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| Boston composition featuring Ron |
30 Apr: Outstanding AirBNB. Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, 300 Pebble Drive
29 Apr: We are exercised, oatmealed and ready for another fun day. Cynthia had a Pedi and Mani making the girl very happily Cured. Ron walked twice as far as usual, past two MORE Tangier Outlet Malls to the Fresh Market and found very nice looking raspberries on sale. The blueberries looked lush, but the price seemed steep. He was quite dismayed that the walk was hard on his sore knee and hip, but he rested for half an hour at the outdoor tables intended for luncheoneers, and recovered quite nicely for the walk home.
28 Apr, Sunday: It is Sunday, will Cynthia have her sermon ready ?? Oh no, it is Sunday? We walked once to Aldi early, bought bread and spinach but delayed purchasing grapes until the afternoon walk to Aldi.
27 Apr: It is overcast this morning, but that didn't prevent us from doing our morning exercises or eating our oatmeal with blueberries, raspberries, bananas and walnuts. Ron is now pressing forward with this blog, as well as bringing his receipts and routes spreadsheet up to date. James Lea book is next project. We walked to Aldi for frozen mango, frozen blueberries, and raspberries. Even Ron decided to shower before we showed up at 2:30 at Dean and Janina's for conversation preceeding dinner at 5:30 when Janina fed us a delicious salmon dinner with sweet potatoes and broccoli cooked to perfection. Thank you Janina. After dinner, Dean used his light with magnifying lens and several unusual pliers to fix a pair of Cynthia's earrings that had been smooshed in her motorcycle saddlebag. His manual dexterity and skill are quite impressive. Thanks Dean.
26 Apr: We awakened early today, exercised early, ate early, and Ron made money with QQQ options. Cynthia finished compulsive house cleaning, and we walked twice, once being the entire loop past all five nearby grocery stores. Todays big excitement was discovering a homeless camp of two very large tents behind the cemetery adjacent to the Presbyterian Church. 6.04 miles
25 Apr: We are back on track with the routine. Cynthia’s fitness app is finally synced with the new Apple watch. She started exercises for healing her torn hamstring tendon. And it is high noon, time to walk to the market. The big excitement for the day was espying Mrs. Goose on the nest. Oops, Ron bought a pint of low-fat, plant-based ice cream, the first two ingredients sugar and more sugar; sadly it wasn't that good. Walmart provided an outdoor picnic table, so we quickly ate the ice cream before it melted and boogied back to check the stock markets at the 4 o'clock closing. We spent the rest of the afternoon with electronics and split a baked sweet potato for dinner. After dinner we walked to Walgreens again to pick up Cynthia’s prescription (again). 4.04 miles.
24 Apr: What fun living a simple life. We slept until 9:45 AM. Cynthia ate and exercised while Ron worked on his projects, exercised, and ate. The best part is we are not pressured for time. We walked to Giant, Aldi, and back to Giant where we met Dean and Janina shopping for groceries. They encouraged us to buy a lot of heavy groceries, gave us a ride home and toured our cute condo. We walked again tonight to Walgreens, intending to pick up Cynthia's prescription of fluconase. Unfortunately that prescription has expired. Our daily total was 4.65 miles.
23 Apr: We did not awaken until 9:15 AM, evidence that we needed rest. Ron is updating routes on the blog and spreadsheet and checking QQQ on the stock market. It is not easy for Cynthia to return to eating spinach, raw carrots, red peppers, and broccoli after that tasty hamburger and pizza at MIT. Close to 5.0 miles today. Cynthia has hair and nail appointments scheduled, and her Apple watch is connected to the Pritikin Trainer app. We mailed several cards and a bank deposit today.
22 Apr: Happy birthday Corrie! Another happy day for us is on the horizon. The evidence of a right spirit is a merry heart. ❤️ A merry heart doeth good like medicine (Prov. 17:22 KJ). We are getting caught up on endless chores. It felt good to walk almost three miles without complaint to markets and then another two miles in the evening.
21 Apr: On the first morning of life at Rehoboth Beach, we awoke happy and hungry. Someone was scattering food for the goose in the pond. True to our commitment, we exercised and ate a healthy breakfast. We needed groceries, so Ron walked to ALDI for food and was surprised by drizzle on his return. The drizzle has continued throughout the day. Ron is updating his spreadsheet and has extended our stay at this condo to forty-one days for renewed focus on budget, exercise, healthy eating and, importantly, editing the James Lea book. After recent, expensive hotel stays in Boston, it is nice to have a full kitchen and a washer and dryer for considerably less cost.
