tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69199600724491349382024-03-05T10:41:28.464-08:00Professional / TriathleteGetting the best of both worlds!Chris Tremontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238253339063432588noreply@blogger.comBlogger174125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6919960072449134938.post-3254361558446751322013-05-09T16:19:00.001-07:002013-05-09T16:19:01.618-07:00Los Angeles Marathon<p>Last fall I figured out that running is the one sport that is easy to train for when you’re constantly on the road leading bike tours. So it wasn’t hard for Andrew Lockton to talk me into signing up for the LA Marathon. I actually had a good base of running fitness, and a few of my training buddies in Seattle were looking for a spring marathon. Fast-forward to March and while I missed a few weeks of training due to illness and work and travel and family stuff, I felt like I was reasonably well prepared for my first marathon.</p> <p>The best part about this race was the large number of friends and acquaintances who were all targeting a similar pace. I had done most of my training with Ari Schorr and Tahoma Khalsa, and we all planned to start together and run together. Andrew Lockton would be running, too, but at a slower pace after breaking his toe in a motorcycle accident and missing 6-8 weeks way too close to the race. Cyrus from Denver and Justin from Seattle were also likely to be in the mix.</p> <p><strong>Pre-Race</strong></p> <p>The big pre-race highlight was our trip to the Goodwill store to buy warm-up clothes. We knew that the air temperature on race morning could be a bit chilly, and thought it would be fun to bring throw-away outfits rather than putting our clothes into our gear-check bags and claiming them post-race. Plus we weren’t sure how early we would have to line up in our assigned A corral, and how cold we might get between lining up and starting the race.</p> <p>Ari found an excellent Macklemore-style long coat with a fur lining. I found a way-too-small pink puffy coat with a fur lining and some blue jeggings. It was $%#$ing awesome!</p> <p>My spandex Bacon Suit and handlebar mustache were also awesome, and I got extra crowd support the whole way. Gotta try to find a photo… </p> <p><strong>Race </strong></p> <p>I wanted to go out conservatively and we over-achieved. I ran the first mile with Lockton, Tahoma, Cyrus and Jesse Williams’s friend Craig. We knew that Craig & Lockton were targeting a slower time, but figured we were still pretty close to 6:00-6:10 pace while Ari was running like an idiot, nearly 30 seconds ahead of us at the first mile mark. We hit the mile a few seconds after 6:30. Oops. Looks like I was the idiot.</p> <p>But after that we split up a bit and Tahoma/Cyrus/I strung together 12 miles that were each between 5:55 and 6:10. We took turns leading. We reminded each other to eat and to drink and to relax. We talked about how our legs and stomachs felt. We steadily plugged away, mile after mile, and hit the half-marathon mark together, at a 1:19:xx split. At that point, Tahoma was feeling good and dropped the pace a bit. Cyrus and I stayed at 6:05s. Somewhere between mile 10 and mile 12 we saw Ari come out of a port-a-potty up ahead of us. He had been 2-3 minutes ahead of us, but was now back to 30-45 seconds ahead of us. I was hoping we would catch up and run together for awhile, but Ari was clearly “on a mission” after his pit stop, and took off at sub-6 pace for a few miles before settling in again.</p> <p>Cyrus helped me open a bag of clif blocks around mile 14.5. My hands were a bit cold/useless so it was great to have some help. All in all, I was pretty good about eating throughout the race. I had 3-4 blocks before the start, then 1-2 in the first mile. I had a gel at mile 4 or 5, then maybe another at 9-ish. I was starting to feel tired at 14-15 and may have waited too long between snacks. Cyrus got a few steps ahead of me at the mile 15 water station and just sort of dangled out in front of me for the next three miles. I could still see Tahoma and Ari up the road, especially on the longer straightaways.</p> <p>Mile 15 to 18 was probably the biggest “dark period” that I had all day. I’d been through plenty of these in triathlon racing, so even though I felt a bit physically drained I tried not to lose confidence. Sure enough, at mile 18 everything started turning my way. The sugar from those 5 blocks got into my bloodstream. (I had given Cyrus one block.) I decided that it was okay for things to hurt from there on it – I knew/expected the race to get hard eventually, but I had subconsciously been afraid of it feeling too hard too early. At mile 18, I was less than an hour from the finish, or I was a “daily easy run” distance away from the finish, so I could start to dig or press a little. I didn’t have to stay so conservative. The Bon Jovi song “Living on a Prayer” got stuck in my head. I reeled off two miles that felt like 5:40s even if they were really still in that 6-6:15 range. I caught and pulled away from Cyrus, and thought I might catch Tahoma and Ari. I hit mile 20 at 2:01:30 and calculated that I only needed to run a 38:30 split for the final 10K in order to break 2:40. A good bit slower than my average pace so far. Hooray! </p> <p>But then things turned south again at 20. The route from mile 20 to mile 22 was deceptively uphill, and was a bit desolate crowd-wise as we twisted and turned our way through the VA hospital campus. I felt like I was really struggling, and running 7+ minutes per mile. Seeing my 6:30ish splits at mile 21 and mile 22 didn’t help my confidence much. But I knew that the course would start sloping downward for the final four miles, once we reached mile 22. I took a gel around 20.5 and in retrospect I probably should have taken one at 18 and another at 22.</p> <p>At 22 I started to get my energy back but my legs were starting to get crampy. I tried to ingest a bit of extra water and gatorade at each aid station, but once you start feeling twitchy pre-cramps, you are on borrowed time. My calves seized up a few times in mid-air, leading to a really terrible-looking stride, but somehow I managed to maintain a 6:20ish pace. Tahoma was suffering, too, and I caught him around mile 24.</p> <p>Tahoma fell back about half a mile later, as cramps & fatigue hobbled his stride. I was really waddling/shuffling at this point, to minimize the strain on my calves, and I must have looked like a wreck when I passed Jesse Williams and Danny Mackey on the sideline at mile 25. They yelled encouragement, and later said something about my “gutsy” performance. “Gutsy” is better than wimpy, but it means that you’re not looking smooth & relaxed & fast! <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GJBnsvi9Y9k/UYwu4iH4TtI/AAAAAAAADQc/lpzPz7AuyyM/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /></p> <p>The last mile was touch-and-go with the leg cramps. A video of my final quarter mile would probably be quite entertaining. I was hobbling. But I crossed the line in 2:42:01, which feels like a respectable-if-not-phenomenal time for a guy with a rather expensive background in endurance sports.</p> <p><strong>Post-Race</strong></p> <p>I struggled to step on and off curbs for the rest of the day, and walking down stairs hurt for about a week.</p> <p>Lockton and his girlfriend and I ate about $75 worth of sushi after the race, and it was a 50%-off happy hour! </p> <p>Tahoma and Ari and I went out in Hollywood and in Santa Monica after the race, but nothing too crazy happened. It was St Patrick’s Day, but it was also a Sunday night.</p> <p>I barely ran for 2.5 weeks to give my legs a chance to recover, and didn’t resume regular daily runs until April 19. I attempted my first workout on April 24 and it was downright ugly. But the fitness will come back!</p> <p>No other races on my calendar yet. Will have to see how the bike tour schedule shapes up, and how much I am able to run during the tours. Another marathon or triathlon next spring could be a lot of fun. Boston has been floated around as an idea. A bunch of our training buddies are running Chicago in October first, which won’t work for me training-wise.</p> Chris Tremontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238253339063432588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6919960072449134938.post-67895996251974439772013-05-03T20:27:00.001-07:002013-05-03T20:30:25.933-07:00Puerto Viejo and Bocas del Toro<p>For the final post in my three-part series on the Costa Rica + Panama adventure, I am going to try to focus on what we did for the ~half the trip that we spent *not* riding our bikes, and hanging out in the beach towns of Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica and Bocas del Toro, Panama.</p> <p>Highlights in Puerto Viejo included:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Semana Santa</strong> – the sleepy beach town was absolutely *jammed* with people on Friday and Saturday nights, as we had arrived during Semana Santa, or Holy Week. This is the biggest holiday of the year, and while many Costa Ricans observe it respectfully with family and religion at the center, others head for the beach! </li> <li><strong>Rocking Js</strong> – your archetypical Party Hostel. Cheap rooms, cheaper hammocks, even cheaper tents. An on-site bar with cheap drinks and a beer pong table and “all you can drink” specials, beachfront bonfire pits, crazy intricate mosaic tilework and lots of young spring-break-style travelers </li> <li><strong>Pagalu</strong> – after one night at Rocking Js, we relocated to a more “adult” or quiet location. Of course we ran into two girls there that Tahoma knew from high school. Whaaaa?? Pagalu featured a pleasant, breezy common area and a shared kitchen, and I swear it was the cleanest hostel I have ever seen. The owners and their staff were constantly sweeping the floors or putting dishes away or removing old food from the fridge. The location was still quiet convenient – one block off the main drag and directly across the street from a grocery store. Many longer-term travelers seemed to use it as a base of operations. They don’t take reservations, so you may have to stay somewhere else your first night in town, then stop in to Pagalu in the morning and see if they have any vacancies. We got a private double room for $26/night – two dudes, one bed. Euro-style. </li> <li><strong>Surfing</strong> – we aren’t very good surfers, but we were able to rent boards and drop them in the water </li> </ul> <p>Highlights in Bocas del Toro included:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Surfing off a remote island</strong> – we rented boards on Isla Caranero and paid a water taxi driver $15 to take us to Playa Primera, a.k.a. Wizard Beach, on the far side of Isla Bastimientos. There is no dock over there, so he just dropped us off in the ocean, out beyond the breakers. We jumped on our boards and paddled+surfed ashore to drop off our backpack. When it was time to go, another driver came to pick us up. We paddled out past the break to meet him, and climbed directly into his boat from the water. </li> <li><strong>Awesome mountain biking </strong>– since we already had mountain bikes with us, we explored an ATV trail to its far end, splashing through plenty of mud puddles and creek crossings, and stopping at a few beautiful beaches and swimming holes. This was a rather wet day and I didn’t bring a camera, so no photos. </li> <li><strong>Seeing a bunch of wildlife </strong>– most of the photos below were from our all-day boat trip </li> <li><strong>A full-day boat trip for only $30/person – </strong>dolphin-watching, snorkeling, monkeys, sloths, starfish, a buy-your-own lunch stop and two hours of lounging/playing around on a deserted tropical island. But be careful, as you might end up… </li> <li><strong>Saving a sinking ship –</strong> we spent about half an hour walking around the perimeter of one of the Cayos Zapatillos. At one point we saw our boat’s captain and first mate chatting up some German tourist girls, but thought nothing of it. When we got within sight of the boat, however, we saw that it was riding a bit low. And by “riding a bit low,” I mean sinking. Life jackets and water bottles floating away. Sinking. We ran over to the boat and helped a few other boat captains to bail it out. At first they accused us of neglecting our boat, but we clarified that we were only tourists/customers, and not the responsible party. </li> <li><strong>Crazy bars with piers and water access</strong> – I wish I had some better photos to post. We went to three different bars that had wooden docks that enclosed swimming areas. One place even had swings that you could jump off of, into the water. This gives you visions of a crazy party where everybody ends up in the Caribbean Sea, no? We did jump in once, at the place with the swings. All in all the parties were a bit less wild-and-crazy than we expected, but to be fair we were there Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday nights </li> <li><strong>A gringo cover band</strong> – a local gringo band called Cartoon Hamburger was playing their Last Show Ever on one of the nights that we were there. The entire local gringo/expat population showed up to watch and reminisce. Half a dozen folks had guest appearances on stage. Our favorite was the local bar owner who sang AC/DC’s “Big Balls” while wearing a black wig and a rather offensive T-shirt. Fun times. </li> <li>which leads us to a few examples of <strong>what happens if you stay “on the island” too long</strong>: <ul> <li>Some of the music fans were just drunken wastelands. A younger dude knocked over my beer and seemed utterly confused by the experience. A gal knocked over the large sandwich-board style sign that announced the nights entertainment, also while having no idea what was going on around her. </li> <li>We met an Australian dude who couldn’t stop talking about cocaine. Every other sentence. C’mon, man… </li> <li>Our hostel manager said that he planned to stay on the island for a few years to “build his resume.” We’re sure that many types of future employers look eagerly upon that line, “managed a youth hostel in a party town.” It turned out that he *owned* the hostel, so maybe he wasn’t completely nuts. :/ “Successful small business owner” sounds a bit stronger. </li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Spelunking </strong>– During a long run, we stopped into a cave that they called La Gruta. For a buck each the caretaking couple lent us a headlamp and let us take a walk through. </li> </ul> <p>On to some photo highlights…</p> <p>dolphins! these guys swam right under our boat! just like the whale-watching tours in the San Juan Islands or Hawaii, the boat captains can’t drive up to the animals but if the animals choose to approach then the captain just cuts the motor and you sit and watch.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--_W4s4-Scxg/UYR__7gFaeI/AAAAAAAADM8/vtWdCqwG5EE/s1600-h/dolphin-14.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="dolphin-1" border="0" alt="dolphin-1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Nx9zRQPVmIE/UYSAAsnvFcI/AAAAAAAADNE/3BjQQUvCnaI/dolphin-1_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="403" height="281" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QN2iiMj5GFk/UYSABD8-yvI/AAAAAAAADNM/budtFMQE7jA/s1600-h/dolphin-24.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="dolphin-2" border="0" alt="dolphin-2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Xzyi4_nyz_4/UYSABb8KDCI/AAAAAAAADNU/6A6fXy2cVt8/dolphin-2_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="313" height="221" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5PDOVdAx6Cc/UYSABx39wjI/AAAAAAAADNc/sh3ovEZQmH4/s1600-h/dolphin-34.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="dolphin-3" border="0" alt="dolphin-3" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vClSHs4CMbk/UYSACeDY4II/AAAAAAAADNk/IMlOr3GA1fg/dolphin-3_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="617" height="413" /></a></p> <p>I also captured a few videos of the dolphins jumping around. This is probably the closest/best shot that I got:</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:53615c74-f713-457b-8d06-164d1463a49e" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="6f06cbc5-4337-4bc2-bcb9-aa4d589447b9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHoyOjHVCJY&feature=youtube_gdata_player" target="_new"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MqhreoHULDI/UYSAC0ngCNI/AAAAAAAADNs/B4ZGVUCFI1c/videoad27f2eb3b31%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('6f06cbc5-4337-4bc2-bcb9-aa4d589447b9'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"448\" height=\"252\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/pHoyOjHVCJY?hl=en&hd=1\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/pHoyOjHVCJY?hl=en&hd=1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"448\" height=\"252\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div><div style="width:448px;clear:both;font-size:.8em">dolphin gets its jump on, somewhere near Bocas del Toro</div></div> <p>A three hour tour? A three hour tour?</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XYjfNXJd8GA/UYSADu2HMdI/AAAAAAAADN0/CTCII8N1dng/s1600-h/IMG_07123.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0712" border="0" alt="IMG_0712" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9dk3gkAROP8/UYSAEO4IH4I/AAAAAAAADN8/PbflcglTCzk/IMG_0712_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>starfish!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ufXb1pVNcH8/UYSAFDPutaI/AAAAAAAADOE/J1TPYucFnN0/s1600-h/IMG_07423.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0742" border="0" alt="IMG_0742" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZX42DZ_VjgM/UYSAFdv48VI/AAAAAAAADOM/ar1AGe0Swvg/IMG_0742_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5OU7I4ONZ34Ah6rLtgJnqSiVibjphAn_H8osm8n9uwavjQaTlagS7lFdTQsOurJhKIaCGguF1Ma3Ty3A0iE-E8FNAKdEyiuexdx_unpQyXObDJdKWiF-_qtC22Jc5e9rF5WMX39wDVWH/s1600-h/IMG_07453.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0745" border="0" alt="IMG_0745" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1hBBL5VF_ec/UYSAGYhIuvI/AAAAAAAADOc/fcIYUfqpa1U/IMG_0745_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-S-Vgt1iloqo/UYSAHE7v5LI/AAAAAAAADOk/N-BAakBrmnM/s1600-h/IMG_07463.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0746" border="0" alt="IMG_0746" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SszWJZfeIdA/UYSAHuIuXWI/AAAAAAAADOs/IcBYlU7iDEw/IMG_0746_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>a monkey in a tree! we also saw sloths, but in the fading twilight I couldn’t get any good pictures</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FY64NeNo_gc/UYSAH2AOnCI/AAAAAAAADO0/9_0VzP3LS70/s1600-h/monkey-in-a-tree4.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="monkey-in-a-tree" border="0" alt="monkey-in-a-tree" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PTCemP7oDsQ/UYSAIeURFVI/AAAAAAAADO8/Pu5S5yQPtkw/monkey-in-a-tree_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="551" height="399" /></a></p> <p>Most of your chances to see wildlife up close happen in captivity. These parrots had their wings clipped, so they hop up and down a ladder in order to get on/off of their favorite trees.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-shA1kDJG690/UYSAJJqlJYI/AAAAAAAADPE/r9yT3jxgUS0/s1600-h/parrot4.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="parrot" border="0" alt="parrot" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6SF_OzPm5xA/UYSAJ06hriI/AAAAAAAADPM/8pSH2-RlkWc/parrot_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="813" height="901" /></a></p> <p>The main destination on this boat trip was the uninhabited Cayos Zapatillos – two small islands that consisted of nothing but white sand, a few trees, and sparkling blue Caribbean waters.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CrXHyQV8VDE/UYSAKrV2MeI/AAAAAAAADPU/msKSq6sOrBA/s1600-h/IMG_07313.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0731" border="0" alt="IMG_0731" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Onyxyp6jmgM/UYSALgG4I6I/AAAAAAAADPc/Dw9NTYp9NSc/IMG_0731_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-B4sFRh3mQxE/UYSAMShUkXI/AAAAAAAADPk/g1W2RPFWo4E/s1600-h/IMG_07323.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0732" border="0" alt="IMG_0732" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2t1L6IDR8vk/UYSAM3o1evI/AAAAAAAADPs/LK3dOA8Jvck/IMG_0732_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-m8OsVKraTIs/UYSANqn5W_I/AAAAAAAADP0/RKdl8nOpYCk/s1600-h/IMG_07333.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0733" border="0" alt="IMG_0733" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FYajwaa_rOw/UYSAOJizjQI/AAAAAAAADP8/sfe8pMz4Zqc/IMG_0733_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>This post has been brought to you by Balboa beer – its intense flavor has been conquering taste buds since 1910. Or at least that is what they say on the can. Somehow this entire concept seemed offensive on some level… </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tFhITrj2sq0/UYSAOvvpGEI/AAAAAAAADQE/g4fM-PZH0Hg/s1600-h/IMG_06844.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0684" border="0" alt="IMG_0684" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mcRBfuA5cKQ/UYSAOyUJD7I/AAAAAAAADQM/53k-7HNmrmk/IMG_0684_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="484" /></a></p> Chris Tremontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238253339063432588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6919960072449134938.post-34260922336454345992013-05-03T14:51:00.001-07:002013-05-03T14:51:26.910-07:00Chito y Pocho<p>One unplanned and unexpected highlight of our Costa Rica + Panama trip was hanging out with this guy:</p> <p><iframe height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LJFgtIpv4N8" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>The remarkable story of Chito and his "best friend” Pocho started twenty years ago in Limon. Chito, a fisherman, found a 15-foot long crocodile that had been shot in the eye by a farmer and was slowly starving to death. He brought the emaciated reptile home to Siquerres and nursed it back to health. He dug a lagoon and a series of canals on his property for his new friend. </p> <p>Things got weirder. Chito came to decide that the crocodile, who he had named “Pocho,” was his friend and that they could swim together in the lagoon. They swam together for years and Chito taught Pocho a few tricks. Ten years ago an employee saw the two of them swimming together and suggested that Chito organize a show for tourists. So he did just that.</p> <p>Chito and Pocho travelled all over the world. You can see a map that tracks their journeys, as well as press clippings in a variety of languages. Sadly Pocho died of natural causes about two years ago, when his pond was struck by lightning!</p> <p>The entire town of Siquerres turned out for the <a href="http://www.ticotimes.net/Obama-in-C.R/News-Briefs/Costa-Rica-says-goodbye-to-famous-croc-Pocho-_Monday-October-17-2011">funeral</a>, and Chito had Pocho taxidermized and his friend now “lives” in a glass display case on the property.</p> <p>Tahoma and I stayed one night at El Centro Turistico de Chito y Pocho on the outskirts of Siquerres, and you can, too. They have a small hotel, a restaurant and bar, and a swimming pool. You will almost certainly run into the man himself, Mr Chito. For ten bucks a head he’ll take you on a tour of the property on his “banana boat,” pointing out the giant tortoises, monkeys and a variety of birds. </p> <p>On to the photo highlights:</p> <p>Riding the “Banana Boat” with Chito:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CbxOAaxqFt4/UYQxK6qPh4I/AAAAAAAADK0/NPlKtzqY3eU/s1600-h/IMG_05519.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0551" border="0" alt="IMG_0551" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9r9JKTMo5vs/UYQxLt2RI_I/AAAAAAAADK8/lFS7W7KVeCg/IMG_0551_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484" /></a> </p> <p>The canal looks pretty much like what you’d think of when you think “tropical jungle.” The plants grow incredibly quickly in this climate. We saw a bamboo grove that was at least 40-50 feet tall and Chito said it was only five years old!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qUBUBufBbiE/UYQxNIK5cKI/AAAAAAAADLE/ufDw-6Nz5aA/s1600-h/IMG_05778.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0577" border="0" alt="IMG_0577" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_zHoAc24is0/UYQxOtCNuuI/AAAAAAAADLM/Afod-Otqoes/IMG_0577_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484" /></a></p> <p>This bird is called a night heron, and there were plenty of them nesting above Chito’s canal:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mww3xap04vc/UYQxPkGs5XI/AAAAAAAADLU/dFU5OCBsZWs/s1600-h/night-heron3.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="night-heron" border="0" alt="night-heron" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tnt10ntQbDA/UYQxQGduY_I/AAAAAAAADLc/CJslI0_Tm-k/night-heron_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="240" /></a></p> <p>Chito’s place is a few miles outside of town. Anybody you ask in town can give you directions, and it is pretty hard to miss. But if you do miss it, you’ll quickly find yourself in the middle of a banana plantation:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wXqAFi32XoA/UYQxQv3gwOI/AAAAAAAADLk/efX0vA8oFo0/s1600-h/IMG_05377.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0537" border="0" alt="IMG_0537" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Cj2_qf7w-Bk/UYQxRjws59I/AAAAAAAADLs/FJuiX9zrwrU/IMG_0537_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>I’m not sure that this is the right place. Are you sure that this is the right place?</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_jw2DXMgEMY/UYQxSW_kvzI/AAAAAAAADL0/t0TzvG3dyUE/s1600-h/IMG_05827.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0582" border="0" alt="IMG_0582" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-95uBFvzWPJA/UYQxSsYCaDI/AAAAAAAADL8/3NQB6LjD3ew/IMG_0582_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Here is Chito’s wall of press clippings is in front of Pocho’s final resting place. It didn’t seem right to take a photo of Pocho himself, even though he was on display in the building behind this sign:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YJsEeaTMToI/UYQxTuBySDI/AAAAAAAADME/EqtCXyhcXKI/s1600-h/IMG_05863.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0586" border="0" alt="IMG_0586" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-r9CmYp51wbM/UYQxUAP4tDI/AAAAAAAADMM/W548yASdVOw/IMG_0586_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>The cute hotel rooms rent for $50/night without A/C or $55/night with A/C. Our room had two single bunk beds and a double/queen, so three of four travelers could have easily shared it.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OQz0aM3HGnw/UYQxVERAmTI/AAAAAAAADMU/iQWXXnB4lpw/s1600-h/IMG_05487.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0548" border="0" alt="IMG_0548" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HBeRyzrzmHo/UYQxVfKCQ_I/AAAAAAAADMc/hMzr1K_7s-o/IMG_0548_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Chito has a few young crocodiles on the property and also a larger adult off-site that he says he is trying to train as a replacement for Pocho. It sounds unlikely that somebody could capture that magic *twice* and domesticate another crocodile, especially without the trauma that Pocho endured before Chito saved him. But you never know…</p> <p>Speaking of replacements, Tahoma asked Chito whether he ever tried to train a replacement human for whenever Chito decides to retire. Chito told us that plenty of people have contacted him about wanting to get in the water with Pocho and to maybe learn, and had traveled to Chito’s place for this purpose, but he only remembers one guy who actually had the nerve to get in the water – a Chilean TV personality named <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felipe_Camiroaga">Felipe Camiroaga</a>. Everybody else who showed up, including the “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin, was a combination of too frightened and too frightening to Pocho. But Chito said that Pocho liked Felipe and stayed calm enough to Felipe to get in the water.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ncjN4yQmElk/UYQxWRKBjII/AAAAAAAADMk/0IQW4Fg15DY/s1600-h/IMG_05835.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0583" border="0" alt="IMG_0583" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xbqhng9sdTQ/UYQxXIL4UoI/AAAAAAAADMs/DIIYOTVbzyk/IMG_0583_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="1028" height="772" /></a></p> <p>You may have heard of Camiroaga two years ago when his small airplane crashed while delivering relief supplies to tsunami victims. Chito says it is uncanny that both Pocho and Camiroaga met their untimely end at the same time. Chito seemed quite fond of Camiroaga, and spoke very highly of him. “He was a good guy, and Pocho could tell.”</p> <p>If you ever decide to visit the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, you will almost certainly drive through the town of Siquerres. If you have your own car or are otherwise able to stop for an hour, go visit our buddy Chito. You won’t be disappointed. He said that if we ever come back to Siquerres that he wanted to take us out for beers. “All the ladies know me. I’m Chito!” Of course.</p> Chris Tremontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238253339063432588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6919960072449134938.post-33905132671847149732013-04-17T19:54:00.001-07:002013-04-17T19:54:06.789-07:00A Central American Bicycle Adventure<p>Heyo! I recently got back from a two-week vacation in Central America. A few people asked me, “what does a bicycle tour guide do on vacation? Isn’t your work already a vacation?” Those were the nice people. The close friends said something like, “what do you mean vacation? You don’t work to begin with!” <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-czpZfGwj5OY/UW9feaACEiI/AAAAAAAAC_8/AuD9v6_ce6o/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /></p> <p>The short answer: go on another bike trip!</p> <p>The long answer will be a series of posts. I am thinking that three posts sounds about right. </p> <ol> <li>The bike trip – our route, stories and photos, logistics for those who’d like to follow in our footsteps</li> <li>Our 3-4 day stopovers in Puerto Viejo and in Bocas del Toro</li> <li>Chito y Pocho</li> </ol> <p>This first post will focus on the bike trip.</p> <p>We originally planned to bring our bikes from the USA, but ran into some challenges: airlines charge $150-200 each way to bring a bike internationally, so $300-400 roundtrip per bike. Plus we planned a point-to-point trip, so we would either need to:</p> <ol> <li>pack the bikes in cardboard boxes, discard the boxes in San Jose, acquire new boxes in Bocas del Toro or in Panama City, repack the bikes, fly home, –OR-</li> <li>pack the bikes in fancy plastic cases, ship the fancy plastic case from San Jose to BdT or PC</li> </ol> <p>Note also that the flight from Bocas del Toro to Panama City is on a small plane that may have trouble with a bike box…</p> <p>Tahoma looked into rental options. The prices were reasonable, but the rental shop expected you to return the bikes to the store (duh) and we were excited about a point-to-point trip. The shop was willing to come to the Costa Rica – Panama border in Sixaola to get our bikes, but this was pricey and it meant that we would continue to Bocas del Toro on a bus. And it felt a bit silly.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9rbOMIjsh00/UW9ffN3uy0I/AAAAAAAADAE/3pzDNjWxhmY/s1600-h/trek-3500%25255B2%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="trek-3500" border="0" alt="trek-3500" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-A4HQx5thqBY/UW9ff4S6RcI/AAAAAAAADAM/YhU7J73sfZM/trek-3500_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="244" height="155" /></a>So our third (winning) idea was to buy bikes in San Jose and then sell them at the end of our trip. Baller, eh? I’d heard of people doing this with a motorcycle or a motorhome, so why not a bike? It felt like an elegant solution.</p> <p>I looked around online and found two shops in San Jose with web sites, and one of the two replied to my emails. <a href="http://puromtb.com/">PuroMTB</a> is a well-equipped shop in central San Jose, just south of the La Sabana park. We agreed to buy two Trek 3500 mountain bikes for $390 each plus taxes, and reserved our sizes with a $100 deposit per bike.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-n-RokVAHdLQ/UW9fgX8fzjI/AAAAAAAADAU/_fo1RZynGJQ/s1600-h/IMG_0484%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0484" border="0" alt="IMG_0484" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--CCrnOfO51w/UW9fg1ZhyuI/AAAAAAAADAc/Uhvs6g6diXE/IMG_0484_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>Finding PuroMTB was a big adventure. Addresses in Costa Rica tend to be written like “75 meters west and 50 meters south of the controleria.” Our big mistake was leaving my printed copy of the address and directions at the hostel. My best recollection was 200m and 75m south & west, but I couldn’t remember which was which. I’d forgotten the detail about it being on a dead-end street. So we asked about a dozen people on the street. Ticos are very friendly and helpful, but if they aren’t sure where something is then they will give you their best guess. We ran around for 90 minutes looking for the shop!</p> <p>At one point we went inside a tennis club and the concierge was nice enough to call the bike shop for us. But nobody answered. Luckily(?) I was able to use their WiFi to look up the directions, so we knew they were at 75m south and 50m west, on a “calle sin salida.” To the right you can see Tahoma wondering “now where did that Controleria go.” The Controleria is the semi-trangular block concrete peaking out over the pool.</p> <p>Finally finding PuroMTB felt like that moment when a computer program you’re writing finally does *exactly* what you wanted it to do. Like winning. Like, “wow, we are so smart! We figured this out!!” Even when it took you much more time than it should have taken. <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-czpZfGwj5OY/UW9feaACEiI/AAAAAAAAC_8/AuD9v6_ce6o/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /> Anthony and his team were finishing up the assembly of our bikes, so we roamed around the shop and bought accessories. The luggage racks were clutch, and they had exactly two left in stock. Win. Again.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dxWFZP8Ehus/UW9fhi5p0fI/AAAAAAAADAk/gPhF20wW0fc/s1600-h/IMG_0491%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0491" border="0" alt="IMG_0491" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BofqpITsVkU/UW9fiEiksdI/AAAAAAAADAs/7sqJ-x_w8XQ/IMG_0491_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FCGQp5z-4zg/UW9fjFsNG1I/AAAAAAAADA0/ztGF52H3pa4/s1600-h/IMG_0500%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0500" border="0" alt="IMG_0500" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oQykniNDLnw/UW9fjhlxjcI/AAAAAAAADA8/IH9XWEXcIvA/IMG_0500_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bsp5YXJrOJA/UW9fkuKFOzI/AAAAAAAADBE/zWeCSrXL_hM/s1600-h/IMG_0501%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0501" border="0" alt="IMG_0501" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-p73w90DKpPc/UW9fk6Mhb_I/AAAAAAAADBM/uEp-b7f4U_U/IMG_0501_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>I enjoyed PuroMTB’s little courtyard, where a few bikes appeared to be resting from the mid-day sununder an EZ-Up canopy.