tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12824476903814177592024-02-21T07:35:56.582-06:00jdfreedomLiving the good life...Jdfreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250672078312478987noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282447690381417759.post-192427239264945602012-03-17T18:05:00.000-05:002012-03-17T18:05:43.974-05:00Steam BeerSo I made a Steam Beer (aka California Common) last weekend. <div><br />
</div><div>3 Lbs. Munton's light dry extract</div><div>3 Lbs. Munton's extra light dry extract</div><div>2 Lbs. whole grain crystal malt (milled)</div><div><br />
</div><div><ul><li>I put the whole grain in cheesecloth, and added it to the water. </li>
<li>Held at 150-160 degrees for 15-20 minutes (took about an hour to reach temp)</li>
<li>Brought to boil, removed grain</li>
<li>Added dry extracts</li>
<li>1 hour, 15 min. boil</li>
<li>Added 1/2 oz. Northern hops 30 min from end for bittering</li>
<li>Another 1/2 oz. Northerns added 10 min. from end of boil</li>
<li>1/2 oz. Cascade hops 5 min. from end of boil</li>
<li>1/2 oz. Cascade dry hop added to fermenter after cooling</li>
</ul>Racked to secondary fermenter after six days.</div><div>Yeast is still very active.</div><div>Planning to leave in secondary for 2 weeks, then bottle.</div><div><br />
</div>Jdfreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250672078312478987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282447690381417759.post-8201558989669492112012-03-10T23:21:00.000-06:002012-03-10T23:21:03.307-06:00Belated Brewing Follow UpThe first batch in the turkey fryer went quite well. Stimmel helped me bottle about a case and a half of imperial pints. It was very mild, and I estimate that it had about a 4% alcohol content. It was intended to be a bitter, but I feel that the hop character was not as prominent as I had hoped. It tasted more like a mild American amber. Regardless, it has been consumed. Time for a new batch!Jdfreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250672078312478987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282447690381417759.post-28327360806300588632012-01-07T21:45:00.000-06:002012-01-07T21:45:44.843-06:00Brewing Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMV3N7w2FOiiL_bYWDWwWE8wrv3-hGiAAaMynklp0u_UX2bEK7O3758WK5j3PS6d2WHzfLyDdvX8u8ZNW_jHn8qph-vGmNxXugN69o5uPYVb0Yjcf05W-VhPbc7Z8y0AqvUwP52ZFPS4/s1600/New+folder1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMV3N7w2FOiiL_bYWDWwWE8wrv3-hGiAAaMynklp0u_UX2bEK7O3758WK5j3PS6d2WHzfLyDdvX8u8ZNW_jHn8qph-vGmNxXugN69o5uPYVb0Yjcf05W-VhPbc7Z8y0AqvUwP52ZFPS4/s320/New+folder1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>So, I got a turkey fryer for Christmas. Some might think this an odd gift, but those people are probably not home-brewers. Today marks my first attempt at beer-making in 3 years. I hope I still have the touch. My fingers are crossed! I will keep a log of this batch on this blog. <br />
<br />
This is an English Bitter Ale recipe borrowed from Charlie Papazian's <i>New Complete Joy of Home Brewing.</i> It has been modified slightly to fit my own needs and tastes. See ingredients and brewing notes below:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Ingredients</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><ul><li style="text-align: left;">5 lbs. Munton's Amber Dried Malt Extract</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">1 lbs. whole grain crystal malt</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">2 oz. Kent Golding Hops (whole leaf)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">1 oz. Fuggles Hops (pellet)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Wyeast English Ale Yeast #1098</li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;">I started the yeast last night, and kept it on the refrigerator. By brew-time the packet was nice and fat! I have seen Wyeast packets take three days to prime, and I have seen them ready in a couple of hours. This one seemed to be pretty active right away. Nonetheless, I thought it better to be safe than sorry.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><ol><li>Fill brew pot with 2-3 gallons of water.</li>
<li>Crush crystal malt into straining bag.</li>
<li>Place straining bag into water and bring to a boil.</li>
<li>Once boil is achieved, remove grain and squeeze as much water as possible into wort.</li>
<li>Continue to boil and add malt extract. Continuously stir wort so as not to burn to the bottom of the pot.</li>
<li>Add 1 oz. of Kent Golding Hops and 1/2 oz. of Fuggles. Boil for 30 min. (Boiling Hops)</li>
<li>Add 1/2 oz. of Kent Golding Hops and 1/2 oz. of Fuggles. Boil for 13 min. (Flavor Hops)</li>
<li>Add last 1/2 oz. of Kent Golding Hops for last 2 minutes of boil. (Aroma Hops)</li>
<li>Sparge wort into fermenter partially filled with cold water.</li>
<li>Add contents of yeast packet when wort temperature has cooled to around 70 degrees F.</li>
</ol><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Notes</b></div></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The boil was pretty flawless. The turkey fryer is a Bass Pro Shops signature unit. It has a 20 minute timer that has to be reset often or the flame will go out. I forgot it once, and had to relight. This is a nice safety feature for turkey frying, but it isn't so useful for brewing. Otherwise it is an outstanding centerpiece for my brewkit. </div><div style="text-align: left;">My real trouble came after the boil. I have an immersion chiller which connects to the spigot on the brewpot on one side, runs through a bucket of water, then dumps into the fermenter. This all works well on paper. I imagine the chiller would have done its job well had I actually been able to send wort through it. The spigot in the brewpot became clogged with hop-trub almost immediately. I unclogged it a few times, but gave up on it when I realized how long this hot wort was going to have to sit there. I dumped the wort into a spare sparging bucket (formerly part of my immersion chiller) equipped with a bigger spigot. There was still so much trub that the bucket didn't fare much better than the brewpot. It was a little easier to remove clogs from the bucket's spigot, so the wort eventually made it to the fermenter. It is winter, and temperature control is an issue. I am fermenting in a basement room next to my water heater. It looks like this room stays a steady 65 degrees F. If I have time (and if the yeast is active) I plan to move this batch to a second fermenter next weekend, and repitch the yeast into a new batch. Blog updates will follow the progress of both batches. With any luck this beer will be ready to drink in three weeks!</div>Jdfreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250672078312478987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282447690381417759.post-81094589632824935352011-07-01T22:16:00.001-05:002011-07-01T22:20:33.376-05:00This Week in Beer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bellsbeer.com/brands/">Bells Oarsman Ale</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSfNA7sJbDW7gefkexrcbiUFD41oAm2yVAmTlJWoExqnTqQl0wL5so1cZgDfkqIG3T_EYwSETS_pPmh6xRuaKJgX2xMxhYAJ1VLit9pvXlEbEmzUSf5MOtSVeR2Pox8GG4lHkwrjs7fg/s1600/100_2883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSfNA7sJbDW7gefkexrcbiUFD41oAm2yVAmTlJWoExqnTqQl0wL5so1cZgDfkqIG3T_EYwSETS_pPmh6xRuaKJgX2xMxhYAJ1VLit9pvXlEbEmzUSf5MOtSVeR2Pox8GG4lHkwrjs7fg/s320/100_2883.