Christmas Ride 2013

The weekend after Christmas, Jansen and I picked up Jafer and headed to Mulberry Gap.  Wes was there too and the three guys took off together.

We were trying to beat the rain, but it started sleeting about 10 minutes into our ride.  Then a light rain followed.

The creeks were running strong and the woods were so pretty.

I actually came across three other groups of riders and several hikers, out to play in the cold and drizzle.

After my ride, I went for a run that was a walk, until I could feel my toes again, then it was a run.  While I was running Ginni made the guys BBQ sandwiches and they were smiling and very happy when I arrived at the barn.

Wes, Jansen and Jafer found a game to play while we waited on dinner.  Hilarious!

Dinner was amazing as always and dessert was very cool.  Matt Smith donated an indoor s'more maker to Mulberry Gap and the roasting of marshmallow commenced.

There was fantastic music playing all afternoon and into the evening.  It has been really neat to see the changes Mulberry Gap has made to their property over the years and Andrew did a fantastic job enclosing the barn.  It was cozy and warm and perfect.

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Christmas 2013

Christmas was filled with cookies, cookies and more cookies.  Good food, a fun family and lots of time to hang out together.  

My Aunt Alyce gave me a Christmas ornament each year when I was growing up and our family has kept up that tradition with the boys.  So our tree started off with only my ornaments, then filled with ones given to each of the boys and Shey.  Now there are enough to load it to full capacity.    I'm not much for decorating and can barely match my clothes when I go to the store, but decorating the tree is always full of great stories and memories of each year we received these small gifts.

This is one of the oldest ones...early '70's.

We decorated ninjabread cookies.  There is disco guy with a 'fro, belly dancer, rock-n-roller with guitar, cyclops, jazz hands, confused guy with weird nunchucks......

We went for our Christmas drive and walk to look at lights.

Fairyland was decorated like the North Pole.

So thankful to have such a cool family, including the ones with four legs.

Serena....not so photogenic......Indy....confused......

Back at home we made out pretty well with a new slackline for the family, an antique typewriter, rollerblades (given and ridden early), cast iron tea pot, several new albums for the record player, elbow pads for riding rocks and this super cool luchador bottle opener.

Indy and Serena love to open presents.

I bought a puzzle for the family to do, but once we opened the box, I kept coming back to it and was at one point using a headlight to work on it so it wouldn't disturb the guys watching a movie.  I thought we would take a week or so to take our time and work on it, but instead..........I finished it at 1:30am and am banned from ever buying one again, per all the men I live with.  Note:  don't get a puzzle with 500+ pieces and lots of brown and grey rock.

Cyclocross and Friends

We helped Jim at Elks Aidmore for his double weekend cyclocross race.  

Shey in the Masters race on Saturday

Everett spent most of Friday taping the course and it took us 5 hours on Monday for two of us to break it down in the rain.  I think Jim used every stake available.  : )

John came over to pick up a bike for his son and showed us the many uses of carbon fiber.....he always has something cool to show us that he has made or is designing.

I want him to duplicate my old mountain bike shoes that are falling apart.  Challenge!!!

Serena got a stuffed squirrel that is her best friend.  Indy has since ripped it's face off and tore out the stuffing, but Serena still carries it around with her everywhere.

Jansen found out he has rats at his place.  He has disposed of a couple who had moved on from this life and is now designing a bigger better rat trap.....or maybe he will just go to Home Depot.....

Todd came to Atl for work and we got to visit with him over breakfast.  He and Krista are really into the Enduro series.   We will be heading out to Tuscon this winter and hope to catch up with him for some sweet riding!  (I already have my elbow pads...)

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The Path

Everett has mentioned roller blades over the past few years, so I found some on Craigslist for him to try.

We parked at the Monastery and  Everett rolled around a new short section of the path while I ran

onto the cool new bridge

Then we got in a sweet ride at the next section of the path

Followed by more blading by Everett

I wasn't sure if he was going to use them, but the first time he put them on, he was jumping over stuff  and having a blast!

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Thanksgiving 2013

Thanksgiving was awesome!  Awesome food awesome family

Jafer came to GIHP to ride with us.

He says "some people" say his mustache makes him look older......we are looking for those people......

