It’s time for enlightenment and more trails

The BWI Trail is part of a growing system of trails linking cities up and down the East Coast.

The world is long overdue for another period of enlightenment, a sense of the role God plays in the universe and how that informs our search for real values that can guide us to a more harmonious planet. Maybe the internet and huge leaps forward in communication will get us there. Universe means one song, but right now the world seems to be singing a million different songs.  There’s plenty of good work being done and enlightenment takes time. That’s why patience is so important, and faith and love. And great trails to ride and walk where it’s quiet and easier to hear God’s whisperings.

Last week I attended a meeting of the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association at the Thurgood Marshall Baltimore Washington International Airport.  Some free time early Friday morning gave me the chance to ride the BWI Trail that follows the perimeter of the airport property.  What a great trail!  It’s about 17 miles of paved trail with great diversity.  One section travels through a horse farm before it rises to a grassy hill looking over one of the main landing strips for the airport.  It’s a good place to stop and marvel at these colorful craft taking off and landing, taking passengers to destinations all over the world. Another section passes through a neighborhood and past an elementary school. There are wooded sections too, lots of rolling passes, bridges over great highways like I-97 and a park with a playground where parents pedaling with their families can stop, picnic, play and watch more airplanes coming and going.  The trail also hooks up with the Baltimore and Annapolis Trail linking the airport with downtown Annapolis. That trail parallels Route 2, the Ritchie Highway, as well as the upper reaches of the Severn River. It ends at the airport but if you want to head into Baltimore you can put your bicycles on the light rail and get off at Camden Yards or the inner harbor.  Great Stuff.

I stayed at the Four Points By Sheraton Hotel. It’s the only hotel on the actual grounds of the airport and its entrance is no more than 200 yards from the BWI Trail.  Good parking too.  The hotel manager told me the hotel is primarily used by commuters so it has plenty of open rooms on weekend nights.  He said rooms are available for as little as $90.  Great rooms, well-maintained hotel, good restaurants.  Put two or four people in a room with two double beds and you have an inexpensive but luxurious getaway with great biking toward Baltimore and Annapolis and around the airport.  I recommend it highly.

Don’t forget to count your blessings, and say your prayers.  So many people need our positive thoughts. Rock on!

A park along the trail hosts a kiosk where travelers can check out maps of the trail they're riding.

Cape region buzz, jazz and bizz

Former Lewes Police Chief Beau Gooch in the halls of Cape Henlopen High School.

There’s a familiar face roaming the hallways of Cape Henlopen High School these days.  Former Lewes Police Chief Beau Gooch has taken a part-time position as a hallway monitor in the school.  “I like it,” he told me recently.  “The kids are great, I’m working around a lot of people I know and it’s a nice change of pace from my former job.”  Beau said he continues to do Wing Night at the local Moose Lodge and continues to get rave reviews for his recipe.

I heard recently from Tricia Ratner that the planned benefit concert at Cape Henlopen High School featuring opera singer Aprile Millo has been postponed until the fall.  “Aprile will be busy preparing for a concert in Prague in early June and we also  thought it would be a better fit for Sussex in September or October,” said Tricia.  “I’m currently trying to work out a date with Clear Space and will let you know the date soon.”

Meanwhile, planning continues for the Wednesday, June 16 comedy show by Weird Al Yankovic at Rehoboth Beach Convention Center.  Tricia’s also involved with that through her connections with The Jefferson School, which sponsors the comedy concert each year.  One interesting thing about Weird Al Yankovic.  Apparently he has a huge fan following and the concert sponsors have to put aside about 200 tickets for those fans which Weird Al’s handlers say will definitely be on board for the show.  The June 16 show is at the beginning of his summer tour so he will likely be testing new material.

The Caggiano family opened their new Nicola Pizza location last Friday night on the north side of the first block of Rehoboth Avenue.  The word I heard is that Lewes cabinet maker Ronny Hill did some of his usual awesome woodworking inside. It will be worth stopping by just to see that level of craftsmanship, not to mention the usual excellent Nicobolis, pizza and other great Italian food the Caggianos are known for.  Meanwhile, the original Nicola Pizza location on First Street also continues to pump out the great food and drink.