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Since this blog is really about nothing, and everything at the same time...I guess there is room for beer notes! I feel this one is worth mentioning. I am a long-time fan of Bell's, as their <a href="http://www.bellsbeer.com/brands/">Hop-Slam</a> may be the greatest IPA ever. Sorry <a href="http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/the-brews/index.htm">Dogfish Head 120-minute</a>. I would do a 'Pepsi challenge' between the two if either could be purchased from Iowa distributors...but I digress. Today, I had my first taste of the Oarsman Ale. This is apparently available year-round, but today was the first time I had seen it on the shelf. This is a mildly sour and acidic brew. The alcohol content is a mere 4%, making it a perfect session beer. Having put down two since mowing the lawn in 95 degree heat, I am now feeling quite comfortable; but not sluggish. Though I have no idea how it is mashed, nor what kind of yeast it contains; I think this must be a tribute to fine Flemish ales. The head is thin, but bubbly. Though there is quite a bit of cloudiness, there is not the filling quality found in some blonde-colored ales. I taste notes of green apples and green peppers. Bell's has done it again! This is a fantastic summertime ale! I drank it with my stir-fry dinner, and it held up well. This is a very versatile beer, which could be imbibed at any time for any occasion. Well done Bell's Brewery!!</div>Jdfreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250672078312478987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282447690381417759.post-66343363674080569422011-06-20T23:57:00.000-05:002011-06-20T23:57:55.497-05:00Yard Work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmIZUqXBMop1CRUeFqtU4r_iLI8NDnAQ5l0CQO99C_k_qmcLFnbuTNHCBvSxABc8LM4qWJWDTCBdc7SylUSN3WSuiaafrDx3xhF6DMNNE06D_96L7Wedud-PwXK9KrlrdhnNuTwtHJj0/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmIZUqXBMop1CRUeFqtU4r_iLI8NDnAQ5l0CQO99C_k_qmcLFnbuTNHCBvSxABc8LM4qWJWDTCBdc7SylUSN3WSuiaafrDx3xhF6DMNNE06D_96L7Wedud-PwXK9KrlrdhnNuTwtHJj0/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The joys of yard work are mostly in retrospect. It is always great to see the end result, but rarely is there much to celebrate in the moment...except when you find one of these! While buried deep in our hedge, and attempting to save it from the wrath every imaginable other tree and vine trying to choke the life out of it; we discovered this tree frog! He was just hanging around in there while we chopped away. I didn't even know we had such animals in Iowa, and had we not been slaving away in there, we would have never seen him. </div>Jdfreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250672078312478987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282447690381417759.post-59970398128378924132011-06-15T00:02:00.000-05:002011-06-15T00:02:20.919-05:00No More F***ing Rain!!!<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTq3MuJwiwuBO4SKyQ58GnIPG752jrK0jja07fTG-pYQnMPd3FM" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">What is the deal with the rain? It's 95 degrees for four days, then back to 60's and 70's with rain. This is not good for the guy who has to show up to work halfway dry. Maybe I need to look into some waterproof panniers. The weather this late spring reminds me a lot of the summer of 1993. If it's going to be like that, then it's a good idea to prepare to be wet! More to come on that. I have spent the last two weekends accumulating tools to perform bottom bracket surgery on the old Rockhopper. This will be my first unassisted attempt, and I hope all will go well. If it does not go well...Rasmussen Bike Shop is right down the street!! Wish me luck. See you on the trail!</div>Jdfreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250672078312478987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282447690381417759.post-18606204017733061692011-06-03T23:32:00.000-05:002011-06-03T23:32:44.676-05:00It's a hot one!`<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="239" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRtJvGvqX6nutCl0VOJNpsbouYRfJy35IPcXUHWbgpVTsNo4mkARg" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was definitely a warm one this morning...and this evening. The trails are clear and the sun is hot. I guess it's summer in Iowa! Commuting was held to two cycling days this week due to circumstances beyond my control. Next week there will be more bike miles. I still <i>REALLY</i> want one of those <a href="http://www.xtracycle.com/">xtracycles</a>! Ebay had one for a very reasonable price. Sadly, my cheap Dutch blood prevented yet another sweet purchase. I did, however, find a head/tail lamp set for a price I was willing to pay. Reviews are forthcoming. That's the week in cycling. See you on the trail.</div>Jdfreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250672078312478987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282447690381417759.post-43128878093026569932011-06-02T22:48:00.000-05:002011-06-02T22:48:31.130-05:00I want one of these SO MUCH!<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="240" src="http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd52/mscarani/Project%20Xtracycle/IMG_4653.jpg" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My friend Joe has an <a href="http://www.xtracycle.com/">xtracycle</a> and I have admired it for some time. Given my recent cycle-commuting initiative, I am becoming obsessed! My ancient Rockhopper deserves to look this freakin' cool!!!! It has served me well over the years, and even took me on a self-contained Ragbrai in '06. If only it had this kind of cargo capacity. Well, maybe someday. For now I may just have to settle for a new bottom bracket. See you on the trail.</div>Jdfreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250672078312478987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282447690381417759.post-56880700431316936652011-05-26T00:06:00.000-05:002011-05-26T00:06:14.710-05:00Freakin' Rain!<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR8Q4mXGb8L3ZYwGSmOfvHZMsYeS2Z-YZVC4akQX-_SGjwa0m2k-Q" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Rain and cold! That about sums up the day. There was water over the <a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/s/routes/view/run-jog-map/iowa/des-moines/1456157">Bill Riley Trail</a> in several places this morning, and it looked as though the river was up significantly. This evening, the ride home was cold and windy! I'm sure I will think differently in August, but when do the scorching sun and 90% humidity begin? Oh well...tomorrow will be better than today. I'll see you on the trail.