SUP for Cross Training

Running, Biking, Swimming -- all I needed was another sport. That's why today, after much deliberation, I finally broke down and bought a SUP.

Ok, what's a SUP, some may say. Well, it's the newest multi-water recreation.  It's a Stand up paddle board and it's a lot better than surfing. Why, because you don't have to wait for the wind and you can use it in any body of water, even a pool.

A Brick and a Broken Window

It all started with a gentle tap tap tap on my door.  It was a Metropolitan DC police officer.  Wierd. Am I in trouble?  I had been home all day, innocently typing away on my computer.  What could be the matter?

"Is that your car out back?" he pointed to my forlorn Subaru Baja parked out listlessly on the street, directly in front of my house.

Don't Know Much About History of the Gullahs

"People come and go.  Some Cultures even go through change.  But language must never be lost, or else we'll lose our identity and our will to live."

Life can be exciting at times, especially when you're open to explore it.  I was literally just in the area meeting with the inspector for 2356 Green Street, SE, a house with a splendid, panoramic view of the Capitol, USS Barry and the expanding development across the Federal gateway.

The inspection went fine, so I decided to kill some time in the local area -- it had been a long while since I visited the Anacostia Museum -- had no idea, what was on display...why not?  Sometimes surprise can be exciting.

As soon as I walked in, the museum staff informed me of a program that was just starting called "The Roots of Gullah".  Attending high school in coastal Georgia and being stationed aboard USS O'Bannon (DD-987) in Charleston, South Carolina, I had definitely heard of the Gullah people before.  The problem was, the topic never really interested me much -- it was something I overlooked or just took for granted.

Family Reunion of a First Kind

"Sometimes life brings you pleasant surprises -- it's not scripted or orchestrated, but just right. Life can be charming, like that, if you let it."

It was a family reunion -- one that has never happened at this scale before.

True, I spent nearly 10 days with Rio at the Chiswick flat.  During this time, I was also able to spend some quality time with Luke and meet his father, Derek who inspired me with his abstract paintings.

I was also able to go running with Luke a couple of times (take great satisfaction in his tremendous progress) as well as Chris (we ran down to Richmond together).  In fact London has been a great running city and what I personally dub "the fittest city in Europe".

It was ideal that Luke worked at Apple, since he was able to hook me up with an appointment at the Genius Bar in Westfield Shopping Center.  I had an issue with iMovie, and Apple gave me a free upgrade. (Note: It's amazing that Kim, Kae, Rio, Luke and Chris all use Macs -- I've never seen so many exclusive Mac lovers in my life)

A Bike in a Bag

When I arrived in London and boarded its renowned Tube train, I noticed something different right away. No it wasn't the faces or the accents -- I already was expecting that.

The Difference

There were no bikes.  No regular bikes at least, just foldable ones.  The ones that could almost fit in a gym bag and slide underneath your seat. Come to find out only foldable bikes were allowed in the Tube, rush hour or not.  I could see why the trains were compact and very crowded, even before rush hour.  I finally understood the meaning of a poor, helpless sardine packed in a crushed tin box.



Interesting Features

The bike was interesting. Not only were they compact, providing for flexibility in transportation, but they were virtually thief proof.  It seemed too good to be true.  How come I hadn't really seen them in DC.  Oh yeah, we are the land of the Big and Bountiful while London was tight and tiny.  Still, I had to check one out for myself.  Yeah, it folds, but how does it ride and most importantly of all, how silly do I look on it?

Critical Mass for Fun, but Please Abide by the RULES

Today, I joined Critical Mass in their monthly rides through the heart of DC. 

It wasn't planned. I didn't even know the group existed.

It was just a matter of being at the right place at the right time, I guess.

I had just taken my Specialized Tri bike out for a spin at Haines Point.  It was exhilarating, but I wanted more.

Actually I had a deep yearning to take my new Dahon Mu P8 for a spin around the mall.  It wasn't fast, it wasn't sleek.  It even wasn't sexy.  But it was cool, compact and precisely just me.  As soon as I parked and assembled my bike, I could hear heavy and jovial screaming coming from down the street.