tucson alast the sunshine can make a smile

Ah from the rain forest back to Oregon taking on Montezuma Revenge head on for two days then loading up the red wagon and home on wheels from storage the not yet up to strenght me headed down the five with Tucson as the destination. I pretty much drove 1,400 miles in two days with one mis hap that being a blown trailer tire and not really felling or seeing it with the dark and all , a nice motorist came up and turned the dome light on and pointed back, at first I thought they were mes sen with me but then it all hit snapping me out of my sleep deprivation and figuring out things just weren't right with the towing. Thanks to my trusty black Diamond prim win I could see all the things to getter done and back on the road ariving at the Catalina State park and hook en up with Montana connection Jeff the shim Penrod and Don Juan Arhtur, I was promptly fed and mothered by Jeff in his sort of wine induced humorous preforming way.

So after way to much wine and maybe four hours of sleep we do tour the Oro Valley for tree hours , see alot of the valley and have mostly great bike path and bike lanes. Day two felling some what rested we tackle Mt. Lemon but get way too late a start especially after making a few wrong turns and not being in Lemon conquering shape we get our back sides handed to us. I may ed it to the Winter Haven spot and waited a while for my homeys then headed down meeting them down the mountain gearing up for the cold near the top, we were all suffering and cram pen but new we were running out of that glorious sunshine and light. No prepared for darkness stuff with us we got some Adrenalin pedal pumping in but still ended up ridding a hour in the dark with occasional car lights helping our journey, we are old enough to know better but did make the 120 mile with a lot of climbing a epic event for us out of shape over eatters and wine drinkers.

We also saw the happy faces and chatted a bit with the Schultz boys on the mountain, of coarse they had already slayed it and were in home ward mode.

We did a good hike the next day to try and work a wrinkle or two out then hit Gates Pass the next day meeting Lindsey C. Jen L. And Elliot the B man along the way, so we been good for Montana sightings.

Next day big changes even in Paradise with rain and snow so a no go on valentines day, my boys decided to catapult out of town towards Saint George and the promise of better weather on the way back to the center of the universe.

The next day was sorta big for me ridding two hour mt. bike then ridding roadie ten miles to meet Bill and Cindy Schultz and throwing in nice conversation pace on the bike paths around town and a great dinner with the Schultz family . I got another big three hours on the mt. bike next day doin a killer Charheouleoou Pass that I meant my stopper before I could crest the pass with no legs left and miles to go back I gave in. Day of rest now I might be ready for some more brutality to the body but life is good..

My Jungel Travels and the marvels of Peru

Just got back from a game changer in life trip to Peru, visiting Lima, Iquitos, and the great Amazon river and jungles.

Were to start well how about getting up at 4:30 am then off to the airport for the 6 o'clock flight to Houston then off to Peru. We did not land and get to hotel tell12:30 am so long day.

Right off I amassed and awed by all the peeps in Li ma very low and the high way of life and they in numbers go hard into the night.

the fist full day here we took a bus to the down town plaza with the many chapels and presidential palace. There was a big singing, dancing and posturing of different tribes for the I think 27 day celebration of the virgin.

The Catholic spirit is very high here, peeps wait in line for hours to get in some chapels to pray and be blessed.

After taking in the sights we headed back to the hotel for what started out to be one of many time being involved with the drinking of Pis co Sours. They are even celebrated on a certain day of the year which was during our visit. We then went to a Ocean Restraint for fab meal.

next day we are headed to Iquitos for our one and half hour drive to Nauta which is right on the river and our boat is waiting to take us on our adventure. We spent a few days walking in the Jungle learning about it and all it's inhabitants which are so many. Colorful birds were every where. We stayed a night right in the jungle, something i knew of ahead of time and had been in pucker mode, but I managed unscathed except for my ears getting over worked with the new sounds all night except maybe one or two hours of break and pretty peacefulness.

We as a group from peeps from William and Marry , Oregon State Alum's and a few just on the tour numbered some 14 moved through the jungle boarded the skiffs and ate many great meals cooked up by some great malty tasking peeps from various villages along the Amazon. They are for the expedition and stay on the in the jungle and on the river like the Cycling House is for bikers, they totally have it dialed and make the stay great.

