Ironman or Ironbutt 12 hour motorcycle race

So I have this friend named, well, Dave. Really. This guy loves to play in the dirt. So much so, that yesterday he thought it would be fun to ride a 12 hour endurance motorcycle race BY HIMSELF. It's not that he's anti-social or anything, just "pro-pain". I was there for the last couple of hours and got a few pics. It was at the Starvation Ridge track near Goldendale Washington. Enjoy.

Here's the pit crew. Mary, Stan, Nick, Leelee (cute as can be), Kegan, and John. A bunch of troopers. Mary and Stan telling great Dave stories, Nick running the clock and pitching in with everything, and John smiling and keeping everybody doing what they are supposed to do. I think that's called a manager. Oh, and I am taking pictures and making sure there are no dental emergencies!

Every bike race has biker babes. Here's one now!






Dave rolling into pit row at dusk. Brand new headlight, just removed the protective cover. With the setting sun he's really going to need that light to finish the race. Trail Tech was well represented at this race, as were KTM and Klim! Great gear. 2 hours of riding after this pit. Time for fuel and did someone say light?

cover off? Check! Switches on? Check! Light? Light? Light? Crap, where's the light? Dave frantically working to pull his seat off and check the wires. Seat bolt covered in mud made it tougher. Got the seat off. Fuse? Check! Connection to battery? Where is the wire? The connector had sheared apart from all the prior 10 hours vibration. We quickly stripped the wire insulation and attached the bare wire under the battery connection. Light? Check!

















Studies show it's easier to ride a dirt bike at night in the dark with a functional headlight. Now that's more like it!

(Race lady) "You were going a little fast there don't ya think? Can I see your license and registration and proof of insurance and a picture of your wife?"
(Dave)"I know it's here somewhere. I didn't think I was speeding. This isn't even a dirt bike. It probably won't even do 50. I couldn't have been speeding"

(Race Lady) "I'll help ya look through your bag here since you seem to be a little wasted. Have you been drinking Mr Dave? Hey, that's a great picture of your wife. She's a lucky lady, and you can tell her I said that."
(Dave) "She already knows it, but thanks anyway. Can I go now? I'm really tired"

Ever the concerned father, Stan heads over to check on his son.
(Stan)"How ya feeling son? That was a really long ride and you pulled it off like a champ! Great job! By the way, what was the holdup over there with the track police?"
(Dave)"The usual, she was hitting on me I think. You know how it is when you win a race like this. They won't leave you alone!"
(Stan)"Don't flatter yourself too much there son. She's been hitting on me the whole 12 hours you were out riding. " (followed by that hearty Stan chuckle!)

Never having lost sight of the goal, Dave tells us all what number is the most important number in any race! Great job out there! You rode so hard and rode smart. Finishing a race like that is an accomplishment. Finishing in first place..... priceless!

This about sums it up

This picture is great. I love how my friend Tom framed this. the only downside is he is on the wrong side of the camera. He is often found there. His pictures are excellent, and thanks to him a lot of the trips we go on are well documented. This was a couple of weeks ago near College Place, in the Blue Mountains of SE WA and NE OR. Allen, Eric, Craig, Brandon, Tom, and myself all on a 35 mile loop. The views were amazing! Fall colors and sunshine are a delicious mixture to delight your senses as you lope along the singletrack trail. For more pics see this site: http://www.pnwds.com/t1583-10-20-11-a-perfect-day-at-harris-park and feel free to lurk around the site and see what else is out there. In 2 weeks we go back with our sons. Can't wait!!

the best medicine

Remember when you were sick as a kid? It didn't matter what it was, but mom's hugs always made you feel better. I remember having the measles, chicken pox, and any number of other ailments. A little 7up and some help from mom always seemed to do the trick. Yesterday Gracie complained about feeling a little off, so we checked her temp.... 101. She came in our room last night and asked to sleep with us. This morning, she went from bed to couch:




A little while later she ate about 4 bites of oatmeal, had some spongebob time on the TV, then I didn't see her while I was working on my lesson. I went in our room to get ready for church and this is what I saw:


I think Gracie is feeling better, and mommy is pretty happy right now, too. Cuddling up with one of your little ones is one of the greatest feelings as a parent! I hope she feels better soon, but not too soon! ;)

crossroads

Ever feel like you are at a crossroads? Like you are not sure where to go, or what to do? Life is full of decisions. Some are small. Which entree do I choose? Some are HUGE. Which flavor of ice cream do I choose? Ok, I just gave away my feelings for ice cream!


