Spending quality time in the ER since . . . .

I'm Back!

2008-12-10T09:06:00.003-07:00

Wow! It's been a long time since I blogged. Laziness. So what has happened since my last post? Well, we elected a new president. Thankfully, the voters saw through the BS and elected a person that has goals and plans. We shall see what happens.

Anyone notice that we are down to 40 days until "W" is gone! Yeah!

Work is finally slowing down. Where have I been. Hmm. Ted Turner's Ranch for a week, lots of creeks in Northern NM and finally home. Here is web blog that one of our guests posted. Yup that is me with the cheesy grin.

40 days!

2008-09-25T12:48:00.001-06:00

Now is the time to get your republican friends/and or on the fence independents and democrats to seriously think about who they are going to vote for.

Yes I know the Republican Party wants someone that will back them on abortion issues, guns, etc., but if the RNP is pro life then why do they destroy the environment without much concern!

8 years is enough. . . . . The economy is ruin, we (United States) has almost no credibility globally and all this money the Republican Party has supposedly saved us by lowering taxes is not in your pocket (ie. higher gas prices, higher food prices, etc.) So did they really save any of us money.

Yesterday, McCain tried to back out of his scheduled debate so he can help with the economic bailout! Wasn't it just last week that he stated that the fundamentals of the economy are fine. So which is it? Congressman are perplexed that he is rushing back to DC to help, considering he hasn't voted on any bill since last April.

McCain's suggestion for a rescheduled date for the debate: Oct. 2nd (hmm. I think that day was already booked for a debate with the potential VP's). Trying to hide Palin, perhaps.

Give someone new a chance

NY TImes

Vote For Change

2008-09-01T06:41:00.003-06:00

Did you catch Obama's acceptance speech last Thursday night? If not, you should! I have always said that the common man/woman needs to run for president, so they know exactly what most of America is like and not what their private school/ivy league upbringing pretends to teach them what the rest of the United States is like. Senator Obama is wealthy, and did attend an Ivy League school, but he grew up just like the rest of us. Critics have stated that Obama's speech didn't contain any substance as to what he wants to do while in office. Those that doubt him are so far off and only want the status quo. Need more info concerning his ideas, check out his webpage. He lays it all on out.

Senator McCain has been stating that Senator Obama is inexperienced and people shouldn't want someone with very little experience running our country. Hmm. Then what was Mr. McCain thinking when he selected Gov. Palin as a running mate. Just remember, at age 72 Mr. McCain is no spring chicken and if something should happen to him health wise, the US would then be run by someone with just 2 years of experience. Females should be insulted to think he can steal the woman vote by selecting somone so new to politics. I am ready for any race and either gender to run our country, but JUST MAKE DAMN SURE THEY ARE QUALIFIED!

Here is some info I just received!!

Yesterday was John McCain's 72nd birthday. If elected, he'd be the oldest president ever inaugurated. And after months of slamming Barack Obama for "inexperience," here's who John McCain has chosen to be one heartbeat away from the presidency: a right-wing religious conservative with no foreign policy experience, who until recently was mayor of a town of 9,000 people.

Huh?

Who is Sarah Palin? Here's some basic background:

She was elected Alaska's governor a little over a year and a half ago. Her previous office was mayor of Wasilla, a small town outside Anchorage. She has no foreign policy experience.1

Palin is strongly anti-choice, opposing abortion even in the case of rape or incest.2

She supported right-wing extremist Pat Buchanan for president in 2000. 3

Palin thinks creationism should be taught in public schools.4

She's doesn't think humans are the cause of climate change.5

She's solidly in line with John McCain's "Big Oil first" energy policy. She's pushed hard for more oil drilling and says renewables won't be ready for years. She also sued the Bush administration for listing polar bears as an endangered species—she was worried it would interfere with more oil drilling in Alaska.6
How closely did John McCain vet this choice? He met Sarah Palin once at a meeting. They spoke a second time, last Sunday, when he called her about being vice-president. Then he offered her the position.7
This is information the American people need to see. Please take a moment to forward this email to your friends and family.

