Memorial weekend

Stuart is useless with surprises. I told him we were going away but we would be staying in Texas (I couldn't face flying again). So after a week of him trying to get it out of me we left to go east along I10 - well since he knew we were staying in Texas he could not work out what was to the east! But then I turned south down Sam Houston and there was even more confusion. Finally he got it when we were on 59 heading SW to Corpus Christi.

It was a much less painful journey than I expected just 3.5 hours. I had managed a run in the morning with Amy and her running group so we got down in time for late lunch. Corpus is on the coast so it was a beach holiday Texas style. I booked the Hilton which was fine but in hindsight I would have preferred something near the mariner and near all the restaurants and bars.

We went down to North Padre Island National Park - and although we had to wait in a queue of cars to get in, it was worth it. You 10 bucks gets you access to the park for 7 days and you then have 60 miles of beach to drive on if so wish. It is basically a spit with the gulf on one side and Laguna Madre on the other. We soon established we could hire kayaks and wind surfers in the park on the lagoon side so that was Sundays plan sort. I then said we just had to drive on the beach something I have never done and no better time to do it than with a company car :) the visitors centre was a little dull but one of the really exciting things about the park is the turtles. Unfortunately we were a little early for hatching season. With 60 miles of beach you expect to find a small amount of privacy, but not when most of Houston descends on small (population some 270,000 compared to greater Houston 5 million). Cars lined the well cut road in the sand and people came so well prepared with everything including the kitchen sinks. There we vehicles ranging from beach buggies, to regular cars to Winnebago's! I was driving first and it was like you are on snow only better. We decided to go for low ratio considering the speed limit was only 15 mph and the park ranges were hanging around to catch anyone miss behaving. I only nearly got stuck when I ground to a halt in a deep portion of sand. After nearly twenty minutes of driving we still couldn't see the end to vehicles lining the road way so we found a gap and parked up. The beach (we were on the gulf side - should say) was covered in seaweed right up to the sea edge but that didn't seem to put folk off. We tip toed across it to paddle in the water. The water was like a bath and it was very clear - unlike muddy Galveston Bay (and obviously no oil down that way - yet!). Even when we ventured deeper it was still warm. The wind was warm as well nothing like going to the beach in Scotland! There were flocks of pelicans flying overhead - they were huge. Most people down there looked as though they were staying for the night but we weren't so Stu drove us out dying to put down the power to do donuts- now wonder the park ranges were keeping a watchful eye!

That night we ended up at the wrong restaurant (blame the GPS), but it was busy and sold seafood on the menu so not too bad. We were back to the hotel pretty early so we had plenty of time to try out the sleep setting mattress i.e. you could turn a dial to make the mattress firmer or softer on your own side of the bed. I think it was a scam as we couldn't tell the difference!

We had decided to go windsurfing but since the place did not open until 11am there was no rush in the morning. There was already a queue to the park in the morning, but it was less than the night before and less than it was later in the day as we heard. The wind was stronger than the day before and apparently this Laguna Madre was called 'world winds' and renowned for its windsurfing because it always has stead breeze. I convinced Stuart we should do the lesson which entailed an hour of tuition and then two hours on your own trying to miss all the other windsurfers. It was fun and we both achieved going backwards and forwards whilst occasionally falling off or ramming another windsurfer. The water was of course warm and it was never too deep to stand in so when you had enough you could walk back in! By the end of my three hours the muscles in my hands were
Killing me. We had thought to go kayaking after but we were both tired and Stuart had drunk enough salt water for one day:)

We walked along the marina that has a view of the USS Lexington, a decommissioned aircraft carrier, and also a replica of one of Columbus' ships, the Nina. That night we ended up at one of the recommend restaurants on our list on Water Street. It was a fab seafood restaurant and topped the night before with Stu having something called Triple tail and I had blackened Mahi Mahi. Once again we were back tot the hotel early except we had seen Applebees next door had a bar open until 2am so we went there for a drink. Nothing too exciting as it is a chain restaurant and much less of a bar but it beat the desolate hotel 'bar' - I say it like that because it really wasn't a bar at all with only a couple of bottles behind some glass doors!

