Happy 4th

So, naturally it has been awhile since I last posted.

On Wednesday the 24th Dylan and I went back to the Sandias to climb with John Kear and Carolyn. We all had a good time and miraculously the weather held out and we did not get rained on, just a little spit. I made the probable second ascent of John's route, Insane Clown Posse 5.12+ and John and Carolyn did two routes for the first time, that I bolted with the help of Rip and Pletta a few years ago.

Then over the weekend Linda and I rode to the crest from town and back while Chris and Joanna watched Dylan who had a blast in their yard playing with Triny (Trinity) their 5 year old daughter.

Last week Dylan and I made it out to Big Block on Monday with Richard of Team Mojo and Jeff Leads of Prana and had a good time. On Wednesday we headed out to the Crystal Cave with Doug and 3 kids from Team Mojo, Richard, Liam and Rachel. Richard managed to send Dope 5.13b, not bad for a 14 year old, maybe he's 13. I came very close to doing the full version of Faith 5.13c but will have to live with the short version a couple of times as a workout.

Dylan, seeing all the climbing is starting to trian his open hand strength on the edge of the table as well as his core by holding L-sits. Well at least he is having fun swinging around.

The flowers have been out in force lately at the higher elevations. We saw some great ones up in the Sandias the past couple of weeks and blooming cactus at the Crystal Cave in the Jemez foothills.

On the 3rd we went up to Chris and Joanna's to hang out and celebrate the 4th and Chris' Bday a little early for both. Dylan again had fun with Triny and would follow her everywhere even when she went to brush her teeth.

Today we went to Datil for the day and met up with Carolyn and Anna B. along with Mick and Kari Shien. Mick being the author of the Sandia Rock guide book. It seemed as though everyone had a good time. Linda did The Raven 5.11d on her first try on TR and proptly lead it, which is quite good for her. Carolyn also managed The Raven on TR and plans to try leading it tomorrow, so hopefully all goes well for her.

Well Happy 4th.

Weekend in Datil

W headed to Datil this past weekend to try camping with Dylan again. Last time was a disaster with Dylan crying for several hours at night and keeping both of us up. He did not fall asleep untill I left the tent and slept in the front seat of the car so he had more space in the sleeping bags.

This time went a bit better. We brought the Pack and Play and set it up in the tent which made it easier for Dylan to fall asleep sinnce it is something he is used to sleeping in. However he then woke up at about 1:30am and started to cry, probably because he was cold. Linda was in the tent with him and tried to sooth him and have him sleep in the sleeping bag with her but he would not have it. So eventually I took him and calmed him in the back of the truck where I was sleeping. I took quite a while but after moving about a bit and sitting up a few times he finally fell asleep again which was a relief. He was probably awake for an hour or a little more so at least he got a good amount of sleep.
Here is Dylan looking pretty excited to be in the tent with his Pack and Play.

Here is a shot of Dylan drinking Auntie Betty's water in the evening.Linda and I had a good time climbing. Linda finally lead Once upon a Time 5.11D with the direct start, clean. I just ran laps on stuff at one point doing 3 routes in a row on the tower. We ran into the Austin TX climbing team who were out on a road trip with their coach, Johnny Myrick who is from Albuquerque. They were out there with some kids from our climbing team and a couple of the kids from the Huston climbing team as well.

Here is some video of what Dylan did to occupy himself in the camp site. He was cleaning it up so there was nothing to trip over...or not.

Climbing, Riding and Critters

So on Thursday Dylan and I made it out to the Crystal Cave in the Jemez in the afternoon with a couple of guys that work at the gym. Dylan had fun playing in the dirt and sitting in Jeff's chair. While I played on the short but very steep routes with Jeff and Doug. Maybe I'll get some shots of it next time I'm there, it's hard to explain, but the lip of the cave is only about 20 feet high and the routes are up to 60 feet long or so, really steep and pretty hard.

Over the weekend I did the Bill McClain Memorial Crest Race, and naturally got killed since most of the guys riding have put in probably 4 times the miles on the bike this year as I have. Though I was only about 2 minutes slower than I was 5 years ago, the last time I did the race and actually trained for it.