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ibyFwaVenD8/UW9flsLr3OI/AAAAAAAADBU/Kam0vf4MFBU/s1600-h/IMG_0495%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0495" border="0" alt="IMG_0495" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-j5eeEt6w9n8/UW9flyJkXQI/AAAAAAAADBc/qvcqQdc3tNg/IMG_0495_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Of course, nothing should every be this easy, so just before we attempted to pay the remainder of what we owed, there was a power outage. So their credit card machine was offline. We each had brought more than enough cash to cover the $300/bike but we had hoped to save that cash to use in rural areas and on small expenses. Well, we had each brought the money to Costa Rica. Only Tahoma had thought to bring his to the bike shop. I had left mine at the hostel. Win. So he paid for his, I left my driver’s license and credit card as a “deposit,” we rode back to the hostel, packed up our bags, and Tahoma then found us some lunch while I rode to the shop & back again to pay for my bike.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UscFfzhGuDM/UW9fmyliNbI/AAAAAAAADBk/XxF8K_o0Ymg/s1600-h/IMG_0503%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0503" border="0" alt="IMG_0503" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1CR9VDN1_X8/UW9fnWRz5eI/AAAAAAAADBs/sgAdyJ0IMJg/IMG_0503_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>By 2:45pm we were finally riding away from the hostel and into San Jose’s rush hour traffic. The gentle grade out of San Joe to the east was a bit more of a slog than we had expected. The heavy traffic and exhaust ad road construction and very un-Seattle heat and sunshine didn’t help. Our unplanned 90-minute run didn’t help either!</p> <p>We stopped for more water in the town of Cartago, and very soon after that we were on a quiet country road that led to the beautiful Orosi Valley</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-paTbRc1w3bs/UW9foVMnx2I/AAAAAAAADB0/NR5i2f1C8GQ/s1600-h/IMG_0515%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0515" border="0" alt="IMG_0515" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-k_htlBlnjTU/UW9fopbqKuI/AAAAAAAADB8/rILrgOD0W_0/IMG_0515_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kKR2OcwGxXg/UW9fpcqK_tI/AAAAAAAADCE/od5rztLvpUI/s1600-h/IMG_0518%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0518" border="0" alt="IMG_0518" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-a_L6dCdLAgM/UW9fpuPg6HI/AAAAAAAADCM/iYUmVB2tZiU/IMG_0518_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-i7tAp1U9qeI/UW9fqgCUZhI/AAAAAAAADCU/7EUdNNM9rrQ/s1600-h/IMG_0521%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0521" border="0" alt="IMG_0521" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rIls4rWwZjc/UW9frIliE2I/AAAAAAAADCc/X2UXJYMO_qA/IMG_0521_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p><strong>Day 1 Summary: 22 miles of riding (after leaving the hostel). Roughly 2hrs of riding time.</strong></p> <p>The second day was probably the toughest and hilliest and wettest, and may have included the most wrong turns. We got an early start out of Orosi and enjoyed the first 10-15 miles in the beautiful Orosi Valley. We forgot to take a shortcut out of town that would have crossed the Orosi River on an old footbridge and saved us a few miles, but we didn’t really care because the roads were gorgeous and empty.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AzqRhOmLzRc/UW9fsIrNVDI/AAAAAAAADCk/eS89owMC_9A/s1600-h/IMG_0524%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0524" border="0" alt="IMG_0524" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_VFQk-RUEuM/UW9fssT1BJI/AAAAAAAADCs/Zqznl8CNiy0/IMG_0524_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-J0Y3MdhuF28/UW9ftd8WVVI/AAAAAAAADC0/9TIXiqB3No4/s1600-h/IMG_0526%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0526" border="0" alt="IMG_0526" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-eVF1xcgXo0c/UW9ft3pKCyI/AAAAAAAADC8/qWhyz08GUBw/IMG_0526_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Lp8XlhQ0Km0/UW9fumRLV3I/AAAAAAAADDE/yptuzrfS17w/s1600-h/IMG_0527%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0527" border="0" alt="IMG_0527" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iZOjiaVBkKY/UW9fuwzA1aI/AAAAAAAADDM/bC_rta5mM9M/IMG_0527_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-V4Hyrwyk_sc/UW9fvrHPukI/AAAAAAAADDU/gNYrHf-EZe4/s1600-h/IMG_0529%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0529" border="0" alt="IMG_0529" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-THm78s2JzSk/UW9fv7GxlnI/AAAAAAAADDc/_JIZ8unAj8o/IMG_0529_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OFLW57OySjU/UW9fwW0e1vI/AAAAAAAADDk/r3HXJgITNKM/s1600-h/orosi-valley-peleton%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="orosi-valley-peleton" border="0" alt="orosi-valley-peleton" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nReW6VMxp1Y/UW9fwiMOYUI/AAAAAAAADDs/TONshHKUgdE/orosi-valley-peleton_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="174" /></a>The Thursday before Easter is a big holiday in Costa Rica, and we saw at least a hundred people out riding their bicycles on these beautiful, quiet country roads. We saw plenty of people on bikes all over Costa Rica and Panama, but they were almost all commuting or running errands. Here in the Orosi Valley we saw groups of cycling enthusiasts out on training rides, often on a mix of road, TT and mountain bikes. We saw at least four or five groups of eight or ten riders, one of which looked like a hard "drop ride” with 25-30 riders!</p> <p>There was only one road to follow for at least 6-8 miles, but eventually we hit an unmarked Y-intersection. We used a crude printed map and whatever Google Maps were cached on my mobile phone to correctly pick the left fork. Then we were so proud of our cunning that at the next intersection we quickly turned right and just knew we were correct because we’re just that good. We weren’t. We climbed up through a small village. I saw a few signs that told me this village was off our route, so we asked a kid and he confirmed that we were off course, and we reluctantly descended back to the valley. </p> <p>We reached a bigger Y intersection that was actually marked with a sign (yay!!), and the name of the town was familiar to us (yay!!). But this time we had the humility to pull out our crude maps again and determine that Tuccurique was also not on our planned route. So we continued. The next two right turn options were unmarked, so we kept going until we found a marked left turn. We pulled out the maps yet again and deduces that left would lead to some ruins and straight led up a giant hill to Paraiso, so apparently we needed one of the unmarked turns. Turn around again. At least this time the extra miles had been flat.</p> <p>After doubling back to the unmarked road, which was route 235, it was time for the real work of the day to begin. The road started to tip gently upward out of the Orosi Valley! The ride on route 235 from the valley up to highway 10 was a tough climb that probably gained 1200 feet in 3-5 miles. Sure I’ve climbed much bigger & steeper, but this was on mountain bikes with 12kg backpacks and tropical heat, sunshine & humidity.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2bqBeluFND0/UW9fxWLsJMI/AAAAAAAADD0/SsTecC3zn0s/s1600-h/IMG_0535%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0535" border="0" alt="IMG_0535" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7WN2Zh3al6k/UW9fxtGB7AI/AAAAAAAADD8/5_Iu1Uhr96Q/IMG_0535_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>Once we were on highway ten, the slopes were less fierce and the road was a bit wider, but we had a bit more traffic to contend with, too. We had a mix of mist and rain until lunchtime, which was actually quite pleasant with all of the climbing. We weren’t cold until we stopped to eat. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QHV3ne4QAkA/UW9fyUGd2hI/AAAAAAAADEE/UP1QW216UKo/s1600-h/IMG_0536%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0536" border="0" alt="IMG_0536" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zXL2uYJYzmw/UW9fyzP-YWI/AAAAAAAADEM/mqYrAXGalAo/IMG_0536_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>We had a very hearty lunch in the mountain town of Turrialba. Most businesses were closed for Semana Santa, but Tahoma spotted a place that was open. We each had a casado – or “house special – a plate lunch with rice and beans and plantains and salad and a meat entrée and a juice drink – plus we each ordered an empanada on the side. This full table of food cost about $14.</p> <p>After lunch, we were very slow to get rolling again. The rain had briefly stopped and we had changed into dry clothes, but before we finished eating the rain had started up again. We hoped to start with dry conditions and killed time chatting with the folks at the table next to us. They gave us some advice on which routes to take, in a pleasant mix of my mediocre Spanish and their mediocre English. Eventually we decided to just start riding in the rain. It was comical at times to have water splashing up at us from the roads, but at least it was warm. The road out of town was a false-flat downhill and we were able to motor-pace with the cars for two miles. It was terrific to get a fast start to the afternoon! But we knew things would slow down. Another 1200ft climb loomed in the afternoon.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1J1UMbVxKws/UW9fzqdm4TI/AAAAAAAADEU/XDRsZRplslU/s1600-h/IMG_0540%25255B22%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0540" border="0" alt="IMG_0540" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XWbV6GLzhLs/UW9fz9O9hwI/AAAAAAAADEc/uecozU0cD0g/IMG_0540_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>This day’s hero was the “Mega Range” cog that the good folks at Trek decided to spec on the 3500. I forget how many teeth this baby has, but that least shift from the second-biggest cog to the biggest is a *huge* change in gear ratio and it really comes in handy when you are carrying a backpack through a mountain range.</p> <p>Once we finally reached the top of the afternoon climb, the final 8-10 miles into Siquerres were easy. There was a fun twisty decent and then a long, straight rollout that brought us straight over Hwy 32 (the next day’s ride) and into Siquerres. We were pleasantly surprised to get there around 3pm and briefly considered riding on to Limon that day. Limon was another 35 miles away, but it was *on the coast.* Neither town is much of a tourist destination, but we eventually decided we didn’t want to be hunting for lodging in Limon at/after dark. So we started asking around for directions to the one place that we had heard about in Siquerres: Chito’s. Here is what the Lonely Planet has to say about lodging in Siquerres:</p> <p>XXXXXXXXXXXXXxxxxxxxxxxxx</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dCgtWufTmE4/UW9f0kMnCzI/AAAAAAAADEk/5879iKmUDPA/s1600-h/IMG_0537%25255B16%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="is this where Chito lives?" border="0" alt="lost in a banana plantation" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rvobTFBlxNI/UW9f1dInP2I/AAAAAAAADEs/35ife7IYGA4/IMG_0537_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>After our experience with the bike shop, we were skeptical when the first dude we asked seemed to know “Chito’s” and offered to show us the way. We followed his motorcycle around a few corners and then he told us to just cross these railroad tracks, continue straight ahead, and keep following the road until it ended. Which route was “straight” became unclear and the left fork was heading into a rather sketchy-looking area, so we asked another guy for directions. Again he seemed to know about this “Chito’s” and he directed us back to the other fork, and said it was like another 2km before the road ended. So we set out again, cautiously optimistic that we would find it. We passed some kind of tourism center whose sign was partially obscured by trees, then the road turned to gravel and we were in a banana plantation. Tahoma wanted to turn around but I insisted that we had to be getting close. Finally he suggested that we at least double back to the tourism center and ask for directions again.</p> <p>We doubled back to the tourism center and it turned out to the “tourism center of Chito and Pocho.” So we had ridden right past it. Wow. Chito and Pocho are worth their own blog post, so I will just give you this teaser for now:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-NorBCE-zwO8/UW9f1wgzAyI/AAAAAAAADE0/VqXR_XJ8NTI/s1600-h/IMG_0539%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0539" border="0" alt="IMG_0539" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mgp_H-tZ5Ok/UW9f2Z40QwI/AAAAAAAADE8/hW65x8QmE1M/IMG_0539_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p><strong>Day Two Summary: 60 miles and a whole lot of climbing in maybe 5 hours of riding?</strong></p> <p>Our third day was out most ambitious mileage day, especially after the previous day’s hills, but these miles would be quite flat. We left Siquerres a bit later than planned, thanks for our adventures with Chito, but once we got onto Hwy 32 we started making excellent time. The shoulder was decent, the pavement was very good, traffic wasn’t all that bad, and there was nothing much steeper than a false flat and never for more than a quarter mile. We cruised along, stopping occasionally to stretch a little. We never saw sunshine – it was always overcast – but didn’t get more than a little drizzle until Tahoma tempted fate a few miles outside of Limon: “I bet we’re gonna get up over that next hill and it will be nothing but blue skies for the rest of the day!”</p> <p>We got up over that next hill and the sky just opened up into a tremendous downpour. Comically heavy rain. Big fat raindrops hitting you in the face. Rain quickly puddling a few inches deep on the roads, and splashing up all over you. I clipped a red blinky light to my backpack for safety/visibility, then just took over a lane and dropped the hammer for these final few miles. I kept up with the cars pretty well and just rolled all the way into beautiful Limon.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OZaxhhu1RPU/UW9f22hoKRI/AAAAAAAADFE/IaC-gRO3s0k/s1600-h/IMG_0587%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0587" border="0" alt="IMG_0587" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4Tm8oDFcECc/UW9f3XY3mSI/AAAAAAAADFM/VtsKGoECNME/IMG_0587_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lWnCUBFyki8/UW9f4NTluxI/AAAAAAAADFU/wCT4TiWVAok/s1600-h/IMG_0589%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0589" border="0" alt="IMG_0589" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pgwo94RRpyM/UW9f4xoDDLI/AAAAAAAADFc/GUIbLZoyWoc/IMG_0589_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>We found the only restaurant with a view of the water and it turned out to be one of the fancier places in town. Casados with a white tablecloth! But the juices were *fantastic* and we each wolfed down a prodigious amount of food. “The casado comes with a salad or fries, eh? Can I have both?”</p> <p>Limon is sort of a grungy port town. Not in a charming/American/gentrifying way. Just kind of grungy. Tourists don’t really stop there. At least that’s what the guidebooks say, and we didn’t see much to contradict that. Some street people offered to watch our bikes for us while we ate lunch, which made us a bit uncomfortable as their social manner wasn’t terribly polished. But we locked the bikes up outside the window of the restaurant and the two dudes just hung out there while we ate. We gave them each two bucks for their time and they seemed grateful. </p> <p>Our day got a lot more photogenic after leaving Limon – the scenery got better and the rain stopped, so we could keep our cameras out and take lots of pictures, such as…</p> <p>The remarkably small Limon airport, sandwiched between the only road and the water: <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Ywcs1sm9_bE/UW9f5VBE_RI/AAAAAAAADFk/GeuUvsNWyyo/s1600-h/IMG_0594%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0594" border="0" alt="IMG_0594" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-poJr9JcBETg/UW9f52edI2I/AAAAAAAADFs/ukzPMgv1gXs/IMG_0594_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484" /></a></p> <p>shipwreck on a beach: <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Z3fBueyJ22Q/UW9f6irN1LI/AAAAAAAADF0/8pbba-3shlU/s1600-h/IMG_0595%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0595" border="0" alt="IMG_0595" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFBREo6Gn9bq3Fx_lelcyp0mbGfpA4b2RR40U6wOJdwaH3fRhxCiIdbF3bWKYSYQvYUiL-FFz1GXhDwb4eAiy9nlcPuhdLudpKx9a4BCl8xh-IihV8sp9iF0cnCCHyysUrJbbYcDJDE2Q/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484" /></a></p> <p>Tahoma is very happy that there is a town called “Bomba,” especially after our killer karaoke performance of La Bomba in San Jose: <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UrhNE2iJ3ZA/UW9f7oRcbdI/AAAAAAAADGE/w9N5EuVtQy8/s1600-h/IMG_0600%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0600" border="0" alt="IMG_0600" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mMH5DiM29Ww/UW9f8M4OLNI/AAAAAAAADGM/ZxoO6dGUhXM/IMG_0600_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="484" /></a></p> <p>I would call this animal a “sloth” but apparently French Canadian girls call this animal a “slut.” Ask one sometime. Never. Gets. Old. Or maybe if you are lucky she will ask you, “are we going to see any sluts today?” Tee hee… <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zQEjGDPLFN4/UW9f84qDNLI/AAAAAAAADGU/jSfeqtBwNK4/s1600-h/IMG_0605%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0605" border="0" alt="IMG_0605" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PIQ-hGV-x2Q/UW9f9I3NIJI/AAAAAAAADGc/NBWs87sO9Nw/IMG_0605_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="484" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-s-qYlvTOG3Q/UW9f974YQGI/AAAAAAAADGk/CnNkF5GHYA0/s1600-h/IMG_0610%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0610" border="0" alt="IMG_0610" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RrHVVfPSF-A/UW9f-c1YBVI/AAAAAAAADGs/HZPXh5cpQDo/IMG_0610_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>We rolled into Puerto Viejo before dark, a bit tired but eager to kick back and/or cut loose now that we were finally at the beach. The most interesting hostel that I’d read about there is called Rocking Js and it didn’t disappoint. We only stayed there the first night. I’ll say more about this place in my post on the beach towns. We arrived at 6pm on the Friday of Semana Santa and the place was *packed.* They were charging holiday rates and we paid $10/each to sleep in hammocks!</p> <p><strong>Day Three Summary: 76 miles, 6 hours of riding</strong></p> <p>After a memorable weekend in Puerto Viejo, we set out on the final leg of our bike journey on the Monday following Semana Santa. A staff member at Pagalu hostel pointed us towards a shortcut that would save us from doubling-back five miles to the main highway before proceeding south to the border crossing in Sixaloa. He suggested we ride south towards Manzaillo and go past Playa Cocles, then turn right after the second bridge, following the signs towards the town of Margarita. Margarita is on the main highway, so this would intersect with our planned route and save us 8-10 miles.</p> <p>But after crossing the second bridge, we saw no signs for Margarita and we didn’t even see anything that looked like a road. I saw one or two gravel driveways that *might* have been the road, but we weren’t sure enough to turn around. Luckily we happened to catch up to a friendly fellow on an old cruiser bike who we now lovingly refer to as “Rasta Mon.” The conversation went something like this:</p> <p>Gringos: did we miss the road to Margarita? <br />Rasta Mon: Yeah, Brah. It was back there before the bridge, Brah. <br />Rasta Mon: But there is another way, Brah. You don’t have to turn around, Brah. <br />Gringos: Awesome. Where is it? <br />Rasta Mon: Keep going down this road, Brah. Go a few more miles, Brah. Look for Maria’s and the pink house, Brah. Follow the signs for the butterly farm, Brah. <br />Gringos: Wow, thanks! So Maria’s, pink house, butterfly farm? Is it just the one turn? <br />Rasta Mon: Yeah, Brah. But be careful. Once you make the turn, any time you have a choice, go right, brah. If you go left, you might go into Panama and then they’ll want to see your papers, Brah. And you won’t have them, Brah. You have to cross at Sixaola, Brah. So remember, right, right, right. On the way back, left, left, left. </p> <p>I swear he called us “brah” at least thirty times in a two-minute conversation. And I’ll never forget the way he said “right, right, right” and “left, left, left.”</p> <p>I wish we had stopped to take a photo with Rasta Mon.</p> <p>We somehow found the gravel road near the pink building and the butterfly farm, and it was gnarly! Hilly, muddy, awesome!!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QsmWtpplNls/UW9f_E9DtnI/AAAAAAAADG0/3ZMrtaOYswM/s1600-h/IMG_0626%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0626" border="0" alt="IMG_0626" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iGqhowOHxwY/UW9f_sreQuI/AAAAAAAADG8/qMg3ljMrixE/IMG_0626_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RUb8xZa3eWs/UW9gAb3coRI/AAAAAAAADHE/cVV8BI3rMv8/s1600-h/IMG_0627%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0627" border="0" alt="IMG_0627" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6gqtCfEq1Ew/UW9gA9L6QmI/AAAAAAAADHM/bP-XSeK05jA/IMG_0627_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OBKU_-0QvgA/UW9gBmGpdBI/AAAAAAAADHU/I-regJKhZzs/s1600-h/IMG_0630%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0630" border="0" alt="IMG_0630" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AOrUQceTBGQ/UW9gBxx-1oI/AAAAAAAADHc/t63a36bksBI/IMG_0630_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wCvFx65hhQ4/UW9gCv5STjI/AAAAAAAADHk/-Yzkxwg9JAY/s1600-h/IMG_0631%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0631" border="0" alt="IMG_0631" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hZJxcUoUG14/UW9gDJwNVKI/AAAAAAAADHs/pdXk2kPBDvc/IMG_0631_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-tW2H5sNmStQ/UW9gD1-W9fI/AAAAAAAADH0/SEad_xjnO8w/s1600-h/IMG_0636%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0636" border="0" alt="IMG_0636" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wJLegLBGADQ/UW9gEVrBFzI/AAAAAAAADH8/YbMP3t_PPmU/IMG_0636_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iU4vWDhAaw8/UW9gE2ewYUI/AAAAAAAADIE/Mr6OI1xvfAc/s1600-h/IMG_0638%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0638" border="0" alt="IMG_0638" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vLMFtmhSyQg/UW9gFGvz2OI/AAAAAAAADIM/pPUl700upW0/IMG_0638_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>There really weren’t any turns. A few driveways, and exactly one road that went off to the left. But we made sure to not turn left! After plenty of mellow climbing and descending and mud … and one short not-so-mellow climb … we popped out of the woods and onto the main highway again. Easy!</p> <p>From there it was maybe 15 miles to the border at Sixaola. We were surprised at the amount of foot traffic over the border. There must be a large population that commutes over the border daily for work or shopping. Very few of the people that we saw approaching the bridge or on the bridge were stopping at the passport control booth, so the locals must have a visa that lets them pass back and forth freely.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-z8jyzg6li8A/UW9gF3iZgLI/AAAAAAAADIU/c_l5uQHg3C0/s1600-h/IMG_0649%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0649" border="0" alt="IMG_0649" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARuzCwiRuLc-TLV59yAEMo-jWaw7-Of3clC2AKU6BrvLUusPV1VTXb-FoupDFyfEWfxR6p6U8hfPuNiK5on6viE6eIpBbo8F4-mpO4XCKdf8stfok8TWqbUIcjSGHOpJlSmAPOdaSsy3p/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6tMF2F6lI5g/UW9gHF3Su5I/AAAAAAAADIk/lkFma-V14Cc/s1600-h/IMG_0655%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0655" border="0" alt="IMG_0655" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-londD0x8kmY/UW9gHeK1i9I/AAAAAAAADIs/wnBOuTuSwCQ/IMG_0655_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Y6Q5pTRhNLU/UW9gH-V1FdI/AAAAAAAADI0/ZsCtl-iHOc0/s1600-h/IMG_0659%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0659" border="0" alt="IMG_0659" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvD3PxWWQ2-m3qEc0Wskr9WOyHjfeI7LkM6wTw78CZFPHy-8AysXGK8vuzPe_RkQUOpuImjGUM08n5fLR-W1hSOuY4Q6sBTxlFM6c-TkOe8mZjJhgbr1JIliK3kWX6RVKSWGfrYy4-awYW/?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hiAEj3_9m5c/UW9gIxEZH_I/AAAAAAAADJE/wHkyoDAj3Dk/s1600-h/IMG_0658%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0658" border="0" alt="IMG_0658" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aa5m0TVvh9k/UW9gJKY3zmI/AAAAAAAADJM/NYKPzJ4yWbw/IMG_0658_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p> </p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="820"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="517">After crossing the border, we can across an unusual street closure. A railroad-style gate was blocking the road, cars were waiting, and … … … bunches and bunches of bananas were crossing the road! There was a retractable rail on which they traveled, and we stood and watched for a brief moment as the blue-bagged banana bunches traversed across the road on this rail. After the last bunch crossed, the rail lifted up and then the guard lifted up, and traffic resumed.</td> <td valign="top" width="301"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jWIE2Du2jM8/UW9gJ_Ny3pI/AAAAAAAADJU/uFZfZcXqTNg/s1600-h/banana-crossing%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="banana-crossing" border="0" alt="banana-crossing" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tlo_nTtyOlw/UW9gKIG-qsI/AAAAAAAADJc/gzaevblKElg/banana-crossing_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="472" height="280" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p>After a few wrong turns, we eventually found our way into Changuinola for lunch. Afterwards a friendly teenager on a racing bike showed us how to get onto the road to Almirante. We thought it would just be one well-marked turn but intead it was three or four, and none of them were marked! Once again, the kindness of strangers helped us through.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Mjo7ExFXqjE/UW9gK_5GnOI/AAAAAAAADJk/d_yCC7_TFUQ/s1600-h/IMG_0675%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0675" border="0" alt="IMG_0675" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XTzUvxBuu3U/UW9gLaCFdHI/AAAAAAAADJs/f8T_Do9ULro/IMG_0675_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>The road from Changuinola to Almirante was crazy-hilly. Not as consistently up as our day in the Turrialba mountains, but equally relentless! It was just roller after roller after roller after roller. You could maintain some momentum into the bottom of each, but it was never enough to carry rider and bike and backpack to the top. We labored through that forested road in a light misty rain for about an hour before reaching the summit.</p> <p>Luckily a lot of climbing is usually followed by a lot of descending, so the final 8km into Almirante really flew by. We rolled into town around quarter to six, as a bunch of schoolkids in uniforms were milling around. We got reasonably close to the water taxi docks before a few locals who saw that we were clearly Gringo Town advised us that we were heading in the wrong direction. One guy offered to escort us to the dock on his bicycle (I’m sure he gets a kickback) and we gladly accepted. The folks at the dock said that the last boat was at 6pm, so we were glad to have had the assistance. We were out of US Dollars (the currency in Panama) but had plenty of Costa Rican colones. Sadly they didn’t accept colones. So the same local dude escorted me to the ATM. He got a nice tip from us!</p> <p>I wish I had better photos of the water taxi. I don’t have any worth posting. The boat held about twenty tourists and they jammed our bicycle in the back area. The boat probably left around 6:15 or 6:20, but I would certainly plan to arrive no later than 5:45 if you ever go there, just in case the 6pm cut-off is real.</p> <p><strong>Day Four Summary: 60ish miles, 4hrs of riding</strong></p> <p>The bikes were fun to have in Bocas del Toro, but that will be covered in another post. We sold them to the owner of our hostel for $250/each, which was a pretty good deal for all parties. In the end, we spent $150 plus taxes and accessories to ride the bikes for ten days, and he got some awesome almost-new bikes for a healthy discount.</p> <p><strong>Route Overview:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ppONXD6gIts/UW9gOJQVZ1I/AAAAAAAADJ0/98nw8PBmlYw/s1600-h/bike-route-to-siquerres%25255B4%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="bike-route-to-siquerres" border="0" alt="bike-route-to-siquerres" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1g7BIoNOMo8/UW9gRf-VoPI/AAAAAAAADJ8/vFuJh-l0PeQ/bike-route-to-siquerres_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="970" height="448" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xTJ4bDlBy7s/UW9gSMvTfNI/AAAAAAAADKE/qHYoiHuI2JU/s1600-h/map-2%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="map-2" border="0" alt="map-2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-j8c2exNeCGg/UW9gSTlYwdI/AAAAAAAADKM/xk6dBY0JqKo/map-2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="436" height="269" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2oFQDt8PoFs/UW9gS_TJYoI/AAAAAAAADKU/3s0YulPS6jk/s1600-h/map-3%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="map-3" border="0" alt="map-3" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-a7PHGVHBWiY/UW9gTdlba9I/AAAAAAAADKc/LJM-n1dLOGI/map-3_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="268" /></a></p> <p>There were surprisingly few turns on our route, and if you knew the name of the next town you wanted to reach then you were (mostly) okay just following the signs. Except for those times when you weren’t. Heh…</p> <ul> <li>Highway 2 east out of San Jose towards Cartago</li> <li>Just before Cartago, bear left onto Hwy 10</li> <li>After Cartago, you will be back on Hwy 10 to Paraiso</li> <li>In Paraiso, turn right towards Orosi. Marked.</li> <li>Optional footbridge shortcut across the river in Orosi, then turn left.</li> <li>Right onto Hwy 235 (unmarked). Stay left until you get *past* the turn-off for Tuccurique. If you get to the turn-off for the ruins then you’ve gone too far.</li> <li>235 T’s into Hwy 10. Turn right.</li> <li>In Turrialba, follow the main flow of traffic.</li> <li>Just before Siquerres, ramp onto Hwy 32.</li> <li>In Limon, just a few blocks before you hit the Caribbean Sea, turn right onto Hwy 36 towards Puerto Viejo and Cahuita.</li> <li>After passing Cahuita and the park, turn left onto the road to Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo. It is another 3-5 miles from here to Puerto Viejo.</li> <li>To get to Sixaloa, you can double-back to the main highway or you can ride south from PV and then try to find the Margarita road or Rasta Mon’s road (“right, right, right”), then turn left on the highway after the hilly gravel awesomeness.</li> <li>Immediately after crossing the border into Guabito, try to turn left. Don’t ride out of town without taking that left. You’ll be in banana plantations forever. At least you won’t starve to death with all those bananas around!</li> <li>After downtown Changuinola, you’ll eventually make a right at a T intersection and then a left pretty soon, and then maybe another right… and possibly more turns here. Good luck with this part. We had a guide!</li> <li>Once you’re over that bridge, the route to Almirante is easy to follow but hard to power through. Enjoy those hills!!</li> <li>In Almirante, you may need to ask around to find the water taxis. They will charge you something between $2 and $8 per person+bike, and the last boat might officially depart at 6 but actually depart at 6:30.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Lodging Summary:</strong></p> <p>San Jose: Hostel Shakti. Dorm beds but we were the only occupants. About $15/person.</p> <p>Orosi: hostel. dorm beds. $9/night. No internet. Warm showers. </p> <p>Siquerres: Chito y Pocho’s. $50 for a private room without A/C. It would have been an extra $5 for a room with A/C, but we didn’t need it. Our room has two single bunk beds and a double bed.</p> <p>Puerto Viejo: We stayed at two places: Rockin Js (hammocks, $10/person/nt during Semana Santa, would be $7 at other times) and Pagalu ($26/nt for a private room with a queen/double bed)</p> <p>Bocas del Toro: HosteLuego. $35/nt for a private room w a double/queen bed and A/C. Includes free pancakes and coffee in the morning.</p> <p>Panama City: Luna’s Castle. $13/nt for a dorm bed, includes free pancakes, coffee and bananas in the morning.</p> Chris Tremontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238253339063432588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6919960072449134938.post-44100481390369061612013-02-25T16:45:00.001-08:002013-02-25T16:45:53.739-08:00Hawaii bike tours<p>I recently accomplished on of my goals for this winter: leading bike trips on the Big Island of Hawaii. Bicycle Adventures offers about fifteen trips on the big island each winter, and I was very excited to be sent down there as Tour Guide for two recent trips. I got to escape the Seattle winter and get some sunshine, while also meeting some great folks and earning a bit of cash. Whoop whoop!!</p> <p>Rather than giving a play-by-play, here are some highlights of the trip…</p> <p>Before the guests arrive, Teri and I hiked to a flooded lava tube near Kiholo Bay that is called Queen’s Bath. Apparently lots of cool swimming spots on the island are called “Queen’s Bath,” but this one was super-cool. There were two holes that led into the flooded tunnel, and one of them had a cute ladder for climbing down. The other one was a great photo op, too, as you can’t see how the swimmer gets in/out of the water! The tunnel between the two holes had a few feet of breathing room. I heard you can explore about 50m into the dark tunnel beyond the second hole, but we didn’t have a flashlight handy and it got rather creepy very quickly!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NJ6LeT3rJaU/USwFC377r6I/AAAAAAAAC4o/A-LOVHIDV0U/s1600-h/IMG_0222%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0222" border="0" alt="IMG_0222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRtVzPvVjkQNXqvfws4LD2QzcN7hhBJlTvufoAcRqZOU2XqmAPegaNcYoAF_bODkeu4WIMiuHQh1xp2SruU-HaNGaUbA9pLXOaMN3KFE-5pCDcpH2Ij2lL8F_g2TOmOMe0_ubkF_EDm4iD/?