20 Apr: Many Thanks to brother Dean who located a new and very pleasant two-bedroom condo for us to lease at Rehoboth Beach, five miles away from their home. We will be here until the 30th May. We are 2.5 miles from the beach in a lovely neighborhood setting. This will be fun for Ron to spend a little time with Dean. Cynthia is more hopeful that Ron will get the Lea book ready for the publisher and that she will get back into her usual exercise and eating routine. Thanks to Janina for a marvelous salmon dinner!
20 Apr: We enjoyed a comfortable night at Cape May, NJ. Thankfully, we carry a stash of oatmeal, and fruit because beach hotels do not provide a continental breakfast. The room does have Keurig coffee pods. We have a late checkout, just in time to catch the ferry to Lewes, DE to see Dean and Janina. How fun to visit with Pat and Denice from Cape May as we waited to board the ferry.
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| On board, talking to another motorcyclist |
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| My lovely bride, on the ferry |
19 Apr: Middletown, New York to Cape May, New Jersey WHOA! The gates to the ferry are already closed at 6:10 PM We were unaware they now require advanced purchase and reservation. Ron did a walkabout and found a hotel on the beach that we cannot see from the room. A lovely, but chilly, walk across the street and up onto the boardwalk for thirty minutes provided a needed exercise and views of the tide coming in. Cynthia bought the ferry ticket for one PM tomorrow $43.00 check-in is an hour earlier in person at the ferry. Ron has learned to search out Ruby Tuesdays along our route in advance, so we were able to enjoy good salads in East Brunswick, NJ near Rutgers. U.S. Highway 206 was a delightful road and the nicest way we've found to leave the Delaware Water Gap area.
route: I-84 W to exit 63 onto US 209 S to L on US 206 S (with L then R in Nelson) to I-80 E 2 exits to US 206 S -> merges with US 202 S onto I-287 S to exit at Easton Ave for the Ruby Tuesday, then we meandered south, west and more south to get to L on Landing Lane, R on George Street and the entrance to NJ 18 E, passing Wayside, NJ to the NJ Turnpike S to Cape May, 3 tolls $1.10, $2.20 and $2.20.
18 Apr: We awakened in Waterbury, Connecticut with an eleven AM checkout facing very cold temperatures as we head for the Jersey Shore, going south to Lewes, Delaware to see Dean and Janina. We hopped on I-84 W and by 1:00 PM we were in Middletown, New York for lunch at Ruby Tuesday and, because Cynthia's feet had been cold, decided to overnight here (where we were supposed to arrive last night). We are checked in at the Hampton Inn, all nice and cozy warm.
17 Apr: We started riding at noon, got lost three times as Ron tried to negotiate Massachusetts and Connecticut roads without a GPS. It was really pleasant to be riding on old US Highway 6 through Connecticut after all the miles and miles of interstate getting to Boston. After five hours of riding, we stopped at a Denny's for food. Color radar showed rain ahead in an hour. The cook at this Denny's entirely ignored our dietary restrictions and used so much oil that Ron left his omelet uneaten, and it will be a long time before we eat at another Denny's. Rain arrived sooner rather than later, so we exited the interstate into Waterbury, Connecticut, where we spotted a Hampton Inn as we rode parallel to the interstate on Main Street. Not only did we gratefully check in there to spend the night, but the reservation in Middletown, NY was canceled without penalty.
route: Hingham Street S to R on Webster, but I turned early and wandered around lost for half an hour until I came across MA 123, followed that for a ways and got lost again until I found Washington Ave and the R onto Starkey (N Attleboro next right), then followed signs for I-95 S to I-295 W, but that wasn't marked as such on I-95 !! so I had to turn around and go back to find the left, I-295 into Rhode Island to exit 9 C-A for US 6 W towards Hartford which eventually feeds in to I-384 W -> I-84 W to Middletown, NY
16 Apr: We checked out at noon on this lovely day and drove south to Hingham to see Maggie. This time we enjoyed seeing the water all along the Quincy beach. She was again delighted to see us, but insisted that we leave to feed diabetic Cynthia at 3:30. Cynthia’s left outside thigh is complaining. We lunched at Previte's, a New England marketplace that makes excellent sandwiches, and drove to the same Best Western hotel in Rockland for the night. Tomorrow, we ride toward Lewes, DE, skirting New York City and crossing between NYC and Philadelphia to avoid the worst of the traffic (we hope).
