My New Computer!!!!

Well, I've gone and done it! After resisting it as long as possible I have given into the temptation and bought a brand new Apple iMac. I've been a PC user forever, but after struggling with Windows service packs, endless updates, ridiculously slow start up and shutdown time, and all sorts of adware, malware, trojan horse etc. I finally had enough. All I can say now is that I love my new computer. It's the best purchase I think I've ever made...

The Goat Rocks Rocks!!

Wow, I just got back from four epic days in the backcountry with my best buddy Bryan and we had an absolute blast. B-man and I have been taking backpacking and mountaineering trips for years, from Shenandoah National Park way back in college, to the summit of Glacier Peak, we've always managed to have a good time. This trip was no exception. The Goat Rocks is an amazing wilderness, complete with lots of mountain goats, and lots of rock pinnacles. We got in there right before the snow really started to fly and enjoyed a few great days of hiking and camping. I hope the pictures (taken with my trusty iPhone) do the trip some justice.

Mt. Adams from Snowgrass Flats.

B-man on top of Old Snowy Peak.

The Goat Rocks central peaks.

Cross Crusade #1 - Alpenrose

Wow! The official start to the cyclocross season has come, and I am lucky enough to have been there for it. My knee has been improving steadily over the last few weeks (thanks to Dr. Seth Hosmer at HP chiro), and despite not training at all this summer I lined up for my second race of the season. The course was nice and fast, and despite starting in about 80th place, I managed to finish in 37th, out of 190 riders. I was pretty pleased with the result, especially since six weeks ago it looked like I wasn't going to be able to ride a single race this season. We had a strong turnout for our team and all the guys who raced did really well. It was a great way to kick off the Cross Crusade!

Starcrossed

Clare and I were in Seattle this weekend to visit her cousin Kate and to watch the Starcrossed cyclocross race in Everett. This event draws all of the top domestic professional riders, but it was two europeans who stole the show. The men's race was won by the visiting Swiss national champion, while the women's side was taken by the British national champ, racing in her union jack skin suit. The picture is of Portland local Sue Butler who had a fantastic race.

Rad Racing GP

I rode my first cyclocross race of the year this weekend and it was a blast. It was in Lakewood Washington and the course was fast but there was a huge hill that we had to carry our bikes up that was a killer. Clare was there to cheer me on though as I trudged my way up the hill. This was my first race of 2009! I can't believe it. But my knee felt pretty good during and after the race so I'm cautiously optimistic that I'll be able to ride more races this fall.

Mt. Adams with Jay

I went up to the North side of Mt. Adams this weekend with my buddy Jay. We camped out and Stuart and Emily joined up later that night. All I had was my point and shoot camera but I still managed to get a good shot of the mountain. What a beautiful spot!

Land of the Big Trees!

Clare and I headed up to Olympic National Park for the Memorial Day weekend to camp and hike among the big trees. We had a great time up there! Clare had never been there and it had been years since I had visited that area so it was pretty exciting just to be there. The Hoh Rain Forest was the highlight for sure. That's where we got our hug on with this Mammoth Hemlock.

Rally-America Oregon Trail Rally

I headed up to Hood River Oregon today to watch the third day of the Rally-America, Oregon Trail Rally. It is an on road/off road car race that is being held up in the mountains near Mt. Hood. The racing was exciting and the crowds were into it. Car rallying is now an X-games sport so it is pretty popular. Most teams seem to be sponsored by some sort of energy drink! No surprise I guess. The cars are pretty incredible. They are mostly Subaru's and Mitsubishi's, with the occasional Ford Focus (don't ask me why), and all are modified with roll cages, beefed up suspensions etc. The cool thing about these cars though is that they all must be street legal (lights, signals, even license plates!).

Shooting pics of these flashy cars was loads of fun. There was dust flying everywhere though so tonight I'm hanging out at home, cleaning my camera!

More Rally Action

More images from the Oregon Trail Rally...

Sliding sideways into the turn!

Almost seems too clean for a rally car!

Camping on the Metolious River

Clare and I headed out of town this weekend and went camping near Sisters Oregon, on the Metolious River. Despite some persistent drizzly rain we had a great time, and the tent kept us nice and dry. We took a nice hike at Smith Rock State Park, and another hike along the river.