Great day for riding under blue skies!  Followed by yummy lunch, of course.

GA State Cyclocross Championships 2013

Sneak Peek Masters 35+

Duncan Ridge Trail 2013

I planned a four day weekend of hiking the Georgia Loop.  (possibly with the dogs, but probably not)  I researched the course and started packing.  Shey asked to come along, but wanted to do a two day hike, instead.  I changed plans and did more research, then he said he wanted to be back Sunday to race a cyclocross race.  So, it would be a short hike and we could take the dogs.

I hoped to start between 6 and 6:30am on Friday, but we didn't get to our final parking spot and ready to hit the trail until around 10am.  Plans changed again.  We would go as far as we could, as long as the dogs (and the humans)  held up (Indy is 12yrs old) then turn around and come back early.  The Georgia Loop would have to wait.

Up, up, up Benton Mackaye to Duncan Ridge.

Serena got a new backpack and carried food for herself and Indy.  I carried their water, as there would be no water on the trail for most of the day.  

It was an ankle turning experience to hike the trail with all the leaves down.  Surprises of rocks and roots were found under the blanket of leaves and that kept us on our toes.  However, because the leaves had already fallen, the views were AMAZING!!!  The color was still bright with oranges, reds and yellows.

On the drive up to the trailhead we had stopped at a country store and picked up some homemade apple pies.  They made me very happy!  Catching up with Shey and doing our best to talk above the noise of the crunching leaves, made me very happy.

Shey was a great hiker and kept the pace steady for us all.

I had not slept much the past two weeks and was tired by early afternoon.  I didn't think we would find water at all along the trail, so I was conserving mine (which mean I carried 2 liters, plus the dogs water, though they drank most of theirs) and the weight was wearing me down.  We did find water at Mulky Creek and drank our fill.  I felt much better, but we had to make a decision about mileage and what to do about the next day.  We decided to turn around and hike back a ways then set up camp early and chill out.


A sweet fire to warm our feet, then we set up our hammocks.  It got down to 30 degrees that night, with wind.  We had a yummy chicken, cashews and rice dinner.

The dogs warmed themselves by the fire and passed out.  Later that night, Serena kept hearing noises in the woods and would wake us up with her barking.  Finally I put her in the hammock with Shey.  Yep, 65 lbs of dog sleeping on top of Shey, suspended in the air....then Shey put her back out around 2am, so I don't think he got much sleep.

Sunrise

Shey was up before me and he watched the sunrise.  We ate hot oatmeal and packed up to head back.

The Duncan Ridge Trail does not use switchbacks, but instead climbs straight up and down several gaps.  It's tough, and with weight on your back I am sure it's great training for something......

 We realize the dogs definitely slowed us down, but they really had a good time and I'm glad I got to take them.  We hike fast and I think they made us slow down to smell the roses a bit more than we would have alone.

Ah, love the woods!

Blaze on the BMT.

Back at the car, I was a little disappointed that I didn't get to complete my plan, but I am learning to go with the flow.  We drove to Dahlonega and ate at Moe's, then drove into Atlanta to pick up Jansen.

That left me with Sunday to chill out with the boys at home, then head into Little 5 Points to do some Christmas stocking shopping with them.  

Not a bad weekend AT ALL!!!!

Halloween and Texas Visit 2013

Shey wanted to carve jack-o-lanterns this year.  So, Everett picked up a couple and it was "on".

I went with a bat

Shey decided on classic style

Then we seasoned and roasted the seeds.  Yum!

The next weekend I flew down to Texas to visit my parents.  We saw them on a quick visit in April and then they came up to see Jansen's graudation in May, but it was time to catch up, for sure.

Mom and Mrs. Voigt had a luncheon to attend, so Dad and I got to hang out for the day.  We walked the path along the river in Boerne and ate great mexican food.

Mrs. Voigt and Mom.

Dad goofing off outside the nature store.

Mom and I went for a hike.

The Cibolo nature center is a cool place to walk around.

Then we practiced yoga.......

4 days of laughing and telling old stories about crazy stuff my brothers and I did as kids.  It's always nice to go home and see Mom and Dad.  They have been the most loving and supportive parents and grandparents!  See ya again soon!

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