Wildwood Days/Cape May Weekend

Date	September 16-18, 2005
Hosts	Mel and Barbara Kornbluh (Tandems East)
Where	Wildwood, NJ
Who (else)	Friday: Helen and Bob Bird, Lily and Michael Fabricante, Nancy and John Henderson, Brenda and Larry Isherwood, Julie and Phil Latzgo, Renee and Fred Neibauer, Susan Nicolich and Dave Snope, Cheryl Prudhomme and Mark Cook Saturday: Judy Allison and Malcolm Boyd, Helen and Bob Bird, Marion and Steve Chandler, Van and George Connolly, Claire Hamanaka and Walt Willard, Nancy and John Henderson, Georgeann and Joe Hitzel, Brenda and Larry Isherwood, Julie and Phil Latzgo, Connie Mertens and Don Engleke, Renee and Fred Neibauer, Susan Nicolich and Dave Snope, Cheryl Prudhomme and Mark Cook, Trish and Ed Troike Sunday: Van and George Connolly, Claire Hamanaka and Walt Willard, Brenda and Larry Isherwood, Connie Mertens and Don Engleke, Renee and Fred Neibauer, Laura Nesbitt and Pete Sklarow, Susan Nicolich and Dave Snope, Debra and Ray O'Brien, Cheryl Prudhomme and Mark Cook, Trish and Ed Troike

[Dave Snope report]

Friday

DOGS teams from many states (at least NJ and PA) started converging on Cape May during the afternoon. Some arrived in time for a 25-mile ride which started at 1:30. Team Isherwood prepared cue and sign-in sheets for the ride and eight teams started off for what turned out to be a scenic tour of Cape May and the surrounding area.

After the ride, a refreshing swim in the pool or ocean prepared us for Friday's feast at Harpoon Henry's. Fourteen teams gathered for food and sunset watching on the bay. After dinner and the ensuing struggle over settling two bills amongst 28 people, we all returned to our motels, hotels, and B&Bs for a good sleep in anticipation of our 50 mile Saturday ride.

Saturday

Mel and Barbara arranged for us to be served breakfast early on Saturday at The Pier House At The Water's Edge, after which we all gathered in front of the Convention Center for a group ride start. It had been raining during the night and early morning, but Mel arranged for that to stop so we could do our ride. Fourteen teams and one single (Mel) attended the ride, which went as far as North Wildwood. Several teams took a shorter route, but the majority did the 50-mile ride in hot and humid conditions.

A well-deserved swim and some ocean body-surfing were enjoyed by many tired DOGS. Shopping was also a popular activity as Fall prices were in effect at some of the stores.

Saturday's dinner plans took us to Idaho Sweets Real Wood Pit BBQ in Wildwood with about 15 teams in attendance. After filling our bellies with beef, chicken, ribs, fish, and various sinful side dishes, we were led by Mel for a boardwalk and amusement pier tour. Some chose to ride the giant Ferris wheel, others the Great White roller coaster (all who did the ride managed to keep their BBQ to themselves); and still others wanted to go on various other rides.

Mel wanted to see if he could ring the bell with the hammer in the strongman game, and put in a notable performance just short of doing that. Next up was Larry who went just a little higher, but still no bell ringing. Then Phil stepped up to the plate and without much trouble rang the bell 3 times in a row. What a guy! Phil's performance was so memorable that Lili named her newly won stuffed dog "Phil". An honorable mention went to Brenda for a great effort (but no bell ring).

Sunday

After breakfast at the Pier House, ten teams and one single gathered for a choice of a 16-, 30-, or 50-mile ride, traveling in a more westerly direction. No metal grate bridges this time and the riding was very enjoyable. The weather was warm and sunny with less humidity; a good time was had by all. After the ride, the teams went their separate ways home with fond memories of their DOGS weekend in Cape May.

Many thanks to Mel, Barbara, and the Isherwoods for their efforts in organizing the event.

[Walt Willard report]

It was one of those last gasp of summer weekends where everyone pretty much followed their own whims. Quite a few couples seemed familiar with the area and had their favorite places. My day off Friday disintegrated into a half day, so we got a late start and missed the informal ride that Brenda and Larry had cooked up. We did meet everyone at Harpoon Harry's in North Cape May for dinner.

After a dee-licious early breakfast Saturday, we all set out on our fifty miler. The warm, sunny ride was punctuated only by Mel's flat on his single. Barbara missed her first ride ever with an eye injury.... a sordid garden accident involving a leaf. Still, no lighthearted matter when your sight is at stake.

Afterwards we all scattered across various beach activities from shuffleboards to shopping to naps. The evening found some of us at one of Mel's favorite rib joints in Wildwood. A walk down to and on the boardwalk scattered everyone again. Mark and Cheryl were last seen buying tickets to the Ferris wheel and roller coaster.

We opted to do a 30 mile ride Sunday in order to make our 11 AM checkout time and still get cleaned up for the ride home. Don and Connie, and Fred and Renee, and Claire and I passed the 50-miler group sailing along the beach near Harpoon Harry's in opposite directions.

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