W/e road ride

Ended up not doing our planned trip to Longs this w/e as the Ranger station informed us that the conditions there are currently classified as 'technical'- meaning that ice axe and crampons are recomended. With the cast on I didn't feel too keen on that option, s0 road riding seemed like a great idea.
Head out towards Deer Creek and High Grade - south of town. AJ from GS and Nicole joined us for the spin. Did a warm up loop round Chatfield and then headed up the canyon. Warm day considering that summer is just about over. Nice to spin on the road bikes as have both focused






heavily on the mountain bikes this year.
Pace was good with no real sense of urgency- the season is done for the year. Deer creek is one of those canyons that just keeps climbing and climbing. Gets hot as you leave the comfort of the trees. Which resulted in the cast getting tad sweaty. Good thing is that it should come off this week as have a follow up x-ray. One thing I always like about riding the canyons around here- the trip back to the car. Downhill and fast. Grabbed some tasty Greek at Gabanzos on Wadsworth and headed home for a lazy PM








Weather is heading for a big shift this week with highs in the 50's and rain. So will see what's in store.
Later, Lynx

thanks uncle sam!

We'd like to thank all the tax paying folks out there who gave so generously towards our new car. I know some of you are unaware of where your tax dollars go, and what they are used for. So, let me enlighten you. You helped us buy a new car. Thank you American taxpayers!

We've just got out hands on a 2010 Subaru Forester. Funded in part by the 'cash for clunkers' program. We're enjoying it. Fits all the toys in and on- have room for 4 bikes on top.

Great living in America!

Euro delights

Euro delights on our breakfast table straight from Missoula, MT. You may recall that we visited our friends Jo and RL in missoula this summer. They have an awesome bakers around the corner who bake fantastic goods. Notably the pain du chocolate. Jo is well aware of how much we miss them, and the pastries. We visited the bakers everyday! So this week Jo was kind enough to overnight some to us. Jo's great. They're great we miss them!

Fame at last!

Have a look at my buddy's website. He's doing the skinny on several local riders and .....

http://markwoolcottphotography.com/

well, look see.

Appears the hand has a small fracture in it. Now walking around with a pot for the next 10 days

how does your garden grow?

Always good to grab something fresh out of the garden for dinner, so thought I'd post a few pics of some of the veggies that we've managed to grow this year. Hasn't been one of the best growing seasons- in part because we had nearly 3 weeks away, so haven't tended to it as much as in previous years


Lettuce has been a winner once it got established.














Peppers and eggplant (aubergine) are coming on nicely although the squash has been lame this year. Those little cherry toms keep coming back for more- even had a self set plant appear while we traveled over the summer.






On the injury list- Goose's sting has finally gone down- see previous post. My hand is still painful and hope to get an x ray next week. Have a lazy w/e on the cards.
Lynx

Road trip north for the Dakota Five O

Labour day weekend had us loading up the new car and heading for the hills. The Black Hills of South Dakota if the truth be told. Some friends had given us the low down on a great 50mile race up there and we'd been wanting to do something different. Plus we could do a side trip to Mt Rushmore. A place that Goose felt she should see- now that she's a yank! Plus it was a goal for goose for the season. You know something to aim for. Straight from work we gunned to car north and drove 'til we'd had enough. Then drove further north. I25 Friday evening- yuck. Arrived in Spearfish SD Saturday lunch time. Grabbed a bite and set up camp in the city park campground, 200 yards from the race start/finish line. Drove the first 3 miles of the race course- up hill out of town to some really great single track. Jumped on the bikes and rode for 90minutes on the race course as the legs didn't like the trip too much. We on the other hand love the new car - Love it!

Course looked good. Back to camp for a Pasta load up and an early night for the 7.30 start next morning.

Up early and ready to race. We turned up at the race and found some early morning sun to warm up in. Temps day before where way to warm- 86 and that was the forecast for race day.
Had been told to get a good start- we started near the back- I headed up the field as we left town and that was the last I saw of Goose for the day. I gained loads of places as we settled into the single track- technical, tight and buff with no real over taking options for the first 4 miles. So a bit of slow pedalling and even walking as people failed obstacles up the trail. Felt good and took folks where I could. Disaster then hit around mile 15. Guy in front caused me to wipe out in an easy

corner. Thought nothing of it and jumped back on the bike. Palm of my right hand hurt like heck. So much so that I was painful the hold the grips, change gear or even brake. Anyways, enough to say I had a painful race and thought about quitting several times. Will find out the diagnoses in the next couple of days. Swollen right now. Back to the race, I finished in just under 5hours for 10th in my class. Goose had a stella race- felt good the whole time- overtook loads of rides and had a huge boost to the ego. She rode all the obstacles - some where way gnarly, especially the 10" wide bridge and 'the downhill'. Downer was a wasp sting midrace. Highlighted in pic, and

getting bigger by the hour. The real score was that Goose came in 3rd in her class and finished around 6 and half hours. Awesome result - way to go.

We both loved the race, the vibe and the setting, the quality of the course is great. Loads of really nice flowing riding. We hung out in the park for a free concert and beers after the race. Today, Labour day, we headed home via Mount Rushmore. Neat drive just getting there through the Black Hills. Hard to believe that they built the thing with out a single worker being killed, and it only cost just shy of a million bucks. Also popped by Crazy Horse- think that will be a few years more in the making.

Trip back down I25 was much better. Amazing to see some of the toys people take away for these holiday weekends. Pontoons, trailers pulling trailer. You know the score. Oh, love the moon roof as you can keep an eye on the bikes.

Big shout out to the organisers of the five O. Can strongly recommend it if you're around next year- think we'll be heading up there. Can also suggest a side trip to South Dakota if looking for somewhere new to visit.