We also asked Alaska MoveOn members what the rest of us should know about their governor. The response was striking. Here's a sample:

She is really just a mayor from a small town outside Anchorage who has been a governor for only 1.5 years, and has ZERO national and international experience. I shudder to think that she could be the person taking that 3AM call on the White House hotline, and the one who could potentially be charged with leading the US in the volatile international scene that exists today. —Rose M., Fairbanks, AK

She is VERY, VERY conservative, and far from perfect. She's a hunter and fisherwoman, but votes against the environment again and again. She ran on ethics reform, but is currently under investigation for several charges involving hiring and firing of state officials. She has NO experience beyond Alaska. —Christine B., Denali Park, AK

As an Alaskan and a feminist, I am beyond words at this announcement. Palin is not a feminist, and she is not the reformer she claims to be. —Karen L., Anchorage, AK

Alaskans, collectively, are just as stunned as the rest of the nation. She is doing well running our State, but is totally inexperienced on the national level, and very much unequipped to run the nation, if it came to that. She is as far right as one can get, which has already been communicated on the news. In our office of thirty employees (dems, republicans, and nonpartisans), not one person feels she is ready for the V.P. position.—Sherry C., Anchorage, AK

She's vehemently anti-choice and doesn't care about protecting our natural resources, even though she has worked as a fisherman. McCain chose her to pick up the Hillary voters, but Palin is no Hillary. —Marina L., Juneau, AK

I think she's far too inexperienced to be in this position. I'm all for a woman in the White House, but not one who hasn't done anything to deserve it. There are far many other women who have worked their way up and have much more experience that would have been better choices. This is a patronizing decision on John McCain's part- and insulting to females everywhere that he would assume he'll get our vote by putting "A Woman" in that position.—Jennifer M., Anchorage, AK

So Governor Palin is a staunch anti-choice religious conservative. She's a global warming denier who shares John McCain's commitment to Big Oil. And she's dramatically inexperienced.

In picking Sarah Palin, John McCain has made the religious right very happy. And he's made a very dangerous decision for our country.

In the next few days, many Americans will be wondering what McCain's vice-presidential choice means. Please pass this information along to your friends and family.

Sources:

1. "Sarah Palin," Wikipedia, Accessed August 29, 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin

2. "McCain Selects Anti-Choice Sarah Palin as Running Mate," NARAL Pro-Choice America, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17515&id=13661-1470459-E0uDP7x&t=1

3. "Sarah Palin, Buchananite," The Nation, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17736&id=13661-1470459-E0uDP7x&t=2

4. "'Creation science' enters the race," Anchorage Daily News, October 27, 2006
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17737&id=13661-1470459-E0uDP7x&t=3

5. "Palin buys climate denial PR spin—ignores science," Huffington Post, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17517&id=13661-1470459-E0uDP7x&t=4

6. "McCain VP Pick Completes Shift to Bush Energy Policy," Sierra Club, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17518&id=13661-1470459-E0uDP7x&t=5

"Choice of Palin Promises Failed Energy Policies of the Past," League of Conservation Voters, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17519&id=13661-1470459-E0uDP7x&t=6

"Protecting polar bears gets in way of drilling for oil, says governor," The Times of London, May 23, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17520&id=13661-1470459-E0uDP7x&t=7

7 "McCain met Palin once before yesterday," MSNBC, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=21119&id=13661-1470459-E0uDP7x&t=8

NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE? Please do so and make sure voice is heard!

2 Weeks of Camping

2008-08-29T16:41:00.004-06:00

Finally back from the Valle Vidal. The 2008 version of Rio Grande cutthroat trout restoration was not as eventful as last year. In 2007, we had bears to deal with. Not so much this time, though they did wander through camp a couple of times. Mostly it was rain and hail that soaked all our gear for about 5 days. Hopefully this time we got all the fish out of Comanche Creek so we can put the native cutthroats back and move on to the next location. Next up, Ted Turner's Vermejo Park Ranch. I will be spending about a week there removing non-native fish. Yeah I know it's a rough gig!!! Here's a couple of pics from the Valle Vidal.