The weather was great to whole weekend and to Stuart's liking it was even humid with the constant sea breeze. We explored the USS Lexington first thing. There were very helpful retired folk wanting to answer questions. I was glad I didn't wear a skirt as it could have been embarrassing on the ladders! we spent 45 minutes watching a film about fighter pilot training which was good and a nice break from the heat! I would say it is worth a visit and for the price worth it. Surprisingly there was nothing for Memorial Day on at the ship. We then walked over to the Texas State Aquarium which was maybe less worth the money but I did enjoy watching the turtles being fed. We missed the dolphin show but we have seen quite a few of them recently. There were heaps of kids so maybe we should have done that first thing!

Now we are home and it is hot and humid - not to mention the pool is green because the pool man has done a vanishing act again! I will speak to him, again, tomorrow!

Getting back to normal chores

Well I thought it would be quiet now I am home but I guess just getting back into the swing of normal life can also be busy. I still haven't sorted by Bahamas Field Trip photos and have many more to share from all my other trips away, however I did eventually get this one from Stuart. We were videoing the big storm last Monday out of the upstairs window. When we went back to look at the video frame by frame we came across this amazing image. It actually looks like the lightening strike is in our garden as it in front of the trees in the house behind! Anyway, since then there has been no rain apparently and probably the reason my marigolds are looking a little sad in the garden.

Last night I went swimming after to work as I desperately need to get back to exercise before I become the size of a bus, then we went over to babysit for a short while at John and Amy's because Amy had to go and collect John from hospital after his stomach op. She was only gone about 40 minutes, but we had time to pet the cats, and I think I managed to teach the cat a new trick of jumping on the sofa - but shush don't tell Amy!!

This morning I woke up at 5am to go to Master Swim - I have never been to it, but seen the good swimmers doing it. The guy said can you swim 3000m in an hour! I gave him a worried look and he said what about 2500m - that I can! However, I started off in the kiddies pool away from all the rest of the swimmers to see if I could hack it. It went OK except I am going to have to learn to breath on both sides with front crawl and I need to learn to tumble turn. Next class is Thursday morning! It will be good for me to push my swimming.

Tonight we went for a short walk along the bayou as I need to o some more walking in my Vibrams before I can consider running in them. We didn't manage a long time as it was 91F and sunshine! Tonight has been the dreaded task of cleaning the house after some three weeks of being away. It is looking and smelling better although I need a shower before going off bed as it is hot work in this sticky hot climate.

Hopefully I will get around to all the exciting pictures! But until then, here is one little taster - guess where itis from?!

Airport Watching

I love sitting here in the airport watching life go by with all these different characters wondering where everyone is going and what they have left behind. Just opposite a lady checks her make up after a tearful goodbye. She looks so sad just staring at the floor. I wonder what makes her cry - saying goodbye to a loved one or the fear of the onward journey. Whatever it is she is not letting her mind forget it.

The overall bussle is from a group of Chinese that look as though they are about to set off on to new exciting destinations. They all wear their uniform of white sun hats and with name tags on yellow string around their necks. It is all husbands and wives with no one younger than 50 years. Next me the old man is trying to fix his hat - the little dongle to make the string tighter has already fallen off. As he uses his chubby fingers and a tooth pick, however his mates look on decide they could do a better job. The two take it off him and again with chubby fingers, they can't feed the string through the eye let. Next they make their wife undo her lurid green ribbon from her bag to use it to pull through the string. By this point the guy next to is getting a little stroppy! He tries but the string refuses to go in the hole. The women calmly gets the hat and sits down to work at the problem. Another triumph for women everywhere, where three men fail the women succeeds. Joyfully my neighbour puts the hat on pulling on the cord tight!

Now the flight is starting to board everyone starts to hover around the gate - the plane might leave without me! Even though they know it is not their time to board they stand right in the middle of the aisle adamant that you can't have their space. 'Move out the way!' I want to shout, as I weave between them for my special elite boarding (the benefits of flying lots these days!).

I am now sitting at my seat listening to guy next to me chat away on his phone in a foreign language, laughing but what is there really to laugh about with the prospect of sitting in a tin cigar for the next 10 hours! On the upside the seat between me and the foreign speaking stranger is free let's hope it remains that way!

Signing off or rather flying off.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Fishy Fingers

Just back from a run with Amy, today we ran along the lit portion of the bayou - shame I forgot the mozzie repellant as I think I will be feeling the consequences tomorrow. It was quite humid tonight - even I have to admit, although I was trying to convince Stuart it was not too bad!