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Jdfreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250672078312478987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282447690381417759.post-72689004890235704752011-05-24T23:50:00.000-05:002011-05-24T23:50:59.178-05:00BikePedia - Complete Bicycles/Frames 1993 manufacturersNeed to identify your bike, and its components? <div><a href="http://www.bikepedia.com/QuickBike/Bikes.aspx?Year=1993">BikePedia - Complete Bicycles/Frames 1993 manufacturers</a></div>Jdfreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250672078312478987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282447690381417759.post-16274921903407265822011-05-24T23:20:00.000-05:002011-05-24T23:20:42.392-05:00Not Sure How to Title These Now<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRRGi2pVZAkuRSNxyMIPH6itDPVz0SLZo6G5sRXecUt5tG6vZrN" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I suppose the pic sums it up. Another day, another commute! The bike lockers have been full at work this week. Though there are only six, I am glad to see them in service...Even if it means I have to tie up at the rack. It seems the old Rockhopper is in need of a new bottom bracket. There is a fair amount of creaking and clacking down there. It's time to do some online research, before it gets worse. Let <a href="http://sheldonbrown.com/home.html">Sheldon Brown</a> be my guide. See you on the trail!</div>Jdfreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250672078312478987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282447690381417759.post-53808270968012146512011-05-23T23:53:00.000-05:002011-05-23T23:53:29.378-05:00Bike to Work...Revolution<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="239" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ6KMPIitFkvT-M6cOnsOQnZajGO53Aa5BNlGRNJ4R8S8nRCPiD" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So it continues....</div><div style="text-align: center;">It has become my mission to continue cycle-commuting to work. Today was my first non-bike-to-work-week commute. If last week taught me anything, it's that there is no excuse for my driving addiction. I must ride!...And I must blog about it; even, if only, for myself (as I am one of my two followers). I realize that there will be situations that necessitate a four-wheeled, roofed form of transport, but they seem few and far between. Laziness is not a good reason to drive to work anymore!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Now let's set some cycle-commuting ground rules.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I will ride my bike to work unless:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><ul><li style="text-align: left;">There is severe weather (Thunderstorms, heavy rain, etc).</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">I have some kind of important meeting or interview.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">There is an after-work commitment, which requires a vehicle.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Something happens that I have not foreseen, which requires a vehicle.</li>
</ul><div style="text-align: center;">I know that last one leaves some pretty big holes in the commitment, but you never know! These rules will be revisited in the fall, and cool/cold weather measures will be taken at that time. This is my commitment, and my blog will see me through. See you on the trail!</div>Jdfreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250672078312478987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282447690381417759.post-49296445641608391182011-05-20T23:11:00.000-05:002011-05-20T23:11:32.235-05:00Bike to Work Week Days 4 and 5<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="bike month logo" height="201" src="http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bikemonth/images/bikemonth_bike_small.gif" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Day 4:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">60's and sunny morning and evening. It seemed that bike to work week must have been gathering steam. There were more bikes in the racks at work than any previous day. Since my shift begins later than most, all six bike lockers in the parking garage were full; but there was still plenty of room in the racks. It is nice to see so many people observing the<i> holiday(?) </i>week. With any luck, some of us will continue our auto-commuting boycott. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Day 5:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Rain!! I awoke to thunder and lightning at around 7AM...then I went back to sleep. Groggily, I convinced myself it would rain all morning; and there was no sense in considering a bike ride to work. Later, after oatmeal eggs and a shot of coffee; the sun began to peek around the clouds and through the curtains. Guilt began to take hold. This was the fifth and final day of Bike to Work Week, and I was considering a scratch? The wheels hit the trail shortly thereafter. I arrived damp but not cold, and I was glad of my decision. After work, the weather had not changed. The streets were wet, but the air was dry; and Ingersoll Avenue saw me safely home. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Bike to Work Week</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Review</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cycle commuting is a possibility in Des Moines, Iowa</div><div style="text-align: center;">...as long as you have access to a few advantages:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><ol><li style="text-align: left;">Your workplace provides a place to change clothes and shower.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">There is a place near your job to store your bicycle safely.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">While working, you have a safe place to store your cycling gear not attached to your bike.</li>
</ol><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It is even easier to cycle to work if:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><ol><li>You live near the trail system or cycle friendly streets.</li>
<li>Your workplace provides bike lockers.</li>
<li>You have the time to dedicate to cycle-commuting. </li>
</ol><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cycle-commuting requires a conscious effort. Many people have obligations that remove cycling as a transportation option. Many others work in places that do not have the amenities necessary to make it an option. Those of us who do have the choice should seriously consider options other than driving to work every day. Fuel will never return to 1990's prices, and some believe our government can no longer afford to sustain its subsidies. Maybe those of us who have a choice should consider our alternatives. I, for one, choose cycling!</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Jdfreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250672078312478987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282447690381417759.post-4699348732328368382011-05-19T12:53:00.001-05:002011-05-19T12:55:28.845-05:00Bike to Work Week Day 3<div align="center"><img class="sg_t" height="187px" src="http://ts4.