Monica and Gabe have a week off from school, so we’re heading south in search of dry, warm weather for hiking and cycling. First stop is the mighty Mojave. Last time we came through here was two years ago in an RV for one night, and some hiking in the dunes the next day. It’s been a long drive, so Gabe and I get changed and ready to roll. ...
We’re in the Sacramento area for another day of racing at the Bariani road race. The weather is still threatening, but I think the rain is finally over. Of course the roads are still pretty wet and the pavement is pretty chewed up. Ethan gets a nice break early in the Cat 5 race of three laps with a ton of wind on the course. Charlotte is enjoying the fields and olive trees on our walk along the course. ...
We’re up in Sacramento for a weekend of racing, and today is the Land Park Criterium. We left a gigantic storm back in Santa Cruz, and the raining starting coming down pretty hard once the race started here also. Today’s race is an open junior’s field, so there are quite a few very fast guys out there. Dylan takes an early break, but is later joined by Alex. Gabe hangs in there for most of the race, but the accelerations take their toll towards the end. Tim did a nice job hanging in there especially considering that he raced Cat 5 first thing in the morning. ...
Gabe raced at the Central Coast Circuit race again yesterday, and we lucked out with a break in the weather. It looks like the luck continues today at the Salinas Criterium. Gabe is very excited about today’s race as he’s finally wearing his super cool SJBC kit. Gabe leads everyone around on the way out, but Dylan and the Tieni Duro guys quickly blow things wide open. It’s great to see Gabe working his butt off to catch the break. A few guys try to hang on his wheel, but they fall off pretty quickly. ...
These amazingly fuzzy and funny looking creatures are just another species on my list of cute yet simultaneously frightening animals. I just feel constantly watched around them because of their huge eyes. It is just creepy and look slightly malevolent. That is a face that screams, Yeah just get a little closer so I can bite your finger off. So creepy yet so fuzzy looking. It is like a death trap, you just want to get close and give it a pet but you know if you get too close it will eat your face. They are tricky animals, crazy one moment and totally zen the next. ...
Alpaca’s are fascinatingly ugly animals.With strange clumps of fur, jutting teeth, and eyes that watch you warily at all times; the alpaca is a shifty animal at best. I feel like I must constantly watch out for spit whenever I get near these animals. I have always felt something sinister about them and I think it is because of their teeth. A face only a mother could love. Every time I look at a llama or alpaca I cringe. Yet for some reason I feel totally fascinated by them. I want to go in closer for a better look but my whole body screams stay back, it bites! ...
This weekend we’re off to Fort Ord for the Central Coast Circuit race. There’s no junior category, but Gabe is hopeful that this will be a good race to try out riding with the Elite 5 men. Simon, Joe, and a turkey are there to welcome Gabe to the race. There are a few fellow SJBC riders joining Gabe, though unfortunately his new kit didn’t make it in time for the race. Here are a few shots from around the course. Gabe is doing very well staying at the front along with Tim. ...
Sorry for the lack of posts… again. Life is hectic right now as my senior year brings me closer and closer to IB Exams. I have been working hard to catch up on my schooling after being gone for a week in Yellowstone. However I got away from the hustle and bustle with some friends and took a road trip down to Cal Poly to see my brother. We went to the zoo and just hung out. More info on that will be coming over the next couple of days. I am hoping I will soon be back on track with posting. So here is a photo to tide you over, a funny look into the (inappropriate) life of Meerkats. (notice the guy just kind of chilling in the back ground watching).
Charlotte and Gabe headed out to the central valley for the Snelling road race, while Monica and I were in Yellowstone. Sounds like it was a cold, but dry day to ride some beautiful roads with the other juniors. They started hammering right away, and Gabe was happy with his 9th place finish.
This year Monica and I are headed back to [Yellowstone] (https://www.nps.gov/yell) to enjoy the awesome wildlife and scenery again. I didn’t collect a lot of photos this year, as Monica and I shared the large lenses and she posted a lot of her work on her blog. You can read her entries for day 1, 2, 3456. I’ve put a few of my favorite photos here for you to enjoy. Unfortunately the wildlife was very sparse this year, but we did manage to get some great fox photos. We did have a load of fun, right up to the point I got a bad fever and cough for the last few days. It was a treat to meet Chris Miller and his wife for dinner and talk about genealogy and life in Montana. ...