I forgot how to dress

The bright blue sky and shining sun must have burned my brain. I've totally been overdressing. Accuweather said it was 37 degrees this morning as I was getting ready to ride. I wore a long sleeve wool base layer, a short sleeve wool jersey, my long sleeve full zipper Castelli and my Darcy vest windbreaker. And legwarmers. Once I started climbing I unzipped the Castelli and tied the sleeves around my waist and left the vest unzipped. That was way too much. It may have been appropriate if the wind had been blowing. Maybe I need to start checking wind speed too.

Preskit Brekfist

A breakfast challenge....Lynx Lake Cafe against Crickets in Lake Montezuma!!!

yummy french toast with a view of the lake (and a side of spicy bratwurst with spicy mustard)

It's German owned....

Friday - Mike - day

Back over the Black Hills, we headed to meet Mike and his family. I completely miscalculated the amount of time it would take them to get to the Circle K on Bell Rock Blvd. It only took them 1 hour from the 101. I'll have to remember that. It's so unlike me to be late, so I'm sure Mike didn't mind.

Although we didn't spend much time with them, it was nice to meet his family.

We started the ride from our normal place. Our plan was to take Llama to HT to Templeton, but HT is closed b/c of the road work. So after Llama we just road back up Bell Rock Pathway and started Templeton from the beginning. Mike was riding fast. I was hanging on pretty good, but was especially pleased with how well I was riding the technical stuff. I made alot of things I've had to dismount in the past (Adam, the one on Llama I didn't even try when you were here). I am convinced my skills have improved b/c of riding Groom Creek. I can start on a dime when heading uphill now too.

It was a good hard ride....for me at least.

The craziest part of the whole day..... we rode back towards the trailhead after Templeton, but Zach and Mike added a Big Park Loop. I went back to the car to start changing and loading my bike up.

As Zach and Mike pull up, they have another rider with them. It's Christina Betz from Janesville!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What are the chances. She was stopped for a second on the trail, right when they were finishing up their loop. So they brought her back to the car to say hi.

Christina just moved to the Phoenix area and was hanging out with her parents for the holiday weekend. It was really great to see her again. Hopefully we'll hook up for a ride soon.

We said our goodbyes to Christina and then went to met Mike's parents uptown Sedona. It was a little after noon, so they were ready for lunch. Per my recommendation, they ate at the Hideaway. That's where we said our goodbyes to Mike; I hope they enjoyed their lunch.

Thanksgiving

Morning hike




Mid-day ride (planned destination: jerome via perkinsville rd)



San Francisco Peaks

Look at the view we came upon!! (mom and dad does this make you homesick???)

Our turnaround point, no jerome this time

4pm dinner reservations at Gurly Street Grill (note the glass garage doors, there are 4 or 5 that must open during the spring and early fall months)

Here's my Thanksgiving dinner (plus bread pudding not shown here)

Here's Zach's Thanksgiving dinner - it's just not right

Here's Zach's grenade he left after sucking down a 2 shot Bailey's chocolate shake

One lap around the square after dinner

Then it was home for some couch time

Late!

The nerve of some people. mikelsall is down in Phoenix, finishing up the TdT on the 17th, then spending the week with his family in the Valley. He was supposed to be up here on the 19th by 9am for a little visit. He didn't arrive until 10:30!! Something about Phoenix traffic.... who knows.

Anyway, I decide not to hold it against him and get ready for our planned ride. Zach had to work that day, but we thought Groom Creek to 305 would be a good route to take him on. Mike and I loaded up the bikes and headed up Senator Hwy to the. The plan was to ride all the way home and then drive back with another car to pick up the Element.

Groom Creek is the trail that climbs 1200 feet in 3 miles. General slope of 8% and occasional pitches over 20%. From the top we pick up fire road 52a and take that down Smith Ravine on 297. Cross Walker Road and pick up the 305.

Mike did great; I was hurting, hopefully due to the minor medical issues I've had lately. But he was patient so it worked. The climb is really something else. It's not just that you climb so much right off the bat, but it's combined with loose boulders/gravel, roots, and man-made erosion control stair steps that require alot of energy to get over. There are life-saving smooth-as-silk sections sprinkled in here and there, but they are sparse.

