Thanks DOT!

The agenda yesterday was to take a good long bicycle ride-- 25 miles through Searsport and Swanville and back to Belfast.  This is how Mt. Ephraim road appeared when we turned onto it-- freshly laid blacktop as smooth as a baby's butt.  We took advantage of one of the very few nice days weather wise-- everything was just as it should be.

Although I had told Wayne twice that we planned to take a ride on Friday morning, he turned up as usual about nine, inquiring if I were busy.  Since I was already in spandex, the answer was easy.  I told him we would be back after lunch but that didn't seem to please him and he said he would take a cab.  Just as we were about to drive off with the bikes, however, he reappeared and allowed as how he would wait for us.  Knowing I had my knitting group at two, we hastened on our way.  

Upon my return I took him to the bank (the third time this week), the hardware store and, as always, Jack's Grocery.  I was feeling exhausted from the bike ride (I took my blood pressure pill the night before and probably shouldn't have done because it makes me feel weak and woozy when I exercise), so I let him buy me a cup of coffee.  He always wants to do so because it feels like some recompense for my being his personal driver but I usually don't get it in the afternoon.

Rushing to drop him off and drive back to my knitting group, I found that Liz and Rick were on their way over with a bunch of shrubs they had pulled out and wanted us to plant.  So I gave up on the knitting and we all worked together to get the things back into the ground.  In the process I cleaned out the ditch where I had been throwing weeds and plant refuse-- something I have been planning to do for days.

In the evening we went to the wine tasting and there met a man named Skip who has recently moved to Belfast.  He has lived for years in Vienna and maintains an apartment there.  He is an avid cyclist and was full of interesting information about trips he has taken-- highly recommended that John and I go self-supported along the Danube and told us where to get the necessary guidebook and maps.  Also, although he prefers riding by himself or with a friend, he went on a bicycle trip through the Croatian islands where they spent the nights on a sailing ship and cycled on islands each day.  He thought it was a great trip.