Weekend Fire Destroys Landmark

The Burnt Waterloo Station Mexican Cantina

Saturday night, when no one was looking, the Waterloo Station Mexican Cantina burned not quite to the ground but almost! Here is what is left of the building. Was it lightening or gasoline?

More of the Burn Coffee Bar 

Coffee Bar 

Bar 

They're back

Today it took me 1 hr 19 min to go the 19 miles to work. Between the construction on 41 and the tourists it was bumper to bumper traffic. Ugh! I guess season is starting early.

I did get to ride on Sunday even though I was tired from golf on Saturday (see below). Tony and I rode 30 miles with and ave pace of 17 mph. We did the Coconut Point ride and of course we stopped at Pelican Landing for a snack and to watch the boats. I was quite tired and was happy when the ride was over. I did feel guilty however since Tony went on to do 40 miles.

Here are the totals for the week.

Bike 92 miles

Run 13 miles

I still haven't got back into the groove since my surgery. I need to find time to swim.

Goals for the week:

Bike 125 miles
Run 25 miles
Swim 3,000 yards

Today I rode with Tony. We had a turtle cross the road in front of us...well he was sitting in the road. We stopped and carried him to the other side (good Karma). We were stopped by another cyclist. He wanted to know if he could join us. We told him yes but then after Tony and I rode away we realized this guy was about 25 and real fit. As slow as we go he may not want to ride with us or we may regret inviting him to join us.

WEATHER

SKY: Clear - bright sun
TEMP: 79
HUMIDITY: 90%
WINDS: Calm

TRAINING
Course: Pelican Sound Loop
Distance: 25 miles
Ave Speed: 16.0 mph
Max Speed: 24.1
Ave HR 122
Time in Zone 3: 52:30
Ave HR in Zone 3: 133
Overall time: 1:22:08

Saturday Golf at Tiburon

Joanne teeing off at Tiberon!

Joanne drove the green at 13!

Saturday we played golf at the Greg Norman designed golf course Tiburon with our friends Barbara and Bill. It was a fun day of hitting the little white (or in Joanne's case yellow) ball and chasing it. Tiburon is a beautiful golf course developed by WIC and designed by Greg Norman. It is the host of the Shark Shoot-Out in November. It is on our reciprocal list and Joanne and I have always wanted to play there, so no time like the present.

After golf we had a wonderful lunch in Sidney's Pub with excellent service from Michael.

Mr. Bill...where did my ball go? 

The pro golfer Joanne at lunch in Sidney's Pub 

Lunch with Barbara & Bill at Tiburon

TGIF -Bike Day

Today it was a late start to my ride. I didn't want to get out of bed and stayed there until the last possible moment.

Weather

Sky: Clear
Temp: 74
humidity: 90%
Winds: Calm

Training

Course: Pelican Sound Loop
Distance: 20 miles
Ave speed: 16.2
Max. Speed: 25.6
Ave: 133
Time in Zone 3: 43:08
Ave in Zone: 137
Overall Time: 1:08:14

I remembered to stop my watch at the end of my ride! Tony and I had a good sprint on the power lines. We were doing 25+ at times. I wish I could do that consistently.

Run Day

When I went to the surgeon's office yesterday I saw a man waiting outside with parrot on his shoulder. This is the third person I've seen with a parrot. Does that make him a parrothead?

The surgeon said that everything is ok. I can start my full activities...Little did he know I already have! I am glad that this tumor was not cancer again!

Weather

Sky: Clear
TEMP: 76
Humidity: 94% ugh
Wind: Light easterly

TRAINING

Course: I made it up as I went along
Distance: 7.1 miles
Pace: 10.36
Best Pace 9:09
Ave HR 133
Time in Zone: 48:08
Ave in Zone: 135
Overall Time: 1:24:15

It was very humd which made it difficult to run but I got it done and I used 2 bottles of water and one of gatorade. I did stop at the River Club fitness center to fill my water bottle. It was just as hot inside as out and at least there was a little breeze.

Bike Day

This is the second time I'm writing this update. The first time blogger crashed and failed to update. all my data was lost! UGH!!!!

I felt good this morning. No aches and pains. My resting hr was 36 bpm and that was after walking around the house for an hour!

WEATHER

SKY: Overcast with lightening in the distance
TEMP: 78
HUMIDITY: 84%
WIND: Clam

TRAINING

COURSE: Pelican Sound Loop

DISTANCE: 22 miles

OVERALL TIME: forgot to stop my watch

AVE SPEED: 16.6 mph

BEST SPEED: 23.7

AVE HR: 119 bpm

TIME IN ZONE 3: 29:44

AVE HR IN ZONE: 138

AVE HR: 119

I have an appointment with the surgeon today. I guess he will drain more fluid from my surgery site.

Run Day

I have resumed my regular training. Today was a run day and I felt pretty good. Just a little soreness from yesterdays ride.

Weather:

Clouds: Bright Sun
Temp: 78
Humid: 79%
Winds: Calm

Training:

Course: New- South Hills to Pinehurst to River Club to Home
Distance: 6 miles
Overall Time 1:09
Ave Pace: 12"
Best Pace 8'58"
Ave HR 131
Time in Zone 45'22"
Ave HR in Zone 136

Sunday Lunch at Pelican Sound Golf and River Club

We decided to have lunch at Pelican Sound Golf Club. I had a hankering for a fried grouper sandwich. Since I biked 35 miles and had only a Power Bar and water, I felt I had room for a half of a sandwich (yes I'm still trying to lose weight). Even though it was hot outside (91), we sat on the porch under a ceiling fan. It gave us our favorite view of the ninth hole and the pond with baby ducks. Shannon our waitress was a little stressed that she had to walk so far in the heat.