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=896249770223&id=41ee390872022f715b3d136e0435cb52&url=http%3a%2f%2fupload.wikimedia.org%2fwikipedia%2fcommons%2fb%2fb9%2fBamboo_Bike.jpg" style="height: 187px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="250px" /></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I forgot to post last night, so here we go. My Wednesday cycle-commute was rather uneventful. I decided I should run after riding home last night, and that was about all of the energy I could muster. Dinner and TV and bed, were all I could handle. I am at work now, and will see you tonight on the trail!</div>Jdfreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250672078312478987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282447690381417759.post-52660828227580162202011-05-17T23:36:00.000-05:002011-05-17T23:36:41.903-05:00Bike to Work Week Day 2<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="189" src="http://www.geeksaresexy.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/bike.jpg" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Two days, two success stories! The trail gods smiled upon me again today. There was, again, a vacant bike locker in the parking ramp at work; and I even remembered to pack a towel. It was a good day to be a cyclist. After work I checked out the new MLK bridge by Sec Taylor Field (aka Principal Park...but real fans will never call it that). It seems there will be trail and a bike lane along this new street. According to the sparse information I found <a href="http://www.absolutedsm.com/des-moines-projects/downtown-projects-index/under-construction/1094-mlk-east-west-extension-east-of-the-dsm-river.html">online</a>, it seems this will connect with 14th Street. There is also a trail system in place on the East side of the river, that I have yet to explore. This is another fantastic development for Downtown Des Moines and its ever-evolving cycling scene! After a twilight ride home, some dinner, and a little TV...It's time for bed. I am looking forward to Bike to Work Week Day 3. I'll see you on the trail!</div>Jdfreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250672078312478987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282447690381417759.post-52019345461205080462011-05-16T23:45:00.000-05:002011-05-16T23:45:45.625-05:00Bike to Work Week Day 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img alt="Vintage Bicycle with Fenders clipart" src="http://www.clipartguide.com/_thumbs/0511-1001-2823-0317.jpg" /></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;">I have been cycling for many years, but I have always driven a car to work. This is to be my inaugural <a href="http://www.bikeiowa.com/asp/bike/">Bike to Work Week</a>, and I am proud to say that day one is complete! I have officially cycle-commuted to and from work. There was an available bike locker in the parking garage; and, thanks to the excellent locker room facilities in the gym at work, I had a place to clean up and shower. Since home is so close to downtown, I decided to add a couple of miles by trail rather than a straight shot down Ingersoll Avenue; though that is a quicker option in a time-crunch. The <a href="https://www.bikeiowa.com/asp/hotnews/newsdisplay.asp?NewsID=4996">Bill Riley Trail</a> took me to Waterworks Park this morning, but I decided to take the road through the park rather than the trail past Gray's Lake. <a href="https://www.bikeiowa.com/">Bike Iowa</a> says the trail is open under the Fleur Drive bridge, but I was on the way to work; so I didn't want to take a chance. Maybe I will try it tomorrow. </div>Jdfreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250672078312478987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282447690381417759.post-53881876003970413982011-05-14T22:47:00.000-05:002011-05-14T22:47:44.677-05:00BloggingOk...I need to do something with this blog. What to do? I have resolved to ride my bike to work next week in observation of <a href="http://www.bikeiowa.com/asp/features/featuresdisplay.asp?ArticleID=1206">Bike to Work Week</a>. Maybe I can write here about the experience. If nothing else, I think that the act of putting this into writing may actually prompt me to do it. Further, I hope that this will be a week that changes the way I commute! Living within 3 miles of work, I really feel I could make better "green" choices. Then again, maybe I am getting ahead of myself. Look for updates starting Monday...or not.Jdfreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250672078312478987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282447690381417759.post-82663872762852951022010-10-15T21:12:00.002-05:002010-10-15T21:20:20.964-05:00Jdfreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250672078312478987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282447690381417759.post-72945624089936155332010-07-08T10:15:00.000-05:002010-07-08T10:15:19.625-05:00Urban Assault Ride 2010 - Des Moines<a href="http://www.urbanassaultride.com/desmoines">Urban Assault Ride 2010 - Des Moines</a>Jdfreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250672078312478987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282447690381417759.post-19622980066163482012010-05-25T21:17:00.000-05:002010-05-25T21:20:44.886-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgtF_jq_D4k7VtTdCcSOKRijfBSleUr8Hio0Qnzdf4Jg34uTwIljMScTlOtVdl133HL2YN1PT8W0scX214YeY87s_cCElGuQtiGOFE2o8gFLheJwgLsDeXN-GexBQ-YWTp5tvvKZNl8w/s1600/100_2063.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgtF_jq_D4k7VtTdCcSOKRijfBSleUr8Hio0Qnzdf4Jg34uTwIljMScTlOtVdl133HL2YN1PT8W0scX214YeY87s_cCElGuQtiGOFE2o8gFLheJwgLsDeXN-GexBQ-YWTp5tvvKZNl8w/s320/100_2063.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475397899457620130" /></a>Jdfreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250672078312478987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282447690381417759.post-47521798169280408782009-07-01T20:19:00.005-05:002009-07-01T22:34:24.487-05:00Buffalo Cabin Trail<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNbAczwDLm4W-_-KuxM1qwqylxtE8M_dU3THkpX4t0SKGpvXAJP5hMbyJNtVRza_s9ft0Smt7X4Fb4xa63PqqNhUmX6XUb68ymCrbwmVk9HwK-XshZmW6dhrOM8eRfAz45MsUINE3DpQ/s1600-h/100_1659.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNbAczwDLm4W-_-KuxM1qwqylxtE8M_dU3THkpX4t0SKGpvXAJP5hMbyJNtVRza_s9ft0Smt7X4Fb4xa63PqqNhUmX6XUb68ymCrbwmVk9HwK-XshZmW6dhrOM8eRfAz45MsUINE3DpQ/s320/100_1659.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353697529389220546" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Today I hiked Buffalo Mountain (12,777 ft.), and I went into it not knowing what to expect. Speaking as a novice, it is definitely the most difficult hike I've done to date. Having this one under my belt, I feel a bit more confident when considering some of the 14ers I am planning to climb later in the season.<br />Buffalo is an imposing peak that looms above the town of Silverthorne, CO. The trail starts at the top of Wildernest, which is a housing development above town. Click on this article's title for a link to driving directions.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIdaLcKmb84Dknw2kPL7ABvAtA8HjM8JM31z5LWhaMHfL1_9JETC_MSkvJiQrVHPNiVGJGHF28UBNhx2AGVaa2JrkDqo6FgwBeh-f6fJw5vBvTlc4fyZiA-9MnIWgmyrgxYqViDSrkrI/s1600-h/100_1660.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIdaLcKmb84Dknw2kPL7ABvAtA8HjM8JM31z5LWhaMHfL1_9JETC_MSkvJiQrVHPNiVGJGHF28UBNhx2AGVaa2JrkDqo6FgwBeh-f6fJw5vBvTlc4fyZiA-9MnIWgmyrgxYqViDSrkrI/s320/100_1660.