’re past it.
The sail looks like a lot of fun, too. I like the photos you took; not having been sailing, it’s all very foreign (and interesting) to me.
September 24th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Ok, I’ve had the eau de deer carcus experience and all I can say is yuck. I’m glad the rest of the day aerated your nostrils….
September 24th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Damn, Van!
Bike therapy followed by boat therapy followed by brat(wurst) therapy.
Dude!
September 24th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
sounds like a pretty cool weekend. Can you imagine how the guy who killed the corn snake felt?!
September 24th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
Well, except for the dead deer, the scare with the snake, and the rain, it sounds like you had a pretty good weekend.
You should put a countdown on your site for the days until you see your kiddos. You know we love when you get to see them too.
September 24th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Parents can be so fabulous, course, sometimes…
but for now let’s just focus on the fabulous, eh?
The intenseness of roadkill when you are not in a car is incredible, isn’t it? When I’m out riding my bike I’ve noticed that but at least I get through the effected area quicker than you.
Sounds like a good weekend all in all.
September 24th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
I get to see mine every other week and it’s tough. Not sure how you do it Van.
September 24th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
“Eau de deer carcas”
EW. Grooooooody.
September 24th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Glad that you survived the tougher parts of the ride. I can sympathize with the stench of a dead deer on the side of the road – not something I want to experience again.
September 25th, 2007 at 12:30 am
Oh, the wings! She’s wearing the wings! I do so love a little girl.
Your ride is awesome, as is the fact that you remembered to wear shorts and therefore didn’t soil your bike seat.
September 25th, 2007 at 5:42 am
I know how hard it is to carry the weight of the words you can’t speak to someone. Sigh.
September 25th, 2007 at 8:25 am
In a hundred million years I would have never thought of the implications of coming across roadkill on a bike.
Could be because I’m like the least athletic person in the world but still…
September 25th, 2007 at 8:28 am
Gotta love some road kill. Frankly, I don’t consider a bike ride successful unless I come across some putrid roadkill.
I can feel how much you miss your kids just reading your blog — and it makes me miss them for you.