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8YjcxSiUANU/USwFFXonPyI/AAAAAAAAC44/uXs1WfhNz28/s1600-h/IMG_0236%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0236" border="0" alt="IMG_0236" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-74PN9nPXpXg/USwFGSzz8VI/AAAAAAAAC5A/rPZ45YV6JyY/IMG_0236_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5u4tCSCnfDY/USwFHueUN7I/AAAAAAAAC5I/koK1Rj-O734/s1600-h/IMG_0239%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0239" border="0" alt="IMG_0239" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YZlJRXEftGI/USwFJAVGElI/AAAAAAAAC5Q/00CDlXQzhMQ/IMG_0239_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>We went on a snorkeling trip during the Classic bike tour, and the humpback whales were everywhere! February must be a great time of year to see humpbacks in Hawaii. Boats must stay 100m away from the whales, but if a whale comes closer then the captain just has to cut the engine and wait. We were treated to a mama whale and a calf swimming right up next to our boat!!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6zTsIFbmnrU/USwFJ6qmzuI/AAAAAAAAC5Y/vtSnVvDKahg/s1600-h/IMG_0332%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0332" border="0" alt="IMG_0332" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RDDjVIaSBwE/USwFKpvyuZI/AAAAAAAAC5g/TOv09kwVFp4/IMG_0332_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-denWxjIswNs/USwFLSPbxzI/AAAAAAAAC5o/nQoGdb8dwCU/s1600-h/IMG_0337%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0337" border="0" alt="IMG_0337" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6Ha3i7oiGmc/USwFMIw13jI/AAAAAAAAC5w/XbWc4y7uw6E/IMG_0337_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ReEp3WO--BY/USwFM1MQ6nI/AAAAAAAAC54/2bYB6azIC0k/s1600-h/IMG_0339%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0339" border="0" alt="IMG_0339" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--JxswUH2fGk/USwFNT22QmI/AAAAAAAAC6A/wjL8wAj3J98/IMG_0339_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-w89BJKZIvEs/USwFQE6EePI/AAAAAAAAC6I/jYDU1cwJLV8/s1600-h/IMG_0340%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0340" border="0" alt="IMG_0340" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Pjcb5BSX07M/USwFRIlVKxI/AAAAAAAAC6Q/RTNIKQ0-FsE/IMG_0340_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8HwRQK7gsG8/USwFSGvsMqI/AAAAAAAAC6Y/-SG1Eg01g-w/s1600-h/IMG_0341%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0341" border="0" alt="IMG_0341" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GhB17cKhYak/USwFS7i4hCI/AAAAAAAAC6g/egEXuopE-B8/IMG_0341_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Another memorable sight was the smoking/steaming crater on Kilauea. We saw action at the Halema’uma’u crater from a few different angles, during our daytime hike and from the Jaggar museum at sunset. As the sun sets, you get a better and better view of the “red glow,” which I understand to be the lava reflecting off of the smoke and steam. You can’t see the lava itself from the overlook right now – you need a helicopter! The best time to take a photo is just after sunset – you don’t want enough ambient light to drown out the “glow,” but you need enough light to light the landscape, otherwise your photo is just a red splotch.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vyFxSgjDgNM/USwFTVPAmYI/AAAAAAAAC6o/iiIUpsfXGIQ/s1600-h/IMG_0277%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0277" border="0" alt="IMG_0277" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bqqq4jMI-4g/USwFUtlYWEI/AAAAAAAAC6w/vCbgz-ug24g/IMG_0277_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ywNJ3HRnu04/USwFV4zjh1I/AAAAAAAAC64/cqHCI_TgJLU/s1600-h/IMG_0279%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0279" border="0" alt="IMG_0279" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-f6Xta_WxS9w/USwFW8n6NtI/AAAAAAAAC7A/-4CY6T3QiPw/IMG_0279_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4RSJaTzL8xY/USwFXtFx1BI/AAAAAAAAC7I/np0wT6sU6wE/s1600-h/IMG_0282%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0282" border="0" alt="IMG_0282" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2v5MUmGftZ0/USwFYlF-A1I/AAAAAAAAC7Q/qSg0wimsR0g/IMG_0282_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-USqS7wrHyQg/USwFZ89lpzI/AAAAAAAAC7Y/uW_T7M7qE4g/s1600-h/IMG_0410%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0410" border="0" alt="IMG_0410" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-EfJYEsQjEyI/USwFayy7YpI/AAAAAAAAC7g/JnSKEhuRC3k/IMG_0410_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xVGr_0bFEbY/USwFbqLwIlI/AAAAAAAAC7o/6_D2WRHIwjw/s1600-h/IMG_0417%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0417" border="0" alt="IMG_0417" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hFQVGNqwKxY/USwFb6c1DmI/AAAAAAAAC7w/jlCI4exeqIA/IMG_0417_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kR4SHlYUFPk/USwFcTrZt0I/AAAAAAAAC74/Jjjxn1d13kQ/s1600-h/IMG_0419%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0419" border="0" alt="IMG_0419" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vaYlltU84J4/USwFdfHbjII/AAAAAAAAC8A/2JiCprVJnNM/IMG_0419_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Another cool thing that we saw: sea turtles at Punaluu black sand beach. People also saw turtles in the water here, and at Kahaluu, but this is the only turtle photo that I have:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ZMo8KhLWF5E/USwFd0EL0CI/AAAAAAAAC8I/FjdovxM4l5g/s1600-h/IMG_0283%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0283" border="0" alt="IMG_0283" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Wf0CE4mA7XU/USwFepuHDiI/AAAAAAAAC8Q/ywjMErqrJlQ/IMG_0283_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Near the Waikoloa resorts, you can pick up the King’s Trail and see some petroglyphs that are over 100 years old. These cravings are less than a mile from the road. I took a few photos during a before-dinner run one night.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7awjKvsnSmo/USwFfFgGxZI/AAAAAAAAC8Y/-5isXxjF-qc/s1600-h/IMG_0351%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0351" border="0" alt="IMG_0351" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-l8BCpF_JxAM/USwFf7MZDoI/AAAAAAAAC8g/oF8ttGDqU5E/IMG_0351_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4PufCZX7SBI/USwFgiUldTI/AAAAAAAAC8o/HbMlwJqXZLQ/s1600-h/IMG_0352%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0352" border="0" alt="IMG_0352" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ANkKuFJ80PI/USwFhOFmYQI/AAAAAAAAC8w/oGuXLr4b93Q/IMG_0352_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Lw8Z16z3KF8/USwFkDtYTrI/AAAAAAAAC84/JyHX0vbsOq8/s1600-h/IMG_0353%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0353" border="0" alt="IMG_0353" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WxxjfW9I268/USwFlePD1hI/AAAAAAAAC9A/Yzw1kPjk3Z8/IMG_0353_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6-IlPi4Ms7Q/USwFnLouZYI/AAAAAAAAC9I/FaJt_uQ0lCA/s1600-h/IMG_0354%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0354" border="0" alt="IMG_0354" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UPyie9DFB0o/USwFociP86I/AAAAAAAAC9Q/AtgK260jy34/IMG_0354_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-EN_DSkxzTTc/USwFpfZkPOI/AAAAAAAAC9Y/ARk9EHwxTyE/s1600-h/IMG_0356%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0356" border="0" alt="IMG_0356" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uwYHWEYTy5E/USwFqTs22aI/AAAAAAAAC9g/p4NZA1mN0zg/IMG_0356_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>One of my favorite bike rides was on the quiet and scenic roads of the Puna District. You go through a few tree tunnels with low-hanging vines, and you also have some beautiful views of the rocky coastline. You go through a few lava flows, too.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bMuHes8o_Y4/USwFrRWGDkI/AAAAAAAAC9o/Qxj4UHF2PgY/s1600-h/IMG_0376%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0376" border="0" alt="IMG_0376" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0t7OvMp78bw/USwFsG3EAiI/AAAAAAAAC9w/fkrmw5by9yM/IMG_0376_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0kM8Y68GcGw/USwFshd2EmI/AAAAAAAAC94/V-mjAiD8GSU/s1600-h/IMG_0398%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0398" border="0" alt="IMG_0398" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NQwvy62jc_o/USwFtQ_KzHI/AAAAAAAAC-A/WdoHMRQVw2c/IMG_0398_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>I’ll lave you with a photo of the sunset from the shopping center at Alii and King Kam III. I finished my grocery shopping one evening just in time to snap a few shots with the surprisingly large crowd of tourists. Well, it was surprisingly large for a shopping center parking lot, but the view explains their presence.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-sJO2FFuhxkg/USwFtyWfAXI/AAAAAAAAC-I/nREcc9voms8/s1600-h/IMG_0301%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0301" border="0" alt="IMG_0301" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3GLcFeimfYc/USwFuZHu6tI/AAAAAAAAC-Q/LaQq_bttfcM/IMG_0301_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>And what better to enjoy this sunset with, than Kona Brewing Company’s current “Aloha Series” seasonal, the Koko Brown ale? </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lBcoBxoGPjc/USwFu1jr6nI/AAAAAAAAC-Y/VdWi93YNJCk/s1600-h/IMG_0273%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0273" border="0" alt="IMG_0273" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zYD7_fKG1T8/USwFwIGr04I/AAAAAAAAC-g/UaNrgFSduk0/IMG_0273_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> Chris Tremontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238253339063432588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6919960072449134938.post-72360231142584130962013-01-24T16:43:00.001-08:002013-01-24T16:43:46.541-08:00Northern California Pub N Pedal<p>In October I had the privilege of leading two Northern California Pub N Pedal trips for Bicycle Adventures. Most of you know that pubs and pedaling are two of my favorite things! These trips included daily visits to local microbreweries as we cycled through Northern California, from the Bay Area up through Ukiah. Here are a few photo highlights:</p> <p>Van+trailer glamour shots:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZvvdB6aXcgU/UQAK9U6ecwI/AAAAAAAACtA/ygDxl7QV5pg/s1600-h/WP_000853%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000853" border="0" alt="WP_000853" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-kWMqj-ZM6Bo/UQAK-MCbfKI/AAAAAAAACtI/qmVZzNhSvT8/WP_000853_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-o_MvdeY5HyI/UQALCNX7nFI/AAAAAAAACtQ/BuTeYPJimO8/s1600-h/WP_000766%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000766" border="0" alt="WP_000766" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xz8HAidVKes/UQALCuhzvSI/AAAAAAAACtY/tM-2HDHwECk/WP_000766_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--Q0rGA4VDpU/UQALGQJi1NI/AAAAAAAACtg/Xe08qjmdZXk/s1600-h/WP_000778%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000778" border="0" alt="WP_000778" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tp1Fk42pk3A/UQALHH6_pKI/AAAAAAAACto/hUjTswmAwyw/WP_000778_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Our Fearless Leader / Head Guide, Brad Gordon, hanging out at Korbel:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VJvsHAj2tKE/UQALKBBuOTI/AAAAAAAACtw/H3-aXa5ERQM/s1600-h/WP_000855%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000855" border="0" alt="WP_000855" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AzGTk6g4P8k/UQALKw9B2HI/AAAAAAAACt4/yotilQgaC5I/WP_000855_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Tour of Korbel Champagne, complete with a free tasting of various dosages:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3LwA9FttbO0/UQALPX-HMwI/AAAAAAAACuA/cf2vm68rQO0/s1600-h/WP_000857%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000857" border="0" alt="WP_000857" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-N3Iimm96MK8/UQALRklPbPI/AAAAAAAACuI/DJAGL2KUASo/WP_000857_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nNVYqFL-jTY/UQALU5yBrtI/AAAAAAAACuQ/SBqhWKgZTFc/s1600-h/WP_000861%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000861" border="0" alt="WP_000861" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zcBr7yZH7wo/UQALVgrtEbI/AAAAAAAACuY/EITbUG2E__g/WP_000861_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PndPMo-gQpQ/UQALZRYsBiI/AAAAAAAACug/BH_fYW1uoac/s1600-h/WP_000867%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000867" border="0" alt="WP_000867" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-W3ga7GG5TmE/UQALaCR-ZaI/AAAAAAAACuo/kiG5kkoi_mo/WP_000867_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Riding in Northern California also means riding through the vineyard. I’ve ridden my bike in plenty of beautiful places, and the wine country is right up there with the best of them:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-21JBxR_DKwo/UQALdNXgfrI/AAAAAAAACuw/evyCekxkTqY/s1600-h/WP_000876%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000876" border="0" alt="WP_000876" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ss2VVKP2mTY/UQALd1LCFhI/AAAAAAAACu4/VKkZwEff_E8/WP_000876_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NMZSYok6RCM/UQALgxX5imI/AAAAAAAACvA/4p3KNjAqxZM/s1600-h/WP_000776%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000776" border="0" alt="WP_000776" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-g_mMNmefbac/UQALhsB16_I/AAAAAAAACvI/nmCifzHEtoQ/WP_000776_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>We saw beer everywhere we went:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5FVXUqznUGQ/UQALjQnYK0I/AAAAAAAACvQ/jRtSeyD81K4/s1600-h/WP_000878%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000878" border="0" alt="WP_000878" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-k27P-vGKryw/UQALj7dRNmI/AAAAAAAACvY/JhfRMil1LLU/WP_000878_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>We also saw llamas!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-S_hlx6ZeG5I/UQALn0VpouI/AAAAAAAACvg/44Lqx71MJbU/s1600-h/WP_000906%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000906" border="0" alt="WP_000906" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_0Q56r9R53I/UQALot0sisI/AAAAAAAACvo/UZ93MtiABF0/WP_000906_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DSFxaArLTV0/UQALrxcVL-I/AAAAAAAACvw/aKsRniXL6_w/s1600-h/WP_000914%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000914" border="0" alt="WP_000914" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WRba-mz8_Ds/UQALs7H7amI/AAAAAAAACv4/N2ceuixw0JM/WP_000914_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JYyLXV6glAg/UQALxBCAD9I/AAAAAAAACwA/78LTOpQW6dk/s1600-h/WP_000923%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000923" border="0" alt="WP_000923" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WxkmVZhi7Jc/UQALxwNfIlI/AAAAAAAACwI/r3gx4U8ok78/WP_000923_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Anderson Valley was my favorite of all the breweries we visited:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qBilHyzrNZg/UQALz_u486I/AAAAAAAACwQ/t7k5ubBUkVo/s1600-h/WP_000927%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000927" border="0" alt="WP_000927" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VniqaorliII/UQAL0tOacqI/AAAAAAAACwY/1uht-mjAYkw/WP_000927_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Kfyi8i8adPE/UQAL3a9tJMI/AAAAAAAACwg/Vd_LOA5H90M/s1600-h/WP_000928%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000928" border="0" alt="WP_000928" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-k8cZUx9DvMc/UQAL4azImgI/AAAAAAAACwo/ydsaAkOQ3fQ/WP_000928_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWkFbdTqF08nxESDp7hLJg__JI115xjxzJDbm8T-B-KleXhhtntTgtw70M-gMBPBZxLR7ZWLKqWSzdX4XoH1ec0m2q9ae3VDyiFjMjNy22orzBdL3KQ0_NpnLpmVWCbzyK8QIu2i1SfTI/s1600-h/WP_000931%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000931" border="0" alt="WP_000931" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YezVQoa6xzY/UQAL8ZGmxeI/AAAAAAAACw4/MK7WiAOPHP4/WP_000931_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-F74BiU5mFuA/UQAL_1dV6aI/AAAAAAAACxA/FLIva_d6xYo/s1600-h/WP_000932%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000932" border="0" alt="WP_000932" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-F7AN1dGWMNg/UQAMAvA4rDI/AAAAAAAACxI/wmRp0Om7yMk/WP_000932_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>We had lunch at a restaurant where patrons are encouraged to draw pictures while they wait for food, and some of the best end up on the menu covers. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-w1q-nZ7NOZk/UQAMDSOAWKI/AAAAAAAACxQ/qFhbkKfGZCI/s1600-h/WP_000937%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000937" border="0" alt="WP_000937" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GQzkUqHiROE/UQAMEOVnY-I/AAAAAAAACxY/7havn5tLRWM/WP_000937_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Beth’s Café in Seattle also gives customers crayons and encourages customers to draw. The walls are covered in drawings. Beth’s is also the home of the twelve-egg omelet.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-X5mmdostB9M/UQAMFi2VNfI/AAAAAAAACxg/I_d11rl9NWY/s1600-h/WP_000125%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000125" border="0" alt="WP_000125" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OL0ROtRt4QE/UQAMGepCTsI/AAAAAAAACxo/XxfFUAU_dJ0/WP_000125_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Our second Pub N Pedal trip included a visit to Biketoberfest Marin, which featured beers from 20+ breweries and a bunch of cool bikes. These featured bamboo frames. I also saw some sweet carbo bikes and trikes.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mess0CFbG6I/UQAMJl1DiyI/AAAAAAAACx0/129vq8_psxI/s1600-h/WP_000939%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000939" border="0" alt="WP_000939" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eQr74csTDDY/UQAMKowIV8I/AAAAAAAACx8/BpIoLFeuLzc/WP_000939_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOn95UbA6MoTBOYcAcI3x1xnPG4WDWbM7K4HSA8iRzFZQjf8Eb1oC1qEerXECSw4ZZZ-44jTcKhVMK80IyU_EB5GxcAG9x7vvLEl-6WSQZV6lYlxoV0QPRMe2G3NWQR-0BjFv_b1vKNMv/s1600-h/WP_000940%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000940" border="0" alt="WP_000940" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jtRlnqzvtQg/UQAMORJgR7I/AAAAAAAACyM/ARnBPMZSOWg/WP_000940_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Bicycle Adventures guides pride ourselves in our artful cheese plates at our Wine & Cheese socials. I learned a few tricks from Randy Resch when we led an Oregon Coast Casual trip together:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IcAkx3o_KKo/UQAMRL9BTeI/AAAAAAAACyU/NQK8WbEdO5E/s1600-h/WP_000942%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000942" border="0" alt="WP_000942" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-C-nYg4KAnIA/UQAMSNxZO1I/AAAAAAAACyc/AA-VRzq8PaE/WP_000942_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>View from the top of Mt Tam. I rode up there three times – once when we were scouting routes before the trips, then once on each of the two trips. Yay!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-a8_GP5dLq50/UQAMVQpvQOI/AAAAAAAACyk/O9VdFwQXz6M/s1600-h/WP_000945%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000945" border="0" alt="WP_000945" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-inD6oMoPPmg/UQAMWL5d7oI/AAAAAAAACys/u0hsFQ4c7SM/WP_000945_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-P0HC6GfG4zE/UQHU4gSNmzI/AAAAAAAAC1I/vZHafB9HAMg/s1600-h/WP_000745%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000745" border="0" alt="WP_000745" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ftnjel7IEMg/UQHU5bLgLoI/AAAAAAAAC1Q/wwqY8z5onmI/WP_000745_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CBmZxs2qvoY/UQHU6K3dQ-I/AAAAAAAAC1Y/6JJP9O54qus/s1600-h/WP_000746%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000746" border="0" alt="WP_000746" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CI8CKoTCChE/UQHU6pOUdWI/AAAAAAAAC1g/tahZOLDAo3o/WP_000746_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>I am glad to see that they regulate their garbage in Northern California. I hate Unregulated Garbage.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lol4lPjSKKM/UQHU7fTdAwI/AAAAAAAAC1o/3WyQYZm7lJU/s1600-h/WP_000946%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000946" border="0" alt="WP_000946" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HyxYac2Tlg4/UQHU7-aIgKI/AAAAAAAAC1w/9cXnaSeAyJQ/WP_000946_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Bodega Bay is rather picturesque. Cold and foggy, though…</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WjS9f7mY3pA/UQHU9LdQSFI/AAAAAAAAC14/SPRkqJMgYbA/s1600-h/WP_000728%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000728" border="0" alt="WP_000728" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hJAdMIGCCNM/UQHU98oen0I/AAAAAAAAC2A/lDPN_eQyABA/WP_000728_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-oY744XtxuhI/UQHU_tLEcYI/AAAAAAAAC2I/v0tc9Hd2evM/s1600-h/WP_000733%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000733" border="0" alt="WP_000733" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Jvfk3B4oT5Y/UQHU_4g2b5I/AAAAAAAAC2Q/yok7SgBwa2U/WP_000733_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7x0Dj2ShPbk/UQHVBfU1ojI/AAAAAAAAC2Y/l7hrn1IbEAU/s1600-h/WP_000735%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000735" border="0" alt="WP_000735" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-p4gbnP2khpk/UQHVB5_dMyI/AAAAAAAAC2g/JsDjcTPlB7Q/WP_000735_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>The big board at Russian River Brewing, home of Pliny the Elder:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eq0CoXUv2e0/UQHVDpZ3_-I/AAAAAAAAC2o/WrWBXPukMT4/s1600-h/WP_000740%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000740" border="0" alt="WP_000740" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tRIfX6IbLVc/UQHVEPBwriI/AAAAAAAAC2w/pqhKwyxekoo/WP_000740_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>I parallel-parked the van into this space. Baller!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ObhpkCYmlG8/UQHVFxki8OI/AAAAAAAAC24/ef3jWlF0AdY/s1600-h/WP_000938%25255B19%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000938" border="0" alt="WP_000938" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CYXwwSuHljs/UQHVGsicpJI/AAAAAAAAC3A/dqXafPK5UcA/WP_000938_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>This one goes out to Seattle runner and Starbucks food scientist Chris Charles, a.k.a. the Cake Pop King! (Or is it Cake Pop Kid?)</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WRC-PhURelE/UQHVInQjwiI/AAAAAAAAC3I/_0NgqB38CRk/s1600-h/WP_000947%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000947" border="0" alt="WP_000947" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dUBSkafFU3M/UQHVI6P0OuI/AAAAAAAAC3Q/_nxCvNO8NU4/WP_000947_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>On our way back to Seattle, we drove past the famous town of Weed, California. I can’t decide which of these highway signs is my favorite!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Fv4AXwedmes/UQHVK9mQhFI/AAAAAAAAC3Y/nd3FIaJ6E0w/s1600-h/WP_000949%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000949" border="0" alt="WP_000949" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Hlnrkf5ZrCE/UQHVLlMGuRI/AAAAAAAAC3g/DrXZaEG4rks/WP_000949_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zkhGrzuarNk/UQHVMyWTjMI/AAAAAAAAC3o/-cAxu_BJifU/s1600-h/WP_000950%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000950" border="0" alt="WP_000950" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hyYXD4xpeM4/UQHVNFyhv2I/AAAAAAAAC3w/_2ce_l16cjk/WP_000950_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Rgmbe0Qltag/UQHVOVAneCI/AAAAAAAAC34/wtxxQAAWA6M/s1600-h/WP_000951%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000951" border="0" alt="WP_000951" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--45SdyipJSM/UQHVOmuwYvI/AAAAAAAAC4A/QgZKYbv6yNI/WP_000951_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--QezixDBxFg/UQHVP8rv3mI/AAAAAAAAC4I/GqWNbysGjbM/s1600-h/WP_000952%25255B3%25255D.jpg"> <img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000952" border="0" alt="WP_000952" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGq_dnfBePyYF3g5S4_belLFAZd1oSUsr7GosYh8k9jdSIeM6aX2A5qDgQ1OdD089OVfJOEMuw8nDlTAVxA-SfplSwxn9qnd03ji-NSusGtRUXAGRoJHzudgUDSHYFDyyrDpbKF-hsuLCQ/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> Chris Tremontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238253339063432588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6919960072449134938.post-21558553679587634252013-01-14T11:59:00.001-08:002013-01-14T11:59:11.117-08:003M half marathon<p>hey blogosphere! I’ve been a bad blogger, and I won’t insult your intelligence by saying that I’ll change. But here is a small effort.</p> <p>I went to Austin this weekend to visit my old friend Steve Young, a.k.a. 57-Steve. We worked together at Trilogy right after college. He managed to get a mobile number of (512) 577-8383 or (512) 57-STEVE. Yeah. We’re geeks. </p> <p>He didn’t run back then, but has picked up the nasty habit in the past two years… so we agreed to meet up here and to run the 3M half marathon. 3M also happens to be the only half marathon I’d ever run outside of a triathlon, back in 2003, when we lived here.</p> <p>Steve had a goal to break 90 minutes in a half this year, and I had tried to coach him a bit last year, providing workouts from Seattle that he ran in London. But he got hurt. I must be a bad coach. But he’s healthy again now and was on track to break 90 this time. He didn’t believe it himself, but he’d run 92 minutes on a slightly-short but SUPER HILLY course in France a few months ago, so I knew he could do it. And he did. He ran a smart race, staying with the 1:30 pacer the entire way, and ran an official chip time of 1:29:57. Solid.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FwzYW9j9B7o/UPRjhmiJNTI/AAAAAAAACqo/MjYXGltgEms/s1600-h/fat-tremonte%25255B2%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="fat-tremonte" border="0" alt="fat-tremonte" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-27yVgJY10Lw/UPRjjJK-cSI/AAAAAAAACqw/lD5z81RVDZ8/fat-tremonte_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="167" height="244" /></a>I was hoping to break 74 at this race, after running 76:04 at the Seattle half in November when Tahoma convinced me to run it as our workout like two days earlier. Seattle is hillier than 3M, and I was actually able to plan this one in advance. But then I got a persistent head cold about a week before the race, and it was a struggle just to be healthy on the starting line. I hoped to run steady 5:40s for the first half of the race and then drop a bit in the second half if I still felt good. I’d run steady 5:42s on the track for 9 miles with Travis Adams two weeks ago, so I knew I had the fitness to do this. But in the fourth mile yesterday I could already feel that I didn’t quite have it. I ate an energy gel and tried to tough it out. I managed to get my splits back down but was clearly a few clicks slower than I would need to be. I did manage a new PR, though, in the upper 1:15s. Maybe 1:15:40ish?</p> <p>Splits were 5:28 5:44 5:38 5:48 5:46 5:44 5:41 5:47 6:01 5:44 5:55 6:04 5:44. The 6:01 and 6:04 had hills and/or headwind. I swear. </p> <p>The best part of the day (and the main reason I’m writing this) happened a few hours after the race. I got two texts from Steve:</p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://dailymile.com/people/Iristroph/entries/20196919">http://dailymile.com/people/Iristroph/entries/20196919</a></p> </blockquote> <blockquote> <p>Hilarious but keep the face that you read this between you and me. <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-aKW4XP07ctY/UPRjjgwJUaI/AAAAAAAACq4/Cv_lrdFTm58/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /></p> </blockquote> <p>(We’ve since decided that it is OK for me to share these.)</p> <p>Go read the link if you haven’t done so already. It is really funny.</p> <p>Did you read it yet? OK. Good. How funny is that?!! Awesome!! I laughed out loud. So did my running buddies in Seattle. So did Steve.</p> <p>Hopefully that brought a little levity to your day. I know that most of you probably saw the link on my Facebook wall already… but feel free to comment here, too, so that it looks like people still read this blog.</p> <p>In other Austin news, it was great to see and catch up a bit with Tim Sandfort, Don & Missy Ruthven, Corey May and George Schmitz, and to see Tim Terwey and Josh Lee at the race. Go check out the new <a href="http://www.austintricyclist.com">Austin Tri-Cyclist</a> store on 360 at Davenport Village, opening Feb 9th!!</p> <p><em>oh regarding use of the photo – it is pretty well-established across race photo companies that athletes can use the shots on their personal blogs pro bono. I know the image header says otherwise :/</em></p> Chris Tremontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238253339063432588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6919960072449134938.post-92225025701083317202012-10-07T11:24:00.001-07:002012-10-07T11:24:27.491-07:00Canadian Rockies<p>At the beginning of September I spent the 9-10 days in Alberta, exploring Banff and Jasper national parks. A few of my closest friends are Canadian, and I’ve always enjoyed traveling here. A few highlights and observations:</p> <p>I’m not sure what the marijuana laws are in Alberta, but we thought this store’s very existence was rather comical. I’ve walked past “head shops” in the Haight in San Francisco, or in other hippie/pothead strongholds, but the store name & signage usually isn’t quite so blunt. Heh… blunt… </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--kwSANLvSkg/UHHH93zQdRI/AAAAAAAACZ0/8wIWO15dF8M/s1600-h/WP_0002933.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000293" border="0" alt="WP_000293" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gaz0KecgxgA/UHHH-gwSu2I/AAAAAAAACZ8/yIncimhVpus/WP_000293_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>We started our first ride at a parking lot that featured washrooms for men, for women, and for dogs.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eMKYez7TivY/UHHIAGf5lMI/AAAAAAAACaE/dlJ24cPGGg8/s1600-h/WP_0003053.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000305" border="0" alt="WP_000305" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BVquTL7KUkw/UHHIAsdcfqI/AAAAAAAACaM/861tw4o_e-E/WP_000305_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Highwood Pass is the highest paved road in Alberta</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-v9kog3WYrT4/UHHIBYdqo5I/AAAAAAAACaU/Nx7zM5mjTtE/s1600-h/WP_0003473.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000347" border="0" alt="WP_000347" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-DfIrU0iCcR4/UHHIByjxzPI/AAAAAAAACac/orxNp-BkBOY/WP_000347_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>The turn-off from the Kananaskis Trail into Kananaskis Village is a very important intersection, apparently:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sc-n5ac_CxY/UHHICxzJ-XI/AAAAAAAACak/p1XJTW_BCAQ/s1600-h/WP_0003513.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000351" border="0" alt="WP_000351" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JgQ_Ezpjr3U/UHHIDiPRfDI/AAAAAAAACas/3PGAuZRd6Pg/WP_000351_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ecQX5jil7Jw/UHHIEOOaFDI/AAAAAAAACa0/iDVvVrzrfeA/s1600-h/WP_0003523.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000352" border="0" alt="WP_000352" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HlRjL1UMaY4/UHHIEsPj4pI/AAAAAAAACa8/mv8EJr2lerU/WP_000352_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>I didn’t run as much on this trip as I would have liked, thanks in part to the local wildlife. We did a hike at Moraine Lake, where the local statute *requires* you to stay in groups of four or more! One evening in Banff I chose to stay on city sidewalks rather than exploring a pretty trail through the woods, because, well… it was dusk and I was running alone in bear country. Sometimes you get this feeling that you’re about to become a statistic, or a really embarrassing obituary.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xxYax_WaDV4/UHHIFHxxAUI/AAAAAAAACbE/N42CkLfGWDc/s1600-h/WP_0003573.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000357" border="0" alt="WP_000357" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-44uqfzTBm5s/UHHIF_YfeUI/AAAAAAAACbM/WN-wiW1V_Ao/WP_000357_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Rz7YtSpEfSs/UHHIGSHR63I/AAAAAAAACbU/vO7N2qxD6dc/s1600-h/WP_0003583.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000358" border="0" alt="WP_000358" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WsnWQa5vWCI/UHHIGx6ATiI/AAAAAAAACbc/ELcsbZrGbOY/WP_000358_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Ndl6ZC3cnBM/UHHIHmznQTI/AAAAAAAACbk/L4Gac4WnY_s/s1600-h/WP_0005053.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000505" border="0" alt="WP_000505" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nigeanjsNrU/UHHIIFaLlgI/AAAAAAAACbs/o02Ls5NCpBs/WP_000505_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2kKJ7pyN9Y8/UHHIInslWZI/AAAAAAAACb0/4Xy-eUyYsvs/s1600-h/WP_0005063.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000506" border="0" alt="WP_000506" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-E1MQnwcMUfI/UHHIJQBLwcI/AAAAAAAACb8/4M8V2oWLaKY/WP_000506_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>There was gorgeous scenery everywhere. The incredibly blue water was probably the most memorable sight for me. Some of the lakes and rivers had this other-worldly color that was hard to capture with my camera phone.</p> <p>Here is Moraine Lake:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-j3-PXuM8QYY/UHHIKPIrSMI/AAAAAAAACcE/jsRCanZbMKQ/s1600-h/WP_0005543.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000554" border="0" alt="WP_000554" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SUpWIreyFQw/UHHIK2hM63I/AAAAAAAACcM/1xZe-or2EXE/WP_000554_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-D2RqV8RlItE/UHHILg3CKDI/AAAAAAAACcU/rKkXjcHBplI/s1600-h/WP_0005553.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000555" border="0" alt="WP_000555" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HVXkgLGP-5U/UHHIMNpK29I/AAAAAAAACcc/xCb4_sn1XsQ/WP_000555_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0crTtj1MY_0/UHHIMi5_9HI/AAAAAAAACck/Wz7GZSWywG0/s1600-h/WP_0005573.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000557" border="0" alt="WP_000557" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7bTah-hwcbQ/UHHINdPd1ZI/AAAAAAAACcs/Qp3j8RbETb8/WP_000557_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>and Lake Louise:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-k_QKa_BpsHI/UHHIN9ExeEI/AAAAAAAACc0/BTdqdlPS3e4/s1600-h/WP_0004543.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000454" border="0" alt="WP_000454" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8W9xoZuIrlU/UHHIOLB2S8I/AAAAAAAACc8/ToTw3SMU5yI/WP_000454_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cOiG8cG6xC0/UHHIOvuSiEI/AAAAAAAACdE/EWyHegBnoC4/s1600-h/WP_0004563.