From Robert Frost

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;	5
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,	10
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.	15
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.	20

So I wonder.... does it really matter which road? As long as you are true to yourself and your beliefs, does it matter the road? Both lead to a destination, though that destination may be different. If the destination is the end, then the journey matters the most, as that is where you will spend all of your time.

Those of you that know me well enough will correctly assume that I want to take both roads! I plan to take one as far as it will go, see what's there, then somehow get over to the other road and take it as well! Either that or I will seriously injure myself after the first few steps by trying to walk them both at the same time.

There is so much to see and do in this world! How do we fit it all in? People talk about a bucket list. They say things like "what's on your bucket list?" I say, "what's NOT on your list?" For me that would be a shorter list. As I sit here writing this, Shelli's blog is open in the background with her playlist music playing. It's GREAT music. Most of it is mellow, but with deep emotion, just like her. It's that kind of music that moves me. Listening to it evokes the kinds of emotion that mirrors my view on the world, and my life. Life moves me. It awakens me. It inspires me the way great mountains and oceans inspire me. It moves me the way the wind moves my sails. It warms me like the first rays of sun, just after dawn on a cool fall morning. It supports me and tires me, like the river on a long swim. It is fast and exciting. It is slow and relaxing. Life is a challenge, and its own reward!

If he were here today, I would say to Robert Frost, "You may have chosen to take the road less traveled but I, Mr Frost, have chosen to fly!"

2 People.....1 Horse.....miles to go!

Here's my theory on how this sport got started. 2 guys had to get somewhere, but they only had one horse between them. They both wanted to ride, not walk, but they didn't want to be the jerk that made the other guy walk, so they came up with an idea. "I'll ride for a while, leave the horse tied up, then you catch up, take the horse, pass me, tie up, walk, I'll get the horse.... and so on. I am betting they liked it so much, they told their friends, and pretty soon the sport of Ride & Tie was born. Ira has been helping me get into horsemanship over the last couple of years, and I have to say it has been a GREAT ride! This most recent adventure rivals the mountain rides. Ride & Tie is an addicting and exciting sport! Thanks to my partner Shelly who flew in from Idaho ONLY to partner with me (just kidding) for this spectacular event hosted at Sunrise Canyon. I was glad she came, however, because her knowledge of horses and running were just the ticket! We did 11 miles on a horse we'd never ridden before (thanks Ben for loaning us Tia!) and had a complete blast. After 11 miles of trail, including one killer hill, we were both smiles and ready to sign up for the next one!

for more information visit www.rideandtie.org and see for yourself how much fun this can be. By the way, we won the 11 mile race (came in 2nd to Ira and Ben who technically were doing the 22 mile race. Good Job Partner!

wow, the blog isn't dead!

It's been WAY too long since I've posted. Shelli keeps everyone up to date, so my blog has kind of withered away, but I too have a voice, and shall be heard! As this new year has begun, it's been with mixed emotions. There have been some exciting new beginnings, and some sad endings. I will surely miss the people who have passed on, and they will be dearly missed by their families.

In this new year I would like to get closer to my teenagers, get in even better shape by running/swimming/biking more, and will continue to play tennis and ride horses with Ira. I am convinced that our quality of life is more dependent on our health and diet than any other factors. I plan to work on the quality of my relationships with others, and stop trying to spread myself so thin.



And on a totally different subject, how about that movie AVATAR?! We went with Justin and Joanna yesterday, and got there late. Not many seats. We were working our way up the rows, trying to find 4 seats together (good luck) and happened upon Jeff and Kim, who moved over one seat and then we had our 4! You guys are great! How did you know we'd be coming?? . AVATAR 3D. All I can say is WOW! What an exciting movie, and worth the cost to see it in the theater! If you have any other movie suggestions, I am open to them.

Welcome 2010; Good, bad, or otherwise it is here. LET'S MAKE THE MOST OF IT!

A busy Tennis weekend for my sweetie

Ok, so this isn't Shelli, and she didn't win a big fat trophy, but in my mind she IS a tennis champ! Her team had 2 injured players, so they put her at the #1 singles position (her most feared place to be) for the USTA tennis tournament this weekend. She plays some singles with me and with a couple of friends, but by far most of her tennis practice is doubles. She was soooo nervous!

Friday I couldn't be there to watch, but she won both her singles matches! I was so proud of her. The tournament "nerves" can be tough to overcome, especially during the first match. Saturday we drove to Yakima and I got to watch her at her first "away" matches. She was so nervous again that she gave away her first set 0-6! she came back and won the second set 6-3, then the ti-breaker 10-4! She won her next match 6-3, 6-3! 4 singles matches in one weekend, undefeated! Go Shelli! Henin may have retired, but you're on a roll! Love u!