A Mostly Good Day

Only half a day of work and then I was off for the bike race. But first, lunch with my mom. Along the way we bumped into old friends that I haven't seen in almost two years who we then discovered again at the same restaurant as we were leaving. Too bad we didn't know or their plans or they could have joined us.

We got to our spot along the race route just as the first lap went by. Sorry the picture isn't better but it was taken with my phone. I always take my radio so I know what's going on the rest of the course. As the announcers switched from location to location I was pleased to hear plenty of cheering in the background. Hopefully there was enough support that the organizers will extend the commitment and keep the event in Reading. If so next year I'll either be on the steep hill or at the start/finish line.

Though I spent the day in the shade and the sun played peek-a-boo with the clouds I still managed to turn a nice shade of pink. Ah the hazards of being extremely pale with an aversion to heat.

After the race I was pleasantly surprised by a visit from a different old friend. This one is someone I've seen recently and who has been going through some tough times. I've been a tad concerned so I was very glad to hear things are back on track. A different track than before but one that seems to be much better for him. Seeing him relaxed and smiling has me doing the same.

Now for the part that detracted from my day. My Penguins season ended last night. They were thiiiiis close to scoring in the final seconds of the game which would have forced overtime but Dakota's Red Wings prevailed. Congrats D. We'll get you next year. Actually, I blame J for jinxing them during the first game of the series. He's the Flyers fan I mentioned before and I don't think he handled their loss to my Pens at all well. I think he figures if his team didn't get to win mine shouldn't either. Sorry for stirring him up, L but I know he's gloating. Thought I better remind him who just knocked his team out!

Back to the good stuff...I'm off tomorrow too so my weekend is already underway. Hope yours arrives soon.

On your Mark...

Reading has a problem retaining city managers. Ever since the first they all to run for the hills before a year passes. This trend makes it unlikely that they will accomplish much of anything useful. However there was one exception. Nope, sorry, don't even know the guy's name from two years ago, don't know any of them, but he did bring something pretty cool to the area.

In cycling there's a Pennsylvania event now called the Commerce Bank Triple Crown. It's a three-day event that attracts international participants. Think Tour de France on a very small scale. The first leg is today, in Allentown. The second, Thursday, in Reading. The third, Saturday, in Philadelphia.

Originally Reading was signed up to host the second leg for three years. This is the third and I really hope out current city manager arranges to extend that commitment because it's so weirdly fascinating I'd hate for it not to be here.

For those of you who don't know anything about the area, Reading is nestled in a valley. Everywhere you go is uphill. The course winds around the downtown streets for seven laps and then for the last three they through in a loop that takes the cyclists up Duryea Drive, also the locale of the Duryea Hillclimb, a car event that is professed to be "the most diverse and challenging hill in the Northeast". Okay, now imagine that on a bike instead of in a car after you've already ridden 50 miles in 85 degree heat. And then 60 miles. And 70 miles.

My spot to watch the race is all of four blocks from home, at the Spring Street subway. Here, they come zooming down a hill at speeds up to 50 mph and then make a sharper than right angle turn. All 200 of the cyclists at once. Believe it or not, these guys do so without crashing! It's damn amazing to see. Picture a cartoon swarm of bees suddenly all changing directions at once. Yeah, it's like that.

What's also cool is watching the chase cars zipping along after them, just as fast, all in a bunch, each painted in the team colors. When a rider breaks down, the guys from the car hop out and have him fixed and back on his way in mere seconds.

I have no idea who any of the riders are. I cheer for them all. I take my radio, my folding chair, and some water and hang out, waiting for them to fly down the hill straight at me since I sit right on the corner where they turn and I love every minute of it. It's one of the few moments that people in Reading come out of their homes to stand around on street corners together and watch something good that's happening in the city.

More Thursday after the race.

Stanley Cup update - It took three overtimes but my Penguins did it. Back to Pittsburgh for game 6 Wednesday night.