mmmm, cooffffeeee

After a full week of dependence on Folgers one cup brewing, I'm back in the land of fresh ground coffee from home and lattes from "Cappachino's". I should really invest in a French Press for camping, though I suppose coming back to the flavor of "real" coffee is worth the week of waking up to Folgers in my cup (HA!).

A thought, In light of the Devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina:
I recently read an article about the earth's carrying capacity. It spoke about taking into account acceptable risks when including certain inhabited areas as part of the overall equation for how many people our planet can sustain. For instance, will places such as New Orleans (that are perpetually in harms way due to geography) one day be uninhabitable...or at the very least just not worth the risk of inhabiting?
Regardless; New Orleans, you are in my thoughts. When the floodwaters recede, you will still have a city in spirit. May you have the courage to rebuild. If you must leave, may you always hold the city near to your heart.

Slow and Steady sure as hell doesn't win this race.Expert Downhill. NORBA Nationals. Mount Snow, VT.

We climbed and climbed, and found ourselves atop a peak in the company of wind and solitude. A view from Mt. Monroe. White Mountains, NH

A Ship in the Fog. Somewhere in the distance there is an ocean, and islands, and leviathan swimming about. Bar Harbor, ME.

First Things First

I have returned. OH, what a wonderful vacation. Three days of Maine, three days of the White Mountains (New Hampshire), and 2 days of the Green Mountains (Vermont). Some vacational highlights:

Whale-watching off the coast of Maine
Finding Cadillac Mountain Stout (jake thought it was so so, I liked it lots)
Hiking Mt. Monroe in the White Mountains (2600 vertical climb in 3 miles!!)
Biking cross country trails at Mount Snow
Watching some SIC downhill action at the NORBA nationals (Mount Snow). [we saw 2 pros carried off the rain-soaked course on stretchers...they were conscious and moving all limbs, but it was frightening to watch. I caught some digital camera videos of a few not-as-dangerous crashes...we saw serious carnage this weekend]
Canadians (my friends that met us in Maine)
and of course...
Mountain Pies, Smores, Pancakes (yes, I make pancakes when I camp - the Bisquick shakable type though :o)

What a trip. That's all for now. As I watch Katrina close in on New Orleans, I'm reluctant to spend more than a paragraph on my relaxation. More tails and photos in the future I imagine.

ode to vacation

Vacation preparation is a tiring thing...but ah, it pays off in the end now doesn't it. After three weekends of running here, there, and everywhere (Lancaster, York, and Pittsburgh, respectively)...it's time to traverse even further north and camp for an entire week (four nights in Maine, 2 in New Hampshire, and 2 in Vermont). I'm so excited I can barely contain myself. Plus, the tail end of our trip (the Vermont part) includes checking out the NORBA races at Mt. Snow.
We'll get to wander around and see some XC and downhill races. What a great way to end a vacation, not to mention Mt. Snow being only 2 hours from home. Perhaps I'll return with some harrowing bike stories and reports on fine Maine/New Hampshire/Vermont Micro-Brews. yum. :o)

Let the vacation begin.

ridin' the ridge - Take Two

So this weekend we found ourselves in York, PA once again. It was a calming, quasi-vacationing (if only for a day) type trip. While in York we traversed to Rocky Ridge for another mountain biking excursion. I love this place. For the second time, I kicked some ass here. I managed to climb until hyperventilating. There I was, beet red and talking to myself. woo! It's not really a difficult ride, but some good climbs and a great downhill to start the ride (though I wasn't warmed up and felt skiddish starting the ride with an immediate downhill). Though our ride was cut short by rain, I didn't mind. It was my first time riding as a storm was moving into the area. There we were chugging along as thunder clouds echoed in the distance...we rode on undeterred as it threatened, but it started to close in and thunder overhead. At the first crack of lightning we thought it best to head out. I enjoyed the ride back, it was a furious race to the jeep. We made it just as the sky opened up. Fantastic. I'm not sure if I'd enjoy an actual ride in the rain, but the feeling of the air and the wood just before it starts is rather invigorating. And what can beat a natural shower?

Down in Africa...

Moving to New Haven wasn't difficult, not like college anyway. The transition was smooth, and this area feels like home now (whereas college life was an ongoing state of abruptness... though enormously fun, it was like a giant time warp, or a four year state of limbo while I attempted to determine some form of direction in life). So now I'm here and feel like I'm livin' instead of waiting and expecting. It's a nice thing. That being said, I haven't really had to say any big goodbyes in awhile. Even friends that are out in Oregon and Canada...all it takes is a phone call and the word "vacation" and BAM...we're hangin out. But this weekend I traversed to Lancaster to bid a 2 year farewell to a friend entering the peace corps. 2 years in South Africa. wow. It's wierd to try and say "see ya in 2 years". We might try to visit, but that's really not certain. hrm. It was a good weekend though...one of those reminiscing about days gone by type gatherings. It's cool to think about where we'll be in 2 years when she returns. Regardless, I think a Bonnaroo reunion may have to be in store. :o)