[SkateDC] a 2002 clasic report
Chuck Opperman
a_sk8r_in_ga at hotmail.com
Mon Oct 5 07:15:51 PDT 2009
ahhhh, i remember that oskate, LOL. i have had quite the reminder this year as i have had a series of stings this year myself
sting 1 6 yellow jackets on my legs
sting 2 on my wrist, thru a lawn glove, yellow jacket again
sting 3 a hornet, we think, just under my lower lip. OMG that hurt like hell. and looked funny too i hear. it took 3 days for that one to go down.
oh, i didn't skate with a phone then, so i'll take responsibility for the Emily/George /phone discussions.
i'll see some of you this weekend.
Chuck
www.aprr.org Let's Roll!!!!
www.runningforums.com
> From: skatedc-request at www.skatedc.org
> Subject: SkateDC Digest, Vol 71, Issue 5
> To: skatedc at www.skatedc.org
> Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 06:52:17 -0700
>
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> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Re: Cue Sheet for the Sunday Intermediate Skate
> (SexySk8tr819 at aol.com)
> 2. Sunday 10/4 Advanced Skate report (Carl Ford)
> 3. Map for 10/4 Advanced Route (Carl Ford)
> 4. Sunday 10/4 Intermediate Skate Report (Bill English)
> 5. Classic Skate Report From 2002 (Bill English)
> 6. Re: Classic Skate Report From 2002 (Jubran Selim)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:16:14 +0000
> From: "SexySk8tr819 at aol.com" <SexySk8tr819 at aol.com>
> Subject: Re: [SkateDC] Cue Sheet for the Sunday Intermediate Skate
> To: "WAR Listserv" <skatedc at skatedc.org>, "Bill English"
> <english60 at yahoo.com>
> Message-ID: <bbe.586abb6a.37fa6a9f at aol.com>
> Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=UTF-8
>
> Bill.......Thanks for leading a great bike ride, oops I meant skate, this morning. Not sure I would have enjoyed it as much on my skates but it was great on a bike. Plenty of long downhills and nice easy climbs :-) and as promised great weather but I'm still looking for that tailwind ! Lesly
>
> ----------
> Sent from my Verizon Wireless mobile phone
>
> ------Original Message------
> From: Bill English <english60 at yahoo.com>
> To: "WAR Listserv" <skatedc at skatedc.org>
> Date: Sat, Oct 3, 8:17 PM -0700
> Subject: [SkateDC] Cue Sheet for the Sunday Intermediate Skate
>
> After posting the Google Map for the Sunday 9:00 am?Intermediate Skate Route, I checked it out by car and made a few minor improvements. I also worked out two versions of shortcuts in case we need to make the route easier.?In addition, I?confirmed that?there are?plenty of?good speed bumps at several points along the way. To top it off, I have arranged perfect weather including?a 14 mph tailwind which will?begin just as we turn southward to return to the White House!
>
> Here is the cue sheet:
>
> http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3236554???? File Name: RouteForSkaters, Takoma 6 out 091004
> Leader: Bill? 240-988-5471?? 15.8 miles, or 11.8 if the major shortcut is used. 309 foot climb.
>
> White House
> North 16th St
> R Rhode Island Ave, 7-11 break if necessary
> L 9th St
> R R St
> L 8th St
> At T-intersection go up stairs to track
> Exit track onto 9th St turn right
> L Euclid or use parking lot
> R Sherman Ave
> L Lamont St
> R 11th St
> R Monroe St
> Quick Left 10th St (Warm-up speed bumps)
> L Randolph St
> R Kansas Ave
> L 3rd St NW
> L Blair Rd
> R Aspen
> L Laurel
> Visit Takoma Park Street Festival
> West Carroll (to skip 4 hilly miles keep going west to 8th street)
> R Maple Ave for downhill speed bumps
> L {Ritchie Ave minor shortcut)} or keep going to Sligo Creek Parkway
> L Park Valley Road {or Sligo Ave if on the minor shortcut}
> L Sligo Ave
> L Chicago Ave
> R New York Ave
> Pedestrian bridge over train tracks
> Sidewalks through Blair Park
> Cross Blair Road & mansion parking lot & Eastern Ave
> Continue southward on 8th St (pick up route here if using shortcut)
> R Aspen
> L 13th St NW (see Civil War Fort Stevens?)