We spent seven days on this adventure which was a memories and experience to last . It was good to see how simple people could live and survive and look happy and content with that, it also may ed me really appreciate so many of the things i take for granted. Got to say that the most the peeps on this trip not all were in their 60's and up but there was this one lady Doris with her daughter in law that was 92 and full of so much life. She could hang with all the hikes, all the conversations , she could bring the humor and she brought a sweetness that had me crush en on this young lady.

So we got back to the states Sunday in time for a dry sunny marvelous day for a two hour mountain bike ride then settled in to finish watching the super bowl with me being happy with which ever team won, it's so less stress full that way. Half hour after the game it's lights out with full on diarea, fever thing , chills and just plain go ahead and shoot me feelings that after two days are still lingering--ouch. Got to heal soon need to be in Tucson to meet and ride with peeps from Montana by Friday. So take care all...

The winter time paaen by

So been aol for some time . but many of us blogger type have been.

I've got in a ride here and there being the fair weather boy always, every once in while I hit the outside ridden in the cold crispy foggy stuff but not of free will. I actually got in with some of the Corvegan rider's last Sunday and in between 4 flats we got some fast paseline and ridden in which i am know way in shape for.

The mountain biking is stellar on most of the trail around town. it's been dryer her in Corvallis than normal winters and I dig that .

Have had a few good ski weekends up in Bend which so much like The Zoo. There are a number of trails up around Bachelor that groomed like Yellow Stone, a pleasure to ski on.

So proud to report the addition of one more Gran daughter, she is the third and from the looks it the last from my daughters Danyel and Angela,it's an all girl thing which is great. Grace was born 5 weeks early and had a ruff week like her mom Angela . After a week they are much better and home with the rest of the fam.

Yesterday i went Portland and stayed at the Crystal Hotel, it's a Micminniamin thing like some many buildings they have taken and reconstructed into hotel.bars, restaurants and pools, sometimes theaters. Everything in one and just stay and play,works for me especially last night when we ate at Jake's across the street,shop ed a little at buffalo exchange, hit the famous book store Powell's, like three stories of room after room of books. Then we were off to the bar in the Crystal Hotel that had a great 2 boy 2 girl band called Golden Boy, easy listening. Then off to the famous Crystal Ball room just up the block for 80's music on huge screens and a bouncy floor, which after 3 hours of none stop dancen it was a must. Then by one in the morning off to the hotel soaking pool which a few were still occupying, so by two a.m. it was crumbling time. but for fact i still got a little move and some late night in me, now recovery-recovery...

Miss summer but the beat goes on

So it's only been 4 months ,who's counting? I have enjoyed reading the other blogs ,face book and other ways of cathchen up.

I got sorta busy with work ,travel ,family,friends and some fitness try's and here is what I tried to do . After getting all sick and travelling to Honolulu for a week I trained a weekend with 4 days in a roll then raced at the Tour De Bozeman the week after then off to Sun Valley for mt. bike nats where I barley made the podium for 5th,dam the guys my and every other age are tuff at that level. Then it was serious training for around 6 weeks with one back pack trip mixed in for cross train and pain ,there was a little to much liquid spirits packed in so well good for training and pain control right? Off to road nats I went and did better in the crit and road race than i ever have finishing right in the front packs in both but not worthy of the podium. Road so far is my nemeses to get on the steps.

So in between and after this fitness and race escapade i scooter ed all over town for visits ,bbq, and just to much fun. the summer was fast but sweet.

Now with fall and that winter thing upon us I am tryin to adapt with out haven those lay outs in the spandex on the hill above Brennen's wave then maybe a beer where ever you can get a beer in spandex, I don't recommend so much shamie time.

