My Magical Place: Weekly Wrap

I can't wait to fill you in on my amazing week in Orlando!  It was everything I was hoping it would be and more.  I flew down on Saturday at 6 AM (yikes, 3:45 AM wake-up call!) and checked into the Orlando World Center Marriott.  The work conference I was attending was held at this hotel, and when I discovered it was less than a mile from Disney World, I was ecstatic!  The hotel itself did not disappoint.  A wonderful hotel employee scored me a free upgrade to a pool-view room, and when I got upstairs, I was amazed by my view.

Check out that water slide!

New England Escapades: Cape Cod Edition

While my friend Amy was visiting from Chicago, in addition to crossing our first finish line together, hand in hand, we had some incredible New England adventures!  I am convinced that Amy is meant to live in Boston with me, and hopefully last weekend convinced her of that truth as well!

We spent Thursday afternoon relaxing with drinks by the pool, and resting up for the adventure that we knew was in store!  It reminded me how AMAZING it is to leave work just a few hours early, and that I need to do this much more often! 

Why can't I have poolside happy hour EVERY day??

 On Thursday night, we headed to Marina Bay in Quincy for dinner on the boardwalk.  Luckily, the impending storm held out long enough for a dinner on the waterfront and a walk along Squantum Point Park.

Gotta love living so close to this!

On Friday morning, we drove to the Long Wharf in downtown Boston to catch the fast ferry to Provincetown on the Cape.  It was rainy and cold - not exactly the ideal beach day, so we were getting nervous!  When a car sped through a puddle and soaked both Amy and I with a tidal wave splash, it sort of topped off the morning!  Luckily, as soon as we neared P-Town, the sun came out and the first hints of blue skies appeared!  

Can't beat Cape living!

We had a fun morning exploring the Commercial Street shops as it got warmer and sunnier - the perfect Cape day!  I absolutely loved all of the unique Cape shops, and walking along the bustling streets lined with beautiful flowering bushes and Cape houses in every shade of pastel imaginable.  What an amazing getaway!  We discovered a unique used book store, where I purchased a new beach read (which I managed to finish that very weekend!) 

Yes, it was as cool as it looks!

After lunch, we decided to rent bikes and explore the trails along the National Seashore.  What an adventure!  We essentially had the path to ourselves as we explored miles of the Beech Forest trails, winding through lush foliage and glistening ponds.  As we began the climb through the dunes to Race Point and the beach, the trail became very hilly, so I was excited when we got our first glimpse of ocean!

Totally exhausted in this photo!

We had a much-needed rest on the beach, which was also surprisingly empty, enjoying the sound of waves crashing upon the shore and soaking up the summer sun.  It was like paradise!

No one I'd rather be there with!

After riding back to the bike shop, we were exhausted.  A stroll along the ocean and some more shopping were definitely in order!  Tough day...

Back on the southern coast of P-Town!

For dinner, we found an amazing hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant on an oceanfront pier, where we were given a table overlooking the open kitchen with a water view.  I loved that as several older couples entered the restaurant, they knew the hostess by name, and the waitress and chef knew just how they liked their meal cooked.  We had found a real "locals" spot!  

Pre-race carb loading at its very best!

While waiting for the return ferry, we read on the pier, and watched the sun set over Provincetown - the perfect end to the perfect day!  It was felt good just to sit and relax, after our day of adventures in the sun!  

I love New England SO much!

After such a rainy and dreary start, I felt so lucky to have had a beautiful, sunny day of exploration in P-Town with a special friend to share it with! 

 

It really doesn't get any better!

Saturday Morning Adventure

On Saturday morning, I had the brilliant idea to break out my bike for the first time in over a year. Don't ask me why a 92-degree morning seemed like the most opportune time for this adventure... logic was not a part of this decision! My tires were a bit squishy (some might have considered them flat) so I set out walking my bike down the road to the gas station next door for a quick air refill.

Unfortunately, when I arrived, I found the air machine to be out of order. (Well, someone had written "this machine sucks" with a Sharpie on a piece of duct tape, and after inserting my four quarters, I found out for myself why the machine did, in fact, "suck"!) So, I had the pleasure of riding my bike with the ever-flattening tires down to the gas station about a mile away, praying all the while that a) I would make it without popping a tire or bending a rim, and b) that the next gas station's air machine didn't "suck" quite as much as the first! I should have considered this start to my adventure to be a sign... but I was determined to make my adventure a success!


Luckily, after a bit of a harrowing start to my ride, I was able to pump up my tires, and set out for the beach! I had sort of forgotten to map out how long the ride would be, so I set out hoping for the best! (Later, I found out that my adventure was over 10 miles! Not far, I realize, but far for my not-used-to-bicycling legs!) I was psyched when I saw my first glimpses of ocean!

Love the sun glistening over the water!

It was absolutely beautiful, breezy and sunny down by the ocean. The path along the beach was full of early morning runners and bike riders, each enjoying their own personal Saturday morning adventures. I rode to the end of the beach (I'll admit it, not because I intended to, but because I forgot to bring a water bottle, so I decided to ride to the beach's water fountain!).

See, my bike and I really did make it down here!

The ride back was a little less easy-breezy than my ride to the beach - I think I discovered my comfortable limit somewhere around 9 miles or so... I remembered the true meaning of "saddle sore" right around mile 8, and then discovered an aching muscle just above my knee, that I never knew existed in all my miles of running. Ahh the wonders of cross-training!

Reason #1 why I love my apartment!

And then, because I felt like I earned it, I spent most of the rest of the day reading a book by the pool. Followed by a drive across town to my friend's house to... wait for it... lay by her pool with a drink! It was a really tough day!

Usually I spend my weekends either doing homework for grad school, or catching up on "work" work, or doing the usual combination of cleaning, bill paying, and grocery shopping - all totally necessary things and part of being a "grown-up" as I learned with dismay after graduating college. But sometimes, it is really nice just to spend a whole day doing things that I want to do. I can't wait for the next Saturday morning adventure to come!

How do you spend your time when you have a chance to do things that you truly want to do?