January

So January has come and pretty much gone. It's been a pretty busy month with a couple trips to MD and some entertainment. MLK weekend was spent with Andrew and Janna. We played lots of disc golf and caught up on many things since we hadn't hung out in quite a while. The other weekend trip to MD was to help my friend Chris move into his new place in Gaithersburg, MD so he could start work at NIH. Congrats to him!

This past weekend was filled with fun times as well. Played tennis for the first time in yeeeeaaars, played disc golf and enjoyed a great lunch. The sun was out all weekend and temps climbed into the 50's and 60's so riding was a must on Sunday and Maddog enjoyed himself at the dog park as well.

I made deviled eggs for the first time ever, with a different recipe than most, which includes avocado instead of mayo, which went over quite well at the Sunday evening get together I went to. There was some other delicious food (sweet potatoes and parsnips and such) and drinks, known as painkillers, which was very welcomed to ease my sore muscles from tennis and riding... We sat around the fire pit and ate and told vacation stories, and had a great time. It was an outstanding night with great people. 

Colorado

Family, friends and mountains over the holidays. Doesn't get any better than that. And yes, I learned how to knit. Happy New Year!

Back on the rock

Very timely after my previous post, I was given the option to go climbing or biking. I went climbing. Bouldering to be precise. I picked up Chad's girlfriend in Charlottesville Friday night on my way to Chad's place. On Saturday we went over the boarder to WV to a new bouldering spot. It was really nice to get out again. It was cool out temp wise, but sunny and comfortable. Other than my skin being soft, I felt good, having not climbed in well over 6 months, and maybe as much as 10. I didn't do anything harder than a V3 and my endurance was pretty poor. But it was really nice to get back on the rock. I'm going to hit the climbing gym this weekend and work or my skin and strength. And as much as strength helps, it was interesting just moving on the rock again. The balance work and the stretching, reaching, and lunging in ways you don't do in other activities. It was fun.

On Sunday we went to Old Rag where the rocks are so grippy, you barely have to hold on. But your skin is very unhappy. The problems are fun and you can find something for everyone. I'm still loving my car, since it's super easy to cram 3 crash pads, 3 people, a dog, overnight bags and an assortment of other stuff, and cruise up the poorly maintained roads to have easy access to the top.

Falls into winter

I had an enjoyable Thanksgiving at my Aunts house in Norfolk, VA with a small group of family. The turkey was great and the veggies, root like and yummy. The dogs ran and ran and ran themselves ragged. I played disc golf Friday at the local course. Most courses seem short after playing Bryan park all the time and Seneca occasionally.  But it was nice to get out and walk around. Especially with the gorgeous weather we've been having. I hope everyone else had a good holiday as well.

I came home Sat. and unpacked and did laundry and relaxed some more. Sunday I went for a bike ride early in the morning. My old co-worker and his roommate rode with me and it was a good ride, like usual. With temps in the high 60's and the sun out, it was as good as it gets. At any time of the year. Really. It was great. I also took Maddog to the dog park in the afternoon so he didn't get too depressed not having his cousin to run around with.

I went to Walnut Creek last weekend with my old-coworker and met another guy there. Another crazy good weather day, and it was lots of fun. It almost seemed sorter than I remember. I don't think we went more than 12 miles, which is what the Richmond trails are. The hills are much more significant, but I felt good. Tired, but not exhausted.

I haven't been climbing in quite a long time now, and sometimes I get this strong urge to go back to the gym. Most of the time it subsides and I don't go and don't worry about it. I've been riding quite a bit and enjoying it now that the smallest hill doesn't wipe me out. My lungs and legs can push farther for longer and with practice comes a small skill set. I'm getting farther in the rock gardens and getting through turns with less braking. Kirk once asked me if I'd ever be more of a rider than a climber. If you go by how much someone does something, then I'd have to say I am more rider than climber now by a lot, and mentally I'm probably as close as I'll get.

Given the opportunity to go climbing, or go riding, at any point, I'd probably still say climbing though. That may be because I haven't been in so long and just want something different, but part of me really does like the problem solving aspect of bouldering, and the cold hard rock under my fingers. My crash pad and climbing shoes still live in the trunk of my car, "just in case."

Another part of me thinks I could actually be stronger now for a couple reasons. First, my legs are stronger from biking which would help no doubt. I've also lost a few pounds since the last time I climbed, and got a new personal best in pull ups the other week. Both the weight and pull ups I'd like to attribute to my food choices. Eating better and more sleep, I think have upped my potential. One of these days I'll get back out onto a rock and we'll see how it plays out. Hopefully this winter I'll spread my time a little more evenly on hobbies.

Deadskins vs 49ers

Oops, I mean Redskins. I guess it's all the same. My college roommates had some extra tickets for the 49er game and invited me to come along. I went to one game last year with them, where it was raining and cold. While still fun, this years weather was much more conducive to tailgating.

And the game, well it went just like the past 3 redskins games.

Winter is (t)here

Vernon, NJ was even more rude than expected. We drove north Saturday morning with an early rainy start. The closer we got the colder it became, while still raining. We called about an hour ahead of our ETA to make sure they were still open. As it started to snow where we were at that point in time, we asked if it was precipitating. They said no. We hoped they knew what "precipitating" meant because there was slush falling from the sky.