route: E on Memorial Drive -> Commercial / Edwin Dr, R across Longfellow bridge, R on Charles River Dam Dr -> Leverett Circle, left lane ramp onto I-93 S Airport / Quincy 5.9 miles to exit 12 MA 3 S towards Gallivan & Hancock St / Neponset Ave, keep left for Quincy Shore Drive along the beach for 3.6 mi, R on Sea Street 0.3 mi, L on Southern Artery 1 mi, L on Washington St crossing bridge -> MA 3A 1.7 mi to R on Evans, R on Pearl -> Norton -> North -> Commercial -> Pleasant to L on MA 53 N / Washington 0.7 mi to L on Linden Ponds Way
15 Apr. The Bomber BBQ, etc. was followed by lots of visiting with Ed, Rich, P.J. and a tour of Burton House. Ron is packing the box to be shipped to Texas. We ate contraband; Cynthia ate one hamburger, Ron ate two. Does it matter if the beef is organic, 100% grassfed?
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| Ron in springtime composition |
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| Ron showing off new Bomber jerey |
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| Ron Beatty class of '69 |
14 Apr: Ron walked at eight AM. We missed the first part of the Alumni Brunch because Ron thought the schedule said 11 AM instead of 10 AM. We had prepared by eating breakfast ahead of time. Ron was interviewed by the students. Our time at MIT is a HOOT! Too much to write about these wonderful brilliant young people. Ron is wearing the Bomber hockey jersey the current members of his dorm gave him. This DTYD party has been held annually for 55 years, quite a legacy. We are on the Cambridge side of the Charles River.
SUNDAY OFFERING
Spring is presenting herself along the highways and byways as we travel north. She commands our attention with bold and brilliant azaleas in Florida and Georgia.She delights us with Eastern Redbud trees dancing along the Virginia interstate for miles. Not to be outdone, the daffodils and purple wisteria send forth lush blooms. As we ride on, Spring's presence is less prominent, barely peeking into view in foggy, and rainy Boston, but the college runners in shorts along the Charles River sing of her presence. Spring makes me smile! My heart overflows with gratitude. I want to share this joy. As we rode, I prayed the same prayer, every day, many times a day, "Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Gradually, I realized how many times a day thanks to God was on my lips and in my heart. I praised him for our safe arrivals, for a loving family, for our many friends, old and new, for the resplendent beauty of our world, and the gift of meeting Spring for so many years of my life. Having a happy heart that overflows with gratitude is the evidence of having the Right Spirit within. Thanks be to God.
Pastor Cynthia Forde - 14 April 2024
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| Charles River & Boston skyline |
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| Smooch & SmoochSmooch |
13 Apr: We walked 45 minutes along the Charles River to the Harvard Bridge (measured as 364.4 Smoots plus one ear). The lunch at Legal Seafood was marvelous. attended by 22 alums and wives. We imagined that the "Bomber Formal" was a dance since we were advised to "dress to the nines." Instead it was a ping pong party at a Sports Bar, loud but fun and exactly what MIT students might think to do! The ping pong balls were dancing, and Hans did a wicked slide step once, but there was no Rock and Roll to motivate us oldies to dance.
12 Apr: The Hyatt restaurant is too expensive, so we heated water in the coffee pot to eat our own oatmeal in our room, which was devoid of a microwave. We enjoyed a delightful conversation with Ed M., P.J. and Betsy, followed by a 2.82-mile walk to Whole Foods, where we used their salad bar to create perfect meals.  |
| many of the original Burton 3rd Bombers |
11 Apr: Our twenty mile ride to MIT/Cambridge, along the seashore, begin about ten AM. Ron packed much more quickly than usual because rain was forecast to begin at twelve noon, the fog was thick, and color radar indicated rain approaching. As we rode north on MA 53, Whiting Street, raindrops started hitting us. We turned left (east) on Pleasant Street and were pleased to see fewer and fewer raindrops with each mile as the street name changed from Pleasant to Commercial to North until we wound our way to the Quincy Shore for 3.6 miles along the beach, although we could hardly see the water through the fog. Ron was a bit nervous about the complicated directions, the heavy traffic, and the possibility of rain entering or leaving the tunnel. Traffic was indeed heavy, stop-and-go bumper-to-bumper on I-93. Fortunately light rain did not resume until we were turning onto Memorial Drive with less than two miles of light traffic left to the Hyatt. We arrived at the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge at 1:24 PM. Ron walked to MIT building E-17 for his alumni ID pass, plus he had fun sight-seeing at the math department, and enjoyed seeing Bonny K. after he tried to consult the alumni office in building W-98 (all telecommuters). We had an expensive dinner at the Hyatt, and after dinner we walked to the Harvard Bridge and back. Tomorrow we will eat oat meal. Total today is 3.2 miles. Yay, Cynthia's hamstring is healing.
