Family Vacation Report(s)

Anderson - Harber Trip



Even thought the first trip was over a month ago I figured it was still worth reporting. We spent a week in McCall Idaho with a few of the Anderson crew. My mom, Eric, and Cate made it for the trip while the rest of the fam were caring for babies back home, or spreading the good word in Mexico. It was a great change of scenery from Vegas; I like the desert, but I love the mountains! The Payette river was at a super high volume and raging. On the drive from Boise we stopped to check out a few guys paddling the class V section of the North Fork, those suckers are nuts.



We kicked back and enjoyed the cool weather, played tennis, a little golf, and ate at some great restaurants. Thanks again to the Andersons for the good time.


Moody - Harber - Hoopes Trip


The second trip was a bit more recent. Laura went down a few days early to Baton Rouge to get in all the southern living she could squeeze in before the Gulf Shores trip. I ended up flying into Pensacola mid week to meet everyone in Gulf Shores. The Moodys rented an awesome beach house that everyone could stay at; great access to the beach and super close to a nice pool.



We ate some great seafood, hung at the beach and played a few games of Risk (possibly the greatest game ever conceived by man). For those on the left coast that have not experienced the Gulf it's quite a bit different from the Cali beaches we're accustom to. Super fine white sand and warm water, the only draw back might be the jellyfish. I'm happy to report that this year I did not have to experience a jellyfish sting (unlike last year). Laura on the other hand just about became topless on the beach in an attempt to remove a jellyfish tentacle from her bathing suit.

I enjoyed seeing a different a part of the country that sometimes makes you feel like you've traveled out of the US, and of course Laura always loves going home. Thanks again to the Moodys for the fun trip!

Virgin River Rim Trail

When Mr. Sabrosa says that it's going to be epic riding on Cedar Mountain he really means it. I figured I was up for the challenge since I had been doing fair amount of riding, and the thought of escaping the Vegas summer heat was very attractive. The team included Mr. and Mrs. Sabrosa, the Tammer, and myself.

We started at Strawberry Point just a bit past Duck Creek; elevation 9000 feet. I felt like I was at the basecamp of Everest since I had just come from Vegas, about 2000 ft. The ride is 33 miles of some of the most incredible single track I've ever been on. Most of you are familiar with the Cedar Breaks area, well the trail basically skirts the edge of that whole plateau and then drops down to Woods Ranch. If your thinking that it couldn't have been that tough because the trails starts at Strawberry and drops down to Woods Ranch, you're wrong! I had slightly underestimated it myself; in total we climbed over 4200 vertical feet at an average elevation of 9300 ft.

Round about the 20 mile mark I started hurting; probably a combination of high altitude, some gnarly climbing, and not enough food. When the bottom falls out like this there's not a lot you can do but suffer through the rest of the ride. I told the crew that I was officially in "The Hurt Locker, " and yes John if the ride had continued much past Wood Ranch Davey Jones would have been involved. Although it was slow going for me after that point I still thoroughly enjoyed the ride. Towards the end of the trail we rode through some beautiful aspen forest, this is when the trees started talking to me. Maybe this is what Indians experience when they're on their vision quest.

Even though I got punished pretty bad the ride was well worth it. I would definitely recommend the ride if you're up for amazing singletrack, incredible views, and a ton of climbing.

First Ultrasound

Laura is with child!

There have been many jokes in the past both verbally and on this blog, but it's finally true. She had her first ultrasound yesterday and everything up to this point checks out great. It's an experience that I can't even attempt to explain when you hear your baby's heart beat. At this point he/she is only a little over 1/2", about the size of a gummy bear.

Laura is positive that it's going to be a girl but I'm not sure if this is based on some internal instinct or the countless Internet tests / Chinese calenders she's been doing. I'll be happy either way but I'm guessing it'll be a boy.

We'll keep you updated.

Mexican Bowling

After seeing this photo I'd think think twice before riding my bike in Mexico.

A car has plowed into a bike race along a highway near the US-Mexico border, killing one and injuring 10 others.
Police investigator Jose Alfredo Rodriguez says the 28-year-old driver was apparently drunk and fell asleep when he crashed into the race. The photograph was taken by a city official that was spectating.

Wheel Sucker

According to a sheriff's report, George N. Magalhaes, 35, of Fort Pierce, Florida, traded his purple 19-speed mountain bike for four rocks of crack cocaine. Unfortunately, the dealer was an undercover detective, who arrested Magalhaes and sent him to jail.


Bottom line: It doesn't pay to abandon your ride!

Assult on Mt Charleston & Highway Robbery

Last weekend I made the years first trip up Mt Charleston. Due to the lack of riding partners I had to roll solo. I’d definitely rather ride with a group but sometimes it’s kind of nice to ride alone. You can cruise at your own pace and have some time to think.

Turns out my decrease in weekly mileage has helped a ton. The past few weeks I’ve been playing in the overtraining danger zone. This happens when you’re putting in too many miles, or riding with guys that are too fast. I say that it helped a ton to cut back because I felt fresh and was able to stay aerobic almost the entire way up; the top gets a bit steep so I went anaerobic for a bit. The ride was great and I definitely look forward to riding up there more this summer.

This is the highway robbery part:

I hit the Charleston Lodge and pulled over to fill the water bottles. I didn't know if there’d be water available so I was prepared to be happy with just about anything. Luckily there was a café inside that sold drink so I was pumped. I grabbed a Vitamin Water and headed for the cashier; the clerk rings it up says, “That’ll be $ 3.25 please.”

Me: Excuse me?

Clerk: $ 3.25

(I thought for a split second about going out back a peeing in my water bottle but remembered that should be reserved only for desperate occasions.)

Me: I must have grabbed the wrong one; do you have the nonalcohol version of Vitamin Water?

Clerk: Vitamin Water doesn’t come with alcohol, does it?

Me: No man I was just kidding because that seemed to be a bit much for a bottle of flavored water.

Clerk: You know, it’s just that rule of supply and demand.

This is where I just smiled, signed the receipt and walked out. Not only was the guy too slow to get my joke but he was going to make some jackass comment about supply and demand. I would much rather had him say (and probably laughed with him),” Bend over and grab your ankles cause there’s no other shops to buy drinks up here.” I’m no econ major (unlike my beautiful bride) but I’m pretty sure they bought those drinks at the same Costco that I do.

To be honest I have no problem paying a premium for goods where the premium is earned. For instance I would gladly pay (without complaining) $ 5.25 for a Vitamin Water in the middle of the Sahara Desert, or maybe on the trail to the Everest Basecamp. But the difference there is that the Sherpa that sold me the water out of a cooler, from the back of his yak truly deserves it. I will complain however when some idiot tells me it’s a matter of supply and demand 15 miles from Vegas.

I didn’t let this ruin my ride but it did provide for some interesting perspective. I just paid $ 3.25 for a 20 oz beverage. At the per gallon price that would be $ 20.80; and I complain about gas prices!

Botox Lifts: The Next Breast Thing?

http://wcbstv.com/video/?id=112359@wcbs.dayport.com

No offence to any of you that have partaken in the botox trend but the above video is just too weird. Our society must put an unbelievable amount of pressure on people to the point where they're willing to inject poison into their bodies to look good.

What's next? Are men going to follow in Dave Chappell's foots steps and botox their balls to take the wrinkles out? In the words of Mr. Chappell, "They're smooth as eggs!"