Ridley cat on a cloudy day

Arches National Park

Saturday we took a break from school prep and drove down to Arches n.p. to go camping. We drove the hour and 45 minutes to get there and realized that arches is in Moab, UT. The trailhead for porcupine rim was literally 50 feet from our campsite, and I didn't have a bike...

After setting up camp along the colorado river we went into the park to see double arch.

We headed back into the busy town of Moab for dinner and then went back to the campsite.

Sunday AM we got up at 4:30 and made breakfast and packed up and headed back into the park. We went for a 'strenuous' hike out to Double O arch with lots of climbing, great views, and possible long falls. We made it back to the car and were back home by 11 so that Kelly could get her school work on. A great weekend in less than 24 hours!

Anyone wanna sell me a 29er?

OK OK OK. I give in, you people may have been on to something. I need a 29er. 2 trips to the Kokopelli Train in McInnis Canyon and a death march at the lunch loops and its time for a change. Monday I headed out to Gunny's Loop but due to rain and lightning I had to cut it short. Tuesday, I drove out 15 miles west to the beginning of the Kokopelli Trail (that goes all the way to Moab, offroad) in McInnis canyon. 3 hours on Mary's Loop, Macks Ridge (the wrong way, as usual), onto Kokopelli, then a 7 mile fire road ride back. I have a killer farmer's tan.

Colorado River from Mary's Loop

The climb up Mack's Ridge, little wheels=no bueno

Horsetheif Bench from way up

It rained Tuesday night so I went for a road ride Wednesday. Meh. Turns out there is alot of climbing. Thursday I went out to do Andy's Loop right outside of town. Never again! That is a death march, theres a half mile section that labeled 'portage' on maps ( I didnt know that 'till later). I rode the loop backwards, again, so I walked up a hill, tried to ride down the portage section, quit, walked back up the place I had ridden down, then finally got to ride again. Walking is good for you right?

Will,0-Hill,A billion

Friday I went back out to McInnis and rode Horsetheif Bench, excellent. I also rode the 'easy' kids trail out there, that is some sweet singletrack! I would def recommend. The moral of this story is that I really need a 29er before I get dead.

AND!!!!!! I met some dudes from the MSC cycling team, that one the collegiate road championship last year, they're ringers from Germany. I talked to one for a hour or so and he was telling me how awesome it was track racing was in Berlin in the winter and how the tracks around here aren't as good and blah blah blah. Then we swapped digits and he said he'd call me to do a road ride... yeah, probably gonna be sick that day.

Vino

It has been a crazy week! The movers arrived last Wednesday morning and luckily we had a house to more everything into! Will has been busy riding his bike since his helmet and shoes arrived and I’ve spent my time pulling my classroom together and going to new hire orientation! Weather everyday has been a perfect 90 degrees with super ridiculously low humidity. In other words, awesome.

Friday afternoon my mom and dad came into town to help out with the move and check out the new place. Woohoo! We spent most of the weekend unpacking and experimenting with a few of the local restaurants.

Ridley was a huge help with school work

Sunday morning we planned to go for a hike, but at the last minute changed the plans and went for a drive on the Colorado National Monument.

After the monument, we got ready for an afternoon of wine tasting! We decided to do it right and got a driver to take us over to the nearby town of Palisade, home to at least 18 vineyards! Randy (our super driver) came and picked us up, and gave us the grand valley tour. We stopped at 4 vineyards and a peach farm. A couple of the vineyards had wonderful outdoor seating overlooking the vineyard where we were able to stop and enjoy a bottle of wine.

School begins Monday for the both of us... back to the real world.

Fruita baby!

Another beautiful day of funemployment here on the western slope. Kelly caught a ride to new teacher orientation so I have the car. Hmm, what to do; get shelves for the house, get another key cut so I dont get locked out, go for a road ride? Seriously, Im kidding!

So I loaded up the CRV and hit the road for Fruita. 25 minutes later I was on Western Zippity headed toward the bookcliffs. Peeps had stayed off the trail after it rained the other day so it was super smooth and hardpacked. Which was great since yesterday was the first time id been on a bike with a real saddle in a while, sooo... yeah. Ouch.

After riding Zippity, I rode up the Kessel Run from the bottom, which is worth it because descending it is sschweet. It runs down from the mesa to the parking lot crossing back and forth over a dry wash making for bermed curves and a super fast ride. Its like FATS without roots in the trail and trees blocking your vision (though there are random rocks popping up out of nowhere trying to taco your wheel and kill you).

Local Wildlife

The it was back to the parking lot and back home. Kelly's parents are getting into town today which should be fun. They will be the first people we know to use the GJ airport, I wonder how that is? We may be doing a winery tour tomorrow, which would be awesome. We shall see.

The CRV in Rough Canyon

Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mountain Biking:)

YAAAAAAY!!!! The movers came yesterday (Wednesday) and along with them came my helmet and bike shoes, yippeeeeee! Kelly has new teacher orientation today from 730-3, and took the car since its all the way across town, at least 2 miles away. So we got up and hit Main Street Bagels (again) for Cappuccinos and a croissant for me and bagel for Kel. With that, she was off to the land of responsibility, ha! (I was productive yesterday, promise)

So I decided to ride out to the "Lunch Loops" right outside of town and get some mountain biking in. AWESOME. Its about a 30 minute ride that climbs from 4600' at my house to 5550' at the trail entrance.

GJ, way down there.


All the climbing is worth it though because the trails are almost all downhill, and insane. Maybe I should have started with something easier than one of the hardest trails there is, since I haven't been on a bike in a month.

This is one of the easier sections of the "Holy Cross" trail. I don't think I was mentally prepared for 3-4' rock drops that just led right to another rock drop. Or drops where you were doing 180 degree turns right at the bottom of the drop. If you think hydraulic disc brakes for bikes are overkill, you're wrong.

This is the Spooky on "Lemon Squeezer". Somehow your supposed to ride through there?

Eventually the trails mellowed out and became super fast and fun singletrack. They even have a beginner's trail with instruction how to ride sections on signs throughout the trail.

Trails everywhere!

A great way to spend a few hours in the morning. And tomorrow, I think I'm going to do it all again, life sure is tough.