Racecars, Passions and Memories

Passions first.  As it should be.  Passion #1.  Turk's.  Wine.  Flag Hill Winery.  Jim and Peg stopped here (about 5 miles from Opa and Peg's house) on the way to get Opa from the hospital today (Don't tell Opa - they were about 20 minutes late.)    The Turk might be enjoying a few bottles when Jim gets home Sunday.  Driving by here gave Jim the idea for the days bike ride.

The vines and grapes.

Not only a winery, a distillery.  General Stark Vodka is produced here from apples and potatoes.    Interestingly Opa and Peg recently returned from a trip and Russia and learned that the best Russian Vodka is made with wheat, the everyday stuff from potatos (potatoes?)

Less than 24 hours post-op Opa gets wheeled out of the hospital.  Look how happy a man with a bladder catheter is.  He can sit in front of sports all day, drink beer and never miss a second wasting time going to the restroom.  We suspect they might have trouble talking Opa out of his catheter in a week.

Passion No. 2.  Jim's.  Coffee.  The Piscataqua Coffee Roasting Company is less than 1/2 mile down the road from the start of today's ride.   Tempting to stop for a shot of expresso, but too early.  Shoulda done it as the ride ended at 5:15 and the coffee shop closed at 5:00 >-:

Race Cars.  This section dedicated to our friend Doug Foxworth.  Doug raced here (or at the Lee Motor Speedway about 5 miles away) in his teens (Ehem 30 years ago) and won a national championship.  You don't have to ask Doug about this he's not modest.  He'll tell you.

New England Dragway.  Doug ran his Top Fuel Dragster down this track a few times after leaving Go-Carts.  Doug is one of those lucky few of us who get to live their dreams.  He still works on a Top Fuel Dragster as the clutch man to this day!!

Phillips Exeter Academy.  Top prep school in the U.S.  Heading back north towards Dover again.

Great Bay Bridge - Route 16 - main North South route from Portsmouth (ie coastal) NH to upstate.  Dover is the next town on the road!

Newicks Seafood restaurant - current Slauson favorite.  Yesterday's (and 2 days ago!) meals were there.  Chowdah and Lobstah.

Eliot Rose Greenhouses, no longer inservice.  About 1.5 miles from the house Jim grew up in.  Jim's first job was here 30 years ago.  $1.75/hr minimum wage?  These green houses were in Dover.  In Madbury (on the way to Durham) there were more green houses which were even longer - the largest Rose growing greenhouses in the world.

Tuttles farm.  The country's oldest working farm held by the same family. 

The Weathervane seafood restaurant, number 2 favorite place to eat in town and on the ride.  1/2 mile from the house in Dover where Jim "grew up" (kinda)

9 Woodland Road.  Where Opa and Bandy (Bandy passed away over 10 years ago) lived with Jim while Jim was in High School.  The BBall Hoop that Opa built still stands in the drive (going on 30 years now!)

 

Dover High School (Jim's alma mater.)  Less than a mile from Opa and Peg's house, near the end of the ride.

Today's Ride - Highlighted in Yellow on the Garmin Edge 305 download.   Counter-clockwise loop starting in Dover dropping down towards Route 101 (the race tracks are near 101 on 125 and 27.)  They back from Exeter by Durham to Dover.  Once back to Dover a 10 mile loop thru many old haunts.  

It is interesting how your recollections and perceptions change as you age.  It seems to take as long to ride the bike now as it seemed to drive these venues in the past.  The "hills" of yesterday seemed so big.  Now they are simply small ripples in the road.  

Just so you don't think Jim is goofing off during Opa's time of trouble.  Well while riding he is catching up on medical lectures and estimates that he will complete 60 hours of continuing medical education during the week!  Oh, and eat enough seafood for the Turk and Will since they aren't here...

Opa is doing fantastic.  Modern medicine is amazing.  Opa had his prostate removed and left the hospital less then 24 hours later.   Robotically assisted laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery.   20 years ago he would have had a 2 foot incision, been hospitalized for a week then been barely moving for 3 more weeks.  Opa isn't even needing any pain medications!!!