Sights & Sounds of Buena Vista

It doesn't feel like a Friday.  It does feel like a vacation day though.  To tell the truth - we feel like we have gone back in time to a place where there are little worries and a simplier way of life.  Or, for you Seinfeld fans, we could make a TV series about Buena Vista and it would be a story about nothing.  Went to the grocery story today.  What happened? Nothing - no lines, no hassles.  Went to the park to relax.  What happened? Nothing - there were birds, and people and kids playing in the lake, all was as it should be.  Went to Mother's Restaurant for lunch.  What happened? Nothing - our food was good, reasonable, the wait staff friendly, and we were full.  Everyone here seems to have a dog that is friendly and likes to be outside.  Zero, zip, nada, nothing.....

Pretty amazing that you can easily forget being from a big city what it is like to disconnect from it all.  Sure we still have cell phones and email, but not really checking them.  How could you when it was 57 when we woke up, no humidity, and was mid 70s all day and sunny.  Oh, it felt so good to be away from Charlotte.  Too many other "nothing" activities for us to take in.  We ate breakfast as the Super 8 - a nice spread, then went for our second run of our short stay here.  On Thursday we stretched our legs for 3 miles in the late afternoon by running along a flat section next to the Arkansas River and found there is a larger trail system there, so we went back this morning to do a few miles on those.

OMG!

Within the first 1/2 mile we found ourselves beginning a steady climb up about 300 feet over less than a mile distance.  Lungs were screaming for air and legs were trying to keep up.  It was a losing battle that quickly gave into quick walking.  Fortunately for us the path evened out on an old railroad bed which we took for awhile, and promptly missed our turn off (note to self:  pay closer attention to any signs along the way).  So we went down those same 300 feet, only to realize we weren't where we where supposed to be and had to trek back up said 300 feet again.  And this was supposed to be a loose, take-it-easy kind of run.  So once we were back on the right trail - you guessed it - we came down 300 feet again to where we started.  Interesting experience.

We figured that if this happens throughout the week, our run will be changed to 200 For Emmah, and that all previous financial supporters will have to anty up for this increased distance!  Or not! You may just laugh at us.  I would....

Today I choose to wear the rugged looked.  Lugged out the cargo shorts I had, and the 2008 24 Hours of Booty bike shirt I brought.  Just couldn't find that tattoo parlor though.  However, some of the sights we saw in Buena Vista included visiting the Book Nook (used book store in a house), the Country Store/Bait/Tackle/Gift Shop, and the local Bakery.  We've gotten the great opportunity to speak with several locals about the town, get recommendations on where to eat, and what to do, and have a great appreciation for how cool it is to "get away from it all".

But when all is said and done - we are ready to run.  Tomorrow will bring about one more day of waiting and thinking about what lies ahead.  No training tomorrow - mostly rest.  We have a registration packet pick up around noon, and then a welcome dinner/runners meeting from 5 - 6:30.  Until that time, we can only think about some of the other things going on in our life, such as:

Lynn had a craving for ice cream, so we found K's Old Fashioned Delights (since 1955), where she got a nice cone.  It happened that K's was recommend to me a few weeks ago, not by a local, but by a fellow Beta Alpha Psi Advisory Forum member who used to live in Buena Vista - good call Alex!  That would be Lynn in the red backpack standing in line for her tasty treat.

But before Lynn could actually work up an appetite for ice cream, she had to earn it by relaxing down by the lake and catching some rays.  I, on the other hand, did not go for the ice (yes everyone, I know that is hard to believe).  You see, I was too busy catching my own rest on the local park bench, using my water bottle as a pillow, and munching on some Oreo cookies. 


But at that same time, there was music playing in the background, courtesy of a car parked nearby sharing their music with everyone.  And I also heard birds chirping, so I opened my eyes, and this photo is my view of the trees...the sky....and two birds on branches directly above me.  Couldn't help but wonder if those little buggers were going to crap on me for hogging their park bench.

And of course, there has to be a valid reason for all of these peopel to want to be in the town of Buena Vista year-round.  After all, this seems to be the launching place for so many different events like ours.  We learned that some world class kayakers are building a facility here to house like-minded adventure seekers. 

We learned about why some of the shop owners have returned to Buena Vista after being away in other parts of the country for many years.

And we learned that there is a pretty good chance that you will see us back here in 2011 competing in the Transrockies run again.  Not because of the sights and sounds. Not because of the adventurous spirit that resides within us. Not because of the absolutely great weather that we have found during the summer months. And not because we just might want to get away from it all.

No.

Below is the reason why we will be back in Buena Vista.  Can you blame us?  Wouldn't want to miss the grand opening.  Anyone else up for a road trip?  I bet your knees are starting to feel sore right about now and you are in need of a remedy!

KEIYH