had plans to go to a friend's birthday party
wanted to go to the party
not just for the beer and the crabs
but to gather with friends to celebrate a friend's birthday
well... adulthood shuffled the schedule
had to go into work tonight
but.... did not have to go into work until after I got home
rode the fixed gear for a little over an hour
the low gear spin is good for the multi-use bike paths
too slow to get mixed up in any tailgate racing
more about my evening...
spun it downhill with the wind at my back out past the airport along side the potomac river
then turned it around at the start of the boardwalk leading into alexandria
the way back was slow with the wind at my face
was fooled into thinking my flow was my being fast and fit
while all along it was the grade of the path and the power of the wind
managed to get home in time for some family time
the boys wanted to hike with me and the dogs
so we hiked in rock creek park while lisa cooked
good timing
good balance
dean was frustrated with the rocks that kept sneaking into his keen sandals
grant was amped at some of his new found agility on the trails
he was clearing some larger logs with a little grab and a lift
it was great to watch him hike and climb over the large fallen trees
the satisfaction and reward in his face was even more of a site than the motion itself
as he repeated the "problem"
going each way over a large fallen tree
throwing his leg over... than pulling his body over
we hiked some more
dean wanted to go home
grant wanted to hike further
I alternated at forks in the path for who got to choose
I reminded dean that we had to be in the woods long enough for the dogs to both go to the bathroom
we hiked further
never too far from home
grant grew tired... we had not hiked long or far
grant is two with a little cold
so I carried him at his request
when he told me not to turn around, we argued
I told him that we could hike
but not if i had to carry him
he asked to be put down
he lead the way further into the woods
again... not far... as his legs are not so long
dean was reluctant
but I was able to bargain to the next fork in the trail
so we hiked further
dean raced ahead with a borrowed toy sword
while grant meandered at more of a toddler's pace
in the distance I could hear dean screaming
he was dictating our next move
he was telling us that we would turn around at one very large oak tree
it seemed reasonable
it was a fork
it was his turn to choose
and well... even if we started to head back there may be some more distractions keeping the boys out
keeping the dogs out
so we meandered
the dogs not far out of sight wandering off leash
never encountering another hiker or dog
always within view of the commuter traffic on the road and houses in the nieghborhood
not sure if the distance of our walk constitutes a hike
but it is in the woods so I call it such
upon our arrival to the end of the path across the street from our house I saw dave and his older son with their dog and a borrowed dog
yong rowan had a plastic wagon that captured my boy's attention
my boys showed their excitement
the dogs showed their excitement
I slowed all feet and paws for concentration while crossing our heavily trafficked street
dave was over to drop off a give for lisa's birthday
after the exchange we went down the sidewalk and looped around to the back alley
the two older boys played leaving out my younger son
it was sad to see
as a younger brother I lived this experience many times over
yet there is no real way to interven
sometimes you need to stand back and let things take their course
dave and his son rowan came in
there was a quick loop through the club house
a few slips down the slide
then into the house for close examination of the toys
and some dinner
the unplanned visit can be such a nice visit
as the boys played dave and I talked about bikes
we talked about commutes and the absence of training
we talked of the demands of parenting cutting into the time for riding
we talked of approaching races and rides of the weekend past
it was good for the boys to get together
they played well together
shortly after dinner I got back on the bike and went back to work
lisa handled the rest of the evening
the debate about bedtime and all that goes with it
tuck away what you just read
wanted to go to the party
not just for the beer and the crabs
but to gather with friends to celebrate a friend's birthday
well... adulthood shuffled the schedule
had to go into work tonight
but.... did not have to go into work until after I got home
rode the fixed gear for a little over an hour
the low gear spin is good for the multi-use bike paths
too slow to get mixed up in any tailgate racing
more about my evening...
spun it downhill with the wind at my back out past the airport along side the potomac river
then turned it around at the start of the boardwalk leading into alexandria
the way back was slow with the wind at my face
was fooled into thinking my flow was my being fast and fit
while all along it was the grade of the path and the power of the wind
managed to get home in time for some family time
the boys wanted to hike with me and the dogs
so we hiked in rock creek park while lisa cooked
good timing
good balance
dean was frustrated with the rocks that kept sneaking into his keen sandals
grant was amped at some of his new found agility on the trails
he was clearing some larger logs with a little grab and a lift
it was great to watch him hike and climb over the large fallen trees
the satisfaction and reward in his face was even more of a site than the motion itself
as he repeated the "problem"
going each way over a large fallen tree
throwing his leg over... than pulling his body over
we hiked some more
dean wanted to go home
grant wanted to hike further
I alternated at forks in the path for who got to choose
I reminded dean that we had to be in the woods long enough for the dogs to both go to the bathroom
we hiked further
never too far from home
grant grew tired... we had not hiked long or far
grant is two with a little cold
so I carried him at his request
when he told me not to turn around, we argued
I told him that we could hike
but not if i had to carry him
he asked to be put down
he lead the way further into the woods
again... not far... as his legs are not so long
dean was reluctant
but I was able to bargain to the next fork in the trail
so we hiked further
dean raced ahead with a borrowed toy sword
while grant meandered at more of a toddler's pace
in the distance I could hear dean screaming
he was dictating our next move
he was telling us that we would turn around at one very large oak tree
it seemed reasonable
it was a fork
it was his turn to choose
and well... even if we started to head back there may be some more distractions keeping the boys out
keeping the dogs out
so we meandered
the dogs not far out of sight wandering off leash
never encountering another hiker or dog
always within view of the commuter traffic on the road and houses in the nieghborhood
not sure if the distance of our walk constitutes a hike
but it is in the woods so I call it such
upon our arrival to the end of the path across the street from our house I saw dave and his older son with their dog and a borrowed dog
yong rowan had a plastic wagon that captured my boy's attention
my boys showed their excitement
the dogs showed their excitement
I slowed all feet and paws for concentration while crossing our heavily trafficked street
dave was over to drop off a give for lisa's birthday
after the exchange we went down the sidewalk and looped around to the back alley
the two older boys played leaving out my younger son
it was sad to see
as a younger brother I lived this experience many times over
yet there is no real way to interven
sometimes you need to stand back and let things take their course
dave and his son rowan came in
there was a quick loop through the club house
a few slips down the slide
then into the house for close examination of the toys
and some dinner
the unplanned visit can be such a nice visit
as the boys played dave and I talked about bikes
we talked about commutes and the absence of training
we talked of the demands of parenting cutting into the time for riding
we talked of approaching races and rides of the weekend past
it was good for the boys to get together
they played well together
shortly after dinner I got back on the bike and went back to work
lisa handled the rest of the evening
the debate about bedtime and all that goes with it
tuck away what you just read