Jay Smith Walking and Wharf Wrapped May 17, 11:35 p.m. Just how much abuse can a body take? Well the BMan set out his evening to find the answer to this question. You see, I got off early thanks to the combo of my #2 Son Nicholas, and Andrew Martin who both graciously modified their schedules to allow me to goof off, have supper at Wharf Wraps in Eastern Passage, visit my dear old Mom for a belated Mothers Day celebration, and then sip on some excellent Garrison One Hop IPA while listening to a haunting tune composed by the late Jay Smith and Dustin Bentall. Oh yes, and like all my music, its playing over, and over, and over. So thanks to all the guys for allowing me to slip out early today, ( I might get away with less than 110 hours this two week pay period ) and now I move onto a "Wharf Wraps Review." Hey I grew up in Woodside, a nutbar neighborhood, and Eastern Passage, only a stones throw away, always ranked right up there with equal weight on the nutbar scale. Sort of 9 out of 10 on the crazy side of things, and when you enter Wharf Wraps, you're not dissapointed. Decor and menu is "way out there." But wait a second, on the menu is fish, and fresh fish is 20 seconds away at the wharf, OK maybe 10 if you wanted to hurry, or if you had a bike. Does this make a difference? You bet! The fish and chips are beyond amazing, far beyond. Chips? Hey as much as Bill Spurless claims fresh cut fries are it, I disagree. Hot fries are hot fries, nothing more, nothing less. Just make sure their very hot and crispy, and they were. But fish? Well that's another story. Great fish is not battered and then refried like it is in 99% of the restraunts of the world. At Wharf Wraps, the fish is a 10 oz, thick, fresh from the boat haddock fillet deep fried only once to absolute perfection, enveloped in a light batter that will melt in your mouth. On a scale of 1 to 10, Wharf Wraps fish and chips are a 20. Trust me folks. At least a 20! Next on the list, dear old Mom, at 85 years young, she's still amazing to both Kristie and I, and all her loving grandchildren. Had a great visit, found out my Moms memory is way better than mine, and shared a few laughs along the way. Happy Mothers Day Mom. I know you'll be around next year to celebrate it, just hope I will be as well. Next up, sip a Garrison One Hop IPA, listen to some tunes, because you don't have the talent to write or create them, and then appreciate and try to hook up with those who have that ability. That's how I'll finish this rather long drawn out post. Jay Smith? Never saw him live, never heard him live, and I've unfortunately missed the boat forever. Jay passed away this May while on tour, but from what I have seen, heard, and discovered, Jay was loved by all. Musicians, he played with, wrote tunes with, loved Jay for how they felt when they were with him. Dustin Bentall says,"The difference with Jay is that he made you feel like you were the most important person in the room. Anyone who met Jay felt like they were his best friend." Pretty cool, I wish I had met Jay before he passed. So tonight, I've been working behind the scenes trying to bring some of Jays music/attitude live to the shop, through only the few avenues I have available to me. Trust me folks, I've knocked down many walls in my 20 years of doing business, and I'm hoping this one falls just like the others I've put my focus on. Fingers crossed, Jay Smith, his love, his passion, and his influence on all who knew him will live forever, and his music will be heard at Bicycles Plus. Oh yes, it will be heard, although we will not be worthy, the night will be ours and Jays forever! Zinfandelled May 14, 8:22 p.m. Just Googled this, and it doesn't exist, so that just means I'm the creator of yet another word, and please don't waste your time. Zinfandel? Google that word, and you come up with a grape that originated from Italy, but has grown in prominance as a mainstay of many California wineries. During our 2011 trip to California where we rode our bikes and sampled famous Pinot Noir wineries, Kristie and I discovered the Zinfandel grape. As we rode our bikes across the State, we noticed that not all vineyards looked the same. There were some that were made up off distorted looking stumps. What were these? Yup, old vine Zinfandel plants. You see, they produce much less fruit, (grapes) but the sugar content, and flavor is super intense. Sort of like everything else, it comes down to a decision by the vineyard owner as to whether they want to produce something magical (old vine product), in very limited quantities, or something that isn't great (chop the old vine down and plant young plants that produce a bunch of middle of the road fruit) but you will be compensated by the massive volume sold. Kudos to the folks that focus on quality! You see, whether you sell wine, cars, bicycles, or anything else, QUALITY always trumps over pumping out huge qauntities of mediocre product. Tonight I've been Zinfandelled, old vined, at that, and trust me, there is no better place to be. Prime Time Deliverance May 5, 7:52 p.m. Go ahead and try to guess what song I'm listening to right now by Matt Good? You've got it, Prime Time Deliverance! Since my last post things have been tough, time has been tight, stress levels in the red zone, so today, it would have been very easy for me to do what I normally do. Put my head down like a bull, ignore everything, my family, my well being, my sanity, and just work until the day is wasted and then start the new week feeling totally bagged. Did it last week, the week before, and before... but today, I took the time to draw a line in the sand. Sundays, from here on in, are for my family and I, and nobody else. Call me selfish, call me arrogant, but I'm almost human, and as such do require a break once and a while to maintain my balance. Balance? A much bigger and more complex word than many of us think, and yet a key to our overall health and well being. So, today, I did not put my head down, and snort ferociously from the nose. Instead I said, I'm going to the Falmouth Flyer, I'm going to see some good friends that I haven't seen for far too long, I'm going to ride my bike as hard as I can, and I'm going to feel like a million dollars when all is done. And guess what? Tonight I feel like a million and one dollars. BMan signing off. BMan, Is There An IPA Fairy? May 5, 7:47 p.m. I know many of you adults out there don't believe in miracles, Santa, or the probably the Tooth Fairy, and I'm definitely not here to challenge or confirm you beliefs, I just want you to know that the BMan has seen, been blessed by, and will swear to God that the IPA Fairy does exist, and in fact, will come to you baring delicious Garrison beer with immense hop flavors, if you truly believe in her. LOL...a. Someone will get this, but unfortunately, many will not. Moral of the story? If you believe something is possible, it is. If you don't, it is not.