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000456" border="0" alt="WP_000456" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2Vq1QM1O_YQ/UHHIPLV2AII/AAAAAAAACdM/_QSJ6GU1O8w/WP_000456_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Proi4lmGy3o/UHHIPpDIVdI/AAAAAAAACdU/YroJ68ofYUg/s1600-h/WP_0004583.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000458" border="0" alt="WP_000458" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-0FG43AWIumA/UHHIQCek0sI/AAAAAAAACdc/VDYXA2vfqeI/WP_000458_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Looking at Nayto Lake from Bow Summit, you can see the glacier flowing into the lake on the left side of two of these pictures. Yes, I took some of these photos with the “high saturation” setting, but the water really is that color of blue!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8lRXs_vepng/UHHIQ3WdU_I/AAAAAAAACdk/P6aZ3MSODCA/s1600-h/WP_0006053.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000605" border="0" alt="WP_000605" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-M7E4-3YNQwk/UHHIRNOl9bI/AAAAAAAACds/wCi7BJFCVhw/WP_000605_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3FRu1O6EPoc/UHHIR15EOSI/AAAAAAAACd0/mQPxFoorLyc/s1600-h/WP_0006073.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000607" border="0" alt="WP_000607" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gHrfKK4YyfE/UHHISb6K7_I/AAAAAAAACd8/vnQS4dMa6VE/WP_000607_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>We saw a good variety of wildlife out there, including a herd of mountain goats (or flock of mountain sheep?) right next to the road, a few black bears, three wolves, a bunch of deer and ravens and what have you. I didn’t have a chance to snap photos of most of these, but I did get a few of the wolves!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-deB0F7RsWOA/UHHITEovOMI/AAAAAAAACeE/QdRla5Q3Z1Y/s1600-h/WP_0004723.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000472" border="0" alt="WP_000472" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9kuMS5c5Kfs/UHHITS69ScI/AAAAAAAACeM/iMDXaauNMUo/WP_000472_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-f6XRFz81IV0/UHHIUPqKbrI/AAAAAAAACeU/OoyxOh8wvtI/s1600-h/WP_0004743.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000474" border="0" alt="WP_000474" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2Q91Yq9jFDw/UHHIU5HlzzI/AAAAAAAACec/DkTNDwdSrO8/WP_000474_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SdWf6n8lF2Q/UHHIVeJXPMI/AAAAAAAACek/SWf7Ld-DEUM/s1600-h/WP_0004773.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000477" border="0" alt="WP_000477" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qmR6bFPVp9o/UHHIVyxwFEI/AAAAAAAACes/2I8ki1VGw7w/WP_000477_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vNV4gTXhZJc/UHHIWRLrDEI/AAAAAAAACe0/xWrRpkYMXcM/s1600-h/WP_0004833.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000483" border="0" alt="WP_000483" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-75B5fSxZDRM/UHHIW0hJqwI/AAAAAAAACe8/nQzoBTBD_c0/WP_000483_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6GaJb8Qxouo/UHHIXfxxYrI/AAAAAAAACfE/I69_IpmZqcw/s1600-h/WP_0004933.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000493" border="0" alt="WP_000493" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-sUsyeT3Gx8Y/UHHIXvqX0eI/AAAAAAAACfM/8gyoXw3-tw0/WP_000493_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>It was nice to see the wolves from the safety of our van, on the way to dinner. It was weird to see that they were wearing collars. Apparently this is done quite frequently with wildlife in certain parks.</p> <p>Now on to some awesome taxidermy. Many of the hotels and restaurants featured animal heads on the walls. Eat your heart out, Kara Messenheimer! The last one is my personal favorite. Er, I mean “favourite” as this took place in Canada.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-J5KsBqG7S6M/UHHIYFPaT2I/AAAAAAAACfU/s2sieCYEd-w/s1600-h/WP_000499%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000499" border="0" alt="WP_000499" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--51ZT7N_0Kg/UHHIYoTwieI/AAAAAAAACfc/9ivAU1bk3lA/WP_000499_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vpkz2rMBczM/UHHIY5qlkgI/AAAAAAAACfk/60awqXeFxs0/s1600-h/WP_000559%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000559" border="0" alt="WP_000559" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VbV5LkmHVgE/UHHIZf64HrI/AAAAAAAACfs/3seF1_BUUg4/WP_000559_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rCQ17naMMCg/UHHIaLnJcCI/AAAAAAAACf0/wbly46aw7-E/s1600-h/WP_000566%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000566" border="0" alt="WP_000566" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-tyuswBoAbJE/UHHIakelbzI/AAAAAAAACf8/yDi4x3D84Vs/WP_000566_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ofCUi0_AtGM/UHHIbKP04eI/AAAAAAAACgE/-lKZRHhTDcE/s1600-h/WP_000568%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000568" border="0" alt="WP_000568" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zR0o1zzM7Fc/UHHIb6EkbtI/AAAAAAAACgM/y4mrlmNWysA/WP_000568_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KbAc0To14hE/UHHIctJed2I/AAAAAAAACgU/bRzGOkEyGU4/s1600-h/WP_000575%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000575" border="0" alt="WP_000575" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-h74GVeAcBes/UHHIdJjyWeI/AAAAAAAACgc/LxTOnRMjJYA/WP_000575_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>The riding highlight for this trip was our 180km day from Lake Louise to Sunwapta Falls, featuring two big climbs – Bow Summit and Icefields. It was definitely the type of day where you say to yourself, “am I really getting paid to do this?!?! Sweet!!!”</p> <p>The guests stayed at some very nice and historic hotels on this custom trip, including the Fairmont Banff Springs (below) and the Chateau Lake Louise.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uB788X63Vks/UHHId1yc6GI/AAAAAAAACgk/ONmMVnajwWo/s1600-h/WP_000368%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000368" border="0" alt="WP_000368" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ThBoLn-VxXs/UHHIeRxjpoI/AAAAAAAACgs/Oc5ftMbO2Bs/WP_000368_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZj4IOW-ntdIxv9CI2Avf51qqqTghO7k7zTX_JTynjWs9AtmJa_zzeswp66GO09WEbx6dyysciQ9G5t1Au95tepgQ-OZN3wh3Vp-33K6VT6ZyJEAKuwUvADJmtmyqJkw3vSVPVmN4G1mZ/s1600-h/WP_000365%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000365" border="0" alt="WP_000365" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5wrrrLWXSzc/UHHIfYKQYqI/AAAAAAAACg8/bzeS3-mZGNw/WP_000365_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4Y1wgoAWI1g/UHHIgNi16iI/AAAAAAAAChE/6Ncvs9uxbGU/s1600-h/WP_000367%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000367" border="0" alt="WP_000367" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Zd6LYayO2L8/UHHIguKMG-I/AAAAAAAAChM/swla5HuodrA/WP_000367_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Our big hike on this trip went through Larch Valley and up to Sentinel Pass. This beautiful valley reminded me of the Enchantment Lakes wilderness in Washington.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kcgE1DseIwo/UHHIhNWQp7I/AAAAAAAAChU/_bd_7EOFBOE/s1600-h/WP_000524%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000524" border="0" alt="WP_000524" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_5T45p3aFiU/UHHIhmsQ6ZI/AAAAAAAAChc/yrFpDCc9KMM/WP_000524_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OCga0UcX6eo/UHHIiTudjWI/AAAAAAAAChk/Q8rer98yfV4/s1600-h/WP_000531%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000531" border="0" alt="WP_000531" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cA_eBRtymHY/UHHIiz-d3TI/AAAAAAAAChs/uxqnwk2L6bw/WP_000531_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OovuFSxclvs/UHHIjcOYsKI/AAAAAAAACh0/i3XhDz_QPMQ/s1600-h/WP_000532%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000532" border="0" alt="WP_000532" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6Jf9B-Lep5w/UHHIj12np1I/AAAAAAAACh8/T-x2OT4wxIw/WP_000532_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UI81wvhins4/UHHIkzLPb0I/AAAAAAAACiE/S2SkCLqmiSg/s1600-h/WP_000538%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000538" border="0" alt="WP_000538" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Pmb1DsD2CCA/UHHIlnKAJHI/AAAAAAAACiM/Ip9tW4W5EQA/WP_000538_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>I’ll leave you with a few more shots of the beautiful riding. There are only a few roads in this area, so if you ever make it out to Banff then you’ll certainly see this same scenery!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Io6clMDA7no/UHHImZX0W4I/AAAAAAAACiU/Um0OzIncLuE/s1600-h/WP_000319%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000319" border="0" alt="WP_000319" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wKTsGugpYV0/UHHIm9TUANI/AAAAAAAACic/KoQepyVqvmw/WP_000319_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9o5HNwFpwqo/UHHInlF635I/AAAAAAAACik/8ghtOMl9Gd4/s1600-h/WP_000331%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000331" border="0" alt="WP_000331" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RoDAWNVvKQo/UHHIoYkOluI/AAAAAAAACis/M3e_TqNweEc/WP_000331_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vD1Cj9pN2c0/UHHIopFoyLI/AAAAAAAACi0/iI9pwPxRUto/s1600-h/WP_000348%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000348" border="0" alt="WP_000348" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cK0iAcW5fi8/UHHIpMaw3LI/AAAAAAAACi8/garJI8ABhRk/WP_000348_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dTAMfqyZZrg/UHHIqKKij1I/AAAAAAAACjE/U_e-K4QSZsQ/s1600-h/WP_000349%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000349" border="0" alt="WP_000349" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8RLs2Ol5d0w/UHHIqsN4sGI/AAAAAAAACjM/jGejyWgGMF0/WP_000349_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-a7n-cy8b4Q4/UHHIrkl0edI/AAAAAAAACjU/EScdAZaBiKQ/s1600-h/WP_000350%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000350" border="0" alt="WP_000350" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0rSE5KMTDGA/UHHIsM3LKpI/AAAAAAAACjc/s4nSLNlUVmc/WP_000350_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fMRRQo3FJvE/UHHIschTq5I/AAAAAAAACjk/h6bMX2f_4nE/s1600-h/WP_000364%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000364" border="0" alt="WP_000364" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SSFxj5QjbSI/UHHIs1WEioI/AAAAAAAACjs/YTo37ahtzLQ/WP_000364_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7UvytUbqtCM/UHHItY2WVsI/AAAAAAAACj0/158dB9P5yQA/s1600-h/WP_000390%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; 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margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000622" border="0" alt="WP_000622" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-g47DQ3uVopU/UHHI1dncWTI/AAAAAAAACl8/XmacK3oeTx0/WP_000622_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7RvIj9nh65c/UHHI2J7z5EI/AAAAAAAACmE/OxWJ3eY5zLU/s1600-h/WP_000626%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000626" border="0" alt="WP_000626" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MJwRhNFjOMQ/UHHI2uqMBiI/AAAAAAAACmM/-8Sai86m24Q/WP_000626_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> Chris Tremontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238253339063432588noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6919960072449134938.post-36782492790925853742012-09-02T19:09:00.001-07:002012-09-02T19:09:21.754-07:00Fun Times on the Oregon Coast<p>When I set off on this new adventure, I promised to at least sporadically document it in this space. I’ve been leading trips for two months now, so I suppose I’m overdue to get started.</p> <p>I’ve led three trips along the Oregon Coast so far, with plenty of adventures along the way. Here are a few highlights, in no particular order: </p> <p>The Astoria Column sits on a hill above Astoria. It was built to allow Astorians to watch for incoming cargo ships back in the day. When a ship was sighted, the unloading crew would be alerted. Other fun facts about Astoria:</p> <ul> <li>Named for the Astor family, who built a hotel there many year ago. The New York Astors, who made their money in real estate. </li> <li>Filming site of the classic film, the Goonies </li> <li>Home of two microbreweries – Fort George and Astoria Brewing – and also a Rogue Ales Public House </li> </ul> <p>The view from the top of the column is rather impressive. You have panoramic views of the countryside, of the mouth of the Columbia River, of the four-mile-long bridge to Washington, of Youngs River and Youngs Bay, and probably some other things…</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MvGPZKgJKW8/UEQPpvgJY0I/AAAAAAAACC8/0nE7MczFbaQ/s1600-h/WP_0006563.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000656" border="0" alt="WP_000656" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vNJ-SolJvVQ/UEQPp9KTsoI/AAAAAAAACDE/dHqrh7SWldM/WP_000656_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2FB9rG5qMB4/UEQPq3Qp-kI/AAAAAAAACDM/Aagd2pVgtbI/s1600-h/WP_0006573.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000657" border="0" alt="WP_000657" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bzwh473DrDI/UEQPraMztAI/AAAAAAAACDU/PFOP-Ks9DL0/WP_000657_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FKHP8jFnVsA/UEQPsEjQQ5I/AAAAAAAACDc/idVFw7P_mgo/s1600-h/WP_0006583.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000658" border="0" alt="WP_000658" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6gwHOikLK7U/UEQPsXCTvVI/AAAAAAAACDk/Pu3L3IWpVMg/WP_000658_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wWzi_tjs6TI/UEQPtEj63YI/AAAAAAAACDs/_dc5ZPTHTGo/s1600-h/WP_0006593.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000659" border="0" alt="WP_000659" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2V73W0NUBqk/UEQPtvUtXjI/AAAAAAAACD0/yYec6c2HvWE/WP_000659_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gmhORWJ6glA/UEQPubOMnpI/AAAAAAAACD8/v988X5nbvPQ/s1600-h/WP_0006603.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000660" border="0" alt="WP_000660" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hs7ShNTRD5U/UEQPu2mVD8I/AAAAAAAACEE/u9Aye8M9LGI/WP_000660_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mT7GP06bRRw/UEQPvfOrF9I/AAAAAAAACEM/KKejgDKHVfI/s1600-h/WP_0006613.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000661" border="0" alt="WP_000661" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DEce5gxKEnk/UEQPv4G_uKI/AAAAAAAACEU/d7wwYr8ezNw/WP_000661_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1_ySLIIDgx4/UEQPwprPaTI/AAAAAAAACEc/vldueZpMrcw/s1600-h/WP_0006623.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000662" border="0" alt="WP_000662" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QOPne2Ft8u4/UEQPw4HQFHI/AAAAAAAACEk/8gyuwatFClk/WP_000662_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-H5INDPdSoYs/UEQPyFqtbQI/AAAAAAAACEs/dG_o5Acppbc/s1600-h/WP_0006633.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000663" border="0" alt="WP_000663" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CodSgSD8uz4/UEQPyjeYZFI/AAAAAAAACE0/2Ec8COAwrZY/WP_000663_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>The Oregon Welcome Center in Astoria can give you a map to all of the sites where major movies have ben filmed in town – Goonies, Kindergarten Cop, Free Willy, … and they sell Goonies posters and pint glasses. I’ve also seen other signs of Oregon’s Goonie Pride stenciled onto various objects. I saw this on a lamp base near the Devil’s Punchbowl, roughly 100 miles south of Astoria:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-U3gmmki6TC0/UEQPzaG4fsI/AAAAAAAACE8/j_Gpd9gz13w/s1600-h/WP_0008513.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000851" border="0" alt="WP_000851" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-idBRtJto-_A/UEQPzpcLvlI/AAAAAAAACFE/pxYTkm1Eb9g/WP_000851_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>They have some awesome warning signs along the waterfront streetcar in Astoria. Rail tracks that run parallel to a bike path can spell danger for the cyclists:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Em9V9lshCRM/UEQP0hHA9AI/AAAAAAAACFM/lwqZvsiNO-g/s1600-h/WP_0006683.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000668" border="0" alt="WP_000668" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oUzshilnjDU/UEQP0ztdtxI/AAAAAAAACFU/oHbkfbBfthw/WP_000668_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Astoria isn’t the only town with interesting warning signs. The good folks at Ecola State Park near Cannon Beach warn visitors of the following dangers:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wVIOKSCYWz8/UEQP1dGr0WI/AAAAAAAACFc/IMT6zv3X9AY/s1600-h/WP_0000233.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000023" border="0" alt="WP_000023" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PriOMSXyj6o/UEQP1pUy27I/AAAAAAAACFk/f-wiP2Neo_4/WP_000023_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-paOMiHMHueg/UEQP2ZLvzcI/AAAAAAAACFs/FvjDTNZ6UGI/s1600-h/WP_0000243.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000024" border="0" alt="WP_000024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KwxuDYS4fwwW1JZYH17yvQ7x6MRh0sxDUaqEniZUhMvTM8r8xDn9X3jwCNlBBT6cQjGZRK8NrtSQs7kl4ifAdXBfQNfYsxyKk_RXpJHGdgD7OD18FNQ2hQceo15ERI76YA4K4u2AT2O5/?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Of course, some visitors are incorrigible and engage in these dangerous activities anyways:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VyJJ49Q-bjU/UEQP3H9EoQI/AAAAAAAACF8/VSMHRMJmjVs/s1600-h/WP_0000263.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000026" border="0" alt="WP_000026" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lExaPkXKJCM/UEQP3m_fxFI/AAAAAAAACGE/p66ixSg0Zaw/WP_000026_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--WmO5rtGwW0/UEQP4qXG-aI/AAAAAAAACGM/ioAoczzEmlQ/s1600-h/WP_0000257.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000025" border="0" alt="WP_000025" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PlI2OH4DKfE/UEQP5uo9g5I/AAAAAAAACGU/JazxqnhpbJ4/WP_000025_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>A few of the hotels on our trips feature Pancake Machines. I’m sure that Zach Little would pee his pants with excitement.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eoc5oQkBsN0/UEQP6R6m2XI/AAAAAAAACGc/gb9qxliY8qU/s1600-h/WP_0006693.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000669" border="0" alt="WP_000669" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JVrTq97onAY/UEQP6ljaXWI/AAAAAAAACGk/HXeeGS-po0U/WP_000669_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>The awesome members of Team Japanese Blow Bath. No explanation. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IB2HgN9JG4o/UEQP7gLipTI/AAAAAAAACGs/2QQa_cU0vZg/s1600-h/WP_0006843.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000684" border="0" alt="WP_000684" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-C4RoLG9jJmI/UEQP8PEXhNI/AAAAAAAACG0/YRN1YAB_XEk/WP_000684_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>In the background, you can see the beach and the sea stacks at Indian Beach within Ecola State Park. I’ve seen surfers in the water every time I have visited this park – as few as 2 or 3 or as many as 20+. One of these days, I should rent a board and bring or rent a wetsuit… the water in mid/late summer can allegedly get into the low- to mid-60s.</p> <p>Cannon Beach is an iconic Oregon landmark. I didn’t get any amazing shots of their famous haystack rock, but a post about the Oregon Coast seems incomplete without including the ones that I did take:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_VCkai426CU/UEQP89CwbmI/AAAAAAAACG8/6s0rzkviJEc/s1600-h/WP_0007093.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000709" border="0" alt="WP_000709" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-foFKj5e9mWk/UEQP9MiXtlI/AAAAAAAACHE/eoAwrczPmpU/WP_000709_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NKybUq39x8Q/UEQP9gtgGaI/AAAAAAAACHM/U1NA323Zxlc/s1600-h/WP_0007103.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000710" border="0" alt="WP_000710" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lCl9UEyOdQY/UEQP91whGlI/AAAAAAAACHU/7omabM7Xpwg/WP_000710_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1UxBFyVhrUs/UEQP-TWvtAI/AAAAAAAACHc/gZti2wIlksA/s1600-h/WP_0007113.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000711" border="0" alt="WP_000711" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-L1WsQQ0TVTw/UEQP-2W09mI/AAAAAAAACHk/NXVLcpoSwW8/WP_000711_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>We see many scenic stretches of coastline on this trip, and I don’t always have a chance to stop and take a photo. But here are a selection from various points along the way, including but not limited to Indian Beach, Manzanita/Neakahnie, Otter Crest, and somewhere near Cape Meares.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6riuws1l1_I/UEQP_fBRczI/AAAAAAAACHs/fyTnnP6ASRM/s1600-h/WP_0006963.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000696" border="0" alt="WP_000696" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xRb8JG-NFLE/UEQP_-UIPZI/AAAAAAAACH0/EUCmYjtZG6U/WP_000696_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KpyyLBiRJdVp6M8sh9_yKdQqu5wAPXMJHlzqQmAPsw7enKG8cxH0fNCfmUTrGBaZ_dhV3w6ihqCG3wpKdb_k8pqAWIQFsdmnaFXqG3DURsbIcVAA5aEwDME37VXRsqWwxQ87AKZS2FZn/s1600-h/WP_0007063.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000706" border="0" alt="WP_000706" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7RsF6kJrl-4/UEQQA2lI0DI/AAAAAAAACIE/nGUkdzOD4H8/WP_000706_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FTmZKRlQBqc/UEQQBumJl7I/AAAAAAAACIM/Pd3jzHL_lrE/s1600-h/WP_0007123.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000712" border="0" alt="WP_000712" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LM3gvRum-Ks/UEQQB8VCb_I/AAAAAAAACIU/gGJsEeE7aWo/WP_000712_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Cs79MduDmc4/UEQQCtJOYZI/AAAAAAAACIc/UT8GZmTg0YA/s1600-h/WP_0007143.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000714" border="0" alt="WP_000714" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZpUyyKJwIp0/UEQQDNrl4aI/AAAAAAAACIk/gHMRg6fSdFw/WP_000714_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hkzkR-SlaSI/UEQQD1N2HYI/AAAAAAAACIs/a3eFcrSAN1U/s1600-h/WP_0007153.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000715" border="0" alt="WP_000715" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QYE2DSGDhpY/UEQQEXg1YaI/AAAAAAAACI0/4XxjiijRTVc/WP_000715_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>There is a spot along the US-101 where you can usually see a large number of harbor seals lounging on the rocks below. This unmarked viewpoint doesn’t have any parking, but there is enough room to pull your bicycle over to the side of the road. This spot is just north of the Whale Cove Inn, between Depoe Bay and Newport.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HjJV97Kfr0Q/UEQQFuyr9cI/AAAAAAAACI8/bcHhVrqvzIw/s1600-h/WP_0008463.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000846" border="0" alt="WP_000846" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-L3XFk2sScdA/UEQQGAsGPrI/AAAAAAAACJE/WNKpxSHAuJc/WP_000846_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iBo4fqLb9DI/UEQQHV8NI1I/AAAAAAAACJM/cSmJ54CwEbg/s1600-h/WP_0008473.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000847" border="0" alt="WP_000847" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Q7e0wgAPZ60/UEQQHug01bI/AAAAAAAACJU/ou1X6oTe6Qg/WP_000847_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HxwYF7cUz2w/UEQQIuYJRQI/AAAAAAAACJc/vTLsCAzBH9E/s1600-h/WP_0008483.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000848" border="0" alt="WP_000848" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mVaCC8ckQYQ/UEQQJP_GstI/AAAAAAAACJk/2RcwYJwyyRs/WP_000848_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tpEOuIiOTQQ/UEQQJzanQoI/AAAAAAAACJs/Nz64QbQiG9A/s1600-h/WP_0008493.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000849" border="0" alt="WP_000849" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7bS1MPYk0Zw/UEQQKKMCH2I/AAAAAAAACJ0/vcfi6YA0zUc/WP_000849_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>I took a bunch of pictures on top of Cape Meares, while playing with the Contrast and Saturation settings on my phone. I’d like to blow some of these up and use them to decorate my bedroom, if the resolution is high enough. I’ve been wanting “light filtering through fog in a forest” photos for almost two years, but from a place I’d traveled. Hopefully some these will work.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-EY5JpmbBSJk/UEQQLI5u5wI/AAAAAAAACJ8/EGasWyzh8ks/s1600-h/WP_0007285.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000728" border="0" alt="WP_000728" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--cLz2Ks6gUo/UEQQLknUjFI/AAAAAAAACKE/nayovMbuh4A/WP_000728_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-q3ktQ670N94/UEQQMw7t0dI/AAAAAAAACKM/_wP_R0XH76I/s1600-h/WP_0007295.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000729" border="0" alt="WP_000729" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cbaqKRzeCZs/UEQQNOU-ocI/AAAAAAAACKU/T7AcPABMGjQ/WP_000729_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-z5RMyf3hVCI/UEQQN8UG_eI/AAAAAAAACKc/Um4qGN273CI/s1600-h/WP_0007305.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000730" border="0" alt="WP_000730" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UAjb7zsIv2E/UEQQOSH4xdI/AAAAAAAACKk/igqBq7eRBmI/WP_000730_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tEtEB1Fyrsk/UEQQPJo1RoI/AAAAAAAACKs/YT2Qk2-0xVE/s1600-h/WP_0007315.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000731" border="0" alt="WP_000731" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UOfDJZdp4F8/UEQQPcGYaWI/AAAAAAAACK0/UMBZEo2XGck/WP_000731_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-G2gwNS-ZxDU/UEQQQFCHRnI/AAAAAAAACK8/28ehcCTqqPA/s1600-h/WP_0007325.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000732" border="0" alt="WP_000732" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-a3ek061oi9E/UEQQQpM3iMI/AAAAAAAACLE/FYAw7UL5Bsk/WP_000732_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Ro-1wd7acwk/UEQQRpXUNNI/AAAAAAAACLM/qfaokVfwOUg/s1600-h/WP_0007335.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000733" border="0" alt="WP_000733" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LsWxKkkCmf8/UEQQSEKpHuI/AAAAAAAACLU/Ay0_s4Oz190/WP_000733_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-i75CvUBXxZg/UEQQTCVL6cI/AAAAAAAACLc/-PBCTfYRJPE/s1600-h/WP_0007345.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000734" border="0" alt="WP_000734" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Gy1vstOw5WY/UEQQTtBIYbI/AAAAAAAACLk/I-Ml9P-eTz0/WP_000734_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-C7_LVK277I8/UEQQUxtH5rI/AAAAAAAACLs/n5cr5xsJ1uQ/s1600-h/WP_0007355.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000735" border="0" alt="WP_000735" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2DfsaupyxFU/UEQQVcp5ZII/AAAAAAAACL0/6OnC38CXLBw/WP_000735_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Udbwfwvp2Z4/UEQQV-M9wOI/AAAAAAAACL8/flS5sWgoEH0/s1600-h/WP_0007365.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000736" border="0" alt="WP_000736" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-r4fcBeYuf48/UEQQWqdD_ZI/AAAAAAAACME/rlEIRtZoano/WP_000736_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-X8qL8hn1LYI/UEQQXm3gv1I/AAAAAAAACMM/L_tJ1xV3BdA/s1600-h/WP_0007375.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000737" border="0" alt="WP_000737" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-X0qaoLiKmvQ/UEQQYD_wUdI/AAAAAAAACMU/EkK2Bv5y8Ow/WP_000737_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_GtJAM0O6fI/UEQQZc_zenI/AAAAAAAACMc/TuTsBWoBSOE/s1600-h/WP_0007385.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000738" border="0" alt="WP_000738" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vTe4aL_Mawo/UEQQZ0fRb3I/AAAAAAAACMk/AtD035Fbtso/WP_000738_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-I-TJqcNZH50/UEQQajdFW9I/AAAAAAAACMs/1R64BRq6R1M/s1600-h/WP_0007395.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000739" border="0" alt="WP_000739" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gKZdtoOe8Kk/UEQQa9ypwLI/AAAAAAAACM0/DcOGkGol-V0/WP_000739_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pb_njTngGCg/UEQQbl8Ac8I/AAAAAAAACM8/-r-U6w20_Gc/s1600-h/WP_0007405.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000740" border="0" alt="WP_000740" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Wl54tKcANWs/UEQQcAWNJ7I/AAAAAAAACNE/OsAEoYtDhNs/WP_000740_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yKcMTcmt9sM/UEQQc_8XLXI/AAAAAAAACNM/eT17EtJcfwI/s1600-h/WP_0007415.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000741" border="0" alt="WP_000741" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5pCq7nz25ck/UEQQdFfupZI/AAAAAAAACNU/0xbJyJga35g/WP_000741_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OAyyAMFrVuE/UEQQdju2H_I/AAAAAAAACNc/NGxtSCSyr4k/s1600-h/WP_0007435.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000743" border="0" alt="WP_000743" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-z6qjhwcJMqs/UEQQeBygDRI/AAAAAAAACNk/4qTVn98ziow/WP_000743_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Cape Meares is also home of the famous Octopus Tree:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kxjqexGbBtI/UEQQe592e_I/AAAAAAAACNs/Lve4NqlwrPE/s1600-h/WP_0007213.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000721" border="0" alt="WP_000721" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DO-Ogh_-DGI/UEQQfPYyCjI/AAAAAAAACN0/XvLwpxPdu6A/WP_000721_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fbUOOm7hei4/UEQQf9q0tmI/AAAAAAAACN8/TyJtjUaJgiE/s1600-h/WP_0007223.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000722" border="0" alt="WP_000722" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0po1sHCL-Q0/UEQQgTRJ2dI/AAAAAAAACOE/4ejmxTrEXEo/WP_000722_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5Wme5RpwrrY/UEQQhbA_3EI/AAAAAAAACOM/-UZJXxohhnw/s1600-h/WP_0007233.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000723" border="0" alt="WP_000723" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-J4Z0yYnCbVk/UEQQh7YavrI/AAAAAAAACOU/pYT11Fu5J88/WP_000723_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Our Oregon Coast Classic trips often include a hike up Cascade Head, which is between Neskowin and Lincoln City.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QOKsh3VOtMw/UEQQiRQ8nuI/AAAAAAAACOc/58JtVw6Z3Ag/s1600-h/WP_0007453.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000745" border="0" alt="WP_000745" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-j9CUAo8m8T4/UEQQixL4QdI/AAAAAAAACOk/uJeV4FMa4XI/WP_000745_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Ve6MEpBenpE/UEQQjW2F2mI/AAAAAAAACOs/c2mOtcjlkuY/s1600-h/WP_0007463.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000746" border="0" alt="WP_000746" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tSHB49DWHeg/UEQQj2gnPVI/AAAAAAAACO0/dzcNEHl89fI/WP_000746_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RoAhaxdRUIg/UEQQkdM0oRI/AAAAAAAACO8/PEBNHDU1_1w/s1600-h/WP_0007473.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000747" border="0" alt="WP_000747" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-C2DxUB5oStw/UEQQk2n7bFI/AAAAAAAACPE/l0ZPW-6-3sY/WP_000747_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--GMoNk5JG7E/UEQQlfr6LWI/AAAAAAAACPM/LzQshoQLn5Y/s1600-h/WP_0007483.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000748" border="0" alt="WP_000748" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hbfSBl9vdzY/UEQQl-pR84I/AAAAAAAACPU/qCkmf7UQfUY/WP_000748_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MXwiuNhP33s/UEQQmTKn52I/AAAAAAAACPc/vNHfY81arm4/s1600-h/WP_0007493.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000749" border="0" alt="WP_000749" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bbZ6zq6SXcY/UEQQmgYAlrI/AAAAAAAACPk/6RBrqDSqPQA/WP_000749_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-irU3Xmv2Xz8/UEQQnVDkpDI/AAAAAAAACPs/kZneR8UJzK4/s1600-h/WP_0000453.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000045" border="0" alt="WP_000045" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WjwqDjHCTAo/UEQQnqqAgdI/AAAAAAAACP0/me-vN0v9_qQ/WP_000045_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CWx7e8Xs6D4/UEQQoOaLoUI/AAAAAAAACP8/jQK2i6qcs_4/s1600-h/WP_0000463.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000046" border="0" alt="WP_000046" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DbPvAQ_C5w4/UEQQomzW6HI/AAAAAAAACQE/v74Hk63cxn0/WP_000046_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Jbip1jnO3CE/UEQQpuNNlWI/AAAAAAAACQM/RcXgXOlJYKc/s1600-h/WP_0000473.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000047" border="0" alt="WP_000047" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GtuVfxqHFh4/UEQQp17o9jI/AAAAAAAACQU/JH0RsH4Lngs/WP_000047_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JEwQux5WYO8/UEQQq1Sz1DI/AAAAAAAACQc/RSbjtsOPyzM/s1600-h/WP_0000503.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000050" border="0" alt="WP_000050" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8Wkk447Ks1M/UEQQrYS4cPI/AAAAAAAACQk/9Az33KiwsyM/WP_000050_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Stepping away from all these nature pictures, what trip through Tillamook County would be complete without a stop at the famous Tillamook Creamery?</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pdTqQ7BQLuM/UEQQsIx0qhI/AAAAAAAACQs/wto0uh2hqQM/s1600-h/WP_0007203.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000720" border="0" alt="WP_000720" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-f6JJQQvk8Gs/UEQQsua1tAI/AAAAAAAACQ0/woG6ZJS7Qjg/WP_000720_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-K6Sx2AQjku8/UEQQtvH8-xI/AAAAAAAACQ8/KPh6y6nOb2o/s1600-h/WP_0000333.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000033" border="0" alt="WP_000033" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lopCAu_VLf8/UEQQt8shOlI/AAAAAAAACRE/ZLTqqMe1LrM/WP_000033_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Bicycle Adventures Tour Guides take a lot of pride in the lunches that we prepare for our guests mid-ride. Here is a sampling of Lunch Porn.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gyt0GM45gBg/UEQQu_VhZmI/AAAAAAAACRM/s3iz3S_vILo/s1600-h/WP_0006763.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000676" border="0" alt="WP_000676" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-I_xQQI-jP8o/UEQQvXbogdI/AAAAAAAACRU/dM4jLCPHBW0/WP_000676_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FmHFjFHyrUQ/UEQQwVKIzWI/AAAAAAAACRc/2aPeEmzvieM/s1600-h/WP_0006783.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000678" border="0" alt="WP_000678" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MElr0seDSyI/UEQQwmG9zeI/AAAAAAAACRk/Fb34kephHaE/WP_000678_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pQKQe91EHwo/UEQQx710UqI/AAAAAAAACRs/7lFOtdWI0EM/s1600-h/WP_0007603.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000760" border="0" alt="WP_000760" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kYJjR1fhL2g/UEQQyOLoMwI/AAAAAAAACR0/9RjwhAg0cJA/WP_000760_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UHia2oL2lBQ/UEQQzG_iZaI/AAAAAAAACR8/TWk7IrLM1-s/s1600-h/WP_0007613.