Joanne ordered the house Chardonnay, which I know is pretty good, and I had a pint of Guinness. We ordered the soup of the day, Italian Chicken and Sausage and split a Fried Grouper Sandwich with kettle chips. Once again the soup was outstanding all it needed was more! The grouper was fried to perfection and splitting for us works very well for us! Also I don't over eat.

View of Pelican Sound's Lake Course 9th hole from our table. 

Saturday Dinner Vincenzo's on The Bay

I took Joanne to Vincenzo's on The Bay for a belated birthday dinner. Vincenzo's on the Bay is a quaint Italian restaurant on the backwaters of the Estero Bay. I called ahead to reserve a table so we could have a view of the Estero Bay. I told the hostess that it was a special occasion and wanted a view. Of course she explained that even though you have a reservation, the window tables are on a first come first serve basis.

Upon our arrival we were greeted by the hostess. I reminded her of my reservation and request for a window table. Katie lead us into the main dinner room with a wonderful view of the Estero Bay. She lead us to a table in the middle of the room. I once again asked if we could have a window seat (I could see 2 empty tables). She explained that there were none available. I pointed to a table for 6 and asked about that one. No, she explained, that was for large parties and it was Saturday night. Then I point to the table for 4 and asked about that one. Oh certainly I didn't see it, was her reply! We got our window seat at alast. Perhaps a tip would have helped?

As we were seated the waiter came with a grater in hand and asked if we would like some grated cheese. I said I have nothing to put it one and he proceeded to grate the cheese onto our bread plates ? What is up with that? I asked for a House Chardonnay for Joanne and a Kettel One one the rocks for me. While I looked at the wine list. The waiter explained that the Chief had a nice House Chardonnay for $20 a bottle. Since I am sketchily of those kind of offers I asked for a taste of the wine. He brought my Kettel One and a "flight" glass of the Chardonnay for Joanne to taste...well it was a good thing we tasted because it was very pale in color and biting to the taste with hints of a poor quality Chardonnay. I requested a glass of Kendall Jackson for Joanne. The surprising thing was when the bill was presented there was a $.50 charge for tasting! I ordered the Brochette as an appetizer and continued to peruse the wine list.

The waiter brought our Brochette and we ordered our courses... Grill Chicken over Spinach Linguine with red sauce for Joanne and Crab Ravioli in a Saffron Cream Sauce for me. I ordered a bottle of Chanti for the wine list and requested that it not be served until the main course was presented. The Brochette has a nice balsamic vinegar reduction drizzled in on the plate. It went very well with the field greens on the plate but as you picked up the brochette it was all over your hands and then your napkin then every where! I'd leave off the drizzled decoration.

As we ate our appetize the waiter appeared with red wine glasses and the bottle of wine I had asked to be served with the main course... Oh well I guess it can breath a little. I tasted the Chanti and it was a very nice selection (#401 on the wine list) for $28. Just $8 more than the swill house chardonnay and worth the money!

Since I like water and bread with the dinner and noe was presented by our waiter as the busgirl cleared the appetizer, I asked for water. As the main course was served I asked for bread.

Joanne's Chicken over Linguine became the topic of our discussion as Joanne said it tasted odd... not bad just odd. I took a taste and determined the chicken had ben marinated in lemon juice then when it was tossed with the tomato sauce the acids clashed. Each would have been excellent alone but together ugh!

My ravioli was excellent and that evidence of saffron was seen on the sauce a some of the threats had not dissolved. It was time for bread and I asked a second time for bread. The bread present was warm but uncooked in the center or at least very doughy but then some people like it that way.

I felt that it the waiter and bus staff were in a hurry for us to finish dinner and "turn" the table. Since I like to enjoy my meal I was sign for us to eat slow and enjoy, which we did. We watched the storm come up the bay (see pic below). There were plenty of empty tables since it is not season so we felt comfortable with a relaxed dinner inspite of the hurry.

The General Manager Sean O'Kourke stopped at our table to say hi and ask about our meal. Joanne explained her surprise at the odd flavor of the chicken. He was surprised since it is a very popular dish. I suggested that the Chief not use to acids together dishes together he was taken aback.

We ordered coffee and a cannoli. Both were excellent.

As we left the resurant we were pointed to the owner "Eddie" and told to explain our tasting of the chicken dish. Joanne again explained her surprise at the flavors in the chicken dish and I suggested that the lemon used on the chicken was to overpowering. "Eddie" was gracious to invited us to come back to sample some of his creations.

All in all it was a very nice night out with a great view of the storm. Next time I want to try the gnochi with a gorgonzala sauce and soup. I just hope I can great some bread with the soup

I never did find out why the waiter grated the cheese on the bread plate. Other parties when seated were not given cheese. Just one of those mysteries!

A Storm is brewing - as we dined a storm came up. 

Vincenzo's on The Bay - the view of Estero Bay from our table. 

Joanne at our table