route: N on MA 288 to L on MA 53 N (Whiting Street) 0.7 miles, R on Pleasant Road 1.4 mi -> Commercial St 1.3 mi -> North St 0.3 mi -> L on Norton (at intersection with grassy median), L on Evans Street 0.6 mi around a bend and L on MA 3A N 1.3 mi across bridge to R on Southern Artery 1 mi, R on Sea Street 0.3 mi, L on Quincy Shore along the beach for 3.6 miles -> Hancock St (MA 3A) 0.3 mi onto I-93 N 6 mi into tunnel, exit 18 R towards Sorrow Drive 0.3 mi, left lane towards Kendall, right lane to Sorrow Drive 0.3 mi, L to Kendall Square 0.2 mi, R across Longfellow bridge, immediate R onto Memorial Drive. Whew
10 Apr: We stayed a second night in Rockland, Mass, and we visited Maggie again today. She had tears when we left. We used the miraculous Metronic hand-held device and Cynthia's cell phone to complete Ron’s remote PACEMAKER test. The next test is due July 10th. We ate a Lucca's again, but were less explicit with our order and didn't get things as "clean" as we like.
9 Apr: We were exercised, breakfasted, packed, and on the bike by 10:40 AM. The ride was pleasant, warm, and quick on I-84 and the Massachusetts Turnpike. We even found a Fresh Choice at a turnpike express stop, where we split a whole wheat tortilla wrap with brown rice and veggies inside. Our comfortable travel came to an end when we turned onto I-95 S and encountered stop-and-go bumper-to-bumper traffic that became totally stopped at times on I-93 N and MA 3 S. We arrived in Hingham, Massachusetts by 4:00 PM to visit 97-year-old Maggie (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maggie_Lettvin), who was Ron’s exercise guru at MIT. We were astounded at her improved appearance from two years ago after an accident totally crippled her. A 97-year-old driver ran into her wheelchair in a crosswalk of her gated retirement community with a speed limit of 15 MPH. Tonight, we stayed at the Best Western Hotel in Rockland and ate dinner next door at Lucca’s. We split excellent grilled salmon on red smashed potatoes with raw vegetable salad. Ron rode to Trader Joe’s to buy fruit for breakfast.
route: Continuing I-84 N through Hartford to the Mass Pike I-90 E to I-95 S (formerly 128) straight onto I-93 N to R on MA 3 S to exit 36 Derby St N 0.6 miles to L on Cushing St N 0.2 mi to L on Whiting (MA 53) N 1 mi to Linden Ponds Way
8 Apr: Our bags were packed, and we were on the road by 10;00 AM for Middletown, NY, arriving at 5:10 after “experiencing” the eclipse ten miles from Wilkes Barre, PA at 2:50 PM. The sunlight faded significantly, and car headlights appeared quite bright as they do just before dark every evening. Cynthia had another breakfast, and Ron ate a large salad at a diner; Cynthia ate oatmeal for dinner. The Hampton Inn in Middletown sits next to a cloverleaf with Walmart, Ruby Tuesday and stores arranged beside other lobes of the cloverleaf. That cloverleaf makes going other places totally confusing.
route: Maryland 27 N 25 miles to L on MD 30 -> PA 94 N 40 mi (which was boring)-> PA 34 N to R on I-81 N 140 mi to Scranton, switching to I-84 E for the rest of the day 70 miles.
7 Apr, Sunday: Breakfast was delicious at Mount Airy Inn. We are so tired, I can't remember what we did except for a walk towards evening. Jim had to spend time with his mom and was gone most of the afternoon. We were all so worn out that we opted to eat left overs instead of going out to eat.
6 Apr, Mount Airy, Maryland: After a few hours of sleep, Ron arose at four AM and rode in 35-degree temps to Bob’s BMW for the bike’s 18,000 maintenance service and to have a navigation system installed. Saturdays are first-come, first-served at Bob's Service department, so Ron wanted to be first in line (and was). Ron always enjoys talking to the seasoned motorcyclists who frequent Bob's. Bob's office has been turned into an apparel room, and Ron was told that Bob is semi-retired and telecommutes. Good for him! The bike is done. But, the top case and the GPS await parts. We will be back in a month, God willing. Cynthia is falling asleep. Jim joined us for dinner at Mount Airy Inn (and sneaked off to pay the bill), but Joni is off on a knitting vacation with friends.
route: West Falls Road E to MD 27 S to L on Gillis Falls Road to T intersection, R on W. Washington Road, L on I-70 E 2 mi to R on Maryland 32 E to US 1 N briefly, R on Guilford Road to Bob's.