> R Arkansas Ave
> L 14th St
> R Park Rd
> L 16th St?? -go through Lafayette Park to finish at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> SkateDC mailing list
> SkateDC at www.skatedc.org
> http://lig.net/mailman/listinfo/skatedc
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:34:43 -0400
> From: Carl Ford <ford at dcaccess.net>
> Subject: [SkateDC] Sunday 10/4 Advanced Skate report
> To: skate at skatedc.org
> Message-ID: <20091004193443.01vjy9xx34w4ko8w at webmail.dcaccess.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; DelSp="Yes";
> format="flowed"
>
>
>
> Six skaters showed up on a sunny day that never quite felt as warm
> as the official high of 72 degrees.? We made amazing time through
> Adams Morgan and Rock Creek Park, showing up at East-West highway one
> hour after leaving the White House.? The charge up Stonybrook was
> spirited.? Our first good rest stop was at the top of Stonybrook.
>
> Capitol View Ave had some oil on it and we had one fall on it at
> speed.? From my vantage point 100 feet behind the fall, it looked bad,
> but thanks to the oil, the skater only sustained a couple of small
> elbow scrapes and a bunch of oil stains.
>
> The pavement on Sligo Creek Parkway was perfect, but the drivers
> were total asshats.? We had more screaming at us than I have
> experienced all year on one short stretch of the road.? This is
> especially shocking since this road is used by recreational cyclists
> and has plenty of signs that say "Share the Road".
>
> The skate through Takoma and back to the White House was
> uneventful. Two of us arrived at the White House having skated 23
> miles in 2:30.? Yep, just under 9 mph average.? I joined three others
> who had peeled off half a mile early for lunch at Luna Grill.
>
> All who showed up for the skate today were troopers about the
> speed, the hills, the drivers, and the oil.? Thanks for coming out and
> enjoying the skate!
>
> Map to follow...
>
> --
> Carl Ford
> ford at dcaccess.net
>
> Always do right; this will gratify some people and astonish the rest.
> -Mark Twain, Note to the Young People's Society, Greenpoint
> Presbyterian Church,
> 1901
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:44:22 -0400
> From: Carl Ford <ford at dcaccess.net>
> Subject: [SkateDC] Map for 10/4 Advanced Route
> To: skate at skatedc.org
> Message-ID: <20091004194422.dx3ru1o4ao0gwk84 at webmail.dcaccess.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; DelSp="Yes";
> format="flowed"
>
>
>
> http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3238949
>
> Check out the elevation change at Mile 11
>
> --
> Carl Ford
> ford at dcaccess.net
>
> Always do right; this will gratify some people and astonish the rest.
> -Mark Twain, Note to the Young People's Society, Greenpoint
> Presbyterian Church,
> 1901
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 21:02:05 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Bill English <english60 at yahoo.com>
> Subject: [SkateDC] Sunday 10/4 Intermediate Skate Report
> To: WAR Listserv <skatedc at skatedc.org>
> Message-ID: <239858.31811.qm at web51804.mail.re2.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> The Intermediate Skate went very smoothy and cheerfully today, even though it had more hills and distance than an Intermediate Skate really?ought to?have. I was prepared to shorten the route but did not need to do?so since all participants were eager to take on the challenge. We had a nice long break at the Takoma Park annual Street Festival. We got there at 10:20 and before we left we caught one song from the "Greasy String" bluegrass band. After that, we extended the trip a bit by taking Maple Ave downhill to jump several speed bumps. That worked out fine and nobody crashed. I saw in Carl's report & map that the Advanced group?went uphill on Maple instead of downhill.
>
> Participants:
>
> Tina (a regular Friday Monument Loop skater trying a Sunday Skate for the first time)
> Mary P. (on a bike)
> Lesly (on a bike this time, trying to get her to come out next week on skates)
> Jackeline (frequent Sunday Skater who moved here from Pittsburgh)
> Eryx
> George
> Bill (me)
>
> Lesly has a speedometer on her bike, and she got up to 28.5 mph going downhill on 13th Street. I was ahead of her so I am going to claim 30 mph, about as fast as I have ever skated. I give credit to luck with green lights, a good tailwind, and my wonderful new skates (Rollerblade Fusion X7 Urban Skates). The other skaters politely put up with my excessive bragging about how nice these skates are. They really speeded me up, and they handle so easily I would recommend them to beginners. Allison?recently got the women's Fusion X5 during a shopping trip in France and she is also happy with them. She said all the guys at the French skate shop were using Fusions.
>
> Eryx and Mary showed us a new trick today. At high speed, Mary pulled her bike up nice and close so that Eryx could hop onto her handlebars for a little while. He then made an expert dismount without hurting himself!
