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The Weekly Newsletter |
Menus and Stories for April 27 - May 1, 2009
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| In Florida!! |
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I write to you on Friday, April 24. We've been in Florida for a couple of days. Earlier today we entered the Eastern time zone. Tomorrow we ride a short ride, have a day off, and then ride for just four more days. Yes, we finish this ride next Thursday.
Unbelievable.
(I've been saying "unbelievable" since before this ride started. It was then and it continues to be still. Unbelievable.)
But it is real. I really have done it. Yes, I missed nine miles when I crashed my bike. And I missed some miles when there was a tornado warning. But other than that I have ridden my bicycle across the entire United States.
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Sunset on Dauphin Island |
Dauphin Island is in Alabama, as you probably know. It's a beautiful spot, the first landfall that migratory birds reach after their long journey north from South America. People travel there to see birds. Or, like we just did, to ride their bikes.
It's a perfect sized spot. Easy to ride from one end to the other. Easy to run into people you've already seen once before and easy to be friends, just like that. I liked it. Could go back. Probably will.
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| Riding to eat! |
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Yes, it has been lots of fun to ride hard and eat everything and anything at any time. These shrimp, steamed perfectly, were the very best possible lunch right after the bridge onto Dauphin Island.
Go someplace. Eat the food. Meet the people. Nice. It's a nice thing to do.
(Oh, if you're reading this and you're from someplace else, do come to Asheville and come to our shop and eat some food and meet us. I think we have nice people. I think you'll agree.) |
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Dinners to go for this week |
| Dinners come with a freshly-made green salad, salad dressing of the day, and made-right here bread of the day. We take reservations until noon or so. Please order by phone (252-1500), by fax (252-0200) or stop in to speak to one of us in person.
Dinners are ready to pick up between 4:30 and 6:00.
Monday April 27 Spinach-Ricotta Stuffed Chicken w/Artichoke Fritters 10.50
Tuesday April 28 Lemony Bay Scallops w/Orange Pecan Wild Rice 12.75
Wednesday April 29 Sesame Beef & Snow Peas 11.25
Thursday April 30 Chevre & Vidalia Onion Roasted Chicken 10.75
Friday May 1 Roasted Trout with Pecan Brown Butter Sauce 13.25
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Our website |
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| Special casserole of the week |
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We make a special casserole each Wednesday.
Give us a call on Tuesday before we close and we'll fix you up.
Order a half if you have around 4 folks, or, if you have a bigger group,
Or just like leftovers, order a full sized one.
Then come pick up between 4:30 and 6:00 on Wednesday.
This week's special casserole is for April 29
Shrimp & Scallops Provencal w/Fettuccine
Full 45.25/Half 22.75
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A clean cassette |
I have learned to care for my lovely bike. I clean it regularly, thoroughly at least once a week, cursorily on a daily basis. And actually, I have taken to giving it a thorough cleaning on a more regular basis. It is so satisfying to get into the middle of it, to scrub it, polish off all the grit. I check the tires, the gears, the cables, the calibration of everything, making sure nothing is rubbing or out of line.
I will miss this part of this adventure. This new routine. I ride, these days, and think about being back in my office, back in my house, back in the shop, back in my life. It is quite a distance - this to that. Much more than a bike ride.
But there are other things to trim, adjust, clean, calibrate. It will be good to be back in my house, back at my desk, back in our kitchen, back in the shop, back in that part of my life. There are many things I miss. You, most importantly. |
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| And eat... |
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Today we rode into Quincy, Florida. Our ride cue sheet suggested we detour into town for "good restaurants." Well, there were two restaurants, right next to each other. Miss Helen's was the healthy one. Miss Helen, herself, stood outside, beckoning us in. Her cafe had coffee drinks and light salads and art and looked quite lovely. Some of us went right in.
Next door was "Divine Grace." It was filled with people, plates loaded with this kind of food: fried chicken, grits, macaroni and cheese, collards, yams. I chose that place.
Oh. My.
GO to Quincy. GO to Divine Grace.
Trust me on this one. |
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Riding, riding, riding |
I had a REALLY fun experience in Pensacola. The Asheville Citizen Times got a reporter there to interview me for a story that will be in the paper tomorrow - (Sunday, April 26). And they got a photographer to find me on the route and take pictures. FUN!!!!
So the photographer, after finding me and my friends, roared around, in and out of the streets, next to me, in front of me, behind me, snapping, snapping, snapping. The pictures are GREAT. There's one of my leg that looks oh so buff! Amazing what 2500 miles of riding will do for a girl.
The pictures are already on line (go to Asheville Citizen-Times and look for "featured photo galleries" and scroll around to find the one about the "cycling for cancer" group). The story will show up soon. |
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| A Note from Laurey |
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Too early for conclusions. Too early to know how it will all play out. Too early. And yet, it's not early at all. I have spent a whole lot of every day thinking, summarizing, putting the day into lesson form, holding tight, wanting to keep the lessons firmly in my mind. As time goes by, once I get home, I'll see how it all filters down.
Here are a few things I know so far:
1. Try something hard. It's good to know you can accomplish such a big thing.
2. Have a reason for doing it. That way, when you waver, the reason can keep you going.
3. Wave and smile at strangers.
4. Learn how to take care of your stuff.
5. Help someone else as often as possible.
6. Don't worry. Things are going to happen. When they do, deal with them. End of story.
7. Having said that, get information and be prepared.
8. Always carry a peanut butter and raisin sandwich, just in case.
9. But - eat the local food. Always.
10. Smile. A lot.
11. Be kind.
12. Keep going even when you're exhausted. You probably can.
13. If you crash, get up and keep going. It's easier sooner than it will be later.
14. Don't Postpone Joy!
I'll write from St. Augustine next week. And then I'll be home. Come see me in the shop. Brunch on Sunday. During the week - most mornings. I might not make it a whole day at first. I am not used to being still, but I'll try to get back into the swing soon. And my birthday is on May 14th and we're having a party at night. Come by and say hello. 7 pm. Dance. Celebrate. Okay?
(I do not need or want anything other than to reach my goal of $50,000.00 for ovarian cancer. If you would like to be a part of that goal of mine, write a check to "Jubilee" and put "Laurey Bikes" in the memo line. Then drop the check off at the shop or mail it to Jubilee. 46 Wall Street. Asheville. NC. 28801.)
Thank you so much. See you soon.
Love,
Laurey
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Laurey Bikes - the blog |
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Lest we forget |
This ride, fun as it has been, is about ovarian cancer awareness. I hope that it has made and will continue to make a difference. When I get home I'll be speaking about it to groups here and there, near and far.
Early detection is the key. It's a life saver.
(These ARE my toes, painted for a woman I met, a 3 year ovarian cancer survivor. The flip flops are some I snagged from a woman I met on Dauphin Island.)
Teal is the official ovarian cancer color. And no - my toes are usually not painted.
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Ovarian Cancer National Alliance |
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