Family Vacation

I flew back East for a week to spend time with family. As always, it was great to see everyone. My sister and parents rented houses in Little Compton, RI. I don't mean to diss the place, but it was like being on a deserted island. Talk about getting away from it all. There was not a lot to do other than hang out with family (which was great) and go to the beach. The weather, if you can believe it, was windy and foggy. Not exactly beach weather. It almost felt as if I had not left the Bay area except for the heat, humidity and insects. The Mosquitoes were vicious. We spent most evenings sequestered in the living room of the rental house on synthetic fiber couches with the lights out to keep the mossies at bay. Navigation around the house was done by light emitted from our cell phones.

The worst thing about the place was that there was no Internet connection; not that anyone even thought to bring their laptop; and, while there was cable, there was no Versus = no TDF coverage. As a result, the highlight of every day was the trip to town (and I use that word liberally as the "town" consists of about three buildings) for the NYT and a latte which tasted a whole lot better than the drip coffee we brewed at the house.

We cooked out a number of nights. The highlight by far and away was the fresh, off-the-boat blue fin tuna my brother-in-law caught. There is nothing like fresh sushi! The problem with eating lots of raw fish is that you get an amazing protein high. Note to self: try eating massive quantities of sushi sometime as a pre-race meal. Pasta is overrated.

My sisters' kids were exhausting but fun. I don't know how my sisters do it. Honestly. Hats off to all parents out there, especially those who cycle. Talk about an energy drain. I was completely shattered at the end of every day and could not wait to sit down with a glass of wine and put my feet up.

The week started slow and then suddenly it was over. We ate dinner out at a local seafood joint my last night. You can't get jumbo shrimp on the West Coast like the ones back East. They were plump and succulent. Topped off with a giant Margarita, which my two year old niece dipped her hands in twice, it was the perfect end to our family holiday.