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353697536152596386" border="0" /></a><br />19th Century Cabin Ruins<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwMuiM2RDslia_hrtIHwieCIBGDX0NN_z6uKXHhiGbTwzzJwwbnmh9oYk1qN41xEZzu-GHv9Ifcyy4sniE0NtGuCfbsKW7Epq0z_Ue9fsp5lILCNiQWU1lJbysPxzOPFsLrbAFWGu90U4/s1600-h/100_1665.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwMuiM2RDslia_hrtIHwieCIBGDX0NN_z6uKXHhiGbTwzzJwwbnmh9oYk1qN41xEZzu-GHv9Ifcyy4sniE0NtGuCfbsKW7Epq0z_Ue9fsp5lILCNiQWU1lJbysPxzOPFsLrbAFWGu90U4/s320/100_1665.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353697539947492562" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">These are the namesake of the trail. I'm not sure why people built here...Mining?<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyVoTJDjAPqdojBQg2DpXuGkCmwXYD5mFW-YnWCV7EtFzr3hurFoNfXLh9f0N2f4-cAu93w6YaAwgeWORZpkQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3pUipV1EjuwX7YrrSShQcYj05ovymXWwqjkgQyE0sLXD334wy6IkmAFQbcaDv6e6zYqZztpSUl8XFSOMBCbn5zh6-gO2aiG1RhrVAeee3Q593n0C2l5JZh26SZFdWay94Aa-KQexKOs/s1600-h/100_1681.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3pUipV1EjuwX7YrrSShQcYj05ovymXWwqjkgQyE0sLXD334wy6IkmAFQbcaDv6e6zYqZztpSUl8XFSOMBCbn5zh6-gO2aiG1RhrVAeee3Q593n0C2l5JZh26SZFdWay94Aa-KQexKOs/s320/100_1681.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353697558405039666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuz0FxgjTTTz367tPpweUshKmj1OfU8JxHgY0TaJrLK4ZswvaQK_oJGzxoiE4xXkyzOmx86lLS6FpG9dZ2NMIo3AfgpkVpLpNJ41dxDC8Q6iaGssdujg0t1pu1E5EkrlNhe-V5krpaHOk/s1600-h/100_1677.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuz0FxgjTTTz367tPpweUshKmj1OfU8JxHgY0TaJrLK4ZswvaQK_oJGzxoiE4xXkyzOmx86lLS6FpG9dZ2NMIo3AfgpkVpLpNJ41dxDC8Q6iaGssdujg0t1pu1E5EkrlNhe-V5krpaHOk/s320/100_1677.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353697547487113282" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The trail crosses some large rock fields and is marked with cairns. Even though it's July there was snow over parts of the trail and still clinging to the top of the mountain and its bowl.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6YmA3GVtKsvQZTXPLTzpRommXvOH4nJpywdXl4NC2fBgJci0t4cwve7oiGaxZezyVib8Wa3KCw_wHdmZcicqBhqgcnnGVNYE4LEGQ5_v3W46Kw7mK93dwqWi2ANYLEW20oP1Kp2W794/s1600-h/100_1695.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6YmA3GVtKsvQZTXPLTzpRommXvOH4nJpywdXl4NC2fBgJci0t4cwve7oiGaxZezyVib8Wa3KCw_wHdmZcicqBhqgcnnGVNYE4LEGQ5_v3W46Kw7mK93dwqWi2ANYLEW20oP1Kp2W794/s320/100_1695.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353700838516341554" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUkrcfS0Dcb2N8IE4oxx1j_pcW4kF10rxFq4LRaj2RefBekQSQahUv54HzbMG31UoMq5lPB8LQVC99k7mU9qKnj0DSjueOdg7fF3N5H429vHDMA71kfN0_2fXLpTmomsis-wyKYs7H34/s1600-h/100_1702.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUkrcfS0Dcb2N8IE4oxx1j_pcW4kF10rxFq4LRaj2RefBekQSQahUv54HzbMG31UoMq5lPB8LQVC99k7mU9qKnj0DSjueOdg7fF3N5H429vHDMA71kfN0_2fXLpTmomsis-wyKYs7H34/s320/100_1702.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353700848391572674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Jl1S4_4UGhK5eDF2t8QWKuPL0Qkc5mA90nwVvTQ3eomJo0VTmC5A7mOumCJ3lONfCdGQ6yiSc6hjylzv8Jvl_NAlV0hR9Kh_9OweZpbIqBShVCxc-JRSRYw_aJ9xYiwH9E2xWw1g6Zk/s1600-h/100_1707.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Jl1S4_4UGhK5eDF2t8QWKuPL0Qkc5mA90nwVvTQ3eomJo0VTmC5A7mOumCJ3lONfCdGQ6yiSc6hjylzv8Jvl_NAlV0hR9Kh_9OweZpbIqBShVCxc-JRSRYw_aJ9xYiwH9E2xWw1g6Zk/s320/100_1707.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353700843362938530" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJaJ5kpa1cvJxgYSXcMAQnVaqP9OW1T4eZhnZGZ66HySch-oeOHErMlOGNnH1_DxFvrm094Bgv-5kZp76pK3Pj12eeLNM88TO_shtgZLQp00Ni4flWtgFfvbYPKmPdX_2rbYGB7aUvA1g/s1600-h/100_1707.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Jdfreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250672078312478987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282447690381417759.post-2047387917083541582009-06-29T20:05:00.006-05:002009-06-29T21:04:07.595-05:00Hiking the Lenawee Trail<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbt4AUDfcrYEg2EkjYe_ZfDF47Iwki7JqYeUbYDcSwZXWkp-0Lv1k8pLuY7d4gINvjXsK8dvUwrlDx1WDjJEWZi0GO5aWVSsU6dGRvwA4u_p0cQsGsbNKbP9U2HZaAoYVlGmnTF3hC550/s1600-h/100_1597.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbt4AUDfcrYEg2EkjYe_ZfDF47Iwki7JqYeUbYDcSwZXWkp-0Lv1k8pLuY7d4gINvjXsK8dvUwrlDx1WDjJEWZi0GO5aWVSsU6dGRvwA4u_p0cQsGsbNKbP9U2HZaAoYVlGmnTF3hC550/s320/100_1597.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352932992885030562" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wvdw3Swz82TPcQt7utTtIjLg6W02DD5TzNyAAJjaQrj91Kc844wLrGLXl4v2w9aQ6tSwAyhBE4RnV_3RYpHJVa9wHcBkEfeMN-bgiEI98rxo2QXJhbyoGkpIgQUB4MdAxhle4bLSiec/s1600-h/100_1614.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wvdw3Swz82TPcQt7utTtIjLg6W02DD5TzNyAAJjaQrj91Kc844wLrGLXl4v2w9aQ6tSwAyhBE4RnV_3RYpHJVa9wHcBkEfeMN-bgiEI98rxo2QXJhbyoGkpIgQUB4MdAxhle4bLSiec/s320/100_1614.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352932999313570418" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguP1Nks-HORH9NkXSpaPNycGLs2nGVtt7SxjcK5hC6YvFkGpjmZfIBePk9Rxqdxn1j7FstTWux8q11E15k5r36Vo5DCPPzxdL_JYB0DHS6WTj-5Epyaj9QvT1Qfzi6VT6jceamiHdBJ6k/s1600-h/100_1642.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguP1Nks-HORH9NkXSpaPNycGLs2nGVtt7SxjcK5hC6YvFkGpjmZfIBePk9Rxqdxn1j7FstTWux8q11E15k5r36Vo5DCPPzxdL_JYB0DHS6WTj-5Epyaj9QvT1Qfzi6VT6jceamiHdBJ6k/s320/100_1642.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352934681888362658" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6BuxEscB9ymZsNSckb_SjojUeD69fEG3K5iA-VfcTxOajqewVFKeGB8NBXXfg2Mtgu3ZNZtcUwMCFCkLDGd7LHbC6nXD9JRzdKKRfuEa2eWbhsrRH4kMLaNXi5AXDJNAyqb4nNZq7J0/s1600-h/100_1637.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6BuxEscB9ymZsNSckb_SjojUeD69fEG3K5iA-VfcTxOajqewVFKeGB8NBXXfg2Mtgu3ZNZtcUwMCFCkLDGd7LHbC6nXD9JRzdKKRfuEa2eWbhsrRH4kMLaNXi5AXDJNAyqb4nNZq7J0/s320/100_1637.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352933012556344098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvRpClJaLdH6mY4vIok3z69oCDoBXlDHTZ-cu69dzUS9Q66qfy6dua4iyOd6zmkApIfDGmj9TEI62dD3nWv4AQ3KGq6kmBeoxarjg4jYSBPde81uJLihPwVbrX80GhF1V6Z8yYc_ogrI/s1600-h/100_1628.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvRpClJaLdH6mY4vIok3z69oCDoBXlDHTZ-cu69dzUS9Q66qfy6dua4iyOd6zmkApIfDGmj9TEI62dD3nWv4AQ3KGq6kmBeoxarjg4jYSBPde81uJLihPwVbrX80GhF1V6Z8yYc_ogrI/s320/100_1628.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352933006297384258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoW7HJnVdn6YKetZcn0yh6m7iv4PFDgbcxk2z9EQ41GSc14LVqOnLxoFl6XWkCh0e2zXZjRKHszPdPUtepDqEtr_-Qgh823zx05DUkIGI_hQZiTKbxA7pSrn7zfSAsdEkXvTsccgGq8Is/s1600-h/100_1618.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoW7HJnVdn6YKetZcn0yh6m7iv4PFDgbcxk2z9EQ41GSc14LVqOnLxoFl6XWkCh0e2zXZjRKHszPdPUtepDqEtr_-Qgh823zx05DUkIGI_hQZiTKbxA7pSrn7zfSAsdEkXvTsccgGq8Is/s320/100_1618.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352933002409500082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxPCy-x8WEuVkixGiQ9VLHuRjr2-U0jwUjpU0XfDxEAIn-YEGGZnUF8m7jDvqIlia6eodKgYXAG1M_ocFtg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br />Today, I hiked the Lenawee Trail from Peru Creek to the top of Lenawee Mountain. I didn't read that much about it before I started, so I was surprised to find myself at the top of the East Wall of Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. Lenawee is one of many peaks on the Great Divide, and it seems one can see forever in any direction from the top.