October Sand

I spent last week on the beaches of the Outer Banks in NC, where the surfing conditions were unseasonably bad (no weather systems to stir things up) but the weather was awesome. My dad and I also tried out some beginner's hang gliding on Jockey's Ridge, which was interesting but also frustrating (it was really too windy for a beginner's lesson). And Marty is a dog who pretty much refuses to get into the water at all - she just laid on the beach for most of the week. I think she still had a good time though.

One piece of unsettling news - the Weeping Radish Brewery and Restaurant has moved from its sound-side location in Manteo to a mainland location along Route 158, in Jarvisburg. Dumb move - please explain the brilliant business plan that advocates relocating to an area the most people simply drive past? I wish them luck, if only because their beer is so tasty and the Eco Farm idea sounds interesting, but I just don't know whether I'll ever visit them at the new location.

Busy Weekend

• Out for Cal's birthday Friday night. Franklins on Route 1 in Hyattsville, very good beers but the decor was too cheerful, in my opinion.
  
• Shopping for patio stone, movie Saturday (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, I thought it was great, lots of fun)
• 7-mile race early Sunday morning. I was pretty happy with my results, 1:01:57 for a pace of 8:51 (don't ask me why the pace they have on the results page is the gun time pace, the net time pace is what really counts). Not bad for me, especially considering how miserable it was that morning (heat, humidity), and that I didn't exactly have the luckiest bib number - 666. On the other hand, it was a very flat course. I'd sure like to move up in my division though, 27/47 is OK but not great.
• Six Flags America trip w/Jenny, Tammie, Liz, and Jarriel the rest of Sunday. A good time, we hit all the major coasters very quickly; because of how hot and humid it was, we suspected that everyone was at the water park. Later, we visited said water park and it was pretty damn crowded (we didn't stay long). Their Batwing coaster featured a car design that I hadn't seen before, where you're sitting, but completely horizontal with the track. When the cars invert below the track, you're basically hanging from the various restraints. It's a freaky feeling that wasn't all that comfortable at first, but I got used to it after 30 seconds or so. Neat idea, but why isn't it a Superman themed ride? Because it looks and feels like Superman flying more than anything Batman-related.