Easily the most beautiful 200k that is challenging enough to make it quite rewarding. This time I needed it for a qualifier for PBP. I got my 600k qualifier during the slightly wet Cabeceras Faro a month prior.
Anyway, I've got a backlog of ride reports, so starting with some pics...
Pre-ride talk with Carlos
Foggy bridge crossing
right off the bat, I had some issues. Tool bag fell out, tires started rubbing on the brake pads, and boom. And soon after
Thankfully I had my own moral SAG support. Jack and Sigman! They waited for me wondering if I had been devoured by a Mtn Lion.
After fixing my tire, catching up with Jack and Sig, I cranked through on my single speed on these fun dirt roads for a while...
This is where Jack had to turn around... so we took a group shot.
busted cable pic.
Wound up at Black Mtn Cycles (which a lot of rando's have and use). This guy is da man! He fixed my bike up, tuned her up real quick and got me moving...
with enough time to eat some Double 8 ice cream (Buffalo milk yo!!). Man my hands are dirty... ewww...
Cranking through Paradise loop to barely make it to the cutoff time.
Hate this stop... I mean c'mon 10$ Caprese sandos? WTF???
Mainly my legs... and lower back in Tahoe... might be too much... we'll see
Thurs
Started off with a nice solo 10 miler on Thurs... then we cruised up to Tahoe that night. Kai had a teacher inservice day at Crocker...
Nikko did this puzzle all by himself!
Friday
The next morning I put on my EHPs and "skated" to the chair to get 3rd chair up Lincoln... not bad. Very scenic.
Then I slayed pow pow with Metres and his buddy Eric? until Kim brought the boys over around 11 am. Then we skied with them all day...
Then I skate skied home, for my first skate ski of the year. Went up to Lincoln, which was quite the long way... now I know. The boys were in the hot tub by the time I got back...
So stoked to be able to skate ski home.
Sat
Met up with Jack and Metres at Boreal so we could dawn patrol up Andesite. Fun times... hippy turns... lots of smiles.
Monkey face
Castle in the clouds...
Dave likes to huck
especially in these kinds of conditions
Abies magnifica (the Red Fir) - Dave schooled us in some botany
After getting home, I skied Sugar Bowl all day with Kai and Nikko. They did a great job... Kai collided with a snowboarder, ran into a tree (and got lost)... and once both kids went down at the same time so Nikko was crying for a while. But all is well...
The familie liftie selfie
Screen time...
Oh Dres....
After a few beers with the crew, (10 humans were staying with Metres), I skate skied home (taking the long way up to Lincoln again...) for a beautiful sunset skate.
Love the bonus skate.
Sun
Woke up at 6 am, and went skate skiing until 8:30. The snow was perfect, didn't see another soul, just a coyote. Perfect way to wake up.
Frozen Serene Lakes
Misty morning hop
Misty meadow
Brocken Spectre
After dropping Kai, Camille, and Thomas off at Buddy Werner (at Soda Springs), Alexis and I went to SB, where we skied all day. Probably the best day of the season, just due to the length of skiing solo. The snow got warm and manky, but still tons of fun.
Alexis after his 2nd or 3rd crash down the same chute...
Thurs - went up to Tahoe with Nikko on the Amtrak. Got on at Emeryville and off in Truckee. Dave picked us up in his new ride and then I dropped him off so we could go up to Pahatsi.
Fri - After doing some yard work, work work, and cleaning the house we went back to Serene Lakes to paddle around and have lunch on the beach. Then we made our way to Dave's house. Kimbo and Kai drove up, and we set up camp in their back yard. Funk, D, Toro, Marins, and Chases all arrived in tim for the party.
Sat - was Rose to Toads. The ladies went to a beer fest at Squaw with Ozomatli playing.
Sun - Went to West End Beach at Donner Lake for some fun in the sun. Toro, D, and Funkle left...
Mon - Went climbing at Donner Pass. Then my family went to Serene Lakes to paddle the canoe one last time for the season and clean up the house. Then we drove home with the burners.
Thurs:
Here's the GoPro Quik Vid...
Nikko ready for his first Father Son Amtrak Adventure
It's always a good idea to give your kids a big hug before sending them off on Amtrak...
Our assigned seats...
And as soon as it opened we headed to the "lounge car". Which is where you wanna be.
I love the juxtaposition here... oh the irony
The Davis Amtrak station
It's noon somewhere.
Built in race car tracks...
When we arrived in Truckee (30 min late), uncle Dave picked us up in his new rig. We dropped him off, and I cruised up to Pahatsi for the night.
Nikko zonked out...
And I got to check out the new deck, and do some yard work.
Then we cruised down to the lake...
For a quick sunset paddle. Beautiful night...
The next morning Nikko helped me out with some more yard work...
And went for another quick paddle.
Working at the beach...
Nikko zonked out on the way into Dave's place.
After his nap, we went down to the river for a quick dip...
and enjoyed pizza with the crew while waiting for mama and Kai bear to show up.
