Just Hanging out!

I really haven't done much since the ride.  We did a short trail with lots of technical sections in it on Sunday with Micki and Steve.  We were by the lake, so we brought the girls with us. They ran the trail and swam a little bit and tuckered them out!  Moose, Micki and Steves' dog, went along for the second round with Jessi. Steve was commenting one how FAST Moose was running.  They are still super tired today.   Here is the trail we did today,  some of the "super technical" on the video we didn't do, you can pretty much pick any rock formation and make it into whatever you want.  But this is the jist.       

http://www.cityofprescott.net/services/parks/trails/?id=45  

There is a guy that comes into the store a lot and he is a rider, so we were swapping stories with him.  We might go riding with him and he can show us some "new trails".  He is a single speed guy so he likes "groomed flowy trails", not a lot of technical for him.   That might be fun, new trails, new people.  He is associated with 

                                 www.ravensingletrack.com

Andy's b-day is coming up May 18th!  Todd will be coming up and we will be riding then, but that will not be until the 25th. 

I told you... kinda slow around here... check back later! 

The 6th Annual Whiskey Off-Road Prescott Arizona

Well folks, I am here to tell you that Brooke was really impressive with her riding skills today.  She competed in the 15-Proof Race (15 mile-actually is 20 miles)  and laid some smack down on the other riders.  Brooke was the 2nd Female to finish with a time of 2 hrs-20 min. and 23rd overall.  With well over 105 riders in the 15 proof, I say she kicked some a$$.  Less than 1 minute separated her and the 1st female.  Great job!  She never told me, but she was trying to beat my time from last year of 2hrs 9min.  Next year she is going to do the 25-proof(actually more like 28 miles) with me.  We had some friends also compete, Katrina Lopeman did the 25 Proof, Tobey Jones did the 50 Proof in 4hrs 45 min.  It was a great turnout for the event.  There were over 700 riders this year.  I think the word is spreading that this is one of the best events in the southwest.  Our friends Micki and Steve came up from Phoenix to help cheer Brooke and some other riders on along the route.  

check out the results here. 

http://www.epicrides.com/results/worresults/wor_results_2009.html

Landscaping

Now we are working on the backyard again.  We were going to have a water fall in the back, Andy had it all dug out for it, but we now have decided we don't want a water fall.  Andy came up with the idea of a fire pit/sitting area.  Tonight a tractor gets delivered and he gets to have some fun.  In these pictures are what the back yard looks like now.  And all of that rock you see on the hill... we did that... 80 tons!  Each one of those rocks has been touched by us at least twice.  After he gets the fire pit carved out,  we are going to get sod and the back yard will be complete.  We are going to do one side of the front yard. We are tired of pulling weeds!   

Also, this weekend is the Whiskey Off Road MTN Bike race.  I am doing the 15 mile and Andy is thinking of doing the 25 mile but hasn't decided yet because his hand is still bothering him. Stay tuned for pics and results.  

Hiking

Last week we went hiking with our friend Bob.  He is a crazy old guy that speaks really loud and has a gruff voice.  But he loves to take us places, so we let him.   It was a short hike, but it still took about 2 hours.  It was pretty steep in some places and once we got to the top we encountered snow!  Yes, it is still snowing in some places here in Arizona.  We took the girls with us and they were worn out by the end.  Jessi however felt the need to get into some poop so we had to wash her mouth out in one of the streams.  GROSSS!!!! That was Andy's job... hehee.  

Over the weekend we didn't do much. We worked on Saturday and on Sunday, we went for a ride here in Chino.  Andy has a course he likes to do that involves two VERY LARGE hills!  But he did say I was getting better, because the last time I went with him on this ride I didn't even make it to the 2nd hill.   Now I made up the first one with only two stops and the second one I made up 3/4 and then I had to stop because I was spinning out and out of breathe.   

Gooseberry Mesa - UT

Over the Easter weekend I went to Gooseberry Mesa on a Mtn bike trip with Micki Steve and some "new" people.  Andy did not go because of the hand injury he sustained the weekend before at McDowell Mtn.   His hand was swollen for at least 4 days and he wasn't able to grip anything like handle bars.  So I decided  to go even though the weather was calling for showers on Saturday.   Micki and Steve were kind enough to let me stay in their new pop up trailer.  Let me tell you... it was sweet!  Not having to tent camp, and Friday night it rained pretty hard. Being inside to cook and just relax was terrific!  Thanks Micki and Steve you're the best!  

 Friday mid morning we start off on our first ride.  I have never been there before so I ask Micki if she thinks I will need my knee pads for the ride. She says "I don't think so", but I still wore them anyway. We start out and it was nice, dirt trail with some rocks to maneuver around and over.   Steve, Micki, Aaron, and Mike didn't start out too fast, so I was able to get warmed up which always help me.   

We then get to the "guts" of the ride.  You basically are riding over granite rock, you are having to pop up and making sure you pick the right line to get off the rocks... it was very stressful for me, but it also was good for me.   I am coming off one of the rocks and it was a good size drop... I should have went to the left a little more, but I didn't,  I rolled off and my front tire landed in a rock bowl and BAM!  I went head first over the bars.  Luckily I was most of the way off the rock and there was sand to land in.  Once I land,  the bike is on top of me, I toss it off and then start assessing if all my limbs are working correctly and if there is any blood shooting out.    The rest of the group comes to my aide and we sit for a moment. All I had was a very large and deep bruise on my left leg where the bike landed on me and my elbow was bleeding a little......on my new shirt!!!!!!!

I broke off my computer mount, (it tells me how far and how fast I am goingn not my macbook) and destroyed my jelly bell.( I use this to get hikers out of my way)  We continued on, we did more rock riding.  You can see what I'm talking about from the picture. This is Micki on the rock. 

