with cherries on top

For appetizer, a savory 288-mile fastpack of the BMT, followed by the main entrée, a 762-mile bike tour through the Appalachians… How about dessert?

I’ve been told: don’t sign on as a teacher for the summer vacations. Sound advice. That eye in the middle of a yearlong storm of paperwork and struggle will blink and be gone.

But per chance one happens to be engaged in this meaningful vocation (for other reasons, of course!), this person may, for a few solstitial weeks, relive some long-lost freedom and adventure that these days is all-to-often deprived of industrialized adult Homo sapiens.

Over the years, a few of us have developed what some career-minded people may consider to be an unreasonable appetite for such wild things. And it’s likely no surprise that I’m one of these fools.

Rationalization aside, here’s what’s on the remainder of the menu for my summertime feast of follies:

>>> (selfishly suspend carbon diet) >>> 7/2 8AM USAir to Denver >>> road trip to Silverton >>> bag some peaks en route >>> pace Mohammed at Hardrock >>> document the trip as best as possible >>> return flight to NC on 7/13 >>> (resume carbon diet) >>>

Thanks to Mo for the inspiration and opportunity. Congrats to Scott and the other finishers at Saturday’s WS100. More locally, cheers to Will for a stellar SCAR for good cause.