 

I believe the snow was following us, because as we pulled into the parking lot, the slush turned to snow and we geared up as best we could. We were prepared for some "precipitation" but after about 2 hrs of riding, we couldn't see the trail anymore and had to finish early. The roads became treacherous at best and impassable at some points. Luckily, the impassible parts were headed in the other direction. Multi-car pile ups of people with 2 wheel drive cars getting stuck going up or coming down hills. It was a mess!

Thankfully, the Subaru Outback with all wheel drive was awesome! and got us safely to my old college friend Liz's place, just in time for the power to go out. All the leaves still on the trees made it impossible for the limbs to stay in place with all that snow. We cooked by gas stove, and ate by candle light and just hung out. It was a great time. All said and done, there was about a foot of snow where we stayed, and ~16 inches at the bike trails.

It did stop snowing and the sun came out on Sunday, so the roads were much better, but the biking was still canceled. Thinking we might be able to ride in northern VA by my friend Scott's house, we headed out in the morning. Unfortunately, all the trails were closed do to more precipitation, of the watery kind, that fell all day Saturday in NOVA too. We were just not meant to ride on Sunday.

It made for a good road trip and I got to use the all wheel drive, but it was a lot of driving for way too little riding. Next year, we won't wait until the last weekend of the season to go to Vernon, NJ.

Panoramas

Here's a couple pictures I put together after way too much work looking for a decent free stitching program. The first three are from Northern NM in August on vacation. The last is from mid October in the Shenandoah National Park.

 

 

Weekends

This past weekend my old friend Lamar from highschool came over from Kentucky for the day. We drove around town just to see a little bit of Richmond from the car. Then we went to my place. We went out Friday night and did some bar hopping, hitting about 6 different spots.

The highlight of the night probably being when we pranked one of the bartenters. There was a 52 year old white man sitting next to us, who suggested we use his ID for Lamar. When the bartender saw it, he was obviously confused and when he looked at me, Lamar jokingly got mad at him, then we quickly gave him the real ID and we all had a good laugh. Especially when he cursed the other guy.

 Lamar is a really good wing man, and if I'd been on my game, it would've been more fun, but I was not. And even though I really didn't know what places were good or where to go, we found plenty of stuff very easily, which gives credit to Richmond city and it's ease and quality.

He had a 6am flight, so we didn't stay out all too late. And I had planned on meeting a friend to go riding early in the morning Saturday, but wasn't up for it first thing after going out the night before. I did manage to get myself out riding later in the day. The weekend was finished off by going down to Norfolk to see my Grandma who was visiting my aunt and uncle. Another gorgeous weekend weather wise.


This next weekend might be a rude winter slap in the face. I'm headed to Vernon, NJ with Scott where right now they are predicting a high of 41 on Saturday with chance of rain. I'd rather it be a little colder and snow so it's not so soaking. Then Sunday should be a balmy 49. We'll stay at Liz's place Sat. which I'm looking forward to. It'll be nice catching up with her.

WOC/ Cedar Run trail

What a gorgeous weekend. Disc golf Friday; then a Saturday morning mountain bike ride on the Richmond trails capped off with backpacking Sunday and Monday. Camped out Sunday night under the nearly full moon. Here's a few pictures from the White Oak Canyon and Cedar run trails. For the full run down of pictures, click here: WOC/CRT

Isa textula

Three Ridges Loop

Updated: pictures added to Picasa.

Chris came over for the weekend. Friday we drove over to the Blue Ridge Pkway and did the Three Ridges Loop. It was a bit more difficult than I thought it was going to be. It being 14+ miles instead of the ~10 I was thinking, and I had read it was hilly, but it was HILLY! Constant up or down.

We hiked a few miles on Friday and then found a camp site. We set up the tent and hammock and then started gathering wood for a fire. We almost gave up on having a fire, but after a solid hour of trying with a combination of dryer lint, water proof matches, and propane stove, we finally got things dry enough to continue burning. Seeing how house fires start with dryer lint, I thought it'd be useful starting a camp fire, but I was wrong. It was a very poor fire starter. I think I'll go with some fire sticks or something a little more proven.

We cooked a sweet potato and some peppers and onions which was dinner in addition to an energy bar. The sweet potato turned out really nicely and I'll definitely do that again. I was actually surprised just how well and evenly it cooked just by being in the fire pit and being rolled around every once in a while.

Saturday we woke up with the sun and leisurely packed up and cooked breakfast. I was hoping to try cooking bacon in the fire pit, but after having so much trouble getting the fire started the night before, and since there wasn't even a warm ember left in the morning, we cooked bacon in my camping pot on the little stove. It worked okay. I still want to try cooking it in the fire this fall.

We started hiking around 9:15am, and finally got back to the car just before 5pm. As I said, the hike was hilly, as in we hiked uphill for what seemed like the entire day. Needless to say the three of us (Me, Chris and Maddog) were exhausted. Completely beaten and nearly broken, we went out to dinner and tried to watch a movie, but called it a night early. On Sunday we sat around and gorged ourselves stupid. I made a big breakfast, then we actually got up and went to Chipotle for lunch, had chips and salsa and cookies ALL afternoon, finished off by a flank steak and veggies and more cookies and hot cocoa with Rumple Minze. 

Congrats to all of us for surviving the weekend, and a bigger congrats to Dr. Chris Lasher for finishing his PhD!