Early morning flow measurements, after working all night!!!

Sunrise on Big Costilla Peak

Olympic Cheer

2008-08-12T12:20:00.004-06:00

If you are like the rest of the world, you have probably been glued to the TV, reading newspapers, etc. to get info on the results. Very exciting.

So are you looking for someone to cheer for? Here she is. Amber Campbell hails from Tucumcari, NM (my hometown) and is the sister of one of my good friends. She will be competing in the hammer throw on the 18th and 20th.

Check out Amber's Blog to get the latest on her Olympic experience!

Good luck Amber!!

2 Weeks Equals

2008-07-31T03:05:00.010-06:00

1 Wedding, 1 Raft trip, 1 Baseball game, 16 cases of wine, 12 cases of Tecate, 6 L of Mango Rum, 1 keg, and 2011 miles. That's what you consume when you have a wedding for 200+ family and friends. Talk about a good time. Ashleah and I headed up to Denver about a week before our wedding to finish up the little details. Once they were done, it was time to celebrate. The pre-wedding party was great. Lots of beer drinking around the Omni Interlocken Pool. The crew from Tucumcari can still put them down. Of course you never know what's going to happen once a few Tecate's are consumed!

Wedding Day! and rumor has it that you are supposed to be nervous. Not me, I was ready to marry Ashleah. STUNNING, GORGEOUS, BEAUTIFUL, and WOW are just a few of the words that flashed through my mind as Ashleah came into view. I cried immediately! The ceremony was great, and the reception was fun. It was great to see all our friends in one spot.

The wedding is over and now we are off to Utah to spend a week on the Green River (pseudo honeymoon).<
2 AM arrival and a quick nap in the truck and its time to get the raft on the water. What a great time, once we were able to catch up on some sleep.
More beer, a bit of tequila, and river vows. Life on the river was great.

Now we are back in Albuquerque doing the work thing. Yesterday was rough (1st day back at the office), but I imagine we will both get back into the swing of things.

Want to see some pictures of our wedding! Check out Adam Welch Photography!

We're Off!!

2008-07-13T14:38:00.005-06:00

Down to just a handful of days before Ashleah and I tie the knot. Busy loading stuff today before hitting the road. Next stop Denver, Colorado. Wondering what 240 bottles of homemade wine looks like! Here it is! I felt like Al Capone as I loaded all the boxes into the truck!
Notice the honeymoon gear in the background. 1 week of rafting on the Green River! I have the best future wife there is! Back in two weeks . . . . . .

Wedding Brew

2008-07-01T04:25:00.003-06:00

One of the things Ashleah and I have been doing, as we prepare for our wedding, is making wine. Several batches of Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir have been bottled and labeled during the past year. Shhh. Can't tell you how much otherwise the FEDS might come knocking on my door. Just kidding it isn't that much. In addition, I asked my buddy Eric to brew up some beer for the wedding. Here's a sneak peak of the Summer Hefeweizzen. Damn is it good!

Bear vs Bicyclist x 2

2008-06-29T22:46:00.002-06:00

Here's a couple of stories concerning bicyclists and bears crossing paths.

Alaska 24 hr bike race

Boulder County Bear

Republican??? I think not!

2008-06-26T23:04:00.000-06:00

Have to check this out! It is too funny!

ABQ Summerfest

2008-06-22T22:53:00.004-06:00

Well since I haven't been riding my bike and I haven't really traveled much for work, the only thing I seem to posting is info about music. This weekend, Summerfest kicked off their concert series with the Iguanas coming to town. It had a been a couple of years since Ashleah and I had caught a show, so we were pretty pumped. Great show, as always, and oh yeah we stopped by the just opened Marble Brewery for some pre-concert beverages. Tell you what, the 9% Barley Wine is quite tasty.

Still counting down!

