episode 161: "2.5 sandwiches"

On the trip there were a number of occasions where we pulled into small towns, or were camped in some town park, where showering was not an option. This statement might make you think that our accommodations weren't great. This was not really the case, in fact, Jerry and the boys had us rollin' pretty damn plushly. Papa Smurf would have been proud.

But I digress. As such on more than one occasion we were off to find the local swimming hole as a means to clean up. Early on we decided we should develop a rating system for each swimming hole that we partook of. I believe it was Eric who came up with the rating system, or as we called it "sandwiches" . The scale was a 1 t0 5 sandwiches. 1 being an algae covered pond that no one in their right mind would enter for fear of being eaten by the swamp thing:

to 5 sandwiches, which would be clear water, deep enough to swim, big enough to hold all 14 of us, and most importantly: a rope swing!

One night we loaded up the sprinter and headed out to find the local swimming hole. Upon our arrival it was clear that this was a -1 sandwich hole. Clearly no one had swum, or touched the smelly stagnate water in this area for quite some time.

So Harry and Jerry got directions and we were off to find a new swimming hole. On the way up a long and twisty dirt road, Harry and Jerry had much friendly banter about Jerry's ability to get and relay directions, and Harry's ability to follow them. It's great to watch to old friends have fun poking at each other. In the back of the sprinter we all laughed our asses off.

Finally, after about an hour on the dirt road, we turned the corner, and alas found our swimming hole, touted by the locals as "amazing". What we saw caused a huge roar of laughter from the group as before us was a huge puddle, not 25 yards across. Was this our holy grain of swimming holes? The immediate reaction in the Sprinter was that this was at most a 2 sandwich swimming hole.

Ah but Karma rewards the patient and kind, as we turned the corner to park and beheld a beautiful, huge natural spring, complete with picnic tables strategically placed to allow for jumping, and easily 100 yards across. It was beautiful, and had a rope swing been set up, would have easily been a 5 sandwich ride, but alas, it was rated 4 sandwiches.

In Haven Hot Springs, we had a wonderful river to jump in and cool you, and then magnificent hot spring to sit in and loosen the tired legs. Again, a wonderful place to swim and frolic, but the lack of a rope swing kept the swimming hole to a 4 sandwich experience. The hot springs were really nice. As Chris said, "this was truly a special place."

Got a new aero haircut yesterday. Decided to try it out with some of the dccoders this morning. Jan, Papa Smurf, and Rotten joined me. We did the Queen B loop, which when we rocked it was less of a b paced ride and more of a "biatch-smack" pace . Super Fun. The boys were riding very well, the aero haircut served me well as I sat in and rode it out. Hope I find my legs in the next 40 days or so.

Perhaps best of all this weekend, you know besides hangin' with my baby. I sat around the the kitchen table with Jeb, L-Web, Brian and Tom, and talked shit. That hasn't happened for a year. Man that ruled. Welcome home L-Web and crew.

I don't want to start any rumors, but Peaches was out with the cross guys, on a bike with 700c wheels and gears doing sprints Saturday. I'm not saying peaches could be a dirty crosser again or anything but you have to look at the facts. I won' t even mention who was playing jam car today too...

here's Amazin' Andrew after smacking me around saturday.

respect.

fm