>
> We finished up at 12:08, barely ahead of the Advanced Group that started two hours behind us. We were late getting back mostly due to the Street Festival, plus some other nice conversation breaks at regrouping stops.
>
> Hope to see you at the next skate,
>
> Bill
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 21:24:04 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Bill English <english60 at yahoo.com>
> Subject: [SkateDC] Classic Skate Report From 2002
> To: WAR Listserv <skatedc at skatedc.org>
> Message-ID: <570785.81717.qm at web51810.mail.re2.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> [SkateDC] Bees? Hornets? Wasps? We Still Don't Know. George Marinkovich skatewash at yahoo.com
> Mon, 12 Aug 2002 14:49:09 -0700 (PDT)
> * Previous message: [SkateDC] Bees? Hornets? Wasps? We Still Don't Know.
> * Next message: Fwd: [SkateDC] Emily's Anaphylactic skate....lessons learned
> * Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]
> ________________________________
>
> Emily,
>
> When I first read your moving account of the events of
> this Sunday past I was of course, well ... moved.
> However, I quickly became concerned that possibly a
> reader of that account could be led into making some
> kind of association between "***" and "Jubran." Let
> me be very clear about this: I can unequivocally
> state that *** is not, nor ever has been Jubran, and
> any suggestion to the contrary is just plain wrong. I
> know Jubran well, Jubran is a friend of mine, and the
> Jubran I know would never become disoriented and lead
> a group of hapless skater off into oblivion by making
> the wrong turn on MacArthur.
>
> Understand, I don't say this is impossible under all
> circumstances, but it is extremely unlikely under the
> conditions that existed on Sunday. For example, had
> the skate route been in Northern Virginia, say
> Arlington or Alexandria, then yes, under these severe
> conditions, Jubran could have become lost (I know this
> is possible because it has even happened to me). But
> this was in DC -- Jubran's backyard -- and I think
> it's nearly unthinkable that he would have made such
> an egregious mistake. Just to drive the final nail
> into the coffin (so to speak) of this scurrilous
> innuendo, let me just point out that Jubran's name has
> six letters, and if my count is correct, this
> nefarious individual's name only has three letters.
> Need I say more!
>
> I, for one, will not rest until this colossal calumny
> has been thoroughly discredited. It just wasn't
> Jubran, folks, and everyone should be ashamed of
> themselves for entertaining that notion even for a
> fleeting instant. I must point out in the interests
> of full disclosure that Jubran (like this misguided
> and directionless skater) does have a cell phone. But
> then lots of skaters have cell phones (I have one
> myself!). I just hope that an incident of this sort
> will never happen again, and if it does I implore
> people not to suspect Jubran (even for an instant) of
> being responsible.
>
> I wish this sort of reply wasn't necessary, but in our
> crazy, mixed-up world it sadly is, and I just could
> not in good conscience leave the implication hanging
> out there in the breeze, twisting in the wind as it
> were. I am now much relieved that Jubran's
> navigational reputation has been restored to it's
> heretofore un-sullied status. My work here is done...
>
> George (also not three letters!)
>
> --- Emily Bennett <citiskate at yahoo.com> wrote:
> >
> > Yes, there were some lessons learned on yesterday's
> > skate, mainly by yours truly.
> > It started out innocently enough...
> > I was the leader of the intermediate skate which
> > essentially morphed into a combined
> > intermediate/advanced skate when Marshall's
> > impending nuptials prevented him from leading the
> > advanced route. (We had a moment of silence in your
> > honor, Marshall).
> > Up 18th to Adams Morgan, over Rock Creek to Embassy
> > Loop, down Mass Ave and up P to Wisconsin..the skate
> > proceeded well, with rest, shade, and water on a
> > Code Red day.
> > The next part of the skate took an unintended turn,
> > as we skated up Wisconsin and down the big swoopy
> > hills of Reservoir to MacArthur. But Reservoir also
> > has a bit of an uphill near the end and I was
> > concerned about stragglers, so I asked *** to stay
> > at the top of that uphill and sweep. He agreed, and
> > I skated down to the CVS on MacArthur to meet the
> > main group.
> > The minutes tick by, and no sign of the sweep.
> > Hmmm...where are they? I ask Chuck to skate up to
> > see if he can find them. Off he goes, more minutes
> > pass, and now I am missing the end of the skate plus
> > Chuck.
> > Urk.