On Sunday we headed to Datil with a bunch of folks from the gym. In a true rarity for climbing, women out numbered men in the group, even if you counted Dylan. We all had fun climbing on the tower and walls to the left.

This morning Dylan and I headed to the Bio Park and spent some time wandering through the aquarium. After our trip to Hawaii he is totally fascinated with fish and turtles. Then we checked out the butterfly pavilion which I'd never been to before. I was a little disappointed as I thought there would be more or larger butterflies, maybe they will grow, but there was enough for Dylan to have a good time trying to chase them around. On our way out there was a booth set up with some critters, a small tarantula, a small scorpion, a couple of squeaking roaches, then these guys....

These are the small ones that you can find in NM apparently.

Then the big ones that are from Africa....
They also had a centipede, which have a pretty bad bite and are nearly impossible to kill, think hammer repeatedly though they are already flat to begin with. I though I'd killed one once at the gym only to find it crawling back out of the garbage can a few minutes later.

On our way out the model trains were up and running so Dylan watched the big train then spent some time "push"ing the "button" to make the "small" "train" go in circles, it was fitted with a car that spewed "bubbles" as it went, needless to say he was thrilled.

For folks that say that the newspaper industry is going to die, I beg to differ. I posted my truck on-line and in a couple of locations and received not a single call. We put it in the paper and on the first day I got about 10-12 calls and sold it. The classifieds are the way to go.

Hawaii

It's been awhile.
Here are some shots from our trip to Hawaii
The wedding chaple
Dylan testing Uncle Chris' nose to make sure it's attached wellDylan working the tables at the reception following the wedding

There were 24 tables to check in with and Dylan was exausted after he finished his rounds.

Dylan's first trip to a beach where you would get in the water
For more photos of him at the beach check out my Dad's photo website at:

http://www.pbase.com/duckb_ll/dylan_water_may09

Dylan driving, he is obsessed with wheels, he spent nearly an hour in this and another little car, we did not even put any money in them and he was thrilled.

Dylan spending time with my cousins children, so I don't know what that would make them to him.

Some video of Dylan playing in the rain. He's not such a fan of the rain in NM since it is cold, but in Hawaii it's like a bath falling from the sky. Sorry it is sideways.

We also made it out to Palomas to climb last weekend with Jerrad and Lisa. We all had a good time doing all the routes around Green Eggs and Ham.

I did the ABQ century with Chris, Joanna and Dani. Joanna had a terrible crash about 30 miles in and ended up with 7 stiches in her temple but seemed to be doing OK when I stopped by their house towards the end of the ride.

I think vacations need more down time and less traveling, we flew on 6 separate days over a 10 and a half day vacation. All the flights on separate days served a purpose but it would be nice to travel on fewer days.

OK enough for now

Hike to Palomas

This morning Dylan and I hiked up to Palomas Peak, well I carried him. We met up with Marc Ripper, Matt L. and Matt B. who were out there climbing. We spent a couple of hours out then gave Marc a ride back into town so he could work while the Matt's climbed a bit longer.

Palomas is a really pretty area on the back side of the Sandias with a moderately long approach. It takes about a half an hour to hike in through some pretty varied vegetation. Open fields, scrub oak, then a section that feels almost like a rain forest, then come the big pine trees in a section that just makes me want to ride a mountain bike, and finally the trudge up the hill through mixed trees and some cactus as the slope faces south in places.

Matt, who was working Entertaining Mike Tyson 5.13b last time I was out came OH so close to sending it today. He fell going to the juggy finger lock that you clip the last bolt off of, though you do have to get to it and readjust on it before you can clip, so a move and a half from sending. Marc Ripper pulled of 2, 5.12-'s, not sure of the names, by 11am. They headed up at 6am from town. Here is a shot of Matt on EMT.

There are these really cool trees along the first section of wall that you come to at Palomas that grow right out of the base of the wall horizontally for several feet that make great benches and such. Dylan had fun play around on one of the smaller ones. Sitting on a rock and leaning back against it.Climbing over it.And trying to crawl under it, though it kind of looks like a cage as well.Later in the evening when Linda got home from work she introduced Dylan to bubbles and he was ecstatic. Video will come in the next post.

