Del Mar

I got home from J-Tree, unpacked, repacked, ran some errands, went to a XC meet, and then headed back to CA. We went as a family to Del Mar on Ryan's recommendation. It was awesome.

 We walked the beach quite a bit, and found some really cool shells and Sand Dollars.

 We rented wet suits, a surfboard, and a Boogie board. We had all been wanting to surf, and decided to make it happen.

 We have lots of hero pics with the surfboard. I think Philip enjoyed it more than anyone. He did pretty well too.

 Funny license plate in Cardiff just North of Del Mar. They have a statue called the Cardiff Kook that the locals dress up, and hang things on. The city paid an artist $92,000 to sculpt it, and no one likes it so they make fun of it.

 Amy and I went out for a nice dinner at Brigantine (also on Ryan's recommendation). I wore my "nice clothes" (yes I do own pants). Then we went to downtown La Jolla to walk around.

 No trip is complete without stopping by the local Patagonia. This one was in Cardiff about two minutes North of where we stayed. I really wanted a T-Shirt, but I have a hard time parting with $30 for a little bit of cotton. I ended up with some Patagonia Cardiff stickers, and got to look at some of Fletcher Chiounard's surfboards. Then we went to a local board builder's shop, and I  got one of his T-Shirts. It says "don't be a Kook."  Not hypocritical at all, do you think?

 I even got Amy into a wet suit, and I think she had fun catching a few waves.

Beach ballet. No matter where we go, or what we do Caitlin would always rather be dancing.

Six Days in Joshua Tree (still not enough)

 Some quick highlights of our J-Tree 2011 trip. Stacy made us all tape gloves. They worked great, and I won't climb crack without them again. Here Paul is getting the custom treatment.

 One of the great routes we got to climb. This is overhang Bypass. It is rated 5.7, but is very heady. I truly enjoyed it.

 This is part of the reason the climb was so good. Great company. I don't get to spend enough time with these two guys. Better climbing partners would be tough to find if possible at all.

 Another great route. Mike leading Mental Physics. Very heady, exposed, and super fun.

 The three amigos at the top of Walk on the Wild Side. Eleven bolts in close to 400 feet of climbing. Six of the bolts are on the first pitch. Slab climbing is generally not my favorite, but I really liked this climb.

 The Gang.

Walk on the Wild Side from a distance. It was hard to pick just a few pics for this post. If you would like to see more I have them posted on facebook. If you climb, and have not been to Josh I recommend you plan a trip. I can't wait to go again.

In the Last Week to Ten Days.

 I have been wanting to get a Night Blooming Cerus for a couple of years now. Amy and I saw them at Tohono Chul Park one night when they were blooming, and I thought it would be cool to have one here at the house. My friend Vivian posts sightings of them from around town, and out in the desert that I enjoy seeing. Porter and Stayc gave me this one. I can't wait for it to bloom.

 My pepper plants have really come to life since the temps have dropped below 100 degrees. This is a blossom on one of my Purple Chiltepene. I planted several of them from seed, and they are starting to produce.

 A small Jalapeno on my plant. Amy has been pickling them for me.

 My Serrano plant is covered with peppers. I am going to end up with more than we can eat.

This is a picture of the climb Mike and I got rained off last week. It is an old school 5.7, and is really fun. It is no 5.7 though.

Last week on my way out to ride my bike I stopped to get gas, and  they had these on sale. I hadn't had one in a long time. As a kid we used to get them from the little general store in Silverbell. They were a real treat. I figured I couldn't go wrong for a quarter. I still like them as much as I did as a kid. I know they are not good for me, but I highly recommend you try one if you ever see them (except for you Brett, a Big Cherry would make the chocolate snob in you shake and sweat).

Now I've Gone and Done it.

Last Thursday Mike took the day off, and we headed to the mountain to do some trad climbing. So I know that doesn't look like a climbing picture, but I'll get to that. Mike led up to the first bolt on Vista Cruiser before it started to rain. We bailed. It was lightening so we figured it was better not to push our luck. We had had a fun time already driving up, listening to a cd Mike brought (Kings X), and with Mike the conversation is always lively.

Anyway, I drove Mike home because the fuel pump in his truck had died. Since I was already on that side of town I figured why not stop at the bike shop I deal with. I actually deal with the North side store, but they don't carry mountain bikes. If I want to look at mountain bikes I have to head out East. When I walked in I went straight to the Niners. I had decided to wait until I could afford one even though I had a second choice picked out too. The Niners are always more expensive since they are sold as a frame only, and then you have to buy the build kit, shock, bar, stem, saddle, etc separately.