Here are some pictures from the mesa we were on. 

       

Mike, Steve, Me and Aaron...

We get about 1/2 to 3/4 the way through the ride and we come upon a route marker. Steve brings to my attention that I am on a black diamond ride.  The rating system is just like skiing... black diamond = very difficult!  I didn't feel too bad.  I'm slower and more timid around some of the terrain.  They wanted to go on another section which again was black diamond, I opted to take the road back to the trail head! 

We return in one piece, Micki and I decide we are going to take a nap!  Oh was that good!  After we woke up, another group arrived and the rest decided they were going to go for another ride, but it was a super hard down hill ride, so I stayed back.  The ride was so gnarly that they all had pads from head to toe with full face helmets!

 NOT my cup of tea.  

The next day we did the Jem trail.  That trail was more my speed!  I really enjoyed this one.  It was all on dirt, there was some climbing, some fast track down hill, some rocks to go over, more climbing and you finish on a down hill!  It took us about 2.5 hours to complete the 21 mile loop.  We had a couple of mechanical issues, but that was a good time to eat and take pictures.   Sunday morning I left about 9:30 and the rest were going out for another ride.   

I really had a good time, but missed Andy.  He would have liked the trails too but his hand definately would not have made it.    

Pics of me on the trail..... 

        

You can see we were worried about the rain, but only sprinkles came down and not for very long.  It was a nice day over all. 

Riding at McDowell Mtn

Sunday we went riding with Micki and John Millikin. Todd didn't come due to his back was hurt, just Andy and I.  We climbed up the mountain...I swear it was a hour and 1/2 of climbing for a small down hill then more climbing.  We did Windgate Pass to Bell Pass.  Once on top of Bell pass, it was a long long down hill. Funny story for you... John, Micki and Andy were at the top of Bell Pass waiting for me... I am a slow climber, but I always get there!  Andy is watching Micki and she puts her seat down for the down hill portion... So Andy thinks to himself, well if Micki is putting hers down then that is telling me, I should too... But does he say anything to me? NO... I'm thinking that would have been a nice thing to tell me.  So we start down the trail and it is pretty steep.  The trail is very loose with dirt and rocks.  I make a couple of the switch backs.  I am stilling going down but my back brake is locked up so I am basically sliding down sideways.  I come to a turn, so I let off the brake to straighten up and almost make the turn when my tire catches a rock and I get pushed against the rock hillside.  I am sliding down, my bike frame is hitting the rocks and my leg is trailing behind, then my handle bars get caught and bam! down I go... at least the dirt was soft... no blood this time... I get up but my front tire is flat.  I start walking down and Andy was very nice and waited for me.  He said, well this was pretty steep maybe I should wait for Brooke to make sure she makes it.   I get to him and repairs my front tire by putting a new tube in it.  We start back down and I am going pretty good, and before starting Andy says, "hey you should lower your seat!"  What an IDEA!    We hit this wash and I was not able to turn but I was able to stop by hitting very large rock.. but no blood!  We get to an intersection and Micki who was already down had started back up because she was worried about us(me),  Looking down at my tire, there was bubble, my tube was poking out the side wall of my tire.  We kept going and got to the last intersection with only a 1/2 mile left to go and POP! My tube was gone.  I rode a little ways on the flat but that was little to slow for Andy. He lowered his seat on his bike so I could ride it and he got on my bike.  That was really a sight... he looked like he was in the circus.  We get back to the parking lot and Andy is ahead of us and he goes to make the turn into the p-lot and the flat tire caught on the payment and bam..... down he went.  He bent his right hand fingers back, got some road rash on this shoulder and even hit his helmet on the ground.    But over all the ride was good.. it was long, but fun.  Some pics of Micki, John and I. 

Todd's Birthday

Above pictures - Todd and Andy - Todd got a cool shirt from John,  Todd, Andy, Carol (their mom), Bob and his wife Joanie. 

Sorry for the delay in getting to the posting.  It seemed like just when I had time to blog something else came up or we were getting ready for another trip.  So for Todd's b-day we went to Phoenix. We shopped all day on Saturday.  Todd just bought a house so for his birthday he was getting a table and chairs set.  We finally found the perfect one at IKEA.  That night we went to dinner and surprised him by inviting some of his friends. A good time was had by all...   The next day we went riding of course. 

Riding

So we went riding this afternoon.... we did 305 at Lynx Lake. We have found a new route that we enjoy.  We ride up it about 6 miles then we ride down 1/2 way cross the road and do another section over there.  This section is not quite as hard as the other side but it is fun.  It has swooping down hills some technical climbs and then a nice steep hill to go down at the end.  Andy took a picture of me coming down it but it doesn't do it justice on just how steep it really is. 

We also went with our friend Wade, he is a local fire fighter here in Prescott.  He is pretty good on the mountain bike but he likes road biking more... he puts in 300+ road miles a month!!!!  CRAZY!!!  

Tuesday we went to Granite and rode with Toby, I got a flat tire coming down a hill but Andy my great mechanic fixed and we off once more.   

We are working on my skills on the bike, like how to climb technical stuff, turning smoothly, not using the brakes as much going down hill, and to get faster.  So each time we go out we practice.  I think I am getting better.. I am getting a litter faster and I can make some tight turns that I couldn't before.   

We took Jessi with us.  The poor thing, she was so tired.  She was up all day because we took in with us in the morning and she rode in the car with me to my appointments . Then at 2pm it was time to hit the trail.  By the end she was just trotting and that was the best she could do.  

This weekend we are off to PHX for Todd's b-day and ride on Sunday!!!