Weekend Fun

This is how my weekend started - sweaty but feeling great! 

The weather was overcast and looking like the rain was going to cut loose at any moment.  I decided to switch from a treadmill run to the great outdoors to enjoy a tranquil rain soaked run.

Only it didn't rain.  I dealt with the "just about to rain" humidity for 4.3 miles (50 minutes).  Not a bad pace for the heat, especially considering my first lap was done at a 10 minute mile pace!  I slowed considerably after that but I was thrilled just to maintained that pace for over a mile.

As with all good workouts, my blood sugar crashed when I wasn't able to eat within an hour of finishing my work out.  (Note to self: never, ever go to the grocery store after a run again.) With Pubsgal's help I got it back on track and finished my evening watching a movie with the mutant.

Saturday I met my mom & dad to go bike riding while Jay went to an auction.  "It'll go for a song." He promised.  I wanted to ask if he was pulling the song book out of his rear, but smiled sweetly and told him that I trusted him.

*Snicker*  You totally bought that right?  Okay so more accurately I heavily stressed how badly I did NOT want to spend any more of our savings on stoopid investment properties.

About 3 miles into the bike ride Jay called me to say that he hadn't bought anything.  He'd been the winning bidder on a lot, then someone came behind at the end and regrouped the lots - taking all of them.  Oh darn. 

When I reached mile 5 of the trail (and the turn around point) I decided that I'd meet back up with my parents and keep with their pace.  Two miles of backtracking and I finally found them - my mom was at the top of the hill trying to work up the courage to ride down. 

I'm not talking a molly-whopper here.  Just a modest little hill that could be ridden up without touching your gears.  The thing is she wrecks practically every time she gets on a bike, so naturally she's afraid.  And that fear causes her more accidents.

I stayed with them for another 4 miles but the slow pace was painful so once again I went ahead.  One of the houses on the main path was having a yard sale, so I stopped in and had a look around. My parents appeared on the path right about the time I was mounting back up.

Jay met up with us at the vehicles and my mom passed off her bike so she could rest while we got a few more miles in.  I wish I had pictures from Saturday, but Jay forgot his camera.  Bad mutant!!

Sunday we took my Papaw to Clingman's Dome. He's been on Mamaw watch ever since she had her foot surgery.  She's not comfortable getting around in her wheel chair, so for the most part they stay home all the time.  My Papaw was getting a little stir crazy so my mom relieved him for the afternoon and we took him to the mountains.

The weather cooled considerably this weekend, and being a 3 day holiday weekend the national park was crowded.  I'm not sure if I've ever seen it that busy.

The walk up to the dome is just a half mile, but the elevation change is so steep that there are benched every tenth of a mile for people to stop and rest at.  Its a paved path, so its one that people who wouldn't consider themselves hikers give a try.

The views from the top are spectacular.  There are photos at each section, showing which mountain ranges are in what direction.  Sunday was such a clear day, there were ranges in the distance that weren't even listed on those photos!

Of course my photobug husband wanted to take full advantage of this rare opportunity, so Papaw and I pulled up a rock on the way down to wait on Jay to take pictures.

I'm so glad that Jay and I got the privilege to spend the day with him.  I'm not sure very many 75 year olds would have been able to make the trek up.  I wanna be like him when I get old!!