Cade's Cove Loop

There remains a biking goal I failed to remember in yesterdays edit of the post from Missouri. We wanted to do the loop road in Cade's Cove. With gas prices soaring, I don't know if we could get the RV up there for our base of operations. Maybe we will just have to take the bikes via Honda Accord. I can remember bringing up the idea of riding the 11 mile Cade's Cove Loop and someone telling me that it would be too far. Funny huh?

Back from Missouri

This month, I fulfilled the last of a 3 part dream that began a long time ago when I envisioned getting Beverly out riding a bike. The first of them was to have her ride at the Florida Safari. The second was to ride the New River Trail and the Virgina Creeper trails in Virginia. And last and possibly the most far fetched was to ride the Katy Trail, camping our way across Missouri. Now all of these are done! Bev actually camped in a tent, on the ground, as we made our way. Surprising. I made camp every evening, giving her an easy chair almost as soon as we arrived in camp. She would take her towel and head for the shower truck. Meanwhile I got the tent up and the mattress inflated. Like all our tour events, the people were great. I can't say really great things about the scenery because Missouri is a lot like Alabama. It just looked like home. Our ride took us along a rail trail that was very, very flat but the surrounding area was hilly. The trail was so flat and straight at times it resembled the world's longest dirt road. It covered about 225 miles across the state from East to West. Most folks who had ridden both ways consider the west to east route easier. We'd like to do it again, only west to east this time. But 2009 it falls on my week to work. Of course who knows where we'll be then.

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Gospels

Remember...

What you seek, you shall never find.
For when the Gods made man,
They kept immortality for themselves.
Fill your belly.
Day and night make merry,
Let Days be full of joy.
Love the child that holds your hand.
Let your wife delight in your embrace.
For these alone are the concerns of man.
--The Epic of Gilgamesh


All these years since Dad died, I've marked the approach of this time. Dad was 52 years old. This year marks my 52nd year. Where have the past 24 years gone? Much has happened in that time. I am changed from the person I was. I have watched my family grow old, grow up, and increase. I have found things which have given me inspiration. I have found happiness in the most surprising of places. Right under my nose.

Horsey Hundred

Bev and I made the long, long trip to Kentucky for the Horsey Hundred. We had hoped some of our friends would have come along but not this time. It was beautiful country. They described it as rolling hills and that much was true. BUT IT ROLLED A LOT. Bev and I ended up with a 78 mile Saturday through many, many hills. None so very severe but VERY LONG and still quite a physical challenge for her. Her knee was sore by the end of the ride so we opted to omit the Sunday short ride and simply come home rather than chance aggravating the injury.

Morgan Thomas Howard PharmD.

Today I traveled to Samford University to see Morgan graduate pharmacy school. Truly a great day for him and his family. I saw his fiancée again. She seems like a fine catch for him. They will be good for one another. And I met her Mom. She seems proud to have Morgan for a son-in-law. She should be. He has all the makings of a good man.

Kirk had photos of William and his children. Also photos of Justin and his fiancée too. Justin reminds me of Kirk a lot. Those boys have done well. It makes for a most excellent family. I am proud to have them as friends.