TIMBER!

Been thinking about chopping the tree for a few years now as more and more keeps dieing and being pruned. SO opted for the chop! Our last sighting of our cottonwood.


Left for work and said our goodbyes.


Got home in the evening to a rather different front yard.


I then spent an hour on the bush in the middle trying to reshape and thin it out. Seems to have changed the front a bit. The neighbours have then opted to paint their house as it is a lot more visable when you drive into the street. We'll wait a while for the stump to die off, having treated it with all sorts of things. Will then do something to the front. Our buddy Dan took the wood after various people stopped by asking if they could take it, or just helping themselves to it!

Fall riding

Been riding a bit this fall to make up for missing last years fall colours. Goose's Trek as been in the shop as the rear shock has blown so has been riding my Yeti (which is a bit big) and her new Rig single speed 29er (which is a replacement for the Superlight which was sold before the summer)- she's loving the 29er! Perhaps I should get one


Had a spin this last w/e at west Mag - near Nederland. Turning into our new fav local hotspot. Met up with Dan, Tori and Amy and spun for a couple of hours. Amazing thing is it was snowing lightly for most of the ride. Colours are still amazing, but feel that this could be the last good weekend.


Dan and Tori Rolling the meadow just after the Ewok forest.


W/e before crunching single speeds at Buff Creek. In the SUN!. Got out there on the Friday night with Dan and grabbed a quick night ride with the head lights. Managed a longer ride on Saturday before heading back to the city - temps still in the 90's


Step on it. Single speed and 29 inch wheels, is this the way forward?


Another day and a post work ride at west Mag. Nights are now pulling in and these rides are numbered.
Got a ride in up here the week before with my photographer buddy Mark. You should check these out for quality pictures and some great wordsmithing!(copy and paste link)
http://markwoolcottphotography.com/blog/?p=747
We also got a w/e trip to Crested Butte, but the camera died. A picture says a 1000 words and I'm not typing them all. Just CB is amazing in the fall! Rode Deer Creek and 401, spent time with friends and Loadsa kiddos.

Breckenridge

After last weekends monster drive north to South Dakota we opted for a w/e closer to home. Headed to Breckenridge. Real bummer - 4 hour drive to get 100miles up the mountains. Roadworks on I70 suck. Big time!
Rented a nice little place for the w/e

Took a drive up Boreas pass on Saturday. Have skied the 7 miles into Ken's Cabin, pictured here, before for a winter retreat. Goose was flying low and stayed in town whilst we hit the continental divide.

Folks head to Cali in the coming week, think that they'll appreciate sea level a lot more as this picture is taken is a couple of miles above it! Leaves starting to turn.

Loving the Subaru!
Great to see the folks and looking forward to catching up with them again before too long.
Later, Goose

DAKOTA FIVE - 0, completing the challenge

Another road trip with the folks. They're out for a few weeks in colorado before heading to the coast to see the grandkids. Seems like we're finally getting a summer holiday after a 'winter' in NZ. Heading to South Dakota to do the Dakota Five o. The race that last year took a lot from me. Namely a broken Hemmit Hook and several months of playing whilst it healed. See post from last years race. I cut work and we headed north on the Friday. The tomato reddening as we travelled - lunch is a calling.


Stopped off at Devil's Tower on the way to Spearfish for a little hike and a break as it's a long way. 500 plus miles each way. Way long.


Saturday came around and after a short ride we took the folks to the geographical center of the nation. Never even know it was there. Had a great little museum too.



Chilling at the campsite waiting for the rest of the race crew to arrive - 12plus at the last count. We'd taken all the tents up with us and set up so we'd have a nice group area. The folks stayed just down the road in a motel as camping for some reason didn't appeal too much. They enjoyed the town and the whole race experienced that unfolded the following day...

The night before and team Alchemist and the rest of the crew are busy with last minute adjustments. Love the feel of this race as we hung out in the campsite shooting the shit.



'Crushing the course' Well I felt totally crushed by the end as I, along with most of our group, experienced some hellish leg cramps. I also managed to get through quicker than last year and not break any bones on the course. Goose's race wasn't as good as she'd wanted. She finished in fine style though. This year the race was longer as they added 4 miles of hard technical single track around mile 38. Just as you start to wish it was over it got really tecnie...Thanks to Watson photography for this picture that I've lifted from your Facebook page.



I'm in the money. Actually placed in the race, well 8th out of 90 odd in the 40 plus men cat (4hours 50mins). Got a chunk of cash that paid for my race entry and a few beers at the post race party! Alchemist boys did well with us all finishing within 15 mins of Jeff who lead home the bunch. Hats off to Dan on his first race. Sign of things to come?



Headed home on the Monday after the race. Goose flew home (wings tired by the time she got back to CO) as she had to be at work at 1pm, so I dropped her off at the airfield in Rapid city. I took the folks for another bit of American Roadtrip 'must see' and visited Mt Rushmore before heading south for a fun filled adventure through Wyoming!