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000761" border="0" alt="WP_000761" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jjhtqBqOvEY/UEQQzU0PwSI/AAAAAAAACSE/AbhT3j2Sa-k/WP_000761_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MPgZjjyIPug/UEQQ0c2-x2I/AAAAAAAACSM/bynGJ6NpDAA/s1600-h/WP_0000183.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000018" border="0" alt="WP_000018" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tag5KLFyU-k/UEQQ0ikJjoI/AAAAAAAACSU/ufbU41UqQqQ/WP_000018_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-iYYutyXoBRA/UEQQ1nTag0I/AAAAAAAACSc/uP-gCoUPW1U/s1600-h/WP_0000343.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000034" border="0" alt="WP_000034" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LR8PAXPsS20/UEQQ12Us3xI/AAAAAAAACSk/37SjnsE6zYc/WP_000034_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>We also eat at a bunch of really terrific restaurants on the Oregon Coast Classic trip, so here is a bit of Dinner Porn:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibuco1JRMBbJRtcTVotf2fqLYl59IWUdWqzBahHDvg1Cy8duE-pqtsaDzXh337YT3GMynoU0uQi-OOgmtY1vW1xBjTE9t2IXilDN3toh4q283E6iGdxqIDlGuL2D1R8k7krrVfsbW-StW8/s1600-h/Dinner-BayHouse2.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Dinner-BayHouse" border="0" alt="Dinner-BayHouse" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-EntWgeI1IKI/UEQQ282T-YI/AAAAAAAACS0/Svf6J93ecaY/Dinner-BayHouse_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="183" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-EadCSVyB7fM/UEQQ3pX5r9I/AAAAAAAACS8/-EgpgiZkodk/s1600-h/WP_0008003.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000800" border="0" alt="WP_000800" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Rhc1YDWpeoQ/UEQQ38m39vI/AAAAAAAACTE/hooODlSKmCo/WP_000800_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JrPgMW4hYL0/UEQQ4he_c0I/AAAAAAAACTM/kPplkNXsjhY/s1600-h/WP_0007513.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000751" border="0" alt="WP_000751" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zJuIfPp6L-Y/UEQQ5BLcYvI/AAAAAAAACTU/ZieScgBJ9Fw/WP_000751_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nohEVcP0UiM/UEQQ58Sw2MI/AAAAAAAACTc/65q--Jp17J8/s1600-h/WP_0000073.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000007" border="0" alt="WP_000007" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xLzjjvjGW-Y/UEQQ6LloUCI/AAAAAAAACTk/gt8NWXuZBvs/WP_000007_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tY90B9h3WwM/UEQQ6ns0tOI/AAAAAAAACTs/_TIPm0HkqWQ/s1600-h/WP_0000083.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000008" border="0" alt="WP_000008" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zJdIUvyHc1M/UEQQ7VsLfHI/AAAAAAAACT0/Eupg9o0xpGs/WP_000008_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-71QZWSm-27s/UEQQ72N2IhI/AAAAAAAACT8/hIK0NS3kAKU/s1600-h/WP_0000093.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000009" border="0" alt="WP_000009" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgtNCMBmCckMBMc9uBTF4Lh1in8f8ge096KiCMTTbHCF4UZJre-zPJEwl4shYpGCiBouJS2yM8p1HKQt68Uh25bMwnoTYJ9V-2I9UYaQmla9I7DIAElGf-_dsWRFn3t-K4UxFRh9u0PZE/?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1BaUklP4UAw/UEQQ9Ssp2NI/AAAAAAAACUM/qVIFnSFRxQc/s1600-h/WP_0000103.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000010" border="0" alt="WP_000010" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8YOca6L-7ZA/UEQQ97AhGhI/AAAAAAAACUU/5FWwgnfGMto/WP_000010_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dUGCQIEHNgI/UEQQ-nA3gzI/AAAAAAAACUc/oq3HJ9Sqvmc/s1600-h/WP_0000113.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000011" border="0" alt="WP_000011" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YTf8905hAxU/UEQQ-y5GMQI/AAAAAAAACUk/AzXoPe5u3SU/WP_000011_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>And to complete the trifecta, I give you a small helping of Breakfast Porn… or in some cases, Coffee Porn:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ZdSCpG08eBM/UEQQ_idoIhI/AAAAAAAACUs/rnaNSXtfJkw/s1600-h/WP_0007533.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000753" border="0" alt="WP_000753" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ovf_VqfuQCM/UEQRALEpz3I/AAAAAAAACU0/3A5NkuypZhY/WP_000753_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-x9PMBM6iYVA/UEQRBBR9tpI/AAAAAAAACU8/hAeGQc7E6lI/s1600-h/WP_0000203.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000020" border="0" alt="WP_000020" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-m-cYOqFvumw/UEQRBvCDafI/AAAAAAAACVE/1ejN1N23QXs/WP_000020_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Yes, that breakfast picture is avocado on toast. One of our guests really *loves* avocados and would try to eat them at almost every meal. The dish above was not on the menu, but the restaurant was willing to customize and order “avocado on toast.”</p> <p>As a little bonus, here is a bit of Wine & Cheese Porn. BA usually include a daily post-ride Beer Cooler and one Wine & Cheese Social. Again, guides pride ourselves in setting up a beautiful spread, and in picking the best local microbrew and wine selections to match our guests’ tastes.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kXQIGNPFy80/UEQRCPkxY2I/AAAAAAAACVM/uyWLClR11mk/s1600-h/WP_0007953.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000795" border="0" alt="WP_000795" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pKI-jhjzXbs/UEQRCrj3ZKI/AAAAAAAACVU/vZp4FIl3fFU/WP_000795_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0eS4Fn4J-S8/UEQRDXIjgnI/AAAAAAAACVc/ajBWfkyDwYE/s1600-h/WP_0008123.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000812" border="0" alt="WP_000812" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gU80J9MCx4g/UEQRDiuol5I/AAAAAAAACVk/y20xWfwfnOA/WP_000812_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DdZefE1QXMQ/UEQRERYCOzI/AAAAAAAACVs/Rn1EdLvTTNI/s1600-h/WP_0000283.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000028" border="0" alt="WP_000028" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PA2td4a6Q_I/UEQRE3zCQVI/AAAAAAAACV0/TXmFhP139Bg/WP_000028_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Staying on the alcohol theme, Oregon is home to some fantastic microbreweries. Off the top of my head, we’ve visited the Fort George Brewery, the Pelican Pub, the Rogue Brewery / World Headquarters, the Astoria Brewing Co & Wet Dog Alehouse, … and probably a few others. It is important for a Tour Guide to know their beer, so I do my homework!!</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-badUKsNTkvo/UEQRFZt6yOI/AAAAAAAACV8/I2FKYvG9mYc/s1600-h/WP_0008063.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000806" border="0" alt="WP_000806" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CWqIns3RfZI/UEQRFy0a7II/AAAAAAAACWE/TcyBUZDAOEs/WP_000806_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--kxGc4_TCe4/UEQRGiws71I/AAAAAAAACWM/dNZwiQbA1gI/s1600-h/WP_0000123.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000012" border="0" alt="WP_000012" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gJ2UGybx2fQ/UEQRH1j9_tI/AAAAAAAACWU/U8UN9PkXDJQ/WP_000012_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FoRECe3NfM4/UEQRJT4dY7I/AAAAAAAACWc/w7vcvMvd2Ic/s1600-h/WP_0000133.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000013" border="0" alt="WP_000013" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XG-JKMLFDVc/UEQRJxPT5MI/AAAAAAAACWk/iOfW_S4UCos/WP_000013_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ko5-wlfS4sw/UEQRKkRFF6I/AAAAAAAACWs/FylKVf_koKY/s1600-h/WP_0000153.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000015" border="0" alt="WP_000015" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SzBnKS5gLS8/UEQRLHln8vI/AAAAAAAACW0/SN0Qq1xwpRQ/WP_000015_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-s0OAvnSxqVk/UEQRL3sHe0I/AAAAAAAACW8/D_TZ8tVFK0M/s1600-h/WP_0000793.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000079" border="0" alt="WP_000079" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-k5Lecj9L6HQ/UEQRMYhNpUI/AAAAAAAACXE/GWfm1wai1O8/WP_000079_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-c38L3ptST3s/UEQRMsVsjJI/AAAAAAAACXM/9UEJB6ZApW4/s1600-h/WP_0008264.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000826" border="0" alt="WP_000826" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xzNlhd_1HYY/UEQRNPth1_I/AAAAAAAACXU/Fb4By7_gBnU/WP_000826_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>We ride or hike past a few different lighthouses on the Oregon Coast trips. The lighthouse near Cannon Beach and Seaside is on a rocky outcropping that is just over a mile offshore. I’ve heard two different stories about how that lighthouse is now used – one source said it is now a mausoleum and you can be interred there, and the other source said that you can volunteer as a caretaker or “lighthousesitter” for a 1-2 week shift. Further down the coast, you can climb to the top of the Yaquina Head Lighthouse just north of Newport. They also have a few historical placards and tour guides in period costumes who explain what life was like there around the turn of the century. The head lighthousekeeper had a decent salary and also a rather nice house where you could raise a family, so it was a very sought-after position. The first assistant also got a decent house while the second assistant had more of a shack. Second assistants tended to be bachelors who got bored with the lack of bars & alcohol and didn’t stay in the position terribly long, but those who did stick around could work their way up the ladder. The lighthouses were often self-sufficient settlements, with farmland and livestock. A boat would bring fresh supplies every few weeks. The walk in to town from Yaquina Head was about five miles, so they didn’t go terribly often. The lighthouses originally burned lard (pig fat) but switched over to kerosene around the turn of the century. Management knew how much lard or kerosene the lighthouse should be burning, and the keeper could get in trouble if they used too much or too little. They were allowed to use each day’s leftovers in the bottom of the pan for personal use, but couldn’t tap into the storage tanks.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nT4EC5HeNhE/UEQRNjBhdZI/AAAAAAAACXc/CwiI4J9AXbk/s1600-h/WP_0006863.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000686" border="0" alt="WP_000686" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SArzrI3IuCg/UEQRN6y1VkI/AAAAAAAACXk/XYK6aFQAzSw/WP_000686_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-L_zA7ficFOU/UEQROfKYGDI/AAAAAAAACXs/TjYrFrZEXQk/s1600-h/WP_0006873.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000687" border="0" alt="WP_000687" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BLS5czxjOCE/UEQRO7dnUUI/AAAAAAAACX0/S9Fjcz1s1RY/WP_000687_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-C6Kb2bGhg7E/UEQRPcg94OI/AAAAAAAACX8/arpP3WNml7Q/s1600-h/WP_0008573.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000857" border="0" alt="WP_000857" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PWM4DKgRBwI/UEQRP5Gc0GI/AAAAAAAACYE/A2qO6CEUSMc/WP_000857_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>One more memorable moment from this batch of tours: one day I was at Neskowin Wayside Park awaiting our cyclists and I started chatting with a German lady about the coast and about our bike tours. She turned out to be a freelance radio reporter who was working on a story about traveling the Oregon Coast. She asked for a catalog and asked to interview me about the trips. We happened to have two German guests on that trip who were quite fun & gregarious, so she interviewed them, too, auf Deutsch! </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zmdTSymghQE/UEQRQ58lCQI/AAAAAAAACYM/_gtPEiryKq0/s1600-h/WP_0000383.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000038" border="0" alt="WP_000038" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Prge-fhgHkg/UEQRRDzf9GI/AAAAAAAACYU/7hAQ6T7WdIY/WP_000038_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZJyCrNhoiR0/UEQRSArdOfI/AAAAAAAACYc/S3ugdZ4bM-U/s1600-h/WP_0000403.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000040" border="0" alt="WP_000040" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Ryw815--oj0/UEQRSV2MqZI/AAAAAAAACYk/dYjeN9W9pvE/WP_000040_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LVOM5o5c7k0/UEQRTpXljYI/AAAAAAAACYs/WPm1YQDleOo/s1600-h/WP_0000413.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000041" border="0" alt="WP_000041" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-m5e0kJECZ4I/UEQRUP4dSvI/AAAAAAAACY0/xGdOUDtFjnA/WP_000041_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> Chris Tremontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238253339063432588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6919960072449134938.post-39912911752782698102012-08-25T15:51:00.001-07:002012-08-25T15:51:31.295-07:00Small Construction Project<p>Back on June 10-11, I finally got started on a project I’d wanted to tackle for quite awhile. My new townhouse complex has two five-car garages that are shared by the ten houses. Each garage locks, but we’ve had very frequent break-ins and have quickly learned that anything not locked/bolted down is likely to disappear, sooner rather than later. After losing a bicycle that was only there for 36 hours, as well as a bike pump and a bike rack in separate incidents, I’d been eager to come up with a more secure way to store my stuff.</p> <p>I’d talked with my dad and with some friends about possibly building a storage locker or closet downstairs. Other residents had installed cabinets above or in front of their car… but I wanted something big enough to accommodate bikes, and I had some space next to my parking stall. So… dad and I designed a little storage closet, and once we had the design I figured we might as well shop for materials… and once we had materials I figured we might as well start cutting… and once we were cutting, I figured we might as well assemble… and once we had assembled a wall, I figured we might as well install it… so before we knew it, the structure was complete! On the second day we modified and installed a locking door, and the project was complete from design-to-done in maybe 36 hours! Whoop whoop! As mentioned earlier, this project gave me the confidence and inspiration to finally get started on the mutant trike.</p> <p>Photos:</p> <p>Home Depot will do up to two custom cuts per piece of wood:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hLOEvbu1z5o/UDlWvCD7N7I/AAAAAAAACAY/1NW33-0eIrg/s1600-h/WP_0004073.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000407" border="0" alt="WP_000407" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2o-w8N_hq0g/UDlWvsJccYI/AAAAAAAACAg/1ynR46pwEmw/WP_000407_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UlWde67_wNc/UDlWytQpalI/AAAAAAAACAo/H7rJqLHQCZw/s1600-h/WP_0004113.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000411" border="0" alt="WP_000411" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ka0LEu830p4/UDlWzTrntiI/AAAAAAAACAw/E7_THhBT5I0/WP_000411_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Station wagons are good for hauling stuff, like wood:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-E518AkT9J1k/UDlW0o0r6pI/AAAAAAAACA4/PxsKau02drw/s1600-h/WP_0004123.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000412" border="0" alt="WP_000412" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vowWBnvNVdk/UDlW1WyocyI/AAAAAAAACBA/nNfT-jQKqtQ/WP_000412_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Dad’s design had us frame out two walls and then hang plywood on said walls:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RIEO4Hg8bl8/UDlW2QhYICI/AAAAAAAACBI/qFsZ2-eONH8/s1600-h/WP_0004133.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000413" border="0" alt="WP_000413" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-G6XGQqImNoI/UDlW29PBiQI/AAAAAAAACBQ/oYz1mOktMNk/WP_000413_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Halfway there? the first wall set into place, but not secured. yet.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Oh-K1JiG8Oo/UDlW3ivw0MI/AAAAAAAACBY/jdpE5wvIX3s/s1600-h/WP_0004163.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000416" border="0" alt="WP_000416" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sOTSasyHil0/UDlW4AN702I/AAAAAAAACBg/y7AUUpld5zg/WP_000416_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Construction adhesive to bond our wall to the concrete garage</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HNrMX-MdebI/UDlW4tQCuKI/AAAAAAAACBo/ftkNbmlNe1U/s1600-h/WP_0004193.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000419" border="0" alt="WP_000419" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5SOVKNFdq7Y/UDlW5Z7lYBI/AAAAAAAACBw/a95fY5gC_TI/WP_000419_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>After we did the adhesive,the house’s builder stopped by with a hammer drill, so we also nailed the walls to the garage walls. Win. This structure is super-strong now. You could climb on it and it won’t move.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3RYIglfbuV4/UDlW6Cnx8vI/AAAAAAAACB4/5R0KbCqJ1TA/s1600-h/WP_0004207.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000420" border="0" alt="WP_000420" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-X6_hg5bIu_U/UDlW6m8V9XI/AAAAAAAACCA/u051y7ZyP14/WP_000420_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>The finished product, next to my car. Check out that closet door! How pro is that??</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fs6eN18cUYA/UDlW705mZ6I/AAAAAAAACCI/EEmUGRGnj0o/s1600-h/WP_0004233.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000423" border="0" alt="WP_000423" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WW5MTbHr_3E/UDlW8ntP-wI/AAAAAAAACCQ/I98NX04RtVM/WP_000423_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> Chris Tremontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238253339063432588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6919960072449134938.post-44246563640110711232012-06-21T01:44:00.001-07:002012-06-21T01:44:29.065-07:00Trike Project<p>I’ve been *very* quiet on this blog lately, mostly because I haven’t been training and racing very much lately – at least not relative to what I was doing in 2007-2010. But I have been staying busy with other projects, such as <a href="http://www.atomiczombie.com/KyotoCruiser%20Sociable%20Delta%20Trike.aspx">this one</a>: I am trying to build a two-person tricycle, a side-by-side tandem trike.</p> <p>I’ve wanted to try to build a mutant bike ever since I first saw a tall bike in college, but it has always been one of those back-burner ideas. Now that I’ve allocated a bit more time to “creative projects” (more on that in a future post), this bubbled to the top of the list.</p> <p>I didn’t really get momentum on this until I figured out that my schedule will allow me to attend Burning Man this year (where we hope to use the trike), and until Brian from our Burning Man camp offered to help out.</p> <p>Here is a quick timeline of what we’ve done so far. I expect to need about 2 more weeks’ worth of labor spread over the next month or two in order to finish this off.</p> <p><strong>Tue 12 June: </strong>purchased the plans from Atomic Zombie</p> <p><strong>Wed 13 June: </strong>met up w Brian, debated whether this project was too complicated for us, decided to go for it. Toured <a href="http://www.airlighttimespace.org/">altspace</a> and decided to buy a membership. Brian called around to get quotes on the metal tubing. Mike at altspace recommended <a href="http://www.onlinemetals.com/">Online Metals</a> in Ballard. </p> <p><strong>Thu 14 June: </strong>we ordered our tubing and axle from Online Metals. Brian picked ‘em up. I got three wheels from <a href="http://www.recycledcycles.com/">Recycled Cycles</a> and talked to the gang about getting some junker/salvage bikes in the near future. My friend Tahoma’s friend Morgan offered to teach us to weld. We cut some of the tubes but broke a band saw blade, weren’t sure how to replace it, and called it a day. I went to Recycled Cycles and to Stoneway Hardware in the evening to get wheels and pillow block bearings, after calling ahead to verify that Stoneway Hardware did indeed sell 3/4” pillow block bearings.</p> <p><strong>Fri 15 June: </strong>I finished cutting the tubes with an angle grinder. Mike taught me how to replace the band saw blade correctly and how to make more accurate cuts. Morgan taught me to weld and I “taught” Brian. We welded the entire frame.</p> <p><strong>Sat 16 June: </strong>I went to Tacoma Screw in the morning to get washers for the flanges. They had washers with approximately the right inner- and outer-diameters but they were too thick – 1/4” when we wanted 1/8”. I figured I could grind them down, but I really wanted to try to slice then lengthwise instead. A few people I chatted with thought it couldn’t be done, but I chatted w Mars at altspace and decided to try to weld the washer to a piece of scrap steel and then clamp the scrap steel while slicing the washer “like a roll of bologna.” Thanks to my dad for the colorful analogy! I spent the rest of Saturday slicing bologna and drilling spoke holes in the flanges. I broke a 3/32” drill bit in the process.</p> <p>On Saturday I also realized that once we finish the trike we will have to take it on a tour of Seattle to show it to all of the people and businesses who helped us along the way. Of course we will bring beers for everybody!</p> <p><strong>Sun 17 June: </strong>bought two new drill bits at Redmond Home Depot. Finished drilling the spoke holes. Tried to mount the axle but my pillow block bearings were more like bushings than sealed cartridges. I worried that this design wouldn’t tolerate road grit or playa sand very well, so I started calling around looking for better bearings. I acquired three old bikes from <a href="http://www.recycledcycles.com/">Recycled Cycles</a> to use for various parts that we’ll need soon.</p> <p><strong>Mon 18 June: </strong>day off, as I focused on <a href="http://bicycleadventures.com/">Bicycle Adventures</a> prep. I rode in La Conner, Anacortes, and Guemes Island in order to familiarize myself with the Day One and Day Six routes. Then my friend Shashank taught me how to make two fantastic dishes to serve to our lucky guests as a picnic lunch – a curry chicken and paneer, both of which will be used to make naan sandwiches on Day Five or Day Six. I did also manage to order some better bearings, which required a one-day delay as they shipped from Tacoma.</p> <p><strong>Tue 19 June: </strong>picked up the new bearings at <a href="http://www.motionindustries.com/">Motion Industries</a> in south Seattle, bought some mounting hardware at <a href="http://pacsupply.com/">Pacific Supply</a> on Capitol Hill, and spent a good chunk of time mounting the axle. I broke a 1/2” drill bit in the process and had to buy another at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/madison-park-hardware-seattle">Madison Park Hardware</a>. Then sliced the axle in half, welded on the flanges and painted the new pseudo-hubs. While the hubs were drying, I cut the headset and fork off of an old BMX bike and ground down the extra metal on the headset with an angle grinder.</p> <p><strong>Wed 20 June: </strong>Brian and I enjoyed the sunny weather in Seattle by lacing up the wheels at Madison Park. It took awhile as we had no clue what we were doing, but the late, great Sheldon Brown’s <a href="http://www.sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html">wheelbuilding</a> page proved to be very helpful.</p> <p>So tomorrow we hope to weld on the front boom tube and fork, giving us a rolling chassis. Then we have to build the steering system, acquire and install seats, build the drivetrain, and paint/tune/finish. We’re also still trying to acquire two custom-machined parts for the drivetrain: the freehub & brake rotor mounts that will be welded to the rear axle.</p> <p>We have plenty of work ahead of us, but I’m proud of how far we’ve come in a week. It has been a ton of work so far, but I’m learning a lot of new skills and I’m exercising my problem-solving muscles every step of the way. Win.</p> <p>---</p> <p>A few photo highlights:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--4gGupLgUNk/T-LeeziVdEI/AAAAAAAAB7M/U8QQI6WlfMw/s1600-h/WP_000435%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000435" border="0" alt="WP_000435" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MWW5GKh_L4k/T-LefZ3btmI/AAAAAAAAB7U/dce6QO2-zck/WP_000435_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <br />Aligning the frame as we weld</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kHSsiXpANtc/T-LegX8fL2I/AAAAAAAAB7c/dCol8b6khTU/s1600-h/WP_000437%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000437" border="0" alt="WP_000437" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-f8FE5DRa3sA/T-Leg_M8_II/AAAAAAAAB7k/MCYwC2mV7H0/WP_000437_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <br />one of my first welds</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-A-_WGonVSZw/T-Leh82ZP3I/AAAAAAAAB7s/ITgXP51uB0Y/s1600-h/WP_000440%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000440" border="0" alt="WP_000440" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-iBVDTGmO3z0/T-LeiXENSuI/AAAAAAAAB70/qE2hni01aac/WP_000440_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <br />Brian welding. Doesn’t this look cool?!?</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-k_k19Cjx2RA/T-LejLSxG5I/AAAAAAAAB78/k-7N0Ky8gtM/s1600-h/WP_000444%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000444" border="0" alt="WP_000444" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cipCXeWNNjM/T-LejzcB3aI/AAAAAAAAB8E/LmM5D3sU6jk/WP_000444_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <br />goofing around w the completed frame</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-O-myxhNCWnQ/T-Lek2LvdUI/AAAAAAAAB8M/0R1M30JX7sU/s1600-h/WP_000446%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000446" border="0" alt="WP_000446" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UYZrtCissYM/T-LelVnBlCI/AAAAAAAAB8U/BfeP032lN14/WP_000446_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <br />some of the parts that I bought on Friday+Saturday</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YYxD0Wh0uBQ/T-Lel5hlELI/AAAAAAAAB8c/LKFFx4sFmQY/s1600-h/WP_000458%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000458" border="0" alt="WP_000458" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8zMPMIOlh0M/T-LemQP2B-I/AAAAAAAAB8k/cUAAec3sAGU/WP_000458_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <br />the awesome idea to weld scrap steel onto the thick washer in order to “slice the bologna”</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gywc8ZwqW8g/T-LenCXbELI/AAAAAAAAB8s/t4qNX2N1Y-4/s1600-h/WP_000460%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000460" border="0" alt="WP_000460" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jj7Rxn913FE/T-Len-FM0VI/AAAAAAAAB80/CWcMBUDmnQs/WP_000460_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dbo-qWs_qyk/T-Leoo1-vxI/AAAAAAAAB88/bw5R1RqfmN8/s1600-h/WP_000469%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000469" border="0" alt="WP_000469" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-g4aUlTozcbg/T-LepN-OXfI/AAAAAAAAB9E/qHXjRvVODH0/WP_000469_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <br />the band saw in action, slicing the bologna</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OUryj8rOZU8/T-LeqM1OjZI/AAAAAAAAB9M/HG6EjTzbLQU/s1600-h/WP_000476%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000476" border="0" alt="WP_000476" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1DV0ajFcMYc/T-Leqk9H_CI/AAAAAAAAB9U/pEUdh_7daSw/WP_000476_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <br />forgot to mention this earlier – I hacksawed an old hub in order to create a widget for marking the spoke holes on the new flanges</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ipgtaqUbm6A/T-LeriCvRRI/AAAAAAAAB9c/6EP6EEhIQdQ/s1600-h/WP_000480%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000480" border="0" alt="WP_000480" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9jW1QeQVC84/T-LesMvTlRI/AAAAAAAAB9k/oNr0MmvAQ0Y/WP_000480_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <br />using the widget to mark spoke holes on the flange</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fwAUpTEb8Ew/T-Les1r04cI/AAAAAAAAB9s/V7DP8flTiAM/s1600-h/WP_000495%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000495" border="0" alt="WP_000495" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-k2bWZ8g4FTQ/T-Letk0buKI/AAAAAAAAB90/jK-A074erOk/WP_000495_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <br />four finished flanges – well, almost finished as I still needed to clean up the welded area</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hgwTLC4tzKA/T-Leuj_gVdI/AAAAAAAAB98/8WVRMkDdL70/s1600-h/WP_000496%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000496" border="0" alt="WP_000496" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-n147pNq_dsY/T-LevNrpbmI/AAAAAAAAB-E/BUveYavkT3Y/WP_000496_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <br />a bunch of old bikes in the back of my car; this part made me a bit sad, but hopefully they’re about to become a part of something great!</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-S_zkTw4qLqA/T-Lev4g6RHI/AAAAAAAAB-M/d0t1Mc8RT_M/s1600-h/WP_000512%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000512" border="0" alt="WP_000512" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VjeIx2WEMFg/T-Lewhz5BYI/AAAAAAAAB-U/wvXhDLbq52o/WP_000512_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <br />the correct type of Pillow Block Bearing</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-c_aFe8kz1gg/T-LeyiuCshI/AAAAAAAAB-c/nPcaA_amfC8/s1600-h/WP_000514%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000514" border="0" alt="WP_000514" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mx0eCgIOHWQ/T-LezMvcUOI/AAAAAAAAB-k/pjAHiebxvKE/WP_000514_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <br />rear axle is mounted!</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mwnE6MLQC0c/T-LezxEGaDI/AAAAAAAAB-w/e9Qa1QsyXPI/s1600-h/WP_000516%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000516" border="0" alt="WP_000516" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Afdv5fO065c/T-Le0rUzd2I/AAAAAAAAB-4/G3SpSnVT-Ok/WP_000516_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <br />flanges welded onto axle!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-r6VihT4NBDw/T-Le1zQAZbI/AAAAAAAAB_A/LmLSAN-w_LY/s1600-h/WP_000521%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000521" border="0" alt="WP_000521" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Y-HMcZfZ4Gc/T-Le2cwqtVI/AAAAAAAAB_I/BipOUxzkaD0/WP_000521_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <br />flanges painted!</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JPuB8jMVaaQ/T-Le3LIVt9I/AAAAAAAAB_Q/Ceg7VjJAOFU/s1600-h/WP_000522%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000522" border="0" alt="WP_000522" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-eE9L_utGpJc/T-Le3vsxJ6I/AAAAAAAAB_Y/77fNde16r-A/WP_000522_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <br />this bike is about to die <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sadsmile" alt="Sad smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mRgYSRFQ5fQ/T-Le4OtvAVI/AAAAAAAAB_g/3-rhmMnIvyU/wlEmoticon-sadsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-O5PofZB40gQ/T-Le5Ahq6-I/AAAAAAAAB_o/rIN638CwjMk/s1600-h/WP_000523%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000523" border="0" alt="WP_000523" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-eeW-zJkYJo8/T-Le5jf1oRI/AAAAAAAAB_w/HR1WJOqxJzU/WP_000523_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <br />cleaning up the head tube after cutting it off of the old BMX bike</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Nc1rhf_HDV8/T-Le6XOrtMI/AAAAAAAAB_4/JCbD5Kzgg60/s1600-h/WP_000526%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000526" border="0" alt="WP_000526" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SkDkRzWDy1g/T-Le695DrCI/AAAAAAAACAA/8IT99vVP6UA/WP_000526_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <br />a completely laced wheel, after a tough afternoon in the park</p> <p>---</p> <p>And for those of you who made it this far: I ran a race tonight – 5000M on the track in Shoreline as part of the ClubNW All-Comers series. I was hoping I was fit enough to break 16:00 for the first time, but I went out aggressively with the lead group and fell apart once I lost them. I ran 5:02/mile pace for the first half of the race and 5:20/mile pace for the second half. Fail. But I still ran a 16:15, and I’ll have other opportunities to run. Races always make me want to train more/better so that I’ll race better the next time!</p> Chris Tremontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238253339063432588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6919960072449134938.post-2720747922349267702012-03-26T08:10:00.001-07:002012-03-26T08:10:19.364-07:00Training in Chile<p>I promised to do a write-up on the training situation down here. A possible moral of this story is that sticking to a structured training plan while traveling can be very difficult, so you must either do your homework, know somebody local, or be prepared to be flexible. My friends Barrett & Kevin planned ahead and coordinated with Felipe Van de Wyngard from Chile. I took the “flexible” approach instead. So they may have done a bit more training than I did between the races, but I got to go surfing!