One of the guys came over to help me, and said that the frame in my size was on sale as a year end closeout. New models start showing up in late August. Even if they went with cheaper parts than I wanted the bike was still way out of my reach for now. Then I went to look at my second choice. They had a bike I had looked at for the first time over a year ago. It still had the retail price on it, and the $900 shock that they had wanted extra for. When the sales guy saw me looking at it he said I might be able to make you a deal on that bike.

It is a 2010 model that is a 3x9 instead of the new 2x10 drive train. Well it didn't take long before I was on the phone with the Bank of Amy pleading my case. It was such a good deal that even she saw the logic in buying it on the spot.

It seemed like an impulse purchase except to  those of you who have listened to me talk about buying a new bike for over four years. Things just worked out. It is a Rocky Mountain Vertex 29SE with hydraulic disc brakes, XT derailers, Stan's No Tubes tubeless wheels, Easton bar stem and post, and Race Face cranks.

I lowered my time by twelve minutes on my first ride of my default loop out at Sweet Water.  I knew the new bike would be nicer to ride, but this is like going from a horse and buggy to a VW Bus.

Trying to Catch Up

Things have seemed a little out of hand for a while lately. I think it has to do with school starting which means, dance, cross country, homework, tutors, etc........... Amy is also working full time this year so we are having to try to share the load a little more. I've been trying to find a schedule, but the things Amy normally does are a little chaotic for my gray matter. I need things to be static, and she is used to running things dynamically. I always seem to be three steps behind, and going the wrong direction. At least I am generally late.

So you may have noticed my blog posts have been short or nonexistent. Lots has happened, and I  have been failing to capture it because I keep forgetting my camera. So, I am going to catch up on a couple of things.

About two weeks ago Brett and I snuck out for an afternoon of climbing. We did Agatha Christie, Hai Karate, and the first pitch of Slippery When Wet. Then we ran out of time and energy, but it was a fun day. No pictures because of the forgotten camera.

Ryan, Meagan, and I climbed at Raycreation a couple of weeks ago. Ryan is looking super solid on 11's all of a sudden. It's getting harder all the time to keep up with the Wonder Boy. It's always nice to climb with Meagan. She still helps me remember to breathe, and use my feet.

I've seen a couple of Desert Tortoises while out riding the mt. bike. I always love to see them. It seems to me if something that slow and vulnerable can survive there may still be some hope for me.



Gus the Bus

Introducing Gus (at least that's what I've been calling him, but I just found some other guy has a blog about his bus that he calls Gus too). A friend of mine that I met at the gym saw some pictures I put up of some old VW's that I titled "My Dream Cars". Her name is Vivian. She came to me and said that she and her husband Bob had a VW Bus they were going to  give away, and wanted to know if I wanted it. I wasn't exactly sure how to react. Of course I would like to have it. I've wanted a bus or a bug since high school.

I checked with the boss, figured out some creative parking plans, figured out that I really can't afford a bus, even a free bus, and then made arrangements with Vivian to pick up Gus. I drove him home, but he is burning a little oil. He is definitely a project, but a really good place to start. I've been working on the engine a little trying to figure out what is causing the oil consumption.  I hope to be driving him soon, and then I will start rebuilding him a little at a time.

Vivian and Bob are very nice people (and I'm not just saying that because they gave me a bus). Vivian is an exceptional artist, and a fun climbing partner. Check out her work at http://www.vivianhutchins.com/. Thanks again Vivian and Bob.

No Bad Days



Archive Photo of Mike at the summit of Crimson Chrysalis.

Yesterday Mike and I headed up Mt Lemmon to do a little trad climbing at Green Slabs. It was just one of those great days where we had a good time, and got some really good climbing in. Days with Mike always seem to end up that way. It reminded me of the last time I was at Green Slabs with Ryan and Meagan.
 
I really did have a good climbing day for me though. My lead head was as good as it has ever been. Mike and I laughed and told stories while one or the other of us was slightly to moderately run out, or fiddling with gear trying not to deck. I never felt exposed, pumped, or scared. I only wish I had led Samson and Delieback, or better yet that we had been in J-Tree. I did lead the direct start for Here and Gone though.

I looked up slope from the top of Banana Cake at Steve's Arete (a 5.11a project that Ryan and I  were working before it got to  hot), and wished it had been cool enough to give it a go a last week when I was really feeling strong (strong for me that is). Fortunately it is starting to cool off, and I have a feeling Ryan will lead it first go. He really is looking good on the rock.

Labor Day Run

Amy and I ran the Saguaro Park East eight miler again this year. Amy beat me by twenty two seconds. This was the easiest time I had had so far with the course. There is hill that is a mile and a half long that is about a seven percent grade. Amy is in the middle of half marathon training so she is in good shape. Me, I did this race like I normally do. Off the couch. It has just been to hot to run. Every year I swear I will be in shape for this race, but July and August never seem to get any cooler.