Catching Up

Well, I have been somewhat lax in keeping this Blog up to date (over a year), so here goes...

First off, I hope everyone's Holidays have been good so far. I for one am looking forward to the New Year.

Last Christmas (08) I was able to take a road trip up to Oregon by way of Redding. I took the wonder mutt. While I am sure he was excited to be hanging out with his Dad, he was very angry with being in the back of the truck, even with the camper shell on and his bed with him. The entire time he whined, growled, and barked through the pass through window. I spend one night in the Bay area with my friend Brian, who had just moved into a new place. Krueger decided to pee on Brian's nice clean carpet. Thanks, Pal.

Back into the truck we went for five more hours of a very large dog verbalizing his displeasure with being separated from his human. I was very happy to arrive in Redding. As was he, I have no doubt.

We stayed at my Dad's place and had a great two days. Krueger and my Dad's Lab, Max got along really well. My older German Shepherd, Wyatt died in September 2008, and while K and I have bonded more now that he is the only dog, I think he would like to have some company from time to time. I am moving in January, and my roommates have dogs, so he should be pretty well occupied from that time on.

It was interesting spending time in Redding. Things have changed quite a bit, and haven’t at the same time. It's still a small Northern California town. I am glad to have been raised there, but am also happy to have made it out. I may end up in a smaller town one day, but for now having all the things San Diego has to offer works for me.

We said goodbye, and I made the decision to move Krueger into the front of the truck. It's a 4-door truck, so he got the back seat to himself. He loved it. He slept and chewed on his bone the whole time.

As soon as we got to Mount Shasta, the snow began. Nothing serious, just flurries. I had purchased cable chains in Redding, as the snow was expected, but planned on not having to use them. The snow got more intense the farther north we went, but the little truck did great. I actually like driving in the snow, so it was fun. We stopped in Klamath Falls for fuel, and I exposed the mutt to his first taste of snow. He was a little surprised at first, and was having trouble finding a spot to pee, but he got over the awkwardness and went to town painting the town yellow.



We got back on the road and made out way up the 97. We arrived in Bend just in time for dinner. I unloaded the family truckster and re-introduced Krueger and my parents’ dog, Rio. I made myself at home in one of the spare bedrooms and proceeded to relax.

Christmas morning was amazing. We met up with John, a neighbor and his Husky, King for a hike in the snow out along the river. King is a very assertive dog, and he and Krueger got into it a few times, but as dogs generally do they got over it pretty fast. (The look on Krueger's face in this photo is priceless.)

The hike was beautiful, with fresh snow having fallen overnight and light snow as we hiked. We broke the law and had the dogs off leash most of the time, and the dogs loved it. There was a tense moment when Special K dared too close to the river's edge and slipped on the ice and into the water. I managed to grab him and haul him out before he was in any real danger. The air was dry and he dried out pretty quickly, but was a bit more careful when near the bank of the river. All told, we hiked about three hours and had a great time.

I spent a few more nights in Bend, and had a houseguest of my friend Sol, who had come into town from Berkeley with some of her friends. Soon it was time to go, and we loaded up the truck with gear and dog, and headed south through the snow. We managed to avoid disaster and arrived in Berkeley ready for sleep, then I continued home the next day. A good Christmas break.

After that it was back to work, on light duty, as I had injured my shoulder at work. Two MRIs later I was told that arthroscopic surgery could smooth the bone spurs in the shoulder and relieve the pain. I asked if the shoulder would get worse without the surgery and was told "probably not". I weighed the possibility of contracting something worse while in the hospital vs. putting up with occasional pain and decided on the latter. I don't like hospitals. Since it was a work injury they will fix it later if it actually does get worse. How nice of them.

Once I was cleared to work that meant another thing for me. I could surf again. And I did, and still am. Surfboarding is fun.

Valentines weekend Adams Avenue took a team back to The Old Pueblo for the 24-hour race. We didn't hope to win, and didn't but had a great time. We got smart this year and stayed an extra day so we could throw a few extra rides in. That made it a bit more worthwhile to drive out there with all that gear, just to have to pack and drive immediately after the race. We CAN learn.