<br /><br />After a three-hour hike to the summit, I stopped for lunch. As I finished a granola bar I heard large rocks moving above my head. Startled, and expecting a slide I turned and looked up to see three mountain goats descending from the rocky peak straight toward me. I stood and waved my arms thinking it better not to let them get too close before I was seen. They stopped not more than 30 feet away, and watched me as I watched them. One of them even appeared to be lounging as they, presumably, waited for me to leave. I grabbed my camera and got a little footage of this rarity.<br /><br />I also saw Elk, some kind of Marmot-looking beaver things, mice, and plenty of birds. No bear sign today, and that was a good thing. The trip took about 5 hours, and was the best hike I've done since moving to Colorado.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDPgtZglc0oubDIIEPmE1EMg7De3hUl_H2Xkr_U-6CCXCD8KeDZMEdof0oMVggChc1bEciDaPRAIDpz-odeEus0Yt_exZloMKCQk0xB8w-bZ_e8Gap-GBLx284OlJUaQ7Pm1sp_jbr-A/s1600-h/100_1654-1+%28Modified%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDPgtZglc0oubDIIEPmE1EMg7De3hUl_H2Xkr_U-6CCXCD8KeDZMEdof0oMVggChc1bEciDaPRAIDpz-odeEus0Yt_exZloMKCQk0xB8w-bZ_e8Gap-GBLx284OlJUaQ7Pm1sp_jbr-A/s320/100_1654-1+%28Modified%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352934698019678642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44uBvoc3DKyQ143X2Uq7TkveruLyUNhiXhyMOC-MKRBbTRp1_ahmxAlOB9D8C8-nBEdpuYSpgs3sEIrNo7nAgHOpCAarYHRviAhZkk1EBfw20cnjrz91hhotoD_V-nIALEmNzhClDHS0/s1600-h/100_1650-1+%28Modified%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44uBvoc3DKyQ143X2Uq7TkveruLyUNhiXhyMOC-MKRBbTRp1_ahmxAlOB9D8C8-nBEdpuYSpgs3sEIrNo7nAgHOpCAarYHRviAhZkk1EBfw20cnjrz91hhotoD_V-nIALEmNzhClDHS0/s320/100_1650-1+%28Modified%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352934693453534722" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjm_-zZP1-NfeYOtFstTS_NkXfJgzKLRpb8fJZXeBlBytO5H65TlTgugJhT9MYznh0VTMT9p60F-FAIoRGNy6NLGN3DbaUvNSHb8d8kjtbnKRyoaeyoSNgrPwYrl_ThqtCZJ9gFcZfTo/s1600-h/100_1647-1+%28Modified%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjm_-zZP1-NfeYOtFstTS_NkXfJgzKLRpb8fJZXeBlBytO5H65TlTgugJhT9MYznh0VTMT9p60F-FAIoRGNy6NLGN3DbaUvNSHb8d8kjtbnKRyoaeyoSNgrPwYrl_ThqtCZJ9gFcZfTo/s320/100_1647-1+%28Modified%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352934692748826306" border="0" /></a>Jdfreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250672078312478987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282447690381417759.post-80734921881301450012009-06-22T20:33:00.003-05:002009-06-22T20:50:32.044-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkC31zB4xaYPl9T8fN7GZc3RSP7IxhtGI8VcLyCF63QeHMyAh5ttt2pfvmAVPJVbOtcQU7i4mt_6l1jkTmzjXpwJvVkObcyjlNM41jEJ9Xk7mG18YJi18VOloVIdW6lv9rXiQuHFJxJgs/s1600-h/100_1531.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkC31zB4xaYPl9T8fN7GZc3RSP7IxhtGI8VcLyCF63QeHMyAh5ttt2pfvmAVPJVbOtcQU7i4mt_6l1jkTmzjXpwJvVkObcyjlNM41jEJ9Xk7mG18YJi18VOloVIdW6lv9rXiQuHFJxJgs/s320/100_1531.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350333945689850738" border="0" /></a><br />Well I really thought I had done some serious hiking yesterday. Today I hiked the <a href="http://rockymountainscenery.com/log/ptarmigan.html">Ptarmigan Peak Trail</a>. The climb to the summit (12,498 ft.) took about 3.5 hours. It was a fantastic hike, but I wasn't planning on being gone that long. I thought I had reached the summit about 5 times before I actually did it. Quitters never win, right?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_LGb0qkZCKNMxpORr5hJVFXu_JhAUPpN_tXuJYzhFffbaFkeL4GEsncVhBZvhr4rUQp81DBLEtpEHTLQ84jHFWLi3GQMg8Y-K2JIT40ulJH3x72kZS8IMBOm3jZr2EiP_zoLFZ8EKeU/s1600-h/100_1553.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_LGb0qkZCKNMxpORr5hJVFXu_JhAUPpN_tXuJYzhFffbaFkeL4GEsncVhBZvhr4rUQp81DBLEtpEHTLQ84jHFWLi3GQMg8Y-K2JIT40ulJH3x72kZS8IMBOm3jZr2EiP_zoLFZ8EKeU/s320/100_1553.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350333950246806962" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vKwZMBVI_BRfSFl4-I8SyLWVTG9iH9vkbPSKEHlmjASj4SfYyBJsU61TZg9uCkCBRgoJDb8EDska1rKYmzPWPK691bXTcquTbjLqjV8reSMRf2APzbcnNkv0kTUezVRG0JgDaRi5WKk/s1600-h/100_1581.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vKwZMBVI_BRfSFl4-I8SyLWVTG9iH9vkbPSKEHlmjASj4SfYyBJsU61TZg9uCkCBRgoJDb8EDska1rKYmzPWPK691bXTcquTbjLqjV8reSMRf2APzbcnNkv0kTUezVRG0JgDaRi5WKk/s320/100_1581.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350333959148474946" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfd1jm47Amd4GLHJsk2ohlOTpT3rFJel_OkxqNTcHVgUzdTauPjwWV21D5zJB5Y6FcvLvHJVFPT11XtUi17D7dxbCDC5nHxEPF4ksMN8jOLyjUB9mLemQEjXKmdeUpOnWytJoYLA2CJ0w/s1600-h/100_1590.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfd1jm47Amd4GLHJsk2ohlOTpT3rFJel_OkxqNTcHVgUzdTauPjwWV21D5zJB5Y6FcvLvHJVFPT11XtUi17D7dxbCDC5nHxEPF4ksMN8jOLyjUB9mLemQEjXKmdeUpOnWytJoYLA2CJ0w/s320/100_1590.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350333962392713026" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNctAK73nF8wg_SC2wuF-2dqqPIvpDVJxyTLYboYMVN78FjqG8aqS2ob-8J2ymJsNdaHhQPd4H9iQOOmcaqIY12N6OSt1y7N0scybRGDaRk7hETMEjQL0Qu1kaPt0H5Dr3Sif5ygpvZg/s1600-h/100_1576.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNctAK73nF8wg_SC2wuF-2dqqPIvpDVJxyTLYboYMVN78FjqG8aqS2ob-8J2ymJsNdaHhQPd4H9iQOOmcaqIY12N6OSt1y7N0scybRGDaRk7hETMEjQL0Qu1kaPt0H5Dr3Sif5ygpvZg/s320/100_1576.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350333952881638194" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx6Oeo1V63tFA44GURAOHUbDcN9iHI0WwP3D0RKBDNYCzGhK2k70Zf66WmNqismZuAToIBJGCIMeMBikZWnMw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Jdfreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250672078312478987noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282447690381417759.post-23523541449916996402009-06-21T22:07:00.012-05:002009-06-21T23:22:37.649-05:00The Keystone Gulch RoadHere are a couple of videos and pics of my Jeep/hiking excursion today. I took the Keystone Gulch Road, which is the back way to the Outpost building where I work. At the gate to the Outpost I took a right and climbed toward Erickson Mine. I am trying to find a little history on the mine, but have none yet. I drove until I found snow covering the road, then hiked to the mine and then past it to the top of Keystone Mountain (12,408 ft.) and Bear Mountain (12,585 ft.).<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzr87CTz0Lk0Q1BNQ0t8fH6OGgFXs_EJX0EtJW3mxSRtabmjdLg18GyXFWPgkssQ_03vVWghvfLpFTsjWwVWQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyW-ocIgQCQjxWgwiNn8mXEQy7mTmbsd_desUN5V3E9YIqD8n8N3QNCatbVOFKlnPun3nbWIjcnBno59ysQPQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyw99zMz4ErpxtdlcGMR7tHVg8ZUCz1cVyAMQB_luZneAGmvfmvCNL687U9SX9yo7K0-POZFOxLwZL2fk9Zzg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5dceo6JQdWUUVkC15RnI1JY8FvNVLCdk2Xd635e2mLE_CLo2W81QzdIB6HLyKIxa9hUPrvo23cGJ1gouZy5g2Bdqqv3s_nnNGLLd73mlLA7Fuv4oIIHXjSXGyHJvWQYTcGgDGUkI874/s1600-h/100_1510.