> > I skate a little ways back up MacArthur to see if I
> > can spot Chuck's green jersey, and my phone
> > rings...it's ***. He has taken the skaters he was
> > sweeping in the other direction (whoops) on
> > MacArthur and they are now headed to Georgetown. Oh,
> > well...meet us at the Capital Crescent
> > trailhead...we'll be there in about half an hour.
> > Chuck zooms back and we are finally able to proceed.
> >
> > Out MacArthur, left on Arizona (and the waviest
> > asphalt in DC), up Palisades Rd NW to the beautiful
> > Potomac overlooks. We skate along to the reservoir
> > at the end of the road. From here, I have scoped out
> > a little gravelly wooded trail that descends along
> > the wall of the reservoir to meet the Capital
> > Crescent trail. Sounds good, no?
> > No. Not good. Not good at all.
> > The path was dry, with sand and gravel. It is a
> > steeper descent than I bargained for, with wheels on
> > your feet you simply fly. There is a great commotion
> > as gravity takes over and skaters are sliding,
> > rolling, slipping, clinging to the chain link fence
> > wall of the reservoir, to trees, to other skaters.
> > Then the pandemonium turns to chaos as the skaters
> > ahead of me start screeching, slapping and
> > hollering.
> > "Omigod, OW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" My left arm is
> > suddenly on fire. I'm basically out of control right
> > now. I careen into Shane and crash hard on my
> > kneepads.
> > Skaters ahead of me are yelling, scrambling. I lurch
> > to my feet, roll the rest of the way down to the
> > CCT, and turn around to see the most spectacular
> > display of skater gymnastics I've ever seen as Meg
> > is leaping, swatting, screaming all at the same
> > time.
> > The first lesson I learn from the skate is that it
> > is much, MUCH safer to play in traffic.
> > Apparently we have disturbed the nest of some
> > fearsome flying, stinging, warrior insects and they
> > are ready willing and able to defend the security of
> > their homeland. The first two or three skaters get
> > past the nest (an old hollow stump) with no problem,
> > but the (bees? hornets? wasps? we're still not sure)
> > swarm out and attack the rest of the group. We have
> > casualties: Mark is hit twice on the leg, I get
> > nailed on my arm, Alisha is stung in the lip, and
> > Meg counts four stings on her legs and one on her
> > foot when the (bee? hornet? wasp?) got down in her
> > skate boot.
> > Yikes.
> > And now we have a real problem. Because about six or
> > seven skaters are now stranded on the trail,
> > unwilling to tangle with the (bees? hornets? wasps?)
> > and I can't say that I blame them, but how are we
> > gonna get them down to the CCT? My phone rings and
> > Lesly tells me that they have scoped out a way down
> > the very steep hill and that Bob Schwartz was
> > already making his descent. Sure enough, Bob came
> > out of the woods a few yards ahead of us, followed
> > by Dave, Meg, Lesly and others. We're all safely on
> > the CCT now. Whew.
> > Back to those stings for the moment. We were damn
> > fortunate. None of the skaters who were stung was
> > allergic to the venom of the (bees? hornets?
> > wasps?). We did have some medical personnel with us,
> > but nobody with the necessary equpiment in case
> > anyone had gone into anaphylactic shock. I had a
> > cellphone, but I'm sure it would have taken some
> > time to get assistance if any of the skaters had
> > been allergic to the stings or broken an ankle or
> > wrist while sliding down that trail or climbing down
> > the hill.
> > So that's my second lesson learned: Be prepared. For
> > damn near anything.
> > The rest of the skate was anticlimactic...down the
> > CCT, up K street to Penna to the White House, lunch
> > at Harry's.
> > To Mark, Meg, and Alisha: I hope your stings faded
> > as quickly as mine did. My arm is still a wee bit
> > tender, but redness and swelling were minimal. You
> > all deserve a "Purple Bearing" Medal for injuries
> > received while skating with WAR.
> > To everyone on the skate yesterday: Thanks for
> > continuing to enjoy yourselves even in the midst of
> > chaos and pandemonium. You are the best and I'm
> > proud to be a Washington Area Trailskater!
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 09:40:07 -0400
> From: Jubran Selim <sm4sm at aol.com>
> Subject: Re: [SkateDC] Classic Skate Report From 2002
> To: Bill English <english60 at yahoo.com>
> Cc: WAR Listserv <skatedc at skatedc.org>
> Message-ID: <ABBCE42C-D9E3-4308-B450-5329F57CEC81 at aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>
> Is this a little like ESPN Classic? Get to relive classic or
> unforgettable skate routes from the past? "Hey, get a load of those
> small wheels!" "Yeah! And look at those plastic frames, too."