While Scotland has the snow, we had the rain on Sunday and Monday. On Sunday we went up to Old Town Spring for the Texas Crawfish and Music Festival. It said 'come rain or shine', but it was quite a wash out! Old Town Spring is north of Houston and is an old settlement in Spring. The buildings are all traditional wooden American style with verandas opening on to the narrow streets. Most buildings seemed to be boutique shops with a totally different feel from anything else in Houston. However, with the three weekends of the festival, the place was filled with crawfish stalls and the pavements covered in bits of crawfish and their juices. The actual festival is held in the fairground and costs $10 per person to get in. What we later discovered is there is actually just as much, if not more, going on in the streets where there is no entrance fee! However, inside the fairground there was crawfish to sale as well as Cajun foodstuff, plus alligator, dinosaur turkey legs, crawfish sausages and much more. Stuart and Dave went for the crawfish, but I decided I couldn't be bothered with peeling all those little lobster like things - too messy and too much hard work. Stuart did peel me one and it was nice and spicy, but my Chinese chicken satay stick was better :) Karen and I were disgusted by the boys fishy fingers after completing their tray of crawfish! There was a Zydeco band that started up near to where we were sitting. I was pretty good (better than the country music that was also playing!). Zydeco is a form of folk music from SW Louisiana and is quite upbeat. There was a man strumming his metal vest - a wash board and a squeeze box. Despite of the rain, they had people up dancing. One of the guys dancing, in his late forties and well built, was pretty good at strutting his stuff!

Since the rain just would not give up we left after a couple of hours. I would recommend anyone going to go on a sunny Saturday and then stay for the music later on in the evening especially if it is Zydeco.

When we got home I was going to go for a swim but I suddenly became soooo tired. I lay down on the sofa and passed out for two hours. I was so tired, that I felt like I was hallucinating, my head was just spinning, but when I got up I was feeling so much better. Maybe that bike ride did take it out of me!

I woke up to more rain on Monday and I was due to be playing golf! I set off in the morning up to Deerwood Golf course about an hour north east of Houston. It was peeing it down all the way! And to my horror the temperature was dropping into the 50's and I was wearing shorts! When I drove into the club the rain stopped and even though the clouds were still there and it was a little chilly it was pretty good weather all things considered. A girl in a golf buggy came and collected me from my car and drove me the whole 50 yards to the club house. I was playing in the SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) golf tournament. My host met me at the front and there were another two guys in our team. The event is actually run at two club, but Deerwood is the more salubrious one and costs a little extra but means you get a tee time and play as a shambles, rather than a scramble. My practice hits were to die for, but unfortunately on the course I had both good and bad shots. As a shambles, we all teed off, then picked the best ball and moved all our first shots to that location then played your own ball until we sunk it in the hole! I did manage to get a par for the team, but nothing else! They were amazed with my 3 iron drives and told me to learn to hit a driver!! So we didn't win, however, we all got a pair of Oakley sunglasses and I won a wedge in the raffle - all in all not a bad Monday! Oh and I forgot to say it didn't rain all day how amazing.

Last but not least - Happy Birthday Mum!

We did it!

Amy and I have successfully completed day one of the MS 150 and we are both very proud of ourselves.

An early start, up at 4:50am, for wheels down at 0630! We, as part of the El Paso team, got away at 0645 and the rain was already falling. We were already wet as we left the car park. While John dropped us off at the ride start, Stuart babysat - actually, he snoozed while the boys watched TV.

The rain stopped, but because the roads were wet there was a fair amount of spray. With the volume of cyclist, some 13,000 riders, I found myself concentrating really hard not to run into anyone and remember to unclip so I didn't fall over.

The first excitement of the ride happened less than ten miles in when a Mexican with his trailer of prunings had a large branch sticking out the side of the trailer. As he drove past all the cyclist, including us, he clipped us all in the back of the legs with this reasonable sized branch. There was shouting as he went past, and I have to say he did stop and climbed out apologising for nearly knocking us all down! This was shortly followed us being faced with a very nasty sight, a man's bottom crack because his lycra shorts were see through, actually very see through, but to make this worse it was not just a one off - eek there were more.

