Thursday, June 15, 2006

Diversions

We pass this flock of redwinged blackbirds on our run to classes. Today we take time to take a few glamour shots. Later I read that the redwing is related to the common grackle, but they are so much prettier looking. We really do enjoy all the natives we come upon and the great flora offerings in lots of folks yards. It make the run more fun to be on the lookout for new visual treats.

About 1/2 way into our run we see a guy coming towards us. There's a real runner proclaims S. As he approached he flags us down and asks if we run this route regularly. At our nod he asks if we know where the Marathon starts. Boy, has he ever asked the right people. We tell him and then discover he doesn't know about the connecting path to KH and the start. He is delighted as he usually stops short of it and turns around.

Our new friend is visiting his parent's home nearby. S is right, he is a real runner. He has run 15 marathons, he has run Boston, he has run 70 miles straight. He admires my Garmin and we compare notes on my new model versus his older one. We wave goodbye and continue on.

We're in, we grin. We are recognized as real runners! Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Not Exactly Running














150 miles from home our vintage Suburban opts to mix my life up a bit and blows a tire. The car may be old but the tires are the best and so it is only an annoyance not a bad scene.

It's 10 o'clock at night on a fast moving interstate, I'm not getting out to investigate. I am thinking I've dropped the transmission. I need to call D, Triple A, R who lives a stone's throw away. My cell phone is quite literally squeezing the last of it's battery juice into performance. Where's the charger? In the car I usually drive. Where's the extra battery? At home.

No panic. I call D, babbling the details before the phone dies. He springs into action and calls the calvary. As I wait, I envision a night in Richmond. No good. I MUST get home. I power up the phone and call home. The line's busy. I shut off the phone. 15 minutes later I try again. D answers. Someone come get me I implore. He's on his way, so is R and Triple A.

3o minutes later R pulls up. He looks at the car. He starts the car. He looks under the car. Flat tire, he proclaims. We dig for the spare. We cannot find the jack. Triple A arrives. He announces the spare flat, too flat for Fix-A-Flat which I do have. The men discuss tire options. All involve the next day. I MUST GET HOME.

100 miles free, $3 a mile after that Triple A offers. I'll take it. R shoves off after lending me his phone to call D and send him back home. I'll be along I tell him. Triple A and I go for gas, coffee, and his buddy fresh from breaking up a bar room cat fight. This is gonna be a fun ride. Do you mind if we smoke? They're nice guys, what can I say?

Imagine riding with Vince Vaughan uncensored easing back with a case of Bud Lite and you've got Triple A Buddy. We discover he used to work for the family electrical business. We compare notes on everyone. I am full of discovery.

By the time we get to Chesapeake TAB is sure we have kidnapped him. Only for his good buddy is he along for the ride, but how much farther? He's not mad, he's just VV, ready for some Mermaid Topless Bar action. We tell him we are not even in North Carolina yet. He has been to the OBX before. He has forgotten how long the ride through Currituck County is. At 3AM everyone's agony is over. Triple A from having to deal with no dash lights, TAB from an eternal trip and me from the fumes of death, even though they did have the windows down.

Who needs a limo when you can get a kicking tow truck ride. Posted by Picasa