> "Gawd, can you believe skaters used to wear shorts that short?"
>
> Perhaps we should rename the SkateDC Archives the "WAR Classic Vault."
>
> Jubran
>
> On Oct 5, 2009, at 12:24 AM, Bill English <english60 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > [SkateDC] Bees? Hornets? Wasps? We Still Don't Know. George
> > Marinkovich skatewash at yahoo.com
> > Mon, 12 Aug 2002 14:49:09 -0700 (PDT)
> > * Previous message: [SkateDC] Bees? Hornets? Wasps? We Still Don't
> > Know.
> > * Next message: Fwd: [SkateDC] Emily's Anaphylactic
> > skate....lessons learned
> > * Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]
> > ________________________________
> >
> > Emily,
> >
> > When I first read your moving account of the events of
> > this Sunday past I was of course, well ... moved.
> > However, I quickly became concerned that possibly a
> > reader of that account could be led into making some
> > kind of association between "***" and "Jubran." Let
> > me be very clear about this: I can unequivocally
> > state that *** is not, nor ever has been Jubran, and
> > any suggestion to the contrary is just plain wrong. I
> > know Jubran well, Jubran is a friend of mine, and the
> > Jubran I know would never become disoriented and lead
> > a group of hapless skater off into oblivion by making
> > the wrong turn on MacArthur.
> >
> > Understand, I don't say this is impossible under all
> > circumstances, but it is extremely unlikely under the
> > conditions that existed on Sunday. For example, had
> > the skate route been in Northern Virginia, say
> > Arlington or Alexandria, then yes, under these severe
> > conditions, Jubran could have become lost (I know this
> > is possible because it has even happened to me). But
> > this was in DC -- Jubran's backyard -- and I think
> > it's nearly unthinkable that he would have made such
> > an egregious mistake. Just to drive the final nail
> > into the coffin (so to speak) of this scurrilous
> > innuendo, let me just point out that Jubran's name has
> > six letters, and if my count is correct, this
> > nefarious individual's name only has three letters.
> > Need I say more!
> >
> > I, for one, will not rest until this colossal calumny
> > has been thoroughly discredited. It just wasn't
> > Jubran, folks, and everyone should be ashamed of
> > themselves for entertaining that notion even for a
> > fleeting instant. I must point out in the interests
> > of full disclosure that Jubran (like this misguided
> > and directionless skater) does have a cell phone. But
> > then lots of skaters have cell phones (I have one
> > myself!). I just hope that an incident of this sort
> > will never happen again, and if it does I implore
> > people not to suspect Jubran (even for an instant) of
> > being responsible.
> >
> > I wish this sort of reply wasn't necessary, but in our
> > crazy, mixed-up world it sadly is, and I just could
> > not in good conscience leave the implication hanging
> > out there in the breeze, twisting in the wind as it
> > were. I am now much relieved that Jubran's
> > navigational reputation has been restored to it's
> > heretofore un-sullied status. My work here is done...
> >
> > George (also not three letters!)
> >
> > --- Emily Bennett <citiskate at yahoo.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> Yes, there were some lessons learned on yesterday's
> >> skate, mainly by yours truly.
> >> It started out innocently enough...
> >> I was the leader of the intermediate skate which
> >> essentially morphed into a combined
> >> intermediate/advanced skate when Marshall's
> >> impending nuptials prevented him from leading the
> >> advanced route. (We had a moment of silence in your
> >> honor, Marshall).
> >> Up 18th to Adams Morgan, over Rock Creek to Embassy
> >> Loop, down Mass Ave and up P to Wisconsin..the skate
> >> proceeded well, with rest, shade, and water on a
> >> Code Red day.
> >> The next part of the skate took an unintended turn,
> >> as we skated up Wisconsin and down the big swoopy
> >> hills of Reservoir to MacArthur. But Reservoir also
> >> has a bit of an uphill near the end and I was
> >> concerned about stragglers, so I asked *** to stay
> >> at the top of that uphill and sweep. He agreed, and
> >> I skated down to the CVS on MacArthur to meet the
> >> main group.
> >> The minutes tick by, and no sign of the sweep.
> >> Hmmm...where are they? I ask Chuck to skate up to
> >> see if he can find them. Off he goes, more minutes
> >> pass, and now I am missing the end of the skate plus
> >> Chuck.