</p> <p>The Rio Mapocho in downtown Santiago did not make me want to swim:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Zph6XMLh620/T3CF1YbKuNI/AAAAAAAABxM/k-ICYxqpcuo/s1600-h/IMG_20120314_114139%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120314_114139" border="0" alt="IMG_20120314_114139" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fAm6tWX4_Cs/T3CF2sBmsvI/AAAAAAAABxU/pL1NoZgJCUw/IMG_20120314_114139_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>The park in the middle of town, however, did make me want to run:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UHMl91iYSrE/T3CF4D7EZMI/AAAAAAAABxc/eN_blQVc0P8/s1600-h/IMG_20120314_124521%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120314_124521" border="0" alt="IMG_20120314_124521" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Kcp79u4U31o/T3CF5vObyZI/AAAAAAAABxk/5FRHQXOjaIE/IMG_20120314_124521_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>You can see the Cerro Cristobal in the background above. The Cerro towers over the Bellavista neighborhood and is a useful guidepost when wandering that part of town. I biked up there on my first day in town, then I ran up there twice – once before the race and once after. On the Sunday after the race, there were hundreds of people walking, running or “biking” up the hill. I use the air-quotes because I passed about twenty of these cyclists as I was running. It wasn’t a Hardcore Training place as much as a Go Check Out the View place. Here are some views from the top:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cTix6jJKSXs/T3CF64BedhI/AAAAAAAABxs/3KO8RhpULgI/s1600-h/IMG_20120314_145245%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120314_145245" border="0" alt="IMG_20120314_145245" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GBbyAH_VpL8/T3CF8OJZwUI/AAAAAAAABx0/TuFjFEMpXxE/IMG_20120314_145245_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9Vy9z2FvcuM/T3CF9bWd2AI/AAAAAAAABx8/NQuKPgwYSNI/s1600-h/IMG_20120314_145259%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120314_145259" border="0" alt="IMG_20120314_145259" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RQ5tIYf1hbo/T3CF-6T-_6I/AAAAAAAAByE/PtEVeBFi03s/IMG_20120314_145259_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ezbNUezmoRo/T3CGAD8erBI/AAAAAAAAByM/z-Kubhah39M/s1600-h/IMG_20120314_145305%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120314_145305" border="0" alt="IMG_20120314_145305" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-P2YdRK_MjeY/T3CGCOT8d2I/AAAAAAAAByU/MxuMbxDa258/IMG_20120314_145305_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-w3p-LGDjBHk/T3CGDEv2wLI/AAAAAAAAByc/8lvHZCM0TrM/s1600-h/IMG_20120314_145309%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120314_145309" border="0" alt="IMG_20120314_145309" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZkNFNimSS9k/T3CGEBxIJsI/AAAAAAAAByk/oTtXtopTm_Q/IMG_20120314_145309_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XwTjeoiPOHA/T3CGFTUuexI/AAAAAAAABys/52zFP4WlDgc/s1600-h/IMG_20120314_150023%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120314_150023" border="0" alt="IMG_20120314_150023" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-k-Bp7zTQYi0/T3CGGbmZiDI/AAAAAAAABy0/k-L-GcaHURI/IMG_20120314_150023_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qTyzzLgPqqM/T3CGJyjTJLI/AAAAAAAABy8/hLUXLWgs-Cw/s1600-h/IMG_20120314_150028%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120314_150028" border="0" alt="IMG_20120314_150028" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ru_479Xyjvw/T3CGKq2sp-I/AAAAAAAABzE/1CansWKeFcU/IMG_20120314_150028_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zxAeUz_SEwo/T3CGLscHu4I/AAAAAAAABzM/vbzi5PMJuPs/s1600-h/IMG_20120314_150035%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120314_150035" border="0" alt="IMG_20120314_150035" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DLzSa_wWJoo/T3CGMhIQ5TI/AAAAAAAABzU/kTZqfCNZMo0/IMG_20120314_150035_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3OvDY8xKLJadH7n1KesUmJKsvthn_jvAOwrKeFEub6uPf384OOc9MCm13UR41zOQGs4XUu723AOgvHlLRES-PKVdJZvoeSfYdw0HSbyTO99p5RYYau-bHQa_KMxRn9eodOnWXR-Fp0aW/s1600-h/IMG_20120314_150041%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120314_150041" border="0" alt="IMG_20120314_150041" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BAaehcdiHMU/T3CGOejSkaI/AAAAAAAABzk/lMOayQNG7wM/IMG_20120314_150041_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>And a few more from the ride back down:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4O8cdN3IeCo/T3CGPDLD51I/AAAAAAAABzs/kDU0d7lU0Do/s1600-h/IMG_20120314_151626%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120314_151626" border="0" alt="IMG_20120314_151626" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UZIDy1YVCMs/T3CGQEfCecI/AAAAAAAABz0/6dnZJRrKe1s/IMG_20120314_151626_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Zc-s9XO5agk/T3CGQ2zHwiI/AAAAAAAABz8/KbGXQ7Zep0U/s1600-h/IMG_20120314_151630%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120314_151630" border="0" alt="IMG_20120314_151630" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-eQpN8mpiijQ/T3CGRr3jP_I/AAAAAAAAB0E/1SlHRNtxOgo/IMG_20120314_151630_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uX1tEYI1CsQ/T3CGTUjYYnI/AAAAAAAAB0M/2Nhqx3PDq-A/s1600-h/IMG_20120314_151635%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120314_151635" border="0" alt="IMG_20120314_151635" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dJNBuOl0OfM/T3CGT5tt2PI/AAAAAAAAB0U/I9RoDuFdebQ/IMG_20120314_151635_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>On Thursday before the Santiago race, I tried to attend a course preview. The race web site described a 7am shuttle bus from the race hotel, so I woke up at 6am and biked 20-30 minutes from my hostel in the dark while dodging city buses and cars… only to find that there wasn’t a bus at the hotel. So I biked home in the breaking dawn and went back to sleep for another four hours. </p> <p>Felipe Van de Wyngard told us about the free pool at the Estadio Nacional. It was pretty sweet swim in an outdoor 50m pool for no charge. It was just far enough away from the hostels to be worth a cab ride, though… </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-a4Bt9KPCJ9g/T3CGUnxe90I/AAAAAAAAB0c/Cg3lORj2SNs/s1600-h/IMG_20120316_124024%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120316_124024" border="0" alt="IMG_20120316_124024" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rZaDQ1lCmPI/T3CGVGLr0EI/AAAAAAAAB0k/NQkl-_lPjtU/IMG_20120316_124024_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4o7o961aJiM/T3CGVy2eVbI/AAAAAAAAB0s/Pt3KhaCl58o/s1600-h/IMG_20120316_124028%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120316_124028" border="0" alt="IMG_20120316_124028" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JbaYpaiwprU/T3CGWwNmnpI/AAAAAAAAB00/vYLcRA70bqs/IMG_20120316_124028_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LavjDF82EXM/T3CGXt7gKsI/AAAAAAAAB08/9Ovqa0Ly93s/s1600-h/IMG_20120316_124039%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120316_124039" border="0" alt="IMG_20120316_124039" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-k0f9_B3Gqnk/T3CGYY_CnOI/AAAAAAAAB1E/_LoMw3lKK6k/IMG_20120316_124039_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>The grounds of the pool were unimpressive, however:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-c_0KFLOomzw/T3CGZLKcG0I/AAAAAAAAB1M/D1W_b7nRu4w/s1600-h/IMG_20120316_124049%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120316_124049" border="0" alt="IMG_20120316_124049" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Uq7UoCwyXEo/T3CGZ4JkY_I/AAAAAAAAB1Q/tWg51C8F1so/IMG_20120316_124049_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>On Tuesday morning in Ritoque, I went for a longer-than-expected morning run. I ran into the nearest town, Quintero, to find an ATM. THen I felt like adding on, so I tried to circumnavigate the peninsula at the northern end of town… but then underestimated the distance back to town and ended up skirting the coast for quite awhile. I took a “scenic” dirt road for awhile, only to have it dump me off at a junkyard. There are a plethora of stray dogs throughout Chile, but the stray dog concentration got higher as I neared the junkyard and I started to wonder for the first time, “How many dogs could I take in a fight?” A quick look around told me, “not this many.” Luckily they are all completely tame. I’ve probably seen 200+ dogs on this trip and only 2 or 3 even acknowledged my existence, one of which followed me around Playa Ritoque in a friendly/companion sort of way.</p> <p>Anyways… on to Valpo… </p> <p>The bike course in Valparaiso goes up a pretty solid hill. We only rode half of it on race day, and luckily the wind died down. Thursday was gusty and I had a hard time keeping my bike on the ground. Friday was much calmer, making the twisty descent much more manageable.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xK1ZgeUGqjM/T3CGa3K9eXI/AAAAAAAAB1c/VqX7ey9Q_hI/s1600-h/IMG_20120321_154449%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120321_154449" border="0" alt="IMG_20120321_154449" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Sx_dcvoIXpo/T3CGbi0-HKI/AAAAAAAAB1k/jU4aNAGgkcc/IMG_20120321_154449_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NWnuaJqfMEA/T3CGcT_lzCI/AAAAAAAAB1s/qOrqWC1q9S0/s1600-h/IMG_20120321_154454%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120321_154454" border="0" alt="IMG_20120321_154454" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XWv-INDEf9s/T3CGdF16k8I/AAAAAAAAB10/xsMMQgBy8IY/IMG_20120321_154454_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jiIj8ViAA2o/T3CGd7s0UqI/AAAAAAAAB18/FxZmQLXcPeg/s1600-h/IMG_20120321_154506%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120321_154506" border="0" alt="IMG_20120321_154506" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PLh_8-k9Nfg/T3CGe_X5B9I/AAAAAAAAB2E/30HyF7qWaRE/IMG_20120321_154506_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>I did a swim course preview on Thursday afternoon. The water was wicked cold. Like Pac Grove / SFO Bay cold. The race meeting said “15 degrees.” I totally got brain freeze during my course preview, and cut it short. Kevin and I wore neoprene caps for the race and felt fine.</p> <p>Sunday/yesterday, after the Valpo race, I ran about an hour on Avenida Alemania, which follows the ridgeline about Valparaiso, more or less. There were plenty of nice views, like from Plaza Bismarck and from this other plaza where Chilean teenagers were making out. My hostel posse in Santiago observed that most of these kids must live with their parents, and therefore they have to go out to the parks in order to make out. One weekday evening in the main park in Santiago, we figured that 90% of the park population was young couples making out!</p> <p>Anyways, the pictures from that run route:</p> <p>The hill leaving the Pata Pata hostel:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MEx0lb6S2PY/T3CGfk9B7-I/AAAAAAAAB2M/DeoYMbHsqvc/s1600-h/IMG_20120325_114236%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120325_114236" border="0" alt="IMG_20120325_114236" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QNsUJTw_vAY/T3CGgEYkhhI/AAAAAAAAB2U/Ocbjjm-zuII/IMG_20120325_114236_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Cool murals everywhere. I mean *everywhere*…</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DY_o67R6woE/T3CGg_131xI/AAAAAAAAB2c/bJkKrZBeWD4/s1600-h/IMG_20120324_155541%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120324_155541" border="0" alt="IMG_20120324_155541" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GeRgROkA53w/T3CGhj_iWRI/AAAAAAAAB2k/KA388H-6FWQ/IMG_20120324_155541_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-W8B8O2i0BDo/T3CGiADPxBI/AAAAAAAAB2s/3C-Qwu_HQSI/s1600-h/IMG_20120324_155816%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120324_155816" border="0" alt="IMG_20120324_155816" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hjOGo485YVc/T3CGi9PaIZI/AAAAAAAAB20/P_mt6g0tLEY/IMG_20120324_155816_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hRyuBKUB2y8/T3CGjvIPuNI/AAAAAAAAB28/Q-_uzApTILs/s1600-h/IMG_20120325_121613%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120325_121613" border="0" alt="IMG_20120325_121613" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gsJQd7Dkh1M/T3CGkXpmRLI/AAAAAAAAB3E/jVCxzZ4osXA/IMG_20120325_121613_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xuI4j7GspQs/T3CGlM4Tc7I/AAAAAAAAB3M/JPwyRPbh1aY/s1600-h/IMG_20120325_121625%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120325_121625" border="0" alt="IMG_20120325_121625" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-x8SyWZC1Eaw/T3CGmE6qDOI/AAAAAAAAB3U/U3NTj8rY9zM/IMG_20120325_121625_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Views from the plaza:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KDRx4qa1zKM/T3CGm1Uev2I/AAAAAAAAB3c/J6ihsdzyIhk/s1600-h/IMG_20120325_121723%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120325_121723" border="0" alt="IMG_20120325_121723" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ythXq3QqO7k/T3CGnoGRMqI/AAAAAAAAB3k/B8MGReCy6mA/IMG_20120325_121723_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VJCQdI-JkFM/T3CGoHdSvpI/AAAAAAAAB3s/rDXvzKYnPw4/s1600-h/IMG_20120325_121727%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120325_121727" border="0" alt="IMG_20120325_121727" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RYIRDNoL1M0/T3CGpCv6EHI/AAAAAAAAB30/1t6DSifg8iU/IMG_20120325_121727_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HcKeeAoU9pw/T3CGpjoPdHI/AAAAAAAAB38/M7vh6zayMOU/s1600-h/IMG_20120325_122503%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120325_122503" border="0" alt="IMG_20120325_122503" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-F-Wn9-VdUwk/T3CGqetivII/AAAAAAAAB4E/2K-e7-H7Xow/IMG_20120325_122503_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7yGqTn3Dcjg/T3CGrNzSzlI/AAAAAAAAB4M/IgBhY6--nXQ/s1600-h/IMG_20120325_122511%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120325_122511" border="0" alt="IMG_20120325_122511" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-keou1JA35kw/T3CGsFVDTcI/AAAAAAAAB4U/NNwi_5WUeaA/IMG_20120325_122511_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0NOGGX2VGwE/T3CGs0HdAWI/AAAAAAAAB4c/d1_3V4kMIEg/s1600-h/IMG_20120325_125516%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120325_125516" border="0" alt="IMG_20120325_125516" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dPt1C3VYKKk/T3CGteI-W0I/AAAAAAAAB4k/efyGWmXuCTw/IMG_20120325_125516_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>La Sebastiana:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ln53O3KoR8o/T3CGuBypTqI/AAAAAAAAB4s/EBnugP49Gx8/s1600-h/IMG_20120325_125526%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120325_125526" border="0" alt="IMG_20120325_125526" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LgN35Xr0Euc/T3CGuqJnEvI/AAAAAAAAB40/J98C8Q0i82Y/IMG_20120325_125526_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2Smrqgso4jc/T3CGvWvYHGI/AAAAAAAAB48/Qd_ViaKIvJw/s1600-h/IMG_20120325_125535%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120325_125535" border="0" alt="IMG_20120325_125535" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DwyRL3352_U/T3CGwJtm4rI/AAAAAAAAB5E/HRRRRN2nn0k/IMG_20120325_125535_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>And the entrance to the mysterious Original Kingdom of the Spoon Revolution: </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-s1eu3sWIv-Q/T3CGwlfBt_I/AAAAAAAAB5M/Br2eE3mgq5w/s1600-h/IMG_20120325_135054%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120325_135054" border="0" alt="IMG_20120325_135054" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bD3Tgjv5uEY/T3CGxqrBqvI/AAAAAAAAB5U/xg7mXZT5N7U/IMG_20120325_135054_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>As a bonus to those who made it that far, here was my victory/recovery meal after that run. I hit J Cruz M too late – they were closing – and Aqui Esta La Papa hadn’t opened yet, so I ended up at El Pimenton. Chorrillana!!</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7683McKSZmc/T3CGyeEWRbI/AAAAAAAAB5c/e90PBpUGG9Q/s1600-h/IMG_20120325_181624%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120325_181624" border="0" alt="IMG_20120325_181624" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-M8x1seLeZmI/T3CGzqg7naI/AAAAAAAAB5k/m2WGlSmaChQ/IMG_20120325_181624_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-O6BkegGBzeU/T3CG0O85wZI/AAAAAAAAB5s/DBKvO6Wh6TI/s1600-h/IMG_20120325_182809%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120325_182809" border="0" alt="IMG_20120325_182809" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Xp597Xv5alM/T3CG08waDWI/AAAAAAAAB50/zDy7Klq5KjY/IMG_20120325_182809_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>And then I was still hungry, so I caved and ate a fried Empanada w queso y Champignones. It was massive:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eHcBgKoJxoE/T3CG1sY8kwI/AAAAAAAAB58/k6pmg6ps3ZY/s1600-h/IMG_20120325_192018%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120325_192018" border="0" alt="IMG_20120325_192018" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0KgM7aUOf2c/T3CG2bjaSJI/AAAAAAAAB6E/yQDdRYIitl0/IMG_20120325_192018_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>OK, off to find the sandboarding dunes, then start my long journey back to Seattle via at least two buses and three airplanes.</p> Chris Tremontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238253339063432588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6919960072449134938.post-70831475254514279202012-03-23T18:31:00.002-07:002012-03-24T17:06:05.288-07:00Athlete Briefing<p>Before every ITU race there is a mandatory athlete briefing, where they show you the course maps, answer questions, and go over the same slide deck with the same rules as your last ITU race. But when you are racing internationally, the logistics can get interesting, so I decided to put together a photo journal for tonight’s meeting.</p> <p>The meeting was at 6pm at a restaurant that was maybe 20km away from the race site. The ITU site and the race web site had different details on the time & place, but we learned last week to trust the race web site. There was a shuttle from the Hotel O’Higgins to the restaurant, but the Hotel O’Higgins is in Vina del Mar, which is 15km from the race site and 10km from our hostels in Valparaiso. So My plan was to walk to the Bellavista metro station, take a train to the Vina del Mar stop, walk to the Hotel O’Higgins, take the 5:30pm shuttle to the race meeting, and follow the same steps in reverse for the return trip. Barrett & Kevin’s hostel is 2km up the hill from mine, so they also took a Colectivo to/from the metro station. Anyways, the pictures and stories…</p> <p>First up, this is the funky hostel where I’m staying in Valparaiso. It is called the Hostel Verde Limon. They have a trapeze and a ribbon in the high atrium, and the interior and exterior are painted in many bright colors.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-oBYzsrXD1qs/T20jZugIhII/AAAAAAAABr8/9PmJBYOgxw4/s1600-h/IMG_20120323_143353%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120323_143353" border="0" alt="IMG_20120323_143353" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ecdip3PYhYI/T20jaW7dZOI/AAAAAAAABsE/ZAOOAqhu2xc/IMG_20120323_143353_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3ofQ-Ib8o4k/T20jbE_BcuI/AAAAAAAABsM/KMFUZ9iwixA/s1600-h/IMG_20120323_143424%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120323_143424" border="0" alt="IMG_20120323_143424" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-S9-hYZBwTk8/T20jbprr7UI/AAAAAAAABsU/_LMx_d25T0Y/IMG_20120323_143424_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>The Plazuela Descansa is right outside our door. I heard a bunch of voices out there yesterday and found a group of street performers working the crowd… I stuck around to see what their big number would be… and… handkerchief dancing!!!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Y2m7uo0F3PI/T20jc4TuHWI/AAAAAAAABsc/qOFgSxYd-nI/s1600-h/IMG_20120323_143742%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120323_143742" border="0" alt="IMG_20120323_143742" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcaOoHJziMG_JvDhH5shfoxPmE5gj9uStffK0iKMrnXdMBCriIVzy1L8GBV5PoJ0O79dkm8rNSC_RWbDONNwHVusIls7dfogNd_gb1uQmg0g_gAn_F4nGQLEPfGnZLcGgOuCqcmcKF5t2/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YsxkKLxtlIw/T20jeI9wGoI/AAAAAAAABss/rshLcoEW4Ao/s1600-h/IMG_20120322_171720%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120322_171720" border="0" alt="IMG_20120322_171720" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-34ZTbHCOW6k/T20jfoskmyI/AAAAAAAABs0/d7QyjNft-tg/IMG_20120322_171720_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>  </p> <p>Walking down the hill to the station, all of the buildings have murals </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mEp8pdmGcck/T20jhuw-E5I/AAAAAAAABs8/SeHDZlI6ZOE/s1600-h/IMG_20120323_143749%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120323_143749" border="0" alt="IMG_20120323_143749" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zqNHEoNVkbY/T20jiZOlixI/AAAAAAAABtE/aof6xGoNSBY/IMG_20120323_143749_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uA_pD2rkvFU/T20jjoVlN_I/AAAAAAAABtM/OhUxYsVpCd4/s1600-h/IMG_20120321_125818%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120321_125818" border="0" alt="IMG_20120321_125818" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3LnAqCCkAnw/T20jkdN0h5I/AAAAAAAABtU/txKQIPCXBr0/IMG_20120321_125818_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-G56n4ZYb9Cg/T20jliPtMwI/AAAAAAAABtc/W0aYhOWWCz4/s1600-h/IMG_20120321_125953%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120321_125953" border="0" alt="IMG_20120321_125953" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DaYWx7Jpd78/T20jmLHtHgI/AAAAAAAABtk/GpRnQ-Q0KKA/IMG_20120321_125953_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>I had to cross some kind of unnecessarily high pedestrian bridge to get over a busy street. Don’t they know that we’re on taper. TAPER!!</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NDimbvUU51M/T20jmyJPAtI/AAAAAAAABts/hqPsQ-ufwJ0/s1600-h/IMG_20120323_144530%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120323_144530" border="0" alt="IMG_20120323_144530" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GCHNQmvVB_E/T20jnbAynrI/AAAAAAAABt0/UvqjNZnqlsE/IMG_20120323_144530_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>The metro line runs along the water. You can see the port to the north and the tall buildings of Vina de mar to the south.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-erUW1DHyg0M/T20joKFhmiI/AAAAAAAABt8/RjiEyplVSbA/s1600-h/IMG_20120323_144605%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120323_144605" border="0" alt="IMG_20120323_144605" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hpofkjDWmCA/T20jo8zAavI/AAAAAAAABuE/xsViq5fKspQ/IMG_20120323_144605_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WwmidWAgy5w/T20jpnys8bI/AAAAAAAABuM/Uj1mE7BKWU4/s1600-h/IMG_20120323_144612%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120323_144612" border="0" alt="IMG_20120323_144612" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4F-RBgwbTx8/T20jqOZqnVI/AAAAAAAABuU/JTMyYghvFT8/IMG_20120323_144612_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>The fare was only 400 CLP each way to get to/from the hotel, or about $0.81, but I also had to buy a farecard to 1200 CLP.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0z6eU7d6aiA/T20jq0GXGWI/AAAAAAAABuc/GfMUrCrV38U/s1600-h/IMG_20120323_145035%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120323_145035" border="0" alt="IMG_20120323_145035" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pN6byr7HlQ4/T20jrTGOd7I/AAAAAAAABuk/oIfY07SVjFM/IMG_20120323_145035_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>After getting off the train and walking in the direction where I expected the Hotel O’Higgins to be, I started having doubts about whether I’d gone the right way. Then I looked up.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pFDSETwmZB8/T20jsY7tTMI/AAAAAAAABus/3KuLWfBoQLw/s1600-h/IMG_20120323_151337%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120323_151337" border="0" alt="IMG_20120323_151337" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Cwoae-IgxxY/T20jtb7GaSI/AAAAAAAABu0/VadXC5A4drE/IMG_20120323_151337_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>The bus left at a surprisingly-punctual 5:33pm and the only bit of levity along the way was when we couldn’t make the turn into the restaurant and instead opted to turn around via an 18-point turn in a tiny gravel lot. Very Austin Powers.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4ELrBUb4t08/T20juLYkd1I/AAAAAAAABu8/-zg3KNo9lL8/s1600-h/IMG_20120323_151443%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120323_151443" border="0" alt="IMG_20120323_151443" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--hg-wKoo4YQ/T20ju76gaJI/AAAAAAAABvE/UZdlsxdiTbY/IMG_20120323_151443_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>    <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-S2CpTCeoObk/T20jvYDQIiI/AAAAAAAABvM/gc2FKFw9seQ/s1600-h/IMG_20120323_154626%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120323_154626" border="0" alt="IMG_20120323_154626" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Fug0k-HF0l0/T20jwPDZtkI/AAAAAAAABvU/hvzvHUfWpvg/IMG_20120323_154626_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>  </p> <p>The race meeting was at the Cabeza del Pescador restaurant, right on the beach.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hXs7UI9cy0A/T20jwnv5xSI/AAAAAAAABvc/EkxukQMEQ-c/s1600-h/IMG_20120323_155153%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120323_155153" border="0" alt="IMG_20120323_155153" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-byprxx_eiJ4/T20jxU-Nd0I/AAAAAAAABvk/Wxge-LgZan4/IMG_20120323_155153_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>The briefing started out with this guy, who didn’t seem to know or care that he was totally blocking the projector:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CREEdoHXg0Q/T20jx2xse2I/AAAAAAAABvs/ibGZjMVYK3U/s1600-h/IMG_20120323_164957%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120323_164957" border="0" alt="IMG_20120323_164957" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-S7Rp8HyIeBg/T20jya8X1lI/AAAAAAAABv0/NtLrJ7XiEB0/IMG_20120323_164957_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Highlights of the talk itself included a lot of confused discussion between people who aren’t quite fluent in Spanish and people who aren’t quite fluent in English. “Clockwise” and “Counter-clockwise,” a.k.a. “horario” and “antihorario” seemed to be a challenge. We also enjoyed the confusion around the run course being 2.5 laps of 4km per lap. We run the hilly part twice and the flat part three times.</p> <p>This year’s ITU deck ends with a picture of Bevan Docherty, asking if we have any questions:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-DJo9-xTCAb8/T20jy-5d1uI/AAAAAAAABv8/7dYCUBvuxeA/s1600-h/IMG_20120323_170917%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120323_170917" border="0" alt="IMG_20120323_170917" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lFcPSYWiIzU/T20jztj8iRI/AAAAAAAABwE/jJvzjNUjaJs/IMG_20120323_170917_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>After the meeting, they had a free dinner for all of the athletes. That was pretty sweet. Except it was all pasta. Oh well… free meal! The best part was that they had a volunteer putting bibs on every athlete before they could grab food:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-N7L8ugwpQo0/T20j0J0dSLI/AAAAAAAABwM/ugzU4z11I74/s1600-h/IMG_20120323_174628%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120323_174628" border="0" alt="IMG_20120323_174628" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UACabAWUXQM/T20j0vNDa7I/AAAAAAAABwU/wS8HQEDHWqM/IMG_20120323_174628_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>We were treated to a nice sunset over the ocean while we waited for the return bus</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-K58navWpbug/T20j1OyQPsI/AAAAAAAABwc/RemAb7vrSXk/s1600-h/IMG_20120323_174227%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120323_174227" border="0" alt="IMG_20120323_174227" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-F7ljcGJLtyU/T20j1qjov_I/AAAAAAAABwk/sjTVaEjY5NI/IMG_20120323_174227_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-P6D0SObP30w/T20j2c9sb8I/AAAAAAAABws/KGvF-fOKXuw/s1600-h/IMG_20120323_174306%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120323_174306" border="0" alt="IMG_20120323_174306" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NCnhSUiY-5Q/T20j3GfatRI/AAAAAAAABw0/SFeq8AqUutU/IMG_20120323_174306_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-F1zPupP29CU/T20j4IhBbiI/AAAAAAAABw8/sFYhG9tZFmM/s1600-h/IMG_20120323_174315%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120323_174315" border="0" alt="IMG_20120323_174315" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XkBGgw5UBzA/T20j4jdtL_I/AAAAAAAABxE/2_FyZaAZxYw/IMG_20120323_174315_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Ok, maybe not my most exciting blog post ever… but it is important to chill out the night before the race, right?</p>Chris Tremontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238253339063432588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6919960072449134938.post-65588926135655784922012-03-16T12:07:00.001-07:002012-03-16T12:07:59.847-07:00Santiago Travel<p>Tuesday morning at 7am I boarded a bus in Capitol Hill. At 7:30 I transferred to the Light Rail and by 8:30 I had cleared security at Sea-Tac. We were delayed for de-icing (yay!) and made it to SJC about 30 minutes before my next flight. No big deal. I’d rather leave Seattle on a snowy day than on a clear, sunny day! I grabbed a tasty BBQ dinner during my 4hr layover in Dallas, then after a 10hr overnight flight I woke up in Santiago at roughly 9am on Wednesday. Somehow Santiago is an hour ahead of US/Eastern right now, whereas I’d expected it to be the same. People say that has something to do with Daylight Savings but think about it a moment… wait… yeah, Daylight Savings moves the clock in the other direction.</p> <p>The taxi assistant at SCL airport said that I couldn’t take my bike box on the bus. I wasn’t sure this was true, but after 22 hours of travel I wasn’t feeling particularly assertive, so I enjoyed a $44 USD cab ride to my new home – the <a href="http://www.castillosurfista.com/">Castillo Surfista</a> in the Providencia neighborhood.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxD1UCjdwdaTPjKawDLqqXDgm2O_-Y-42zRcFeHvu-iGCDkahixUjvMpOCnwliOFd8cheQ8LKv53H41ZmIewm4D6ZSmoAKZ5mgAlHYgzrda_KihtI3q0myLSXTJN5sNoSrbPI-tDy7w3-/s1600-h/Castillo-Surfista%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Castillo-Surfista" border="0" alt="Castillo-Surfista" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-a7o3inSskGw/T2NnFVuCB4I/AAAAAAAABns/826RUvVdyUE/Castillo-Surfista_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>While I was assembling my bike, I asked Jonathan (the hostel owner) whether his dog, Duke, could really ride a skateboard. Sure enough, he can! I wish I would have taken a video.</p> <p>Once my bike was assembled, I set out in search of some lunch. I’d heard from Louisa in Seattle that the Bellavista neighborhood was a good option. </p> <p>The hostel is just off of Avenida Condell, which is a pretty, tree-lined street with a University and the Homicide Unit of the local police force. I would have liked to post a picture of the station, but I didn’t want to get arrested.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JWL2TaRL1kg/T2NnGVP3-aI/AAAAAAAABn0/s65_Qo0MXiw/s1600-h/AvCondell-1%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="AvCondell-1" border="0" alt="AvCondell-1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3ujVthptWro/T2NnHGBhEZI/AAAAAAAABn8/RBQ3YtXMWLI/AvCondell-1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>    <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cF2SI-8X8g8/T2NnJlM-5nI/AAAAAAAABoE/pDM9IgbQaL0/s1600-h/AvCondell-2%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="AvCondell-2" border="0" alt="AvCondell-2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-07RVCOzBj-o/T2NnKTHHV9I/AAAAAAAABoM/rdR03UeVKLk/AvCondell-2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>I walked through the Parque Balmaceda to a pedestrian bridge over the Rio Mapocho. The Rio Mapocho is in pretty sad shape, and looks more like a duct for storm runoff. Oddly enough, we saw couples making out on this bridge when we went out for the evening. In fact, you see lots of public make-outs down here. Apparently Argentina is even worse. The explanation I heard is that teens and young adults live at home with their parents, so they have to go out somewhere to make out. Yesterday evening in the park, 90% of the park occupants were couples making out. Runners like me were the weirdos!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-C1PijZdY2q8/T2NnL2JH1dI/AAAAAAAABoU/zTl47Bm5ars/s1600-h/IMG_20120314_114002%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120314_114002" border="0" alt="IMG_20120314_114002" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-tEhQZRQKTy4/T2NnNykuqII/AAAAAAAABoc/Xqk20AOPxAw/IMG_20120314_114002_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>    <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FDi1QDUmPk4/T2NnQd-kmjI/AAAAAAAABok/_2aOYVaQogg/s1600-h/IMG_20120314_114139%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120314_114139" border="0" alt="IMG_20120314_114139" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4XxAS4uXOko/T2NnSTAWkYI/AAAAAAAABos/XVrRu1vQGEQ/IMG_20120314_114139_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>There were plenty of lunch options to choose from in Bellavista, all with outdoor seating. There were plenty of people hanging out and sharing 1.5L bottles of beer. I grabbed chicken & fries for 1900 CLP, or roughly $4 USD, and admired the posters on the wall. Apparently I was at a chain fast-food joint, based off of this poster on the wall:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xIwFWZt3_KQ/T2NnTAVP1RI/AAAAAAAABo0/Rxei36UjOHo/s1600-h/IMG_20120314_122333%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120314_122333" border="0" alt="IMG_20120314_122333" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-k_ffwGsfik8/T2NnUQ93BnI/AAAAAAAABo8/v79JLv22vIU/IMG_20120314_122333_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>If you look carefully, that is a chicken in a Michael-Jackson-style jacket, advertised Pollo Rey as the “Rey of Pop’llo.” Wow. Ok, so it is poor form to eat fast food while traveling, but at least I didn’t go here:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mnqWdy4pJfo/T2NnVBYJj3I/AAAAAAAABpE/I5d8QYwZfvI/s1600-h/IMG_20120314_121300%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120314_121300" border="0" alt="IMG_20120314_121300" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KSxx8DjUo3k/T2NnWWCtxsI/AAAAAAAABpM/pqhKoHcVVcY/IMG_20120314_121300_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>If Steve Sexton were racing in Chile, I would know where to find him! <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0rnzpcUenAk/T2NnXZhPIaI/AAAAAAAABpU/zJmEHHKOMhc/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /></p> <p>The fast-food joints in Chile have a bit more personality than many in the states. Pollo Rey was selling some kind of beef sandwich but were calling it “ASS:”</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fnW1TDzvivg/T2OPTPJk2ZI/AAAAAAAABpk/ez7HBJFEyt4/s1600-h/IMG_20120314_122348%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120314_122348" border="0" alt="IMG_20120314_122348" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qupjx7rhAYs/T2OPUlR8rnI/AAAAAAAABps/OO5mxUg-iFY/IMG_20120314_122348_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>I asked for an explanation and apparently it is a joke based on the Spanish word “HAS,” which I had never heard before. I thought that maybe “AS” would be short for “ASADA.” I just looked up “HAS” in a Spanish dictionary and couldn’t find it. Maybe it is a local Chilean term? Maybe I just completely misunderstood the dude at the restaurant?</p> <p>Wednesday night we went out to explore the nightlife a bit. I’d seen a poster about a free outdoor concert where they played Caribbean music. We joined the crowd in a dance number that looked like a South American take on the “electric slide,” and then joined the Conga Line that served as their grand finale.