5 Apr: Salem, Virginia for an overnight leaving only a four-hour ride to Jim’s house (according to Cynthia's smart phone). Well, the ride was eventful. It was very cold. We stopped in Lexington, VA for lunch at a Ruby Tuesday restaurant, believing we faced another three hours of riding, but after lunch the wind got strong, and rain seemed imminent. Ron detoured onto old US 11 to get out of heavy traffic and avoid rain. We parked for fifteen minutes at Woodstock Equipment Services (click here) in Woodstock, VA. Following that brief interlude, rain continued to threaten but did not fall as the skies gradually became lighter and lighter. The best part of the ride was when Ron detoured through Staunton, VA where we first discovered the VA slogan, "Virginia is for lovers." Ahhh!, such sweet memories as our life together began. Jim and Joni were waiting to cook dinner for us; delicious: BBQ tuna and steamed veggies.
route: continuing on I-81 N (with detour onto US 11 and the brief rain stop at Woodstock Equipment Services) to exit 315, VA 7 E 9 mi to L on US 340 N 38 mi to R on I-70 E towards Baltimore 15 mi to L on MD 27 N to West Falls Road. Ron was a bit sad to pass New Market and realize he will never again have the pleasure of visiting Harry Long, who died last year.
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| Ron resting at rest area |
4 Apr: Columbia, South Carolina to wherever we get en route to Mount Airy, Maryland. Will it take two days or three? Evidently, we are doing this in two days! We did delay long enough to enjoy breakfast with Dick and Clark & Elizabeth before finishing packing and loading the motorcycle. The wind was fierce, especially as we entered Virginia. Ron noticed a few isolated snow flakes. (Did we mention that it was cold?) Next we encountered about ten minutes of sleet and freezing rain. Ain't spring wonderful? We stopped for the night in Salem, VA, but were disappointed that there was no Ruby Tuesday nearby. Uffda. The elevator broke while Cynthia was inside it. Zzzz Good night!
route: I-26 S to malfunction junction, L on I-20 E to L on I-77 N towards Rural Retreat, VA, R on I-81 N. We had hoped to stop at a Ruby Tuesday for lunch and passed by one near I-81 at Christiansburg, Virginia but thought there was another one in Salem (near Roanoke).
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| Our friends in SC, Cheryl, Clark, Elizabeth, Mary |
3 Apr: Columbia, SC, After exercising, eating, and computering, we had a most enjoyable dinner at Ruby Tuesday (where else) with Tom & Cheryl, Mary, Clark & Elizabeth! (Tom and I were sitting too far to the left to appear in this photo.) The wind was fierce riding home, especially as we crossed the Lake Murray Dam.
2 Apr: Sandy Springs, Georgia to Columbia, South Carolina via I-75 south and I-20 east. We ate lunch at Ruby Tuesday in Evans, GA (near Augusta) and rode directly to Irmo, SC, where we enjoyed dinner at another Ruby Tuesday in Lexington, SC, with friends Dick R. and Clark & Elizabeth G, who joined us. Cynthia is praying for a mounting Kit for the GPS navigator because we got lost and confused looking for the Ruby Tuesday (where we have eaten many times in the past).
route: W on Northside to L on Garmon Rd to R on Mt. Paran Rd ("straight" through a confusing intersection) to L & R onto I-75 S to L on I-20 E towards Columbia to L on SC 6 through Lexington and across the Lake Murray Dam to Irmo and a Hilton Garden Inn, where the desk clerk remembered Ron's name from years ago, another person with an amazing memory.
1 April: Sandy Springs, Georgia. We are making progress as we travel north to Cambridge, Mass and the MIT Reunion in ten days. Later, we will catch up on correspondence and phone calls. Our days are consumed with packing, travel, eating, unpacking, and eating again. Oh, we do our exercises too, absolutely every morning without fail. Unfortunately, when traveling, our attire is not conducive to the walks we enjoy when stationary. (Ron's boots are too heavy; Cynthia's clothing ditto.) Ron is busy with MIT Burton Third reunion organizing. After a filling lunch at Ruby Tuesday in Marietta, we rode over to Sandy Springs and were delighted to meet Maggie, daughter of Michael & Angi, a cousin of a cousin, in Sandy Springs. Angi and Michael showed up later and treated us to an excellent dinner at a funky downtown restaurant. Tomorrow, we ride to Columbia, SC for two days.
route was simplicity itself: Windy Hill Road E to R on Powers Ferry Road S under the interstate and across the Chattahoochee River to a R on Northside Drive.