The payoff comes with the view at the top and then again when you start heading down 52a. 52 is certainly not my favorite section b/c it is a fireroad, but the break in climbing is welcomed and appreciated. At the big boulders we hung a right to pick up 297. 297 is generally heading down in elevation, but there are some good climbs along the way. The singletrack in this section is so lovely. It's also home to the most beautifully perfect manzanita I have ever laid eyes on.


We passed through the burned section and on to the 305. We passed the ruins section and cruised along the creek bed, finishing up on Old Black Canyon Hwy and on to our subdivision. There's a great, ridiculously steep jeep road that we can take back up to our house. It was a killer that day.


Once we got home, we hopped in the car to pick up the Element. Then I dropped Mike off at Zach's school so they could ride Zach's commute home. Mike really loved the crazy hills on that route.

Zach whipped up some of his famous burritos for dinner, then we hit Coyote Joes for a nice easy happy hour. Mike took off for Phoenix mid-morning on Tuesday and we saw him again on Friday.

Return

Back to Sedona on the 17th. Had to return the rented kid carrier. Jen and Dave inadvertently left Quail Ridge with one of their Red Rock passes, we returned that too. Good day of riding. We decided for a change and hit the west side of town. Parked off of Cultural Park and headed towards Cockscomb via the Girdner trail. We took a roundabout way but ended up riding near Doe Mt and Cockscomb, but wanted some steady pedaling. We dumped out onto Boyton Pass Rd and took Dry Creek Rd back to the car. Finished the day at Sally's BBQ. Another tasty new discovery.

sniff, sniff

A week ago Tuesday, Zach and I headed home from Sedona early. He had to go to work that day. I did too, but not until the afternoon. He was irritated with me - after he dropped me off I took a 2 hour nap before getting ready. Little Nathan had a rough night the night before - up crying from 2 to 3am.

Jen and Dave and the kids left Sedona and headed to Prescott early afternoon. By the time I made it back from school they were all settled in.

Tuesday was a day of rest. We just hung out at the house that night and ran out to get our favorite fast food for dinner. It's dangerously close to our house.

On Wednesday, we just lounged at the house in the morning, allowing for plenty of Dora time. After lunch we drove up to Watson Lake Park so the kids could have some fun at the playground. We made time for a parents only picture and then I left from there for work. It was a lovely day.

That night we made huevos rancheros, drank some beers, and went to bed fairly early. Thursday morning Dave went to golf at Stoneridge. Jen and I...kind of last minute...decided to go for a little hike. I thought we'd walk up to the Lynx Creek Ruins. We didn't make it all the way up; instead we stopped mid-way and had our picnic on a bench near a downed tree. It made for good entertainment for Amanda. Lunch definitely tastes better on the side of a trail with my sisto and the kiddies. It was the first full cloudy day we've had in a while. A great fall day.

Dinner that night....I'm a little embarrassed....was Papa Johns. Coming from Chicago, we don't expect much from pizza joints in the places we travel to, so we certainly don't expect to find great pizza in Prescott. We've tried Streets of New York - it was decent and we've heard Adam's Pizza and Ribs is good too. When we were talking about places to order from last week, Dave decided that sometimes a known evil is better than an unknown evil. So we decided on Papa Johns. Although it's not top quality pizza by any stretch, there is something satisfying about it. I love the cheese sauce.

Zach had to work Friday morning, Dave stayed home with the kids, and Jen and I drove up Walker Rd to the 297 trailhead. The red ground cover that was there when Amy, Stacy and I had hiked it was now a yellowish/orange. Another great day and fun hike.

As we drove towards our street we were greeted by the minivan (which Dave looked right at home in). Dave and the kids were headed out somewhere, so he followed us back to the house. We decided to go the the Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary. It was as much for me as it was for the kids. I have been dying to check it out.

It was awesome. A very small zoo where you can get very close to the animals. They have Gray Mexican Wolves, a javelina, jaguar, bobcat, desert turtle, pronghorn, gray fox, lemurs, porcupine, badger, tarantulas, black bear, bengel tiger, and many other interesting animals. The funniest guy was the badger. He was on the ground, laying on his back, with all four appendages spread out in every direction. He looked so relaxed. Every now and then he'd reach in and scratch his belly. Loved the Mexican Wolves. The bobcat and jaguar were both really cool. The javelina has to be the ugliest creature I've ever seen. My personal favorite was the bengel tiger. The black bear was resting the whole time we were there so I'll have to go back to try and catch him at an active time. Nathan didn't know what was going on. Dave and Jen liked the zoo too, but Amanda - she could have cared less. The tiger, no interest. Bobcat - big deal. It wasn't until we were all the way around the whole place that she got excited. We walked past the macaw and heard him say "hello". So Amanda spent the next 15 minutes laughing hysterically at the bird. He'd say "hello" and "WHAAATT?". On the way home she was doing a great impression.