I fulfilled a yearly promise to Tommy and made it out to Chicago for St. Patrick’s Day. Both the downtown and South Side Parades were on the same weekend this year and Oh Boy did I have a good time. Thanks Tommy!














In September I traveled to Las Vegas for Interbike and made some new friends and had drinks with Gary Fisher while my friends and I were dressed as cowboys. Silly Vegas fun. I volunteered at the New Belgium Brewing Tour de Fat and had an amazing time. There were 2500 attendees and we earned over ten thousand dollars for the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition. It will be even bigger next year. If there is one anywhere near where you live I highly recommend going.



A few weeks later, another road trip. This one up the coast to mountain bike and surf. The dog stayed at home. My friend and soon to be roommate Sonja has a cool dog named Jack, and took Jack and Krueger on walks and to dog parks for me. It's entirely possible that Krueger was sad to see me come home, because he really likes Jack. Back to the road trip. I got a late start and rolled into San Luis Obispo at about 1100 PM and sneaked into the State Campground at Morro Bay. The bay was a two-minute walk from my campsite.

Apparently I didn’t fool the camp hosts, who put a "please pay" note on the windshield as I slept. The State must really be hurting, because campsites are now $35.00 per night throughout California. I surfed both days and hung out with my friend Amy, whom I met in Vegas. I was able to get a fun ride in at Montana de Oro State Park.

Next it was on to Santa Cruz, where I stayed at Bob's Pine Grove Campground. Bob's is a privately owned campground that has only 15 sites, but has hot showers and is a five-minute pedal from downtown. There was a storm coming and I was the only camper. Jean, the owner was dubious that I would be crushed by falling trees, but allowed me to stay. I rode into town and found 99 Bottles on a recommendation from friends who had made the trip earlier in the year. Good times. I got back to camp in time for the rain. And rain it did. For a day and a half. I waited out the storm and caught a movie (Zombieland- hilarious), did a bunch of reading, and watched YouTube on the iPhone. Once it stopped raining I took a hike up the hill behind the campground toward the UCSC campus. It is so beautiful there. Redwoods, ferns, oaks, soft soil. All the things we rarely see here in the deserts of San Diego.

The next day I judged the trails dry enough to ride. I was correct. I took a long ride up to the campus, through the campus, and down to the beach where I watched a few guys ride overhead surf.

Then it was a loooong climb up the campus area. I managed to get sort of lost and located an obviously illegal trail that had Pro Downhill all over it. I imagine the Santa Cruz Syndicate riders know it well. At any rate, I rode up it, and didn't see anyone for about 45 minutes. I got back out to the highway and made my way back to campus, then poached the hiking trail I had been on the day before and made it back just in time for it to get very dark.

The next day I headed down to Pleasure Point and got in a very fun surf session now that the water had ceased to look like something from a baby's diaper. It was time to pack up and head up to the Bay Area to stay a few days with Sol.

Between a 21st Anniversary Party at Pacific Coast Brewing Company, which involved a block party with live music and beer being sold in the street and served in glasses it was a great time. There was no nonsense of a lame "beer garden" that the ABC imposes on such events in San Diego and two security guards, no police. Amazingly the world did not end, there were no fights or stabbings (In Oakland!) and everyone had a blast. The next day it was off to Marin for a long hike and run down the mountain followed by a birthday party in the Castro District. Good times.

Alas, it was soon time to head south. I packed again and made it to Ventura, where I paddled out into pretty crappy surf, but wanted to get in the water. I made it back to town after dusk and slept like a baby in my own bed.

Working nights, and off at 7:00 AM, I decided surfing after work is really cool. The surf was good for several weeks and I managed to get into good shape. I did a mountain bike race and somehow did NOT finish in last place, and had a good time doing it, though racing Expert may have been a bit over my head. Oh well. I had a good workout.

For now, its time to stay in shape and plan the next adventure, probably Chicago for St. Patrick’s day again. If my liver can handle it. Those Irish...