Wednesday, March 29, 2017

The tandem monster ride to the Moorheads



Hooked up the kid stoker attachment to the Santana and went out on a few rides with Kai before adding on Nikko in the kid seat.  We had a weekend free and so I decided to ride over to Aaron's house for a BBQ on the new monster ride.  The bike has 2 wheels, 3 seats (with Nikko's), 3 cranks, 3 chains, 5 brakes (2 cross tops and a drag brake set up on bar-cons), and two cute kiddos on it.  The kids did a great 20 mile ride with no complaints!!!

Here's another look at the set up a few days before.  Pioneer Bikes helped me set it up (love that place, BTW). 
Nikko at the first snack stop
Turkey sighting!
Gobble gobble!
Second snack stop
not a bad view, egh?
Kai did his part in cleaning up and picking up trash.  
At the Mooreheads climbing gym/fort
I picked up some climbing holds from Ironworks a few days ago for this project.
Kai resting...
Chelsea and Scout
The kids testing out the new moves.
Nikko is a lover...

 

Saturday, March 11, 2017

Another weekend at Pahatsi Totsi.

Wow... there is so much snow at the house!  Check it out.... NOw vs Summer.


Fri:
Royal Gorge XC in the morning.  Just walked down to Summit Crossing and started.  What a way to start your morning.  Just as good as Folgers...


Sugar Bowl with the boys.  Went to Judah Lodge and the boys charged it all day!  They did 17 runs! And around 10k!  Wow.  Great job Nikko!  And Kai!  The terrain park on Judah was fun, did a few front flips.  Then I squeezed in a lake run at the end while Kimbo drove down to put them down.  Sunset was remarkable, but my phone was dead.



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Pano just down from Donner Peak...

That area looks fun.  I think this is where that snowcat operation goes.   

rabbit tracks

stopped by the overlook...

action back at the cabin... 
Sat: 
Dawn Patrol BC with Jack and Kev in the morning.  We went up the "Forest Service Ridge", then down over by Crow's.  There was lots of bombings, and we were late getting back.




Sugar Bowl with the boys.  We didn't get to the Judah lodge until almost 10, but it wasn't too crowded.  The clouds were still overcast so the snow didn't soften up and it was cooold.  The boys got to ski with Riley and Sully, which they enjoyed quite a bit.  They were quite tired from yesterday and were pretty goofy quickly.  I took a few solo runs during their lunch time.  And I rode my old twin tip Line skis.  The park was fun, am still working on the rails and boxes.


From Judah to home on skate skis... The strava track was butt paused, but I did a long skate... maybe 14 miles?  That was pretty fun.  I'd love to try to get over 25 this year once...




Sun:
AM jaunt up Soda Springs - went up Soda Springs with skins on from the garage.  Skied right back. That was cool... just to say I did.  The turns were rough.  My green pants were soaked by the time I got back.  There was snow and wind.  And not many exposed skin, including my fingers to take pics.

Sugar Bowl locals day - after Soda Springs, I skied to the house and started shoveling.  Then Kevin told me that I-80 is closed and so he's headed to Sugar Bowl.  Then he texted me at 9 am, saying that Disney opened and there is no one there.  Literally no one.  Except him, a few ski patties, and a lift op.  So I rushed over and joined him for a few hours of amazing lift accessed pow turns.

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And this just happened... Oh M Geee....  I got chills watching the replay over and over...

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Ecuador! - Part 2: Quito



Went on a run from Papallacta... and the clouds parted for this view!  Que bonita!
 .. writing blog posts a few months later has it's drawbacks.  These memories aren't quite as fresh and the nano stories and micro emotiongs that go along with them are gone (especially from my brain)... but on the other hand... it's nice to look back on some pics with a fresh eye.  A very useful tool is Google Maps Timeline.  Check it out if you don't use it or want to remember WTF you were doing on a certain day.

From Papallacta Hot Springs we returned our rental car and caught a bus into Quito's city center.

 Part 1 here
Some more pics here and gphotos here

the Ecuadorian car seat
drive through ice cream


Old town...

after driving and sitting on a bus for while, it was nice to get out and stretch the legs.  We decided to walk up the hill to Cafe Mosaico to get a lay of the land. 

Good place for brews.  Only expats here...  Near where Jack proposed to Becky for some drinks.

The view

The next morning we went to the National Cathedral for the view.  

The stairs are pretty steep...
Google photo action...





Great views.  Looking South toward the Panicello (the Virgin of Quito).  

Kids playing soccer in full catholic school outfits

Hola!

War Eagle... at the Mall El Jardin on our way to Parque Carolina

Fresh Halloween!

We took a bus out to Parque La Carolina where we walked around (it was kind of a more artificial Lake Merritt) lots of young couples walking around holding hands.  

Trying out some Quito-an micro brews... they were meh... 

On the way back, we stopped at the Magic Bean for some grub...



On day 3 in Quito I went on a quick run up to the Panecillo... here's the view looking back at the Cathedral.  

Volcanos everywhere!



Crazy Rabid dogs... and old woman saved me from them once... I thanked her profusely, and went in for a hug, but she rejected it...

Tomade de arbol

Pretty good for a post run drink... 


After a hearty breakfast we hit the road.

Policias on Segways.  Ecuador is clearly not 3rd world... 


bye bye Quito!