</p> <p>Next we found a bar with a live band where everybody was doing a local dance called the “cuca.” We called it the Napkin Dance because each participant waves a handkerchief while they dance. One lady had brought a whole bag of “Panuelos” to dance with, and would pick a different one for each song. I borrowed a “panuelo” and danced with local girls for two songs. Sadly these pictures didn’t come out very well:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RrHCND1Ok_8/T2OPVahF4-I/AAAAAAAABp0/eVizttyh8MM/s1600-h/IMG_20120314_222334%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120314_222334" border="0" alt="IMG_20120314_222334" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-p5vlnM2R5ag/T2OPVxZlJSI/AAAAAAAABp8/C13hSGKKR_k/IMG_20120314_222334_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ZizoWNgKBWo/T2OPWoQ9s-I/AAAAAAAABqE/qEY7uz3NeFs/s1600-h/IMG_20120314_222842%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120314_222842" border="0" alt="IMG_20120314_222842" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AN90PjgAJEw/T2OPXoyh1RI/AAAAAAAABqM/H0ZbDq6Ajf0/IMG_20120314_222842_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9fQBi7Og78I/T2OPYlmqLwI/AAAAAAAABqU/uHouyEVgCw0/s1600-h/IMG_20120314_222847%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120314_222847" border="0" alt="IMG_20120314_222847" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pJgoHIYaXuo/T2OPZCgtIxI/AAAAAAAABqc/YxSJRsDml3E/IMG_20120314_222847_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Yesterday, we walked to the fish market for lunch. We took a somewhat circuitous route to get there, as the main park & streets were closed in the aftermath of a large student protest. I gathered that the government wants to convert all of the public universities to being private universities, raising the cost of tuition considerably. Hence the protests. By the time we were on our way to lunch, the protesters had mostly dispersed but we still saw plenty of police. Again, I wanted to take pictures but didn’t want to get arrested.</p> <p>The fish market reminded me just a little of Pike Place… they had many stalls selling fish, surrounding a bunch of tourist-trap restaurants that also sell fish – but cooked fish.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3tlVwdFCDF8/T2OPZ6j3dhI/AAAAAAAABqk/ZXdHm9YNoYs/s1600-h/IMG_20120315_115009%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120315_115009" border="0" alt="IMG_20120315_115009" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-U0b_Bhxvu2o/T2OPa9ngUrI/AAAAAAAABqs/qKkqP-oUDbQ/IMG_20120315_115009_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aKXBptLSJX8/T2OPbwvSuPI/AAAAAAAABq0/SCVQpKqkzgI/s1600-h/IMG_20120315_115036%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120315_115036" border="0" alt="IMG_20120315_115036" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8D8Zj9E0oEI/T2OPcsFSkyI/AAAAAAAABq8/cC4M__rmpCM/IMG_20120315_115036_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Marco and Alyse had giant empanadas with shrimp (camarones) and cheese (queso):</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GWNFCjour8c/T2OPePVyHuI/AAAAAAAABrE/3gq_OByZs-o/s1600-h/IMG_20120315_120040%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120315_120040" border="0" alt="IMG_20120315_120040" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fgiM5jcCSSU/T2OPerK2dGI/AAAAAAAABrM/TxRZw7SVRMA/IMG_20120315_120040_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>I’m still trying to avoid gluten before the race, so I had a platter with a delicious piece of cooked fish. I didn’t think to take a picture until I was almost done eating:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NNN8HyDP1Rg/T2OPgGT5cMI/AAAAAAAABrU/dSkmgPrzRjE/s1600-h/IMG_20120315_121134%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_20120315_121134" border="0" alt="IMG_20120315_121134" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3XDvKa4RdYE/T2OPhfxFFvI/AAAAAAAABrc/ffYTDFTIm6w/IMG_20120315_121134_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>After lunch we explored a second-hand clothing district on Bandera, which I’d read about online. There was a large store that specialized in American clothes. They even had a poster advertising that you could buy clothes that were once owned by “Gringas!” We got our Gringa friend, Alyse, to pose in front of the sign for a photo op:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8bceyTQYnU8/T2OPiRbJBQI/AAAAAAAABrk/NJqFmNgPgU0/s1600-h/Gringa%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Gringa" border="0" alt="Gringa" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-D0JOKnOOOHs/T2OPjHP6GII/AAAAAAAABrs/JNZJ0t2e-84/Gringa_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>I’ll throw the rest of my pictures into another post on the swim/bike/run situation down here, and in my inability to get out to Lago Piedra Roja for a course preview yesterday. But for now, I am heading out to swim with <a href="http://barrettbrandon.blogspot.com/">Barrett</a> and <a href="http://www.kevincollington.com/">Kevin</a>. Adios!</p> Chris Tremontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238253339063432588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6919960072449134938.post-8764313544497210242012-03-12T23:25:00.001-07:002012-03-12T23:25:32.504-07:00The Southern Double<p><img style="margin: 0px 10px; display: inline; float: left" alt="2012 Valparaiso ITU Triathlon Pan American Cup" align="left" src="http://www.triathlon.org/images/sized/images/uploads/Programa_Triatletas_-_Windows_Internet_Explorer_2012-02-16_09-25-55-250x0.jpg" width="250" height="209" />Any American triathlete who has chased ITU points in the past 5 years has at least considered traveling to Argentina and Chile in January for the mythical “Southern Double.” You race two Pan American Cups on back-to-back weekends, in <a href="http://www.triathlon.org/events/event/2012_la_paz_patco_triathlon_pan_american_championships/">La Paz</a> (Argentina) and <a href="http://www.triathlon.org/events/event/2012_vina_del_mar_itu_triathlon_pan_american_cup/">Vina del Mar</a> (Chile). January is the offseason (or often base season) for Northern Hemisphere athletes, so these races are an opportunity to race in a probably-less-competitive field and also to leapfrog a few other Americans in the rankings. I thought about going there in 2008, in 2009 and in 2010, but each year came up with reasons to not go --- generally that I was already racing into November in the US, needed a post-season “break,” and wouldn’t be fit again in time for January.</p> <p>Last year PATCO started hosting races in <a href="http://www.triathlon.org/events/event/2012_santiago_itu_triathlon_pan_american_cup_and_south_american_championshi/">Santiago</a> and in <a href="http://www.triathlon.org/events/event/2012_valparaiso_itu_triathlon_pan_american_cup/">Valparaiso</a>, Chile, in March. So even though triathlon isn’t quite as central to my life as it once was, I’ve ramped up my training a bit and booked a flight to Chile! I’m excited to go south of the equator for the first time. I’m excited about the possibility of finally picking up some ITU points, even if I’m not chasing Olympic Trials anymore. I’m excited to be racing again on the international circuit.</p> <p>I’ll try to post some photos and travel notes once I get down there. It will take 20 hours to get there from Seattle, with connections in San Jose and in Dallas! But I bought the ticket for 40,000 Alaska Airlines frequent flyer miles plus $97 in taxes and fees, so I’m not complaining!</p> Chris Tremontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238253339063432588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6919960072449134938.post-49109829690712777712011-11-14T19:05:00.001-08:002011-11-14T19:05:29.417-08:00A small home improvement project<p>When I was shopping for my new townhouse, one feature that I wanted was “a rooftop deck with a nice view.” Somehow this morphed into “a rooftop deck with a nice view that could support a hot tub.” When I found this rather awesome place on Capitol Hill with a large rooftop deck, I asked the builder whether the roof could support a hot tub. He said no.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-a8ZxIlA3Vkg/TsHU3jU0rQI/AAAAAAAABik/rLgTvJImDDA/s1600-h/httm%25255B2%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="httm" border="0" alt="httm" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9zJFysv0o_4/TsHWfmVpwkI/AAAAAAAABi0/MadOAeZE9cw/httm_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="244" height="198" /></a></p> <p>I don’t like “no.”</p> <p>I like “what would it take to make X happen.”</p> <p>So being a bit of a <a href="http://www.geekfit.us">geek</a>, I turned to the internet. Specifically, I found Kevin Bauman’s <a href="http://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article28.html">rather thorough post</a> about what it takes to install a large aquarium, from a structural engineer’s point of view. Armed with this newfound knowledge, I went back to the builder with a proposal. He offered to talk to his own structural engineer and agreed to have the modifications built into my rooftop as a condition of the sale. Win.</p> <p>While shopping for tubs, I quickly decided that a used tub would be a *much* better value than a brand new tub. At first I thought of getting a free tub from a friend who doesn’t use theirs… but I started wondering about mechanical reliability and about delivery and realized that a reconditioned tub from a dealer would be a much better choice. I shopped around for awhile on Craigslist and talked to a few dealers. I also checked out some new tubs in a showroom. I eventually decided on a well-kept Hot Springs Sovreign, as it had the right combination of appropriate size, insulation, and expected reliability.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mGfE95TLeNg/TsHWjvTSPlI/AAAAAAAABi8/SBW4uZDU0RY/s1600-h/street-option-13thAveE%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="street-option-13thAveE" border="0" alt="street-option-13thAveE" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vJmN78U0sAw/TsHWnohB1mI/AAAAAAAABjE/DlPfw0v5rPU/street-option-13thAveE_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>Next up, I needed to figure out how to get a tub onto the roof. The stairways aren’t particularly wide, and each has a 90- or 180-degree bend. The building suggested that I get a few guys with ropes and sticks, and that I drag it up the side of the building. My dad suggested a block and tackle with some pulleys, but we weren’t sure how we would counterweight the crane arm. So I found a few guys on Craigslist who deliver hot tubs for a living and learned that they often hire a crane service. </p> <p>I talked to four or five crane services before finding a guy who would/could take on my job. His truck was small enough to avoid the trees and power lines near my house, but wasn’t big enough to reach all the way to my rooftop. My townhouse is the third one in from the street. So I asked the builder about craning the tub onto the first house, and decided to hand-carry the tub over from there. </p> <p>I drew up the awesome diagram to the left, took a picture of it with my phone, made a few annotations in MS-Paint, and sent it to each of the crane guys. You’ll note that there are two half-ways to navigate on the way, and that we have an 8.5’-wide section and a 7’-wide section. The hot tub is 6.'5’ wide by 8’ long by 31” deep. Fun times. Luckily I have enough good friends and tasty beer to make such work feasible.</p> <p>So… house, check. Tub, check. Crane, check. Awesome friends, check.</p> <p>After one last-minute reschedule from the crane guy, we had everything lined up to go this past Saturday. I was pleasantly surprised with how easily we go through that part.</p> <p>On Friday I tried to reserve a good parking spot for the crane by moving my roommate’s car. I also borrowed a few construction cones:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RZ79nN_Eut8/TsHWo91X2tI/AAAAAAAABjM/5hjYXsm9IOE/s1600-h/WP_000573-coned-street%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000573-coned-street" border="0" alt="WP_000573-coned-street" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-seZB-KbY8K0/TsHWpQ1530I/AAAAAAAABjU/WqpD6ZQX0hc/WP_000573-coned-street_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>The first Really Exciting Moment was when the crane truck arrived, with the tub on the flatbed:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-edl7Zan6gSM/TsHWsFFwS0I/AAAAAAAABjc/fq5oSVraWgk/s1600-h/WP_000579-street-1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000579-street-1" border="0" alt="WP_000579-street-1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-__BnMqBuUto/TsHWsvoaasI/AAAAAAAABjk/HFP4SqG9nJs/WP_000579-street-1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qghLdc0mx74/TsHWt3lshoI/AAAAAAAABjs/fynlkzqwf-c/s1600-h/WP_000580-street-2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000580-street-2" border="0" alt="WP_000580-street-2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-0utuo3-JwXE/TsHWuHFQSjI/AAAAAAAABj0/Dm7p2dj3BDQ/WP_000580-street-2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>After getting the truck in place, the crane guy attached the hook and lifted the tub off the flatbed:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ncIZXTnZs30/TsHWuyhoqUI/AAAAAAAABj8/Z2Dh_WepD8I/s1600-h/WP_000591-hanging-low-1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000591-hanging-low-1" border="0" alt="WP_000591-hanging-low-1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9_ImvA55GJU/TsHWvaP45_I/AAAAAAAABkE/awtYdJA_Lwk/WP_000591-hanging-low-1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>The tub was hanging a bit lopsided, so we set it on the sidewalk and rebalanced a little:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZspZvhyS4zU/TsHWwLma1jI/AAAAAAAABkM/z9T8x1pohrg/s1600-h/WP_000595-hanging-low-2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000595-hanging-low-2" border="0" alt="WP_000595-hanging-low-2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oPqP6_1vQ3g/TsHWwUKuUaI/AAAAAAAABkU/a4IsiK9ucUk/WP_000595-hanging-low-2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>The next Really Exciting Moment was when the tub cleared the railing onto the roof:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PXljCez3wMI/TsHWxRtk5EI/AAAAAAAABkc/pRh7jvTXfIM/s1600-h/WP_000598-in-air-1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000598-in-air-1" border="0" alt="WP_000598-in-air-1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-w37gEHQvlxA/TsHWxjG5tVI/AAAAAAAABkk/lI8O0bLGcSY/WP_000598-in-air-1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-41fqLI-pkR8/TsHWyXn5hAI/AAAAAAAABks/UFmfPyurpik/s1600-h/WP_000600-in-air-2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000600-in-air-2" border="0" alt="WP_000600-in-air-2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wGHHdHCX6_8/TsHWytYLQWI/AAAAAAAABk0/DU1pvWSyiGo/WP_000600-in-air-2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>We “caught” the tub on the roof and carefully placed it onto the roof, with maybe an inch to spare on each side. Then we carried it over the first railing, turned it onto its side, and slide it on carpet & towels to my railing. Yes, I forgot to ask the Hot Tub Guy to bring one of his dollies. He had so many of them at the showroom…</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-e-NfX9H5VQg/TsHWzHWS8GI/AAAAAAAABk8/egRZFka6w5A/s1600-h/WP_000604-slide-1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000604-slide-1" border="0" alt="WP_000604-slide-1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RnVY_8qB8rE/TsHWzkjUrWI/AAAAAAAABlE/rnH4X_y4d2g/WP_000604-slide-1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-U1G__C9RKyc/TsHW0eGNCXI/AAAAAAAABlM/KEV7yWoO-Fw/s1600-h/WP_000605-slide-2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000605-slide-2" border="0" alt="WP_000605-slide-2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-V7vycujaP4g/TsHW025s3SI/AAAAAAAABlU/FfwFLfJ3ktY/WP_000605-slide-2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hzadvaCzNvs/TsHW2BbDL8I/AAAAAAAABlc/m4ztz_V_cfg/s1600-h/WP_000606-slide-3%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000606-slide-3" border="0" alt="WP_000606-slide-3" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-npUL4iRbZ7E/TsHW2fMuqqI/AAAAAAAABlk/-nWfUmSLWnk/WP_000606-slide-3_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qSsIym6uMG8/TsHW3E4em7I/AAAAAAAABls/BBg423KnxbM/s1600-h/WP_000608-slide-4%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000608-slide-4" border="0" alt="WP_000608-slide-4" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gQDbGYQX-qM/TsHW3VdO4sI/AAAAAAAABl0/rYAj6Fc7OiY/WP_000608-slide-4_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>A hearty THANK YOU to Aaron, Zach, Dave, Susan, Ellick, Ted, Stephanie and even Peter (although he napped during most of the hard work). With ten friends helping out, the tub didn’t even feel all that heavy! Although if you ask Zach, that’s b/c I wasn’t carrying my fair share of the load. <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4M1-o8AmETw/TsHW307U0hI/AAAAAAAABl8/t7d2KlCTjpA/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /></p> <p>Finally we carried the tub over the last railing and moved it into position on my rooftop. It was time to celebrate with a few beers!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5ZPlrxrKYAE/TsHW41rF8kI/AAAAAAAABmE/g8mJiAeanLY/s1600-h/WP_000613-celebrate-1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000613-celebrate-1" border="0" alt="WP_000613-celebrate-1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-y5dDClh5QH4/TsHW5eNveXI/AAAAAAAABmM/JjQzq_9sHt0/WP_000613-celebrate-1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-d1hjHJrBGkw/TsHW6CSN7uI/AAAAAAAABmU/WlZy-FVMSrk/s1600-h/WP_000614-celebrate-2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000614-celebrate-2" border="0" alt="WP_000614-celebrate-2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IcRlcJK7edY/TsHW6VuuiNI/AAAAAAAABmc/6ia0yF3Y2PI/WP_000614-celebrate-2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>The next step was to get the electrical setup finalized. I’d had the builder’s electrician run 220V 40A wiring up to the roof b/c that’s what was readily available from the stove circuit. 50A would have been better, but we’re going to try running the tub in 110V 20A mode for awhile first, as 220V requires $500 worth of extra hardware on the roof. Anyways, the Hot Tub Guy’s uncle is an electrician and he showed up in the evening to finish the wiring job. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OP7_rPXc8cg/TsHW7ekXkdI/AAAAAAAABmk/nXWA4qD6GPg/s1600-h/WP_000616-at-night-1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000616-at-night-1" border="0" alt="WP_000616-at-night-1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gr1SSxqV-00/TsHW7xdNeRI/AAAAAAAABms/kGqjO3Z2xqM/WP_000616-at-night-1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9a_rFDD5-ug/TsHW8kGD4NI/AAAAAAAABm0/zVqHxswRFFo/s1600-h/WP_000621-at-night-2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000621-at-night-2" border="0" alt="WP_000621-at-night-2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ccnrxp4IR0o/TsHW8zLK5PI/AAAAAAAABm8/4Q25BBoQUDQ/WP_000621-at-night-2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Meanwhile we filled the tub up with water so that we could plug ‘er in once the wiring was ready. The tub takes about 24 hours to heat up with the 110V circuit, so we had to wait through Sunday night for the tub to warm up. I am almost home now and ready to test the tub myself, but my roommate tells me that the tub was nice and toasty at mid-day today:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ctN5WV9UU0I/TsHW9Xg-KtI/AAAAAAAABnE/lC2yipaySMg/s1600-h/V__5F81%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="V__5F81" border="0" alt="V__5F81" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WyDNPKwh6DQ/TsHW-KE5mHI/AAAAAAAABnM/h6UA7ncrqDM/V__5F81_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="183" /></a></p> Chris Tremontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238253339063432588noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6919960072449134938.post-38517554065971904712011-07-13T23:15:00.001-07:002011-07-13T23:15:36.459-07:00San Francisco Triathlon at Treasure Island<p>After a fun-but-slow day at Monroe, it didn’t take much effort for Andrew and Lauren to convince me to jump into this past Saturday’s <a href="http://www.triathlon.org/results/results/2011_san_francisco_itu_triathlon_pan_american_cup/6029/">ITU race</a> in San Francisco. I’ve raced there five or six times before and I <3 <a href="http://www.tricalifornia.com/">Tri-California</a>. </p> <p>I was a bit disappointed to swim in the back group at Monroe, so I actually swam five times in the two weeks between races – two hard swims with Dave in Lake Sammamish and three easy pool swims in three different cities/states – w Rusty & Lauren at the Bellevue Club, alone at Highland Park pool in Pittsburgh, then w Kenny, Andrew and Lauren at the Cal Berkeley pool before the race. Still not a lot of volume, by any means, but more than I’d been doing!</p> <p>I didn’t get any real biking in as I spent much of the two-week interlude traveling to see my sister in Pittsburgh. I did ride around town a bit on an old road bike that I borrowed, and I went for two easy runs. Mellow training.</p> <p>So, on to How It Went Down:<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-I_tvpiRCiBU/Th6JfVTWt0I/AAAAAAAABiE/nobJ1j57p6w/s1600-h/swim-exit-w-manny%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="nice muscle tone, eh?" border="0" alt="nice muscle tone, eh?" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZjcPiZIeShk/Th6Jgio4hWI/AAAAAAAABiI/hgDX0bkEF6s/swim-exit-w-manny_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p><strong>Swim: </strong>Before the race I told myself that I should still be a mid-pack swimmer. I was correct. I swam relaxed/fluid/strong most of the way and exited the water 31st out of 50, in a group of about 15. There were twenty athletes ahead of our group and 15 behind our group, so it is safe to say I was in the middle. I was happy to see Manny Huerta next to me as we exited the water, as he’s had solid World Cup swims before and I hoped that his presence meant that we were in a decent position.</p> <p><strong>T1 </strong>was uneventful, except for running about 10 meters past my bike and having to double-back for it.</p> <p>Once onto the <strong>bike</strong>, Manny and I easily got into a group of 8 or 10 riders that was forming ahead of us. After negotiating the first few corners, I went to put my left shoe on and disaster struck. I got my foot about halfway into the shoe and then accidentally unclipped the shoe from the pedal. Now I had the shoe half-on my foot but not firmly attached to anything. It is hard to fix such an issue while riding! Somehow I managed to get the shoe back onto my foot, but I lost my group. I dug deep and caught up to a smaller group of riders, only to have issues getting my other shoe on, too. The little things… so I lost another group and tried to ride smart/steady/relaxed as I knew there were still plenty of riders behind me. </p> <p>I rode with a few different groups over the last 5 laps, and found that I didn’t have much margin for error out there – likely a sign of low bike fitness. If a guy ahead of me hit a traffic cone and flipped it up in the air, I lost the group. If we caught a sketchier rider and he disrupted our cornering and rotation, I lost the group. Lame. It was almost like I was looking for excuses out there. Gotta work on that.</p> <p><strong>T2 </strong>was interesting again, as I apparently threw my helmet into the wrong bin. The official tried to help me and yelled after me, but I had a hard time figuring out what I’d done wrong in the heat of the moment.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_OX7PZO0exY/Th6JhO2L0aI/AAAAAAAABiM/isEpSBk4zR4/s1600-h/run-hurting%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 15px 10px 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="this felt about like it looks" border="0" alt="this felt about like it looks" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-U5MrZUAcY48/Th6Jh5HpAOI/AAAAAAAABiQ/k-umaZusPpM/run-hurting_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> I was happy to not have debilitating leg cramps on the <strong>run</strong> (yay! better nutritional prep this week!!) but I was disappointed to have a bit of stomach discomfort for the first 6-7km. I just couldn’t push the pace that I wanted. This was actually a rather familiar feeling, and this tells me that I have something very specific to work on during my preparation for future races. Who cares what kind of open 10K you are capable of running right now if your angry stomach or crampy legs won’t let you run. If I make it out to <a href="http://www.triathlon.org/events/event/2011_myrtle_beach_itu_triathlon_pan_american_cup/">Myrtle Beach</a> in October or to the mythical South American Double in January (<a href="http://www.triathlon.org/events/event/2011_vina_del_mar_itu_triathlon_pan_american_cup/">Vina del Mar</a> and <a href="http://www.triathlon.org/events/event/2011_la_paz_itu_triathlon_pan_american_cup/">La Paz</a>) then I should do a bit more analysis into what drinks, concentrations and timing are causing such issues. I went with a rather straightforward approach at TI, but it looks like I need to tweak that approach.</p> <p>After the race, we had a fun evening in Berkeley with some of the athletes and friends. I left SFO with a bit more inspiration to increase the priority of triathlon training within my busy life, and to put on a more impressive showing at one of the fall or winter races. We’ll see what life brings!</p> Chris Tremontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238253339063432588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6919960072449134938.post-7657681975532956992011-07-08T21:03:00.001-07:002011-07-08T21:03:13.905-07:00Monroe Pan American Cup<p>This past Saturday I had the privilege of racing in front of friends and family at the <a href="http://www.triathlon.org/results/results/2011_monroe_itu_triathlon_pan_american_cup/6628/">ITU Monroe Pan American Cup</a>. Thanks to everybody who came out to watch the race – dad, mom, Bob, Katie, Andrew, Aaron, Zach, Vaibhav, Dave, Dave, Jen, Tracey, Kalpita, Peter, and anybody else who I’m not thinking of right now!! It was awesome for my friends and family to finally get to see one of these races in person.</p> <p>I knew going in that my fitness might not be quite what it has been in past years. I’ve intentionally de-prioiritized spending time on triathlon training as I’ve focused more on my work at Microsoft and on getting GeekFit off the ground and on being there a it more for my friends and family. That said, I knew that my combination of high-intensity work at GeekFit, lower stress about training, more recovery time, more sleep, occasional hard efforts in all three disciplines and the “home crowd” could allow me to have one of my best races yet.</p> <p>So how did it go down?</p> <p>Swim: I got out well, but then faded rather quickly and settled onto some comfortable feet. I tried to “swim smart” and only made one bridging attempt, when the guy ahead of me lost the guy ahead of him. I was slightly disappointed to have exited the water in the last group, but I didn’t know that at the time. All I knew was that there were guys near me to ride with!</p> <p>Bike: my hamstrings were *immediately* a mess on the bike. I struggled to get my first shoe on and gave up trying to get the second. I bridged to the three guys ahead of me and finally caught them 2-3km into the race. Then I tried to let my legs recover enough to allow me to hold my right leg in the 12 o’clock position and get my shoe on without inducing a hamstring cramp. Our group of four became five and then seven and eventually eleven. We worked well together at times and not-so-well at other times. My legs came back a little and I was able to surge when needed, but I never really felt “strong” on the bike. With a lap to go I started thinking about making my usual “1km to go” move to set up a good T2, but I blew it. Another guy went first and I thought about following but just ended up on the front of the group. Then I slipped to the back as I tried to get out of the wind. So I entered T2 last in my group. Fail.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uduDjNJC1g0/ThfS_hxl03I/AAAAAAAABh8/L0DePQ8AaYA/s1600-h/t2exit3.png"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 10px 15px 10px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="t2-exit" border="0" alt="t2-exit" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OQ0x_prmpy8/ThfTAMmokLI/AAAAAAAABiA/w13iQQpUAD0/t2exit_thumb1.png?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a>Run: I knew that my run fitness was very good coming into this race. I PR’ed in the 5k back in March and I’ve had some strong track workouts. I immediately started passing guys from my bike group and was feeling good until about the 1km mark. Then my quads started twitching a bit and I knew that I could be in trouble. I tried to drink as much water as I could at each aid station, but my gait was getting roughed up by the cramps and I lost a bit of speed. I loosened up around 3km and was ecstatic. It was time to show off my running legs! I resumed reeling in the guys ahead of me… for about 500m… then my race might as well have been over. My quads locked up so badly that my “run” was now more of a shuffle. It wasn’t pretty. At one point I even tried to walk. I was almost resigned to DNF-ing… but then I shuffled a bit longer and my legs sort of loosened up. I tried to just cruise the last 5k in order to not lock up again, but I was very disappointed to see how many guys I coulda/woulda/shoulda been able to run down with even a halfway decent run split. In fact, I probably could have snuck into the top twenty and the top half of the race, which would have been very encouraging.</p> <p>All of this told me that I still have enough fitness to be worth a trip to San Francisco for the San Francisco Triathlon at Treasure Island. It took me awhile to get this entry posted so I’m actually on the porch at my homestay right now. Kenny Rakestraw and his roommates were gracious enough to put up me, Andrew Lockton and Lauren Goss all at the same time. We’re gonna rock it on the island tomorrow! Whoop whoop!!</p> Chris Tremontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238253339063432588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6919960072449134938.post-66146948646856257272011-06-15T22:33:00.001-07:002011-06-15T22:33:35.606-07:00Fremont 5k & Briefcase Relay<p>My friend Zach convinced me to join his <a href="http://www.promotionevents.com/Fremont/Briefcase%20Relay.htm">Fremont Briefcase Relay</a> team this year. For those of you who aren’t from Seattle, the Fremont 5k is a popular Friday evening 5k with a beer garden. But the unique part of the event is the 5-person “briefcase relay,” where you each run 1k while wearing work attire and carrying a briefcase. The briefcase must contain five cans of food that you’ll donate to <a href="http://solid-ground.org/Pages/Default.aspx">Solid Ground</a>’s Hunger Action Center after the race.</p> <p>It didn’t take much convincing to get me to jump in, especially since Zach’s team won last year.</p> <p>We assembled a solid line-up two weeks ahead of time, but the competitive juices didn’t really start flowing until Zach ran into Carl Winter from Club Northwest at the Wednesday night track workout and Carl started talking smack about his team! For the next 48 hours everybody got psyched!!</p> <p>The race was very close, with two lead changes and less than five seconds separating the top two teams for nearly the entire race. Zach handed me the briefcase with a decent-but-not-comfortable lead and I dug deep to bring us home. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-C6umQFQPZyM/TfmVnbOp_iI/AAAAAAAABhc/EHopcinfmZw/s1600-h/tremonte%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="tremonte" border="0" alt="tremonte" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XUhrzyQxX-w/TfmVoxgivYI/AAAAAAAABhg/3MeKS1ZKZH0/tremonte_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="176" /></a> </p> <p>Our <a href="http://onlineraceresults.com/race/view_plain_text.php?race_id=18243">official time</a> was 15:24 and the CNW guys were second in 15:31. Both times were faster than the previous course record of 15:38, set by Zach’s team last year.</p> <p>Three of us attempted to run the 5k race after the relay. We were all rather thrashed from the relay, but I still managed to find decent enough legs to run a 16:22. I passed two guys in the final 100m. I never thought of myself as much of a sprinter/kicker, so that part was pretty cool!</p> <p>The winning relay team gets to take home the coveted “Slug Cup.” Click/zoom on the picture below and you can see the ceramic slugs crawling up the base of the trophy. Slug Cup plus Beer Garden equals learning how much beer a Slug Cup can hold!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QrxImdJZ5P0/TfmVqfp4z6I/AAAAAAAABhk/XlC8_aTedGc/s1600-h/trophy%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="trophy" border="0" alt="trophy" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1wcHhjNacgE/TfmVrfatXII/AAAAAAAABho/C2J3xcR0S_M/trophy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="183" /></a> </p> <p>If you didn’t get to join us in the beer garden or at any of Seattle’s finer bars after the race – keep your eyes peeled, as the Slug Cup will likely be making a few appearances over the course of the next year.</p> Chris Tremontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238253339063432588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6919960072449134938.post-70328485647196494042011-05-23T20:57:00.001-07:002011-05-23T20:57:04.310-07:00A terrific idea<p><strong>Sat 23 April:</strong> My good friend <a href="http://andrewlockton.wordpress.com/">Andrew Lockton</a> calls me up to reminisce about one of our favorite races – the <a href="http://www.tricalifornia.com/index.cfm/WildFlower2011-main.htm">Avia Wildflower Long Course Triathlon</a>. Over the course of the conversation, we realize that I don’t have any major plans for the upcoming weekend. Uh oh… </p> <p><strong>Sun 24 April:</strong> I email the good folks at Tri-California to verify that I can still register as an Elite this close to race day. I know that it is poor form to do so, as races like to promote the size and awesomeness of their elite field… but they were still gracious.</p> <p><strong>Mon 25 April:</strong> after a rather productive day at work, I check with my boss about taking Thursday and Friday off</p> <p><strong>Tue 26 April:</strong> I register for the race and cash in a free ticket on Southwest </p> <p><strong>Wed 27 April:</strong> I ride my TT bike for 20 minutes in order to make sure that there are no glaring mechanical issues. I’d been on this bike once since the 2009 Scott Tinley’s Adventures race. I had a long email thread with five friends about whether I’d be better off just riding my road bike at Wildflower, in order to be more comfortable. But in the end we decided that racing is racing and I should bring my fastest bike for that race. Possibly a mistake in my case.</p> <p><strong>Thu 28 April:</strong> fly to San Jose. My bicycle makes it there with me but somehow my suitcase does not. I decide that “Plan B” is to race in a Speedo. Luckily Andrew hasn’t left his house yet and is able to bring some extra clothes for me, too.