> >> Urk.
> >> I skate a little ways back up MacArthur to see if I
> >> can spot Chuck's green jersey, and my phone
> >> rings...it's ***. He has taken the skaters he was
> >> sweeping in the other direction (whoops) on
> >> MacArthur and they are now headed to Georgetown. Oh,
> >> well...meet us at the Capital Crescent
> >> trailhead...we'll be there in about half an hour.
> >> Chuck zooms back and we are finally able to proceed.
> >>
> >> Out MacArthur, left on Arizona (and the waviest
> >> asphalt in DC), up Palisades Rd NW to the beautiful
> >> Potomac overlooks. We skate along to the reservoir
> >> at the end of the road. From here, I have scoped out
> >> a little gravelly wooded trail that descends along
> >> the wall of the reservoir to meet the Capital
> >> Crescent trail. Sounds good, no?
> >> No. Not good. Not good at all.
> >> The path was dry, with sand and gravel. It is a
> >> steeper descent than I bargained for, with wheels on
> >> your feet you simply fly. There is a great commotion
> >> as gravity takes over and skaters are sliding,
> >> rolling, slipping, clinging to the chain link fence
> >> wall of the reservoir, to trees, to other skaters.
> >> Then the pandemonium turns to chaos as the skaters
> >> ahead of me start screeching, slapping and
> >> hollering.
> >> "Omigod, OW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" My left arm is
> >> suddenly on fire. I'm basically out of control right
> >> now. I careen into Shane and crash hard on my
> >> kneepads.
> >> Skaters ahead of me are yelling, scrambling. I lurch
> >> to my feet, roll the rest of the way down to the
> >> CCT, and turn around to see the most spectacular
> >> display of skater gymnastics I've ever seen as Meg
> >> is leaping, swatting, screaming all at the same
> >> time.
> >> The first lesson I learn from the skate is that it
> >> is much, MUCH safer to play in traffic.
> >> Apparently we have disturbed the nest of some
> >> fearsome flying, stinging, warrior insects and they
> >> are ready willing and able to defend the security of
> >> their homeland. The first two or three skaters get
> >> past the nest (an old hollow stump) with no problem,
> >> but the (bees? hornets? wasps? we're still not sure)
> >> swarm out and attack the rest of the group. We have
> >> casualties: Mark is hit twice on the leg, I get
> >> nailed on my arm, Alisha is stung in the lip, and
> >> Meg counts four stings on her legs and one on her
> >> foot when the (bee? hornet? wasp?) got down in her
> >> skate boot.
> >> Yikes.
> >> And now we have a real problem. Because about six or
> >> seven skaters are now stranded on the trail,
> >> unwilling to tangle with the (bees? hornets? wasps?)
> >> and I can't say that I blame them, but how are we
> >> gonna get them down to the CCT? My phone rings and
> >> Lesly tells me that they have scoped out a way down
> >> the very steep hill and that Bob Schwartz was
> >> already making his descent. Sure enough, Bob came
> >> out of the woods a few yards ahead of us, followed
> >> by Dave, Meg, Lesly and others. We're all safely on
> >> the CCT now. Whew.
> >> Back to those stings for the moment. We were damn
> >> fortunate. None of the skaters who were stung was
> >> allergic to the venom of the (bees? hornets?
> >> wasps?). We did have some medical personnel with us,
> >> but nobody with the necessary equpiment in case
> >> anyone had gone into anaphylactic shock. I had a
> >> cellphone, but I'm sure it would have taken some
> >> time to get assistance if any of the skaters had
> >> been allergic to the stings or broken an ankle or
> >> wrist while sliding down that trail or climbing down
> >> the hill.
> >> So that's my second lesson learned: Be prepared. For
> >> damn near anything.
> >> The rest of the skate was anticlimactic...down the
> >> CCT, up K street to Penna to the White House, lunch
> >> at Harry's.
> >> To Mark, Meg, and Alisha: I hope your stings faded
> >> as quickly as mine did. My arm is still a wee bit
> >> tender, but redness and swelling were minimal. You
> >> all deserve a "Purple Bearing" Medal for injuries
> >> received while skating with WAR.
> >> To everyone on the skate yesterday: Thanks for
> >> continuing to enjoy yourselves even in the midst of
> >> chaos and pandemonium. You are the best and I'm
> >> proud to be a Washington Area Trailskater!
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > http://lig.net/mailman/listinfo/skatedc
>
>
>
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> End of SkateDC Digest, Vol 71, Issue 5
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