That night we hit the BrewPub for a quick meal (Nathan puked up all of the carrots he was fed while we were there) We cruised home and Jen and Dave began the packing process.

What can I say, from here it was a downward spiral. They left Saturday around 8 and luckily had a great trip home. No lost luggage this time. It was so great to have them here, but it is so hard to say goodbye. At least I know they will be back in January. That makes it a little easier.

Yikes

Think it's a tarantula??????





PS: I took 15 pictures of that guy.

Sisto

Jenny and Dave and company had an 11 o'clock arrival time. Their plane actually landed around 1pm....without their luggage. Zach and I were riding in Sedona, then getting checked in so things were in place were they got there. I ran to the outlet mall to find swimming attire for them for that first night. How awful would it be as a 3 year old to go on vacation,stay at a place with an outdoor heated pool and hot tub, and not be able to swim???? No suits to be found, so I found some cute board shorts for her, Dave got a new pair of swim trunks, and the little guy some swimmy diapers. Jen could borrow a suit of mine if she wanted to go in.

By the time I made it back from the mall and the grocery store, they were there, sipping beers, feeding their army. We had a great time. Did a couple of good hikes (Hamburger Hill, Red Rock Crossing, Cowpies), swam in the pool, carried out from some of our favorite restaurants, drank tasty beers, and enjoyed the most perfect weather. Had some yummy ice cream and found a new Sedona favorite: French baguette encased hot dog (think corn dog, minus the stick, plus high quality bread instead of corn bread). I had a hard time getting Zach to share. We spent some time and money at the Bike and Bean. Amanda had her first s'more by the fire at the Quail. Jen had a hard time convincing her she'd like it. Once she tried it Jen couldn't it get back.

Zach and I drove home Tuesday morning; he headed to work that day. I went home and took a nap (the little guy had a rough night, we were up from 2 to 3am!!) and went in to work that afternoon. Jen and Dave and kids took the scenic route through Cottonwood and Jerome and hung out at our house till we both got home that night. It's been a fun relaxing few days so far. The kids are on nap schedules so we never venture out too far.

Achy

Had a "full" week of work this week. Tues thru Thurs - mornings in the regular preschool classroom and afternoons in the special needs classroom with my one on one. I'm not quite 100% recovered from the flu. No fever since Sunday, but my tonsils have been tender since the weenend and I feel like a sinus infection may be brewing. My sisters are laughing at me - that I can't take the preschool germs. I'm sure I do need to build up my resistance. There's so much snot and sneezing and holding hands and picking noses. I'm surprised I made it this long without any sickness.

Tonight I'm feeling the physical assistance that makes up a good portion of my afternoon. Now that he is getting comfortable in class with the other students, he wants to be 'normal' like them as much as possible. That means washing his hands at the sink instead of me wiping them down while he stays in his chair. He wants to walk everywhere instead of using his chair, play on the playground, ride bikes...some things I can help him do and some things the school does not yet have the right equipment. It is great that he has the drive, I'm glad I can help. That is certainly the point. But I am a little sore today. My back and neck are tender.

The OT paid us a visit today. It was neat to watch him work with my student. I learned some things I need to start doing and some other things I need to do less. I will be sitting in on his IEP that is going to be the week of Thanksgiving.

I still can not believe how lucky I am to have ended up with the teacher and the other aides that I have. They are all wonderful, patient, interesting, gifted women. And I am so grateful for having been matched up that little kid. My first experience in education could have been much different.

New obsessions

Do you know anyone that washes their garage floor on their hands and knees?

Funny

Intruding

Sure enough, when Zach and I rode the 305 ...2 weekends ago (geez, it's been that long???) we ran into our buddies. I keep getting closer every time.

uuugghhhh...

Trapped in the house since Friday 7pm. That night I felt my throat close up and I woke up with a fever Saturday morning. I was supposed to drive down to Phoenix with Zach so he could take his AZ cert test. I stayed home with the flu. Feverish and achy. Too much TV. Still don't feel quite right today. Hopefully tomorrow I will be 100%.... morning and afternoon assignments. Had to turn down 2 full day assignments for today.