</p> <p><strong>Fri 29 April:</strong> shakeout ride & run, race meeting, and a perennial favorite: the Elite Introductions. Julie Moss and Bob Babbitt ran the show this time</p> <p><strong>Sat 30 April:</strong> Race Day</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LR-RC9WhNTg/TdssdDNXFDI/AAAAAAAABhE/Y_ke-iluTG4/s1600-h/WP_000814%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="WP_000814" border="0" alt="WP_000814" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-V9CWwiz-idY/TdssdzKWkaI/AAAAAAAABhI/8c5Ha-G0Zeg/WP_000814_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>As soon as I got away from the San Jose airport and into the rolling hills, I knew I’d made a great decision. The beautiful scenery always brings back a lot of memories of good times on the Tri-California circuit.</p> <p>I had no idea what to expect on the swim or bike, but I hoped that my run would be solid. I’ve been doing my <a href="http://www.geekfit.us">GeekFit</a> workout regularly to build strength and aerobic capacity within my muscles, and I’ve done just enough swimming to maintain some feel for the water… but my volume was *way* down from previous years. I’d done eight or ten hard bike rides so far this year whereas in past years I’d do at least that many each month. Only my run volume is comparable to past years – mostly at a social pace, with a long run and a workout maybe every other week, on average.</p> <p>Race mornings are pretty much automatic for me at this point – my bag is already packed, I instinctively know how much warm-up I need, I can socialize a bit while still being one of the first athletes into the water for swim warm-up.</p> <p><strong>Swim:</strong> I surprised myself by getting out quickly and sitting near the front of the race as we approached the first turn buoy. Things broke up a bit more over the first 1000m but I swam smart and tucked in behind another guy for the second 1000m rather than continuing to swim side-by-side. I was pleasantly surprised to exit the water in roughly 12th place.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ymCggQtwl14/TdssfRqserI/AAAAAAAABhM/O_jMe4TbpYw/s1600-h/bike-5%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="bike-5" border="0" alt="bike-5" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6UBPguzfUjU/TdssgkwLJKI/AAAAAAAABhQ/xQQyfsw1GDs/bike-5_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="165" height="244" /></a><strong>Bike:</strong> I tried to build into the ride and to just enjoy myself. I stayed in aero on the flats & downhills but wasn’t shy about sitting on the tops for the many climbs. I didn’t worry about trying to keep up with riders who passed me. I just tried to enjoy the ride. Andrew caught me around mile 37 and we rode side-by-side until Nasty Grade, cracking a few jokes as we rode. We were totally out-of-contention at this point. I’d never rode side-by-side in a race for this long before, and it was a fun change of pace. (BTW- such positioning is completely legal in races that are following the USAT Elite rules.)</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-y0u0jBk9KKo/TdssiHX70iI/AAAAAAAABhU/8fYHQpmDT1w/s1600-h/run-3%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="run-3" border="0" alt="run-3" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lXA3wMUfjFI/TdssjCe0wII/AAAAAAAABhY/MDPwk4ZsZQc/run-3_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="163" height="244" /></a> <strong>Run:</strong> I really hoped to light up the run after running <a href="http://christremonte.blogspot.com/2011/03/less-is-more.html">16:01 for 5k</a> on the track back in March… but my legs and back felt *terrible* in the first few miles of the Wildflower run. The felt so bad that I thought I might DNF. But I managed to work through the tightness and crampiness and soreness and settled into a good pace, picking off a runner about every half mile for the first 4-6 miles. My quads *hated* any uphills or downhills, but I was smooth and comfortable on the flats. Sadly this course has lots of hills! I was probably running low-1:20s pace through 11 or 12 miles, but Wildflower veterans know that the last mile is steeply downhill, and my legs blew apart on that descent. I had to shuffle backwards at times just to make progress, and I got passed back by an athlete who I’d passed four miles earlier. Argh… But eventually I limped over the finish line and was done!</p> <p>I was pleasantly surprised to learn that my friend Jesse Thomas managed to win the race, with Clayton Fettell taking second! Jesse and I volunteer together on the <a href="http://www.protriathlon.org">PROTA</a> board of directors and Clayton and I took part in a memorable after-party for last year’s Ishigaki World Cup.</p> <p>All in all… </p> <ul> <li>It was great to be out there racing again. </li> <li>It was great to catch up with a bunch of friends. </li> <li>It was great to be one of the few Seattlites to get a sunburn on April 30th! </li> <li>It was great to find that my swim is still very respectable in spite of focusing a lot of my energy elsewhere lately. </li> </ul> <p>But I did see the difference between focusing most of one’s energy on racing and focusing most of one’s energy on other things. That said, it was very validating to see that I can still have a fantastic time with a race without needing every moment of my home life to be about racing. We’ll see what the next few months and years hold for me, triathlon-wise, but I do expect to be out there at the Monroe and San Francisco ITU races with a giant smile on my face!</p> <p>(Thanks to the good folks <a href="http://www2.brightroom.com/">Brightroom</a> for allowing athletes like me to use their thumbnails on our blogs, free of charge!)</p> Chris Tremontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238253339063432588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6919960072449134938.post-81979445519718801402011-03-26T20:33:00.001-07:002011-03-26T20:33:31.657-07:00Less is More<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TY6wAlUGbCI/AAAAAAAABgo/a0pznrNDa_M/s1600-h/WP_000042%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="WP_000042" border="0" alt="WP_000042" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TY6wA2wH4oI/AAAAAAAABgs/SeKxYD9oEvo/WP_000042_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> I’ve been rather quiet on the ol’ blog lately, for good reason. I have been a lot less focused on training & racing since September and this blog has always been mostly about triathlon. I managed to burn myself out again, despite what I should have learned from the last three months of 2009. So after Tuscaloosa I decided to back off, mentally and physically, until it felt fun again.</p> <p>I had a few other good reasons for backing off --</p> <ol> <li>I agreed to take on a new role at Microsoft, and I really want to see what I can accomplish there. I’ve been rather happy with my racing efforts over the years but I’ve often felt like I could do a bit better at my “day job,” so I am making that a higher priority this year.</li> <li>A friend and I have opened a personal training business called <a href="http://www.geekfit.us">GeekFit</a>. There is enough going on here that I’ll do a more detailed post soon, but let’s just say that GeekFit is giving me a great outlet for my passions for exercise, nutrition, wellness and teaching. If you live or work near Microsoft and you are looking for a smart, efficient workout, let me know!!</li> <li>General health – I’d been slowly driving myself into the ground with my overly ambitious mix of racing & work & life. I thrive on being busy … but apparently I have limits, too. A lot of the GeekFit research told me that my lifestyle isn’t all that good for my long-term health, so I am trying to “slow down” a little and to reduce stress & inflammation.</li> </ol> <p>An intriguing piece of all of this is that this lower-stress, lower-volume approach might actually lead to faster racing for me in 2011 and beyond. I thought that my past approach was very well-researched and meticulous, but I was probably piling on too much work without letting my body recover enough.</p> <p>After September, I adopted an approach of “Swim/bike/run when you feel like it, if friends are going, if you’re excited about it. Otherwise, sleep in, go out, rest, work, enjoy life.” </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TY6wBhoVFLI/AAAAAAAABgw/AqwcWIq9AAU/s1600-h/WP_000018%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="WP_000018" border="0" alt="WP_000018" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TY6wB-j-l_I/AAAAAAAABg0/gIORvxsDolU/WP_000018_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>As I hit the end of the calendar year, I started thinking about what a GeekFit-inspired training program would look like: lower volume, very focused intensity, lots of recovery… I’ve been doing our GeekFit strength workout once every 10-14 days and I’ve thrown in some very infrequent but focused/hard swims, bikes and runs. I am still trying to figure out exactly what the right structure should be, but for awhile I did a ten-day cycle with the GeekFit workout on day one, a hard swim+bike+run on day six, and everything else easy/social/optional. I really enjoy hard group workouts and my friend have been on the track a lot, so for the past ~3 weeks I’ve done a (running) track workout every Wednesday while keeping spacing to any GeekFit workouts and to one hard swim (3/21) and one hard ride (3/12 in Austin!).</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TY6wCbM82BI/AAAAAAAABg4/AASrq3lnrNY/s1600-h/WP_000654%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="WP_000654" border="0" alt="WP_000654" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TY6wCo49LCI/AAAAAAAABg8/zBs6AKiZ4ig/WP_000654_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> Recall that in 2010 I would do 1-2 hard runs, a long run, 2-3 hard rides and 2-3 hard swims EVERY WEEK, plus a lot of easy/volume.</p> <p>I raced a 5K on the track today at the <a href="http://clubnorthwest.org/index.php/events/3-spring-break-open">Club Northwest Spring Break Open</a>. I surprised myself by running a smooth, easy 16:01 – eleven seconds faster than my previous PR! The first two miles felt super-easy as I sat behind a guy I knew… then I took off with a mile to go, splitting something like 5:04, 5:16, 5:04 for the three 1600s. (Yes, there is an extra 200 in there somewhere.) I could have run a bit faster in that second mile. I went in with no expectations … but next time I’ll be expecting 15:45!</p> <p>So I’m training less, sleeping more, focusing more on work, and (running) faster than ever! As for the swim and the bike… well… maybe next weekend?</p> Chris Tremontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238253339063432588noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6919960072449134938.post-41712017145760034512011-01-27T22:45:00.001-08:002011-01-27T22:45:56.573-08:00A lot of stairs<p>While in Colorado Springs for a recent PROTA board meeting, I decided to check out the Manitou Incline. Dave Messenheimer had told me about this epic staircase a few years ago and a friend of a friend reminded me about it at a recent dinner party. I think that conversation went something like this:</p> <p>DUDE: There is this really difficult staircase in C Springs that you should check out on your trip. I used to hike up it in like 50 minutes, but I hear that it’s been done in forty.</p> <p>ME: Wow, sounds tough. I wonder if I could beat forty. Actually, I think I’ve heard of that before. What’s it called?</p> <p>DUDE: The Incline. The Manitou Incline.</p> <p>ME: Hrmmm… </p> <p>ME (via text message): Hey Mess, what’s the OTC record for the Manitou Incline?</p> <p>MESS (via text message): I think [Mark] Fretta’s done it in 14:30. My best was more like 16 or 17 minutes.</p> <p>ME (back at the dinner party): check this out. This guy I know did it in 14:30!!</p> <p>Yeah, I can be a bit of a punk…</p> <p>So anyways, after our board meeting I had not-quite-enough time to go run the Incline before taking Jesse & Rebeccah to the airport. Really, they almost missed their flight because of me. And here I said that I would stop being so self-absorbed about training during my “semi-retirement…” but this wasn’t training. This was silly masculine competition.</p> <p>The Manitou Incline is about 0.9 miles long and has an elevation change of 2000 feet, for an average grade of 42%. I think that the peak grade was in the 60s. My goal was to get up there in twenty minutes. Not even close.</p> <p><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="The Incline as viewed from Highway 24" src="http://www.inclineclub.com/photos/incline24.jpg" width="413" height="255" /></p> <p align="center"><em>View of the Manitou Incline from Hwy 24, shamelessly stolen from </em><a href="http://www.inclineclub.com/incline/"><em>InclineClub.com</em></a><em>. I didn’t bring my camera up the hill.</em></p> <p>I started off at sort of a “casual jogging” and hoped I could build into it. But after a minute I was already winded. Did I mention that the Incline *starts* at 6600 feet above sea level, and that I live in Seattle? Urgh. It hurt. </p> <p>I plugged away at a pace that could only be described as “a brisk walk.” The steps were rather uneven at times, and some steps were above knee height, requiring a pretty big step up.</p> <p>Oh, and there was a lot of snow up there. It was mid-January, after all.</p> <p>I thought I was going to come close to my goal, only to realize a bit of a “false summit” at 20-21 minutes in.</p> <p><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="The Incline" src="http://www.inclineclub.com/img/p_incline.gif" width="468" height="219" /></p> <p align="center"><em>Incline profile shamelessly stolen from </em><a href="http://www.inclineclub.com/incline/"><em>InclineClub.com</em></a><em>. See that “false summit” around 0.8 miles…</em></p> <p>I finally reached the top at 26:45 and checked my pulse: 160! not bad for a retiree whose heart always runs a bit slowly!</p> <p><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="Incline as viewed from the top" src="http://www.inclineclub.com/img/p_inclinet.jpg" width="362" height="553" /></p> <p align="center"><em>View from the top, shamelessly stolen from <a href="http://www.inclineclub.com/incline/">InclineClub.com</a>.</em></p> <p align="left">The way back down was painful and dangerous. I was short on time to get to the airport, and I think that I slipped and fell at least three times. Not smart. It still took longer to get down than it took to get up. The snow and ice didn’t help. My quads were sore for about four days afterwards. Very sore. Don’t run down stairs.</p> <p align="left">In other news, I’ll soon reveal my racing plans for 2011… as well as what I’ve been working on during my extended break from high-volume training!</p> Chris Tremontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238253339063432588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6919960072449134938.post-55638893247676057942010-12-07T23:24:00.001-08:002010-12-07T23:24:52.865-08:00What does it mean?<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TP8ywqq1fcI/AAAAAAAABgQ/68SgB-88ab0/s1600-h/double-rainbow%5B4%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 10px 15px 10px 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="double-rainbow" border="0" alt="double-rainbow" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TP8ywzu2qzI/AAAAAAAABgU/pxo9pFUKtlM/double-rainbow_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="244" height="180" /></a> Sorry, this post is not about <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQSNhk5ICTI">Double Rainbows</a>.</p> <p>Back in May I stared drafting a blog post in response to an idea that had been hopping around the blogosphere. My friend <a href="http://twitter.com/MarkyV">Mark</a> retweeted that <a href="http://twitter.com/simonwhitfield">Simon Whitfield</a> tweeted that Anabel Luxford <a href="http://luxford-annabel.blogspot.com/2010/05/postcard-from-hermit.html">blogged</a> that Kevin Collington tweeted that “the amount of time since an athlete’s last blog post is directly proportional to the probability that he/she is injured.”</p> <p>I haven’t posted to this blog in almost three months. What does it mean? Is this hypothesis from Mark, Simon, Anabel and Kevin correct in my case? Am I injured? Sort of.</p> <p>I felt like I was really dragging or struggling a lot through the last 2-3 months of my racing season, especially the final 3-4 weeks. I put in a very solid 6-month block of training from Jan 1st – June 30th, but then life caught up with me and the body started to break down. From late-June through early-October, I attended my dad’s 60th birthday party and my brother’s bachelor party, I was in two weddings and I helped to organize a training camp in Kona… all while continuing to work full-time at Microsoft and racing a few Continental Cups. Some folks can handle such a workload, but this year I couldn’t. I caught a mild head cold at the end of June and it didn’t really go away until early August. There is a lesson in there somewhere!</p> <p>Through August and September, I felt tired and unmotivated a bit more frequently than I would have liked, but my numbers still looked good in races so I kept at it. Kelowna was a near miss, I coulda/woulda/shoulda been in the money at Pac Grove … but then it all caught up with me at Tuscaloosa and I just had *nothing* out there. So I decided to take a break. A physical and mental break.</p> <p>After Tuscaloosa, I decided to stop “training” for a little while and to only work out socially. To a bystander it might still look like training, but from my perspective this was a night-and-day difference. Yes I raced half a dozen cyclocross races and a XC running race, and I ran a few 60-mile weeks, but all of that was cases of “Friend X wants to go here and do this, are you in?” So minimal stress. Minimal obligation. Minimal feeling of being overscheduled. It’s been a nice break!</p> <p>I have plenty of funny stories to tell from the past 2.5 months but most of them have little to do with triathlon! I’ll write about a few of them and about some of my plans for racing/training/life 2011 in a future post as this one is already getting long. But I did want to stick my head up and say “hey” to the outside world again. You’ve not seen the last of me!</p> Chris Tremontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238253339063432588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6919960072449134938.post-56006035093316463852010-09-23T22:38:00.001-07:002010-09-23T22:38:19.232-07:00Pacific Grove 2010<p>About 10 days ago I raced in the Triathlon at Pacific Grove for the fifth time. I took 7th place there in 2009 and I was hoping to have another solid result in 2010 despite a somewhat stronger field.</p> <p>PG is known for the kelp forest that you have to “swim” through. In fact, that swim leg is commonly referred to as the “kelp crawl.” The kelp can make or break your race, based on a mix of sighting, kelp-specific technique and pure dumb luck.</p> <p>My swim fitness seemed to be very good in the pool and I hoped to be able to hang onto a fast group of swimmers. As it played out, I couldn’t do that. The kelp can be unforgiving, and I didn’t stay immediately behind the swimmer in front of me. INstead I swam side-by-side with another guy, sharing the draft, and found myself fighting a bit of extra kelp. The margin of error proved to be small with a rather talented group of swimmers, and 500m into the swim I found myself alone.</p> <p>Things got a bit weird after that. I got tangled in the kelp here and there and took some “interesting” lines to try to avoid it… but I also got a bit demoralized, thinking that any chance of an in-the-money finish had just swam away from me. There is a lesson in there somewhere!</p> <p>Dan MacKenzie caught up to me during the second lap, as I was swimming laterally across the course in an effort to avoid some kelp. I had made the silly decision to cut a tangent right through a giant kelp patch, then changed my mind. It was a weird swim for me.</p> <p>Dan & I exited the water in 9th and 10th places but what we saw on the bike course made us believe that we were in 11th and 12th. They pay the top ten, so this is a rather critical difference! Apparently two juniors were riding with two of the elites and we didn’t get a good enough look at them to know the difference.</p> <p>The bike course was four laps of an out-and-back with a *brutal* headwind on the way out, and a correspondingly rippin’ tailwind on the way back. We didn’t realize quite how strong the wind was and the first 5km were a struggle. I took less than my share of pulls as I felt super-weak whenever I was in front and figured I was doing more harm than good. We cruised during the second 5km and I finally found some legs. About 20km into the bike, we were caught by a group of three. The new bunch of five didn’t work all that well together. Two guys kept skipping pulls and one guy looked like he was about to crash at any moment – either into somebody else or all by himself! So I took a few extra pulls and felt like one of the strongest guys in the group. Coming out of the 25km turnaround, Kenny Rakestraw put in a solid effort and strung out our group. I was sitting second wheel and started feeling like the effort to just stay on his wheel was too much, so I pulled off and tried to go to the back of the group … only to find that there was no more group! The two guys who’d been skipping pulls were maybe 30m behind me and Dan was not even in sight! I sat up for a moment and then tucked in behind the other two … and was surprised to struggle to stay with them. Maybe I stayed with Kenny too long? Maybe I’m just weak? Somehow I got shed off the back and could only watch as the two pull-skippers eventually caught Rakestraw as I pedaled alone. It was amazing how quickly I went from comfortable and in-control to off-the-back. Maybe 3-5 minutes? Very discouraging.</p> <p>I waited up for Dan and we rode the last lap together. The impetus was gone, however, and our lap split was 60-90 seconds slower than on all of the other laps. Ouch.</p> <p>I came into this race with a lot of run fitness, too, arguably the best of my career. So I wanted to try for a new PR on the fast (and possibly short) PG run course. I’d run just over 34:00 there two years ago, so 33:30 sounded like an awesome goal. I pushed the pace right out of the gate and got a quick gap on Dan. He clawed his way back to me around 2km and took the lead for 30sec, but I thought he appeared to be struggling a bit (uphill and into the wind) so I made a bit of a countermove and got away again. I ended up holding a lead on him for the rest of the way and never came close to catching the bike threesome. I crossed the line with a 33:31 run split, which is a solid new PR for me. Can’t complain about that! But it would have been awesome to stay with that swim group or to stay with that bike group, as those three guys finished in 8th, 9th and 10th positions ahead of a fading new daddy, Kevin Everett.</p> <p>So 12th place. Run PR. Moments of brilliance and moments of struggle on the bike.</p> <p>After the race my host family, the Kintzes, took my friend Andrew Lockton and me to the famous Monterrey Aquarium. I’d never been in there before and was really looking forward to checking it out this year. (I thought it was kind of lame of me to have raced there four times without ever visiting the aquarium. It is practically on the course!)</p> <p>This giant overhead tank was filled with sardines, mostly swimming in the same direction in a giant shimmering school.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TJw5JWdsviI/AAAAAAAABes/RBM8x6OXc2U/s1600-h/P9110004%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P9110004" border="0" alt="P9110004" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TJw5JqwKROI/AAAAAAAABew/f0BB-0_Mrk4/P9110004_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TJw5Kcxf6gI/AAAAAAAABe0/cpk2eoAeT3A/s1600-h/P9110005%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P9110005" border="0" alt="P9110005" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TJw5KzB6UvI/AAAAAAAABe8/07U4foHqo9I/P9110005_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TJw5MKRsSVI/AAAAAAAABfA/Md6jL4npeMg/s1600-h/P9110006%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P9110006" border="0" alt="P9110006" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TJw5MVXLZfI/AAAAAAAABfE/Z3FsdWWC6gs/P9110006_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>It is hard to capture the cool lighting effects with my camera, but if I turned off the flash then you sort of get a feel for it.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TJw5M66iNJI/AAAAAAAABfI/1vT9HfCuAvw/s1600-h/P9110008%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P9110008" border="0" alt="P9110008" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TJw5NMd8ZdI/AAAAAAAABfM/M2xTonWCvsc/P9110008_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>   <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TJw5NjE83XI/AAAAAAAABfQ/p52n67GNmGE/s1600-h/P9110012%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P9110012" border="0" alt="P9110012" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TJw5N1JlIgI/AAAAAAAABfU/0lijTSEsZRo/P9110012_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>  </p> <p>Posing in front of the jellyfish:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TJw5ORO5AZI/AAAAAAAABfY/VNwMzdnHMa8/s1600-h/P9110014%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P9110014" border="0" alt="P9110014" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TJw5O751GyI/AAAAAAAABfc/C5QNtkfvBno/P9110014_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Lots of jellyfish!</p> <p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TJw5POQ1QPI/AAAAAAAABfg/_7lJkOajFJk/s1600-h/P9110015%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P9110015" border="0" alt="P9110015" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TJw5PVT02dI/AAAAAAAABfk/iGUrO6fEKZ0/P9110015_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TJw5P9iBrvI/AAAAAAAABfo/IdiNMtMtnu8/s1600-h/P9110017%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P9110017" border="0" alt="P9110017" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TJw5QDYDWPI/AAAAAAAABfs/CEk6vI-tzx0/P9110017_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>   <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TJw5QVBFe6I/AAAAAAAABfw/cuXzBGb8W5g/s1600-h/P9110020%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P9110020" border="0" alt="P9110020" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TJw5QizYYDI/AAAAAAAABf0/nutYtNjC5xc/P9110020_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>This last guy is called a Bat Ray, as in “Nana nana nana nana Nana nana nana nana  BAT RAY!!”</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TJw5Qz78n3I/AAAAAAAABf4/f3a1cHNbNUc/s1600-h/P9110023%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P9110023" border="0" alt="P9110023" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TJw5RJpL8NI/AAAAAAAABf8/Dtv7Dp-dpjQ/P9110023_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TJw5RbNW-uI/AAAAAAAABgA/9e_7vAZRU1k/s1600-h/P9110025%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P9110025" border="0" alt="P9110025" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TJw5RlP-NHI/AAAAAAAABgE/jRe7xqNbH4A/P9110025_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TJw5SHmnLJI/AAAAAAAABgI/-aXX6RTyOiw/s1600-h/P9110027%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P9110027" border="0" alt="P9110027" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TJw5SuxS-fI/AAAAAAAABgM/At4VSNEBxJ8/P9110027_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>Mark Kintz took me surfing on Sunday morning before I headed off to the airport. A few harbor seals weren’t shy about swimming with us – I almost bumped into them a few times.</p> <p>Next up: USAT Elite Nationals at the ITU Tuscaloosa Pan American Cup. One last chance to try and get some ITU points this year!!</p> Chris Tremontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238253339063432588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6919960072449134938.post-24222022725737703402010-09-06T16:51:00.001-07:002010-09-06T16:51:51.578-07:00Another Close Call<p>Here is another overdue post on the <a href="http://www.triathlon.org/events/event/2010_kelowna_itu_triathlon_premium_pan_american_cup/">Kelowna Premium Pan American Cup</a> two weeks ago. I’ve been on the road a lot since then, and totally slacking off in the blog department.</p> <p>On August 22nd I raced in Kelowna for the 4th time. I love racing there – great hospitality, beautiful scenery, easy travel from Seattle, relaxed “vacation town” atmosphere, all the awesomeness of Canada… </p> <p>After a rather rough 6-8 weeks it was great to get out and race again, and to see that my fitness is <strong>*much*</strong> better than I’d thought. I suppose that the emotional and psychological component to this sport is very significant and it can be easy to get down on yourself when you get sick or injured, or when your performance just isn’t quite what you want it to be.</p> <p>I was very excited to be back in Kelowna and I was happy to have that “game time” feeling once again.</p> <p>Somehow I got the very last start number for this race, 72. So I started on the far left end of the start line, as far as possible from <a href="http://simonwhitfield.blogspot.com/">Mr Whitfield</a> and with a slightly longer distance to cover than any other athlete. But this outside position let me swim in clean water all the way to the first turn buoy! So I had a solid start and settled into what turned out to be the “C” pack. I didn’t get a clear view of where I stood relative to the field until the run-out, but I saw Felipe Van Wyngard’s kit at 500m and knew I was in at least an okay group. I had to work a bit at times to stay with the group, but was also able to conserve energy by staying on feet. I took a surprising crack on the nose around 1000m in. One moment I was comfortably behind this other guy and then suddenly his foot was in my face. Literally. </p> <p>I exited the water in 35th position at 20:22. A lead group of 12 was at 19:00-19:13 and a “B” group of 10 was at 19:44-19:54. My group of 14 stretched from 20:12-20:25.</p> <p>I rocked T1 with the second-fastest time of the day. I split 1:16 while most of the field were in the 1:20s. This left me in good position to settle into the “C” pack. I thought it was the “B” pack at the time, but c’est la vie.</p> <p>We get our shoes on a bit earlier than I expected and then quickly got to work. Our first trip up Knox Mountain brought a bit of carnage. Alexandre Day (CAN) crossed wheels and almost crashed right in front of me. As I tried to get around him, he fell into me and pushed both of us off of the pavement and into the gravel shoulder. Somehow we both stayed upright and chased back on. I had to turn myself inside out on the climb in order to do so, but I was psyched to make it back into the group, and without any road rash. Then the double whammy: Jorden Bryden’s shoe became unclipped and he started swerving wildly right in front of me, almost forcing me off the pavement again and forcing me to cut speed. He managed to chase back on but I was *cooked.* I kept the group close for about a lap but couldn’t get close enough to catch. Eventually I started catching stragglers from the group and we worked together reasonably well at times.</p> <p>I was glad to feel rather strong on the bike, and more importantly my biomechanics felt good. I wasn’t limited by back pain or hip tightness, so my riding power was actually a fair reflection of my strength and fitness. If only I could have avoided the crash & the mechanical issue. Grrr.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TIV-k8LmtyI/AAAAAAAABek/vbbau_S-2kw/s1600-h/Kelowna-2010-ChuckPerreault%5B2%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Kelowna-2010-ChuckPerreault" border="0" alt="Kelowna-2010-ChuckPerreault" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_zsEqzky0Yrc/TIV-lpHNB4I/AAAAAAAABeo/x6baoe0GVnk/Kelowna-2010-ChuckPerreault_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="244" height="165" /></a> </p> <p><em>(thanks again to Chuck Perreault for taking and sharing pictures at the race)</em></p> <p>Towards the end of the bike I failed to make my usual pre-T2 attack after being on the front with 2k to go. Four guys slipped away and I had to be content enter transition with five guys ahead of me. Getting into T2 ahead of a big group can really help your run performance.</p> <p>Starting the run, the race looked something like this:</p> <ul> <li>A group of eight at 1:24:40 – 1:24:28</li> <li>A group of fifteen at 1:26:40 – 1:27:09</li> <li>My group of twelve at 1:28:41 – 1:28:52</li> <li>A group of three at 1:30:53 – 1:30:56</li> <li>A group of seven at 1:31:21 – 1:31:30</li> <li>A group of six at 1:33:03 – 1:33:11</li> </ul> <p>I exited T2 in 30th position. Three of those five guys managed to stay ahead of me, one very speedy runner caught me from behind and I finished the race in 29th place.</p> <p>I was pretty happy with my run. I threw up a bit during the first mile but buckled down and ran pretty hard the whole way. I felt like I had good legs most of the time and I did a good job of racing the guys around me. I ran with Matos (BRA) and Chernikoff (ARG) for about the first 5k and then made a solid move at the start of the third lap to get away. I could see Bryden (CAN) and Day (CAN) up the road and I tried hard to catch them, especially after their shenanigans on the bike! But I faded a bit towards the end of the third lap and Matos & Chernikoff caught me again with 2k to go. This was my biggest “dark moment” of the day, with the body feeling ready to give out and the confidence sagging… but I ticked in behind the South Americans and realized that I could maintain their pace. With about 1k to go we passed a hotel where people on balconies were cheering for us. I spontaneously made a rather fierce move there to drop Chernicoff, then 400m later I made another surprising move to drop Matos. I don’t know whether they were surprised, but I sure was! I was so beat up at that point that I expected my “move” to be minimal, but I had a surprising amount of snap left in the legs and I was able to shake both of them and sneak over the line in 29th place.</p> <p>If I had avoided the bike carnage and stayed with that “C” pack, I would have had to run maybe 20-30 seconds faster in order to get into a sprint finish for 19th/20th and a chance at ITU points. So once again, I was right on that bubble.</p> <p>Here’s hoping that I can find improved fitness and better luck at Tuscaloosa in three weeks. Woohoo, racing!!</p> <p>As I wrap up this rather verbose race report, a quick shout-out to our awesome homestay host in Kelowna, Liz Borrett! Liz has hosted me and/or other athletes I know for at least four years and has always made us feel very welcome. We sort of feel like part of the family at this point. Liz is exactly the kind of lady that I’d like to be when I’m in my 70s – racing half marathons, climbing mountains and always socializing with friends and family! She learned to swim a month before last year’s Apple Triathlon in order to race the Tri-It length.</p> Chris Tremontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238253339063432588noreply@blogger.com4