The first 48 miles to lunch were easy, because it was flat and the road surface was nice, not to mention the wind was in a favourable direction, coming from behind. We actually did it faster than we probably should have, averaging a healthy 17.5 mph. We were trying to keep up with the amount of drinking and eating our husband's had told us to do, but we probably were a little bad about drinking enough. The lunch stop was busy and I nearly came to grief when the cyclist in front of me disobeyed instructions and decided to stop dead straight in front of me without warning when we weretold to keep moving. It was amazing how good a ham and cheese sandwich can taste at ten to ten in the morning.

The second half of the ride was undulating and the road surface was horrible so it was not going to such a pleasurable second half, not to mention we were both noticing our bottoms! Once the hills started, so did the 'wrecks'. One in particular, happened directly in front of us. A lady was going to slow, lost her balance, fell as she didn't unclip and took out the guy to her side. I went on their outside taking on the on coming traffic, whilst Amy headed into the verge. We both got away unscathed except for Amy's chain popping off.

We did more, short stops on the final leg again trying to keep up with the drinking and eating, however, getting down the final banana at the last stop was hard work - yuk! Each stop we both wanted to stretch out our shoulders and flex our bottom muscles, the padded shorts where getting a little flat by this stage!

I was amazed how chirpy I was feeling and the more we talked the easier it got. Before we knew it the final five miles came and went. We rode through the finish gate very happy, actually so happy that we nearly touched handlebars! As we went through the finish arch they announced - 'Congratulations Amy and John'! Hmmm :) Stuart had managed to get to the finish line in time, although neither of us heard his shouts. In the end the clock said 98 miles, 15.5 mph average speed in 6 hours 30 minutes rolling time - we did it!

After a quick something to eat in the teams tent we went our separate ways. Stuart had parked at the High School so we had to get the school bus to take us back to the car (my second time in the big yellow bus!) . It was a fantastic find, as parking in Le Grange can be very hard but this was a little hidden gem and worth remembering for another time :)

Home now and feeling so much better than after the half marathon, although I am quite pleased I don't have another day of riding tomorrow. I have nice tan lines including two dark arms between my gloves and my shirt sleeves, and panda eyes to match!

Wish me luck

Well wish me luck for my 100 miles tomorrow. A tail wind is forecast and 30% thunderstorms, so some good and bad news.

Bitten the bullet

Just back from a run with Amy. It was a later one tonight - 8pm - so I had some dinner earlier which I could feel all the way around! No scary car manoeuvres or near misses tonight. I have to admit I nearly ran over a runner yesterday just outside the gym as I forgot to check if anyone way actually on the pavement as it such a rare occurrence - but this time there was! He clapped his hands loudly but by that time I was already moving so I just waved apologetically! Then this morning I had to negotiate a cyclist coming the wrong way up the dual lane road - I know cars in Houston don't like cyclist but I think going the wrong way up a reasonable sized road is just pure madness - it is amazing the guy had reached old age!

I finally bit the bullet and said I will cycle the first day of the MS 150 with Amy so today they gave me all John's registration information and the team cycling jersey - oh help, I really am doing it! I decided to calculate the mileage based on the wee rest stop card provided in the pack and I thought it was a mere 90 miles on Saturday, but it is actually 96.6 miles - eek! I will of course tell you all about it in the blog, but lets just say the most I have ridden is about 40 miles in one day! I have been told we have to start carb loading for it tomorrow so I guess pasta is on my dinner menu!

Oh and I have a three year old admirer - Conor, Amy's youngest, has taken a bit of a shine to me. Apparently tonight he was dialing a number on his toy telephone and when Amy asked who he was calling he said 'Emily'!!! Stuart you better watch out :)

I was quite a wet last night being in the house by myself. Alarm was set but I ended up reading my book until midnight until I decided I just had to put the book down and get some sleep. Of course by that point I wasn't really tired so I ended up lying awake listening to all the creaks and groans of the house! I must have drifted off but then I woke ahead of the alarms this morning as I was paranoid I was going to sleep in because my phone alarm has been decidedly unreliable recently. I set the big bell alarm clock and even though I was awake it nearly made me jump out of my skin when it went off!

Well I think that is all from me so good night sleep tight and lets hope there are no funny noises tonight!