Corinth Cycling Kicks Off Summer With 3rd Annual Picnic
by Deborah Franklin
LAKE KIOWA-For me, being asked to fill in for the insightful, witty columnist
Scottie Franklin is a bit like being expected to hit a homer
in the bottom of the 9th in Game Seven…..with marginal
experience in playing the sport. But when I was told my subject matter
would be the food and festivities enjoyed at the CCC picnic, I
felt like I was in my comfort zone after all.
After weeks of rain, even Mother Nature was ready to take a break and
make way for what turned out to be a perfect day for a picnic. If the
word “picnic” conveys to you an image of spending an hour just loading
up the car with baskets of food and recreational necessities, sitting down
on lumpy ground shared by a park full of strangers eating cold chicken
and hot potato salad, wondering why you even bothered, then that image
was shattered this past weekend. Even as we arrived at the entrance
of
passing through the checkpoint, we traveled on a scenic route that led us into
a Mayberry-like setting full of friendly neighbors.
Guided by custom signs to direct our way, we soon arrived at
the Oppel estate. The towering front doors provided only a glimpse
of what to expect on the other side. Inside, you may have missed
the meticulous window treatments and beautiful granite
countertops masked by the cornucopia of food provided by Red Hot & Blue,
compliments of Jack and Patty. (How can we thank you enough?!) The meat
alone
satisfied even the most carnivorous of the
of succulent ribs, tender pork, juicy turkey and spicy sausage, topped with
barbeque sauces made mouth waters just waiting in line. As if that weren’t
enough, potato salad, beans, and sweet rolls added to the heavenly experience.
To satisfy those a little more health conscious, trays of vegetables
and samples of Scott’s tofu ribs were available upon request. If you
weren’t
able to join us on our trip to
the write-up, then you were probably puzzled upon seeing the
“prairie dog” cake. No, you didn’t miss Groundhog’s Day;
this was David Buccini’s way of poking some good-natured fun at
Alex for somehow missing hundreds of prairie dogs while on a stop on their ride.
To wash it all down, an assortment of beverages were available to
satisfy everyone’s needs from the children on hand to the party animals.
Jimmy Buffet would have felt right at home as a margarita machine
hummed in the corner of the screened-in porch. Beer, wine and soft
drinks were also on hand to put out the fires of those brave enough to
have tried the HOT barbeque sauce.
Patty explains the nuances of the Margarita Machine
Outside, everyone enjoyed a gorgeous afternoon of relaxing on
the grass or risking their lives on the treacherous waters behind
Jack’s boat.
Can you guess which "kid" was thrown off first? Hint: The big one not holding on.
By Scott’s account of what happened, one would think Evil Knievel
sat behind the wheel of the boat rather than sweet, teddy bear Jack.
One survivor insisted Captain Jack drove in excess of 40 MPH, making
tight turns and taking no prisoners as he delighted in seeing innocent
children
being launched into the waters of
To unwind that afternoon, groups gathered in the Oppel media room
where even the strongest of men turned green with envy upon seeing the setup.
The matinee feature was “Corinth Cycling Club-Tearing Up the Road”, a
video Scottie painstakingly produced of still pictures and video taken
on various rides and outings throughout 2006. Smiles were prevalent as
the riders relived warrior-like feats and saw friendships unfold over the
past year. It also gave spouses and children an opportunity to see why
the cyclists of CCC are so passionate about their sport. Highlights of
the video included seeing Sam’s butt projected on a large screen
(thank goodness the video wasn’t 3D), witnessing a small portion of Tim’s
breakdowns and flats that are considered just another day at the office
for him, and Micaela and Tim’s perfect picture at the video’s conclusion.
To cap the perfect afternoon, Jack took a boatful of passengers
--Scottie, Tim, Chris E., Scott, David, Chris & Jen—for a ride.
Scottie, Tim and Chris E. displayed their talents of dancing on water
by putting on a ski show like no other (you may interpret that however you like).
Some onlookers described the scene as something straight out of SeaWorld- Shamu included!
Of course, Lake Kiowa residents and the local lake patrol must have did a double take
when they saw Gramps floating alone in the middle of the lake on his skis
while Captain Jack and crew made a quick supply run.
By ten, those remaining reluctantly called it a night, thanking Jack & Patty
for their hospitality and letting them get some much-deserved rest.
.
2007 Corinth Cycling Club Picnic Photo Album
Captain Jack
Patty and son Garrett manage to find a little time to soak up the sun
After
his misfortune in
A byproduct of being a cyclist, Rick always has a water bottle or bottled water within arms reach.
Scottie looks refreshed after being knocked into the lake by a 12 "Gauge"
Shelly and Lisa say "Howdy Partner" as Chris strikes a perfect Sasquatch pose.
Dan, Roy and Sue enjoy the shade and the view of Lake Kiowa.
CCC Groupies Suzi, Lucy, Micaela and Alice share stories with Johnny
Lance and Roy wasting away in Margaritaville
What Jimmy doesn't know won't hurt him.
Where's the remote?
"Do as I say son, not as I do".