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5dceo6JQdWUUVkC15RnI1JY8FvNVLCdk2Xd635e2mLE_CLo2W81QzdIB6HLyKIxa9hUPrvo23cGJ1gouZy5g2Bdqqv3s_nnNGLLd73mlLA7Fuv4oIIHXjSXGyHJvWQYTcGgDGUkI874/s320/100_1510.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350001034516861218" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPJot1em1n9m7mMDHXtXriwK3oHVUW1yHnvt0szDwO6oT2FjCi1Qtxih9aeqPmLpArfsHsxjC0VwJTChk4Fd0su21kp1mfjYZOxKbZxRyWOyJEJDH7JdrnQJqfCDlukQiC2rq3z2tRaQ/s1600-h/100_1439.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPJot1em1n9m7mMDHXtXriwK3oHVUW1yHnvt0szDwO6oT2FjCi1Qtxih9aeqPmLpArfsHsxjC0VwJTChk4Fd0su21kp1mfjYZOxKbZxRyWOyJEJDH7JdrnQJqfCDlukQiC2rq3z2tRaQ/s320/100_1439.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349999077576800434" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oKKu-ArzXaD-A8asocOwBIk4KZIm2bJHdGB95yKw5-p8sHeVJeY15zpz_q3WzE4hs52UecJhXT5PD1JA4_NFZ9LOwxntD0BvzmECs8NMr0rvA_zI6uNIbmPEp8y3f-XhxR23ExSIEu8/s1600-h/100_1427.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oKKu-ArzXaD-A8asocOwBIk4KZIm2bJHdGB95yKw5-p8sHeVJeY15zpz_q3WzE4hs52UecJhXT5PD1JA4_NFZ9LOwxntD0BvzmECs8NMr0rvA_zI6uNIbmPEp8y3f-XhxR23ExSIEu8/s320/100_1427.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349999067086138546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuk39MKwdlVAIoM4yupMHtp6lJquEREg-vpc_KuwSTmVucuHJ8fIzOxEu5HRJlI4S4yEZfrt01gYKxvqWNOpVq-kbKe54fEUTvXXxmcybX6J9sPxJgInTlfuP3i2JZa2j21bkSrGNuZf8/s1600-h/100_1445.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuk39MKwdlVAIoM4yupMHtp6lJquEREg-vpc_KuwSTmVucuHJ8fIzOxEu5HRJlI4S4yEZfrt01gYKxvqWNOpVq-kbKe54fEUTvXXxmcybX6J9sPxJgInTlfuP3i2JZa2j21bkSrGNuZf8/s320/100_1445.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349999063233505618" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9IPsdJOvCE5578aLqmnb3IbGvF7uMaQ0Mo3HIbwZmGrtKWgo7nC_y5E-r2xjB7wmKiNFFtuLNgpFW_hPXkfhUT_9Uht1Dw6ygmSTqno0r9gmNooPeMK2h64Mjy22IRgGCFdrRuDn-UI/s1600-h/100_1434.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9IPsdJOvCE5578aLqmnb3IbGvF7uMaQ0Mo3HIbwZmGrtKWgo7nC_y5E-r2xjB7wmKiNFFtuLNgpFW_hPXkfhUT_9Uht1Dw6ygmSTqno0r9gmNooPeMK2h64Mjy22IRgGCFdrRuDn-UI/s320/100_1434.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349993136469778738" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZGf30BR-ANGRj6LHLrvC9cz8_9iCVtdbSwfVEHlLJoyHpd8oQcVRgwrvu9wjUuoMugKk_NOj9hHwRUsEfyDJy3N4K6NR2wLlBFV3VJ6TXlk_8pQ2ZDP8ehewjTakVA4qJEvAQglXM2w/s1600-h/100_1428.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZGf30BR-ANGRj6LHLrvC9cz8_9iCVtdbSwfVEHlLJoyHpd8oQcVRgwrvu9wjUuoMugKk_NOj9hHwRUsEfyDJy3N4K6NR2wLlBFV3VJ6TXlk_8pQ2ZDP8ehewjTakVA4qJEvAQglXM2w/s320/100_1428.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349993138789805698" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcfSjuDEXMAV6MOpi1OZU4UR59Jk5nZgVJHqHJ1ZGppTg9PkYLsp-RwnMMvPT8UnCvBl3lzoGj8ah_BPQwJP11cWadPeWxr0-QH8OTrmZFTWCmdx4PFb_C6B7S5B8j2O5Azb4dRCvpeQ/s1600-h/100_1435.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcfSjuDEXMAV6MOpi1OZU4UR59Jk5nZgVJHqHJ1ZGppTg9PkYLsp-RwnMMvPT8UnCvBl3lzoGj8ah_BPQwJP11cWadPeWxr0-QH8OTrmZFTWCmdx4PFb_C6B7S5B8j2O5Azb4dRCvpeQ/s320/100_1435.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349993147858016722" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqBKGo4vFOxz5qy_dFfi3UzwID8C5hGm4k2EM3mdfz1yyaHdybrk7-yIy0gho5U23c50gtCKtdd5Lu1plg6cfa7LoSxB9esqZppUvnHCKpbi1VF3HU1sKU0ieW_pfH6yXVAcjEkcHUCY/s1600-h/100_1447.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqBKGo4vFOxz5qy_dFfi3UzwID8C5hGm4k2EM3mdfz1yyaHdybrk7-yIy0gho5U23c50gtCKtdd5Lu1plg6cfa7LoSxB9esqZppUvnHCKpbi1VF3HU1sKU0ieW_pfH6yXVAcjEkcHUCY/s320/100_1447.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349993148460761842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5btIEXuUP04K73Hk5qwsrd7iLdfVYyJNLv4Wveu8JxbRj1Jn5sn54iE5sKG7YZKibg8ObM1WpUUxqXtDCvMOGCT-2FrrLs_KcGSTHfSbW-vphOihcbOhQmqq-YvP8C2zIubMVXhwlhg/s1600-h/100_1417.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5btIEXuUP04K73Hk5qwsrd7iLdfVYyJNLv4Wveu8JxbRj1Jn5sn54iE5sKG7YZKibg8ObM1WpUUxqXtDCvMOGCT-2FrrLs_KcGSTHfSbW-vphOihcbOhQmqq-YvP8C2zIubMVXhwlhg/s320/100_1417.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349993130205693362" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkPtq3WENRL_tj7ttgs-DLUKv4rTOVSD8mcRKhGB_tY2HqF-UgZVvR0cKbzpQ4m-V-0mgUW8FYNZTqYBjGzOdnigRHJYefZnbrK-45mwALYmnnQ9FNUTQzVU_NHsN1UtWckBKiThWPks/s1600-h/100_1463.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkPtq3WENRL_tj7ttgs-DLUKv4rTOVSD8mcRKhGB_tY2HqF-UgZVvR0cKbzpQ4m-V-0mgUW8FYNZTqYBjGzOdnigRHJYefZnbrK-45mwALYmnnQ9FNUTQzVU_NHsN1UtWckBKiThWPks/s320/100_1463.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349999079504630226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKDGK4vNdCmm2Bt6CSZWQnz0xwqD8tct6cDDaycV9NNGaLy4Nw90Jz-sdpKCItc5abYuZkVWaTNDgyZRnX8_EkqPqNWm4bYD4bs50qSueiWJ3pmMmKYUaw2oFAbZ-pysS0lGBjPD1E-c/s1600-h/100_1502.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKDGK4vNdCmm2Bt6CSZWQnz0xwqD8tct6cDDaycV9NNGaLy4Nw90Jz-sdpKCItc5abYuZkVWaTNDgyZRnX8_EkqPqNWm4bYD4bs50qSueiWJ3pmMmKYUaw2oFAbZ-pysS0lGBjPD1E-c/s320/100_1502.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350001031834607298" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzYtY6jbvdjzeVb80vJmpeQqQ3stM9cZ9JyHQNn8Tz_RbqrbVn_4WZyf_ShyphenhyphenChDXKpPfwR-EIhADAvvTgTuwdWfxR6SuJj8wTwceCcAn_IxCg9xr9fuBHWk_G296iv55W4tXiw6swvgE/s1600-h/100_1503.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzYtY6jbvdjzeVb80vJmpeQqQ3stM9cZ9JyHQNn8Tz_RbqrbVn_4WZyf_ShyphenhyphenChDXKpPfwR-EIhADAvvTgTuwdWfxR6SuJj8wTwceCcAn_IxCg9xr9fuBHWk_G296iv55W4tXiw6swvgE/s320/100_1503.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350001027844341762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDM0Sy90A0NfaRENrWObDdKm0GTSEPat2l2dE4_dFfPx4EpD-B-dkntOAT5kHOIflpDyIXrad5uj7oQdhLBu_v8hcSDUGzx9RLaGHJDR9Sqq0w4vSKI0qNWGSPM0Pq9niJOMFtcVqezI/s1600-h/100_1495.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDM0Sy90A0NfaRENrWObDdKm0GTSEPat2l2dE4_dFfPx4EpD-B-dkntOAT5kHOIflpDyIXrad5uj7oQdhLBu_v8hcSDUGzx9RLaGHJDR9Sqq0w4vSKI0qNWGSPM0Pq9niJOMFtcVqezI/s320/100_1495.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350001020519638690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWRA0I9irTFs3z6cdU7eAF_epKh1qkETKLGkJj5cf9lU-oN_bGJk0VfiX6vl42jMQzTpw2Y-NG9rYpySzaZR5HnXgwVy3pI3zrKs28yK9i7p0HWJUVfBvK7niP4if-BZZHSakDrl_bggw/s1600-h/100_1492.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWRA0I9irTFs3z6cdU7eAF_epKh1qkETKLGkJj5cf9lU-oN_bGJk0VfiX6vl42jMQzTpw2Y-NG9rYpySzaZR5HnXgwVy3pI3zrKs28yK9i7p0HWJUVfBvK7niP4if-BZZHSakDrl_bggw/s320/100_1492.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350000321131351298" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlvi_LQQjiNAF5ZC3nXXDd_XbpCnsetMz1jp6qhFHYWTSuzqs9DMTIzog0Ra2BR43n6rTShyphenhyphenrBtq9WQK3RLn54vmVq_gv5BSnq1EM-Mz-u0G18CIh0PeTm7k1W6_7DaTxcviARkgHSEA/s1600-h/100_1488.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlvi_LQQjiNAF5ZC3nXXDd_XbpCnsetMz1jp6qhFHYWTSuzqs9DMTIzog0Ra2BR43n6rTShyphenhyphenrBtq9WQK3RLn54vmVq_gv5BSnq1EM-Mz-u0G18CIh0PeTm7k1W6_7DaTxcviARkgHSEA/s320/100_1488.