A weekend of riding

Had a good weekend.

On Saturday Linda got to spend the Day with Dylan while Chris and I headed out to White Rock to do the Valles Caldera Double Crossing 200km brevet. It starts at the Overlook in White Rock and heads towards Los Alamos and over the caldera, out to Fenton Lake (really pretty out there and I had not ridden that road before) then back to Hwy 4 and down to Jemez Springs. A quick stop for a breakfast burrito at Deb's and mile 70 and back up over the caldera to White Rock by way of Bandalier NM. We got very lucky with the weather as there was a 40% chance of rain and the forcasted winds were 15-20mph. No rain though it did threaten and there were occasional gusts of wind but really nothing too bad. A very pretty ride.

On Sunday I took care of Dylan while Linda rode the Santa Fe Century with Joanna and Doni in just about idea conditions. It was about 80 for the high with little to no wind.

All in all I think we did pretty well for being very under prepared. Not having riden more than 50 miles yet this year and only about 6-7 hundred total in the calendar year. Though I'll addmit I did pay the price trying to stay with 3 racers, 2 had just finished the Tour of the Gila and the third had just won his age group in the AZ state TT championships. Needless to say I blew big at about mile 40 and could no longer get my heart rate above 150, then at about mile 110 event though I still could not raise my heart rate my power output jumped about 50 watts. Kind of wierd but it always seems to happen on long rides.

Linda would have rather climbed on Sunday and I'm glad that we did not, it makes it easier for me to avoid climbing if I don't actually go to a cliff even though I don't bring my shoes. The next couple of weekends it should be easier to avoid climbing since we will be in Hawaii for a wedding and some more time with my parents and sister.

No photos, que malo.

Long Time No Write

OK, so here is the shot of Linda's lip. This was about 3 days after it happened.

So on Saturday the 2nd I rode with Chris and Joanna from town to the Sandia Crest at 10,600 feet, good climb and with the intention of riding back into town. Only problem is is was snowing on us for the last 2-3 miles going up and pouring on us on the way down. Chris put it best,"I was trying to brake and peddle at the same time to stay warm". We called Linda to come and pick us up once we were down off the Crest Rd at the first gas station. Later that afternoon Linda headed out for a ride on the Look 585 Elle that she had been testing out. It is set up with standard 700c wheels instead of the 650c wheels she has on her bike. She forgot the extra spare tube and turned around pretty early and on her way back turning onto a side street her front wheel just skated out from under her. I was not there so I have no idea what happened but it looks as though she caught her upper lip on the stem clamp at the steerer tube or something to get the nice puncture. Needless to say, when she got home her ride was done.

On Sunday the weather looked bad up at El Rito and since Linda did not feel all that gunho we went to the Enchanted Tower instead. Linda climbed really well, getting up Straight on till Morning 5.12c with one hang on her first try but did not get back on it.

On Monday I ordered the camper shell for the truck, a Leer 180, which has the 4 inch or so rise above the cab, better for camping and transporting bikes.

On Tuesday evening my parents drove into town to help watch Dylan while I set for the Jr Regional competiton at the gym. it kind of sucks that when my parents come to town I generally have to work some pretty long hours so I don't get to spend as much time with them as I'd like. Though I know they really come out to see Dylan anyway. My parents got some riding in while I took breaks during the middle of the day when the gym is busy with menbers. My mom test rode the Look and the 48 cm Cervelo R3 at Fat Tire and ended up getting the Look, the same one that Linda crashed on. On Saturday it seemed as though the comp went OK, I left after the morning session and have not had a chance to ask about how the afternoon went.

On Saturday morning Mom, Linda and Joanna rode from Tijeras to the crest and back which is about 40 miles. Then in the afternoon after they were done, Dad, Chris and I did the same ride. We had a nice family dinner out tha evening and may parents left on Sunday morning.

On Sunday we pretty much just hung out and rested, at least that is what I did. Other than finally getting the swam cooler hooked up and some weeds picked up that had been pulled and tearing somemore ivy off of the house, though I did manage to stay in bed till 10:30 which was nice.

Oh to have no shame,

And here is the truck that we are trying to sell, if you know anyone that is looking $6500 OBO