My Favorite Bike Ride of The Year

We got back from week two of 4 weeks of travel, (3 of which are in Clear Lake, and One in Galena so it's not so bad) around 4pm today. Spent the weekend at Clear Lake, although Mom and Dad weren't there. We had a family rebellion with Stacey's family. It was pretty nice out, and I got to bring beer, so all in all, not bad. We did our best to wear out Grampa's golf cart too going back and forth from PM Park and Cuddy and Kim's house.

We got to see Anna again, which is cool. Good to see other people going through the same shit you went through, plus she's cute.




When we got back, I spent a couple hours doing yard work. Then Mara and I were outside just the two of us. She said she wanted to ride her bike. So we tooled around the driveway for a while then we went around the block. She did great. At first when she thought she was going too fast, she would bail into the grass. Funny I thought. I was trying to teach her how to use the coaster brake, but is wasn't clicking. Then finally she got it. Then it was cool to stop, so that took a while to get over. She got tired about 3/4 of the way around the block and wanted to walk. I told her I'd give her an M&M when we got back if she finished. She said "Five M&M's", sounded like a fair deal to me, so we shook on it and she was back on the bike. Not long after, we got home and she hammed it up for the camera.

Crazy Bastard

This crazy bastard is a good friend of mine. Shared many pitchers with Canjo in my Des Moines and RAGBRAI days.

http://www.bikeiowa.com/asp/hotnews/newsdisplay.asp?NewsID=3945

For My Mom. Turn your sound on.

In case you haven't seen this.

I must have watched this a gizillion times since it first surfaced on the internet. I wouldn't expect people who don't ride to understand how this dude gets his bike and body to do what he can. As a rider, I don't even understand how he does some of this stuff.

Rain Rain Go Away

Took the truck to work yesterday with my mountain bike in the back, all stoked to go to Sugarbottom after work. I stopped by the local store to pick up a 6 pack and a sandwich for post-ride libations when it started to sprinkle. Shit. Wouldn't ya know it. Nice all day, and it starts raining at 5pm. So I high-tailed it to Beverly Park for a couple laps. Got geared up in record time and took off. 2 miles in it started pouring. I finished the lap and headed out.

Rather than go home I went to where some friends were camping with there 5th wheel. I stopped there and had a few beers. Good times. Can't wait till I can get a camper. Forced relaxation is the idea. Got home in time to hang out with the kids before they went to bed. Mara was in rare form. It was awesome.

Got up early this morning with Ellen. We made fresh hashbrowns, bacon, and eggs. Yummmmm. We're heading to Dubuque here in a little bit to the River Museum. Should be a great time.

Random Stuff

• I am a new addict to Havarti Cheese. It goes great on anything cheese should go on and then some


• I am also addicted to New Belgium Skinny Dip. This is the best summer beer I have ever tasted:

• I am not riding my bike as much as I want to, but it as much as I think is reasonable
• I am excited for the upcoming Chicago Bears Season
• I don't know why everyone thought this was "the year" for the Cubs
• I'm glad Jay Leno is gone.
• I'm very happy for my Mom and Dad. They have worked very, very hard for what they have. No one has handed them anything. They've worked their asses off for everything they have.
• I miss my brother and sister. I think it's ridiculous that I've only seen both of my new nieces once, but it's my own fault.
• There is absolutely nothing more relaxing to me than a good bike ride, followed by a good beer and a campfire. That's heaven to me.
• If you still drive a Hummer H2, the likelihood of you being a douche bag is high. If you drive a Hummer H3, it's not a likelihood at all, it's a guarantee.
• Riding a bike to work is great, but riding one home from work is even better.
• I'm avoiding studying right now. Gotta go.

Lots going on

We've had a busy couple weeks and I've been pretty lazy about updating this so here ya go:

It's been nice enough out to get the pool out a couple of times. The girls love being in the water. Getting them out is a bit of a challenge. Ellen's teeth were chattering at one point and her lips were blue. When I asked her if she was cold she said "NO!!!!" Mara is not as excited about getting her head wet, but loves the pool just as much as Ellen. Me, I do my fatherly duty when they are in the pool. I keep my eye on them while putting my feet on the edge of the pool and crack open a cold one.

Mara playing in the pool.

Ellen eating turtle. Great Grampa Ritter would be proud.

Mara finished up preschool on Friday. They had a little "graduation" ceremony for all the kids. I couldn't make it, but Stacey made it. Mara has really come out of her shell in the last year. I never thought in a million years she would walk across a stage in front of a lot of people, but she did. She had to carry her bear of course.

Mara and her teacher, Miss Amy

Mara being a clown, exiting stage right.

The weather wasn't that great this weekend. I wanted to get a night of camping in on Saturday night, but that wasn't in the cards. I have a paper to write and mother nature had other plans too. I used to not care about the rain. Figured it was part of the deal, but I'd rather not deal with it now. It's not the rain itself, it's the mess afterwards. Firewood won't light, tent is all wet, chairs are wet, blah blah, blah. That camper I've been wanting would alleviate all of that nonsense. (Hint Hint Stacey). So instead of camping, I went to the library and wrote for my paper until I ran out of battery in my laptop. After that we decided to take the girls, check that, Stacey decided we were taking the girls to a carnival that Rockwell Collins was putting on. The girls had a great time playing on the inflatable stuff. Mara got to stand inside a firetruck, and they went for a little train wagon ride. They had a good time and we capped the night off with dinner at a brewpub that I like.

Ellen and Daddy on the big slide.

Mara says, "Me Too!"

Riding in the wagon train

They both loved this ride.