I did the Butte cross at the beginning of Montana's season and did better than usual but then hit a 4 week hiatus before dabbling in Redmond,WA. with visits with Danyel and family and travelling to sea town with Julie staying like royalty at the silver cloud right next to the clink and safeco field and the pyramid brewery,now that's spoilt and i like it. So after the first cross race in a month after the cushy stay at the cloud and racing with some fast and furious 55 year olds for a bareley 2nd i traind some what more and hit the magnuson park croosy the next week around beautyfull lake washington,the corse rocked and I quit the mambie routine and got away at the end with some chippy passin and cornering and a little more gas in the tank than the wek before.Also got to see the Ivanaiter turn it loose on the cat 4 ladies,she's rocken this cross stuff. Bye for now all talk again in another 4 months.

Last Weekend Was To Live For...

Now that I've set on my flat side or laid around like a beached whale ,still have no energy or much will to move off the confines of the couch,maybe I need one of those what F----- blankets. Not even getting that restless yet ,so a true sign of sicccccccccccccccck ...

I had the best time ridding trail then road the next day last weekend the weather ,the flowers ,the peeps and the panoramic views made my summer. Started out Saturday morning meeting a mostly Julie Hauck group at the farmers market for pre ride breaky and coffee, think the hole town was out in the splendor of the orb in the sky providing the color we love and miss. this is when it all comes together and life is good. So off we went towards Jumbo and beyond, up Lincoln Hills we had to do that walk of trail to the next street. How stupid is that ? But dismount and obey the sign we did for 50 yards or so , guess the guy who lives next to it is the trail nazi so do the walk. Up up we went past the house that doesn't belong on the ridge heading to three larches, i was amazed at how wet and muddy these sections are and water really running where it normally trickles or doesn't exist this time of the year. We stopped alot for Kodak moments and the catch your thin air attempt. The scenery was a main line shot of apreceation . We made way to the top of three larches then the drop down freddy that always puckers me some , mostly in respect of what has happened and can happen here. Down to Rattlesnake garden for talk of the ride a cold smoke and some eats and again life is good.

next day was a hole different ball game with the ride starting at Le Petit and consisting of the heavy hitters and I show up with the heavy finder ed up tri cross for what blindly thought would be social cruise to Alberton,anything but came of that. Pace lining at race pace soon as we hit big flat then sprints for signs and Z-man crunch up the hills. This is when i had started out with a sore throat the night before and not much for voice or breathing for the ride. There I was in pain ass cave out and back. Tried laying in that great hot sun after to bake what ever was invading the body but failed so all week has been suffer fest with the cold from hell. Much rather the pain cave of ridden with a bunch of testy dudes. So much for fitness,that's gonna be a re-do .

Catch UP And Tell

I'm tardy in so many ways. but here I set on getting a flat spot rear end with some time and the constant sound of the unending rain. I got real run down last weekend during the partaking of the 24 hour race and got the rare for me kick ass cold now.

The story of the Round And Round 24 hour mountain bike race held in Spokane at the riverside park area started about 6 weeks ago when i got the call up to the big league's from Bill Schultz with all local zoo town he being the ring leader to this kind of hell but the feal of a big accomplishment in the same moment. We had a 5 man team may ed up to qualify for the 250 age group. This was helped out do to bill and I 57 a piece with the others 50 and under,wow and no wheel chairs among us.

I didn't get a mountain tell 3 weeks ago and not having one sense last September, I've been in catch up mold with road ridding under my belt and 4 mountain bike rides with one a race to go into this suffer fest.

We had some very strong and well rounded guys with close to the same times through out the ordeal which was key to beat ting the Old Wymm dudes from the west side. We got top spot on the podium a cool jersey bottle of wine and a big oh medal. There was a good representation of Montanaians racing and doing well !!!

Well other things going on have been work and more work with me already wishing for the end of September cause i am ruined for that sort of thing anymore with being so good at 6 months of retirement per year.

I've been hang en with fam allot rock en easter at my daughter Angelas with lots of gran daughter time . Check en out the circus the easter egg hunt with many curtain hangers running about. Trying to get Amaya off the training wheels which I may need back some day.

So is anyone bothered about the lack of rainless days yet? Dam gonna need to like duck with water tight rear end if it keeps this up. And due to the run off and rain there wont be a stse road race this weekend which for me on the sick list is a blessing.

Take care all and as per usual rubber side all the way down...