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350000319599539362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnvGo_dQfMEBuXs4rohsq-7119XrgUFfANc5F0o3QaQcK8kFUmGA7uomZZJng1cJl5lXKE_vliHZNgVMD-oNW3aM6DP6Pa31zlYJSaz5yK9N8__DyGM6Lkr654mbY2jMviPGPxVkkY6k/s1600-h/100_1483.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnvGo_dQfMEBuXs4rohsq-7119XrgUFfANc5F0o3QaQcK8kFUmGA7uomZZJng1cJl5lXKE_vliHZNgVMD-oNW3aM6DP6Pa31zlYJSaz5yK9N8__DyGM6Lkr654mbY2jMviPGPxVkkY6k/s320/100_1483.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350000315144419906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkjH_cssJReF61AKH2tTrvxFfkyLoq4gJgNhpPa-rB8HVi7H9ssHT5pQ0Pl0rCp2rkDv10OzFyaf3k_xBztIXCToL6vjuRZr7tAlK6eUVGhH4wz_wkbV0YSRf4TGzKQAn7GtcVSmDZaI/s1600-h/100_1482.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkjH_cssJReF61AKH2tTrvxFfkyLoq4gJgNhpPa-rB8HVi7H9ssHT5pQ0Pl0rCp2rkDv10OzFyaf3k_xBztIXCToL6vjuRZr7tAlK6eUVGhH4wz_wkbV0YSRf4TGzKQAn7GtcVSmDZaI/s320/100_1482.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350000308517399810" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSu1WTMzcXm_rBucdGCING7nQi3KS-biicQIImPXEcsKXBiNyrAmtMmO_mjil2TVLUDmRJ9ORTH_3zJ7x6tBEuBw2gl4E6-J-_hMREn9IVEsZiXpKP1Lf40iwqDe8_7gmtoKr2KDl-LfQ/s1600-h/100_1481.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSu1WTMzcXm_rBucdGCING7nQi3KS-biicQIImPXEcsKXBiNyrAmtMmO_mjil2TVLUDmRJ9ORTH_3zJ7x6tBEuBw2gl4E6-J-_hMREn9IVEsZiXpKP1Lf40iwqDe8_7gmtoKr2KDl-LfQ/s320/100_1481.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350000306356223778" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPFqL8nG_DloihNfmR8olkDyjul9M7hN5UCxVY3DEDwxBfQhxNgMDrBzgFs41P3Vi1spAvMU8_OvyvA-YlDKc4hqNuaAg58N71nBPl5piZ886_eHKCMq4jGU6NRgREPo_LhyUwtPivuk/s1600-h/100_1467.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPFqL8nG_DloihNfmR8olkDyjul9M7hN5UCxVY3DEDwxBfQhxNgMDrBzgFs41P3Vi1spAvMU8_OvyvA-YlDKc4hqNuaAg58N71nBPl5piZ886_eHKCMq4jGU6NRgREPo_LhyUwtPivuk/s320/100_1467.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349994393727625538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9CA_LTgR9J0jzcoEDFRdHU1qQAFkEfDXm_qgY92TvbCzTqQkVmgX0Hh2NQzwRvfniirTG75kVibOIU8bkew88cSUmxkaegYYRUv8tnBK2Du69unveHOoQUwT0a3vdnv4FOM5_2HSWGg/s1600-h/100_1474.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9CA_LTgR9J0jzcoEDFRdHU1qQAFkEfDXm_qgY92TvbCzTqQkVmgX0Hh2NQzwRvfniirTG75kVibOIU8bkew88cSUmxkaegYYRUv8tnBK2Du69unveHOoQUwT0a3vdnv4FOM5_2HSWGg/s320/100_1474.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349999710533056610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1L1MpU_HurZfWYx94s8dR7Edrm8w0yhHUbfU_DWc6I5bbjDahEW9OwgSxfrHKGufaDnhoUONl90aHY10oqLMJLwblRwXBt_npKXkxwC-9_vLJwGi0hJ6P9fXZHqA7EeUdhwbU8cF2Sjg/s1600-h/100_1463.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1L1MpU_HurZfWYx94s8dR7Edrm8w0yhHUbfU_DWc6I5bbjDahEW9OwgSxfrHKGufaDnhoUONl90aHY10oqLMJLwblRwXBt_npKXkxwC-9_vLJwGi0hJ6P9fXZHqA7EeUdhwbU8cF2Sjg/s320/100_1463.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349999707859060050" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlYNgec-t7mqg1ExT0rbEBMjvxNQ6g0pyGScM4KNkeJ4p6zuakWcmIls3E23Yt98t932XQHYZB-kUke7-skHapf6OaPJXuweOjuq1WOrSqFyFOoDvK6Ybw2Tja0-S5IFtPKIFNjNHzeA/s1600-h/100_1468.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlYNgec-t7mqg1ExT0rbEBMjvxNQ6g0pyGScM4KNkeJ4p6zuakWcmIls3E23Yt98t932XQHYZB-kUke7-skHapf6OaPJXuweOjuq1WOrSqFyFOoDvK6Ybw2Tja0-S5IFtPKIFNjNHzeA/s320/100_1468.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349999702931677458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXso8BJv2qNS84mTjaiyKsbxasoVgptXKTWozjLN26VDNIx4h9_5ZChITTf6cNkEYmtcYmhFONV315y3W4BzEso67c8ZxK8JUS6ieA2vdIN7znDVnSMUG13LGSKFdGbW7uA9FZ2cd-NU/s1600-h/100_1448.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXso8BJv2qNS84mTjaiyKsbxasoVgptXKTWozjLN26VDNIx4h9_5ZChITTf6cNkEYmtcYmhFONV315y3W4BzEso67c8ZxK8JUS6ieA2vdIN7znDVnSMUG13LGSKFdGbW7uA9FZ2cd-NU/s320/100_1448.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349999694840877042" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSEUiqO3mgwxYTuAwSG73NMfarolhadrdLro0v8VQ7TYc6JXpbbpLGC5LUeoOLlXX1w_dxBPq4TkM3ONDTarreAb2XMWX-vdDa_9ilhyK9T4SHxMlfI6rwXmLk_Mxhua9UQMDQtaxx-A/s1600-h/100_1451.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSEUiqO3mgwxYTuAwSG73NMfarolhadrdLro0v8VQ7TYc6JXpbbpLGC5LUeoOLlXX1w_dxBPq4TkM3ONDTarreAb2XMWX-vdDa_9ilhyK9T4SHxMlfI6rwXmLk_Mxhua9UQMDQtaxx-A/s320/100_1451.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349999692269620450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkPtq3WENRL_tj7ttgs-DLUKv4rTOVSD8mcRKhGB_tY2HqF-UgZVvR0cKbzpQ4m-V-0mgUW8FYNZTqYBjGzOdnigRHJYefZnbrK-45mwALYmnnQ9FNUTQzVU_NHsN1UtWckBKiThWPks/s1600-h/100_1463.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkPtq3WENRL_tj7ttgs-DLUKv4rTOVSD8mcRKhGB_tY2HqF-UgZVvR0cKbzpQ4m-V-0mgUW8FYNZTqYBjGzOdnigRHJYefZnbrK-45mwALYmnnQ9FNUTQzVU_NHsN1UtWckBKiThWPks/s320/100_1463.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349999079504630226" border="0" /></a>Jdfreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250672078312478987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282447690381417759.post-1257115100879095582009-06-18T22:30:00.001-05:002009-06-18T22:33:15.823-05:00Bittersweet<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPDu8hgNusg4hjqTLto41ZIbAGRoNgxcSvGSht_HFwQqIfz1xfc-OToQtL-DjXHvCfca9eutb6P9YJIkXQRBzXPL5Hbu6ETdGcKCWyQSTPEL5d-8dR5P7Rxh5TDk5nZSogLadqKyRFuE/s1600-h/100_1390.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPDu8hgNusg4hjqTLto41ZIbAGRoNgxcSvGSht_HFwQqIfz1xfc-OToQtL-DjXHvCfca9eutb6P9YJIkXQRBzXPL5Hbu6ETdGcKCWyQSTPEL5d-8dR5P7Rxh5TDk5nZSogLadqKyRFuE/s320/100_1390.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348876407759965778" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXx2raT2wSk1AMWSHwaNt7cuMxt50k9mU3iYQCz25fNYnrTQd4LT0MaHm573UKE7FqJ08OaT3xB8Y6ZvxNuyOZ3IXIdgmTdd9OXHi1Gb2yyjkrvHylkOtF0IVXR6XkFjM3uv-9nkkbd84/s1600-h/100_1387.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXx2raT2wSk1AMWSHwaNt7cuMxt50k9mU3iYQCz25fNYnrTQd4LT0MaHm573UKE7FqJ08OaT3xB8Y6ZvxNuyOZ3IXIdgmTdd9OXHi1Gb2yyjkrvHylkOtF0IVXR6XkFjM3uv-9nkkbd84/s320/100_1387.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348876403091133746" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkI3vtwUM4diA0zlX93UnwZ2DyS07mZuT_WkI0P9OlK20uRwGUgLqNhluu7wIXcZu0KAgAOK_5r1zKxy6FfvvO3X5IqjHPfqP4zk44jVaqsZxgnSXLusa9yv7TlOLz7tKpsbjgFjOKt4U/s1600-h/100_1382.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkI3vtwUM4diA0zlX93UnwZ2DyS07mZuT_WkI0P9OlK20uRwGUgLqNhluu7wIXcZu0KAgAOK_5r1zKxy6FfvvO3X5IqjHPfqP4zk44jVaqsZxgnSXLusa9yv7TlOLz7tKpsbjgFjOKt4U/s320/100_1382.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348876391366599778" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkmOyr6UKcVlBAZbY0OLs1x6vURfTL5p6R4kGy-ExWRKRElK99fw95Taa_O_l5gOYa_C97tBLLJZ3zoUkXtWZyl873uXqqgD81Yc30B3ENJ-cYCvaJbk5Ph48yYCGCz8MKsofFXazT0U/s1600-h/100_1381.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkmOyr6UKcVlBAZbY0OLs1x6vURfTL5p6R4kGy-ExWRKRElK99fw95Taa_O_l5gOYa_C97tBLLJZ3zoUkXtWZyl873uXqqgD81Yc30B3ENJ-cYCvaJbk5Ph48yYCGCz8MKsofFXazT0U/s320/100_1381.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348876387759976866" /></a><br />Here are some pics I took on the Jedi trail outside Keystone before I went over my handlebars and broke my ribs!Jdfreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250672078312478987noreply@blogger.com0