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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Ah, reminds me of my badlass friends!!

Post by Extreme Peru.

Asheville Fall Classic 2013

The Asheville Fall Classic had been on our radar all summer. 

http://www.edgeitavl.com/afc.html

 In a route created by Ed Moreadith and Robert Kranz, it promised amazing roads through WNC and breathtaking vistas.  Most importantly, it guaranteed 85 miles with good friends.  

On the drive up, Shey and I stopped in Hartwell to ride the single speed course.  It was just as fast and flowy and we remembered and we got to visit with Carey and Zeke.

Ed offered us his garage apartment for Friday and Saturday nights.  Greg and Patrick were staying in Ed's house and Pete was couch surfing just up the road.  We visited a bit on Friday night, then hit the hay.

Saturday morning, Ed made eggs, oatmeal, toast, etc for breakfast.  Greg approved the oatmeal and five happy riders filled up fast.

We met Bella and she was part of the group all weekend.

The ride starts behind the Wedge brewery, located in the River Arts District of Asheville, NC.  We rode down to the start and met up with the rest of the group.  10 riders total.

The forecast was rain, so I think several people bailed, but the guys had a good core group.  I was craving a good run, so decide I would do a portion of the route on my own, then find a good place for a run.  In retrospect I should have done the complete route since it was so much fun, but I had running on the brain for some reason.

It was drizzling when we started.

The route was very well marked.

I love the look of the woods after a rain.  Dark wood and very green foliage.

The roads were so much fun to ride and there was very little traffic.

I took some side roads along the way and the views were amazing everywhere I turned!

It is a road route with just a bit of gravel.  Perfect for road/cross bikes.  I was on a mountain bike, however, so I had the option to visit these turkeys.  They didn't want to be friends and kept running ahead of me.  Bummer.

At the start of the ride, Ed gave me directions to skip the lollipop section of the route and that would leave me with a 40 mile route.  I wanted a little more than that, so I hit every road that looked cool (and they were ALL cool) then would backtrack to the route.  

I eventually made a friend. 

I made it back to Asheville at about 12:30 with 53 miles.  It had started to rain as I got close to town.  I headed up to Ed and Meredith's, where I threw my cycling stuff in the bathtub, changed into running stuff and headed out quickly to get in a run before Shey got back.

They guys had a great ride.  It was no man left behind and even with several flats due to a rim issue, the guys got in 85 miles and made it back to town by 4:00 or so.  I had run circles around the Arts District, then outside of town, then back up to the apartment.  15 miles total run and had time for a hot shower and a little reading, too.  What a perfect day!!!!!!!!!!

THEN, as the icing on the cake, Meredith had made chili and cornbread.  I was so freakin' excited!!  I ate at least two bowls and thanked her a million times.  The whole house smelled amazing and we were all starving.  A hot bowl of chili hit the spot.

We sat and visited for hours and more friends came over with more food, and more beer.  I was exhausted and knew it was super late and I was ready for bed.  I peeked at my watch and it was 9:00pm.  Getting old!

We slept well and got up in the morning to head home.  Ed was up with Bella and we thanked him for a great weekend and for putting together a perfect route.

Shey wasn't sure if he was going to race the SS Championship race or not.  We had breakfast and still had time to get to the race without rushing, so we pulled off the highway and he jumped on his fixie and lined up at the back of the pack.  Tired legs from a hard week of intensity and climbing.

He won the fixie category and got some really cool swag.

Really looking forward to the Asheville Fall Classic 2014!!


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These things take time project #

Working on Kari's Subaru Outback.  Replacing the front lower control arm bushings, front and rear positions using Prothane upgrade kit.   Pressing polyurethane using a shop vise and c-press, fun, fun, fun boys and girls.  http://prothane.com/
My initial thought was that the lower rear bushings were a two piece design but was WRONG.  Had some serious doubts that this huge bushing was going to press into a smaller housing!   Looking at these instructions for bushing 65053 your conclusion might be similar.  
http://prothane.com/instructions/control-arm-bushings-rear/  
It worked though, this poly is super flexable and super tough. 

  

Reasons Why Adopting a Bike is Awesome

I'm really jazzed about my new grocery bike.  Shey found it on craigslist and it belonged to a super neat guy in Atlanta who raced cross this past season for the first time.  Purchased through Loosed Nuts and used as a commuter.

Top 5 reason to adopt a used bike:

1.   It was well loved by a really cool guy who will miss it.

 2.   You don't have to build it.  Just add pedals, change saddle, quick fit and go.  (will change handlebars later)

3.   It has character:  stickers, shoelace braid on chainstay, hipster style handlebars, really cool Brooks saddle that I will give a try later, campy goodies, marathon supreme tires!

4.  You can feel it's stories when you ride.  This guy has stomped through hotlanta!

5.  Options: I chose an automatic instead of standard shifting:

September Stuff

Same ol' Same ol' September.

Running dogs until they jump in the river to play hippo.

Chickens are molting.  Special girl is left with one tail feather and is quite 'put out' that we keep laughing at her.

Serena still wants to be served breakfast at the table.....

always......

We volunteered at the Fools Gold race and had fun helping out.  We stayed at a campground about 2 miles from the start, instead of in the national forest, just so we would be close.  The campground owner told us there was a tent at our campsite, but not to worry, it was abandoned and she "didn't think" the guy would be back..........  When we pre-drove the route to our aid station, there were lots of bats flying around the headlights.  The lady we volunteered with was awesome and so were her dogs!!!

Cory and Anna stayed with us while they came down to race collegiate at the GIHP.

Wes and Cory after they finished the TT.  It was really cool to catch up with all the kids and see what they were up to.

Jansen, Wes and Charles.

The fall Meyer's and Caldrea soaps/cleaners are out at Ace Hardware....very exciting!

Fall beer is yummy!

Serena got a new bed.

More September fun to be had!  Asheville Fall Classic and SS race coming up!

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