2008-06-21T05:17:00.002-06:00

It's been awhile since I posted anything. Perhaps it was the Iron Maiden shop in Santa Fe that just could not be topped! Well, I found something that fits the theme of the 80's. The US Air Guitar Championships! I only caught a 15 sec news bit, but it seemed pretty cool. Thus I found the website and checked it out. Of course there is a blog as well, so you can get first hand stories. Denver was one of the last stops and from the sounds of it, and the air guitar gods are alive and well. Des Moines is on the list, and knowing some folks from the Hawkeye state, I know the mullets will be out in full force to put on a good show!

And other news:
Counters to the left are still ticking away. George W can't go away soon enought for me.

Most importantly though, Ashleah and I's big day is under 30 days now. We can't wait!

Product of the 80's??

2008-05-02T10:10:00.004-06:00

Working in Santa Fe today and I came across this business.

I'm thinking this business owner was a product of 80's.
Bet you have to have a mullet to work there!

What do you think??

Rock On!!!

Earth Day 2008

2008-04-22T08:54:00.001-06:00

Here's a link everyone should watch.

The Story of Stuff

Happy Earth Day!!!

MS 150

2008-04-11T11:56:00.003-06:00

Hi All,
My boss, his wife and daughter will be riding in the National Multiple Sclerosis Society MS 150 in Dallas this May 3rd and 4th. (tandem + trailer). Nancy suffers from MS and continues to receive treatment as well as hope for additional research to help combat this disease. If you would like to donate, click on either of Mike or Nancy's name.

Remember, all donations to the NMSS are tax-deductible.

Thank you for your support, we appreciate it more than we can say.

The Desiderio-Sloane Family

Opening Day Weekend

2008-04-06T23:59:00.007-06:00

This weekend Ashleah and I headed north to Denver to catch the Opening Day home game for the Colorado Rockies. We got started a little late so we stopped and stayed with friends in Raton, NM. Saw this sign as we got into Raton. Seriously, is Raton really a destination for springbreakers? Watch out Daytona Beach and Cancun!. Rumor has it that Girls gone Wild will be filming in Raton next year.

Finally made it up to Denver and the sun is shining. Swung by the stadium and picked up the season tickets! Ahh. Nothing like the sweet smell of a full years worth of baseball tickets. Ever seen the movie "Fever Pitch?" I too smelled the stack of tickets!

Time to get into the ballpark, drink a few beers and enjoy the game with friends. Whew! made it inside and to the bleachers with 5 minutes to spare before the first pitch was thrown.

Nothing like a few beers in the sun to get the pipes going for "Take me out to the Ballgame!"

Too bad the Rockies couldn't hit the ball. 2 hits is not going to cut it. They got spanked 7-1.

Rest of the weekend wa spent meeting with caterers, photographers, and cake makers for the wedding. Of course we made some time to pick up a couple of Chipotle Burritos! Damn they are good!

For all those that are intersted in the bike portion of this blog . . . . well I did see a bunch of roadies racing in and around Boulder. Sorry no pics.

Nighty night!

A Few Pics from the White Mesa outing

2008-04-03T12:39:00.016-07:00

Back home again so I thought I would post a few pictures from the White Mesa bike ride with Chris and Zoe.

Climbing up the Hike a Bike Section

Chris tackling the steep section

My turn. I am half Way Down!

That's so much fun!

Highest Spot on the trail

Chris and Zoe at the Survey marker

That's it! White Mesa is one of the best trails to ride.

Now Ashleah and I are off to Denver to catch the Colorado Rockies Home Opener. Beer, Rockie Dogs, and Baseball. Now that is the way to spend a Friday afternoon.

A few pics from Walleye Spawn

2008-04-01T13:51:00.007-07:00

My stint at Conchas Reservoir is almost up. Here are a few pics from my 10 day trip. Even got a bike ride (with plenty of wind resistance) in.

Backside of Conchas Dam

Fertilizing Eggs

Eastern NM Sunrise!

Week in Review

2008-03-25T20:35:00.007-07:00

I had been meaning to post this past weekend but with all that was going on, I just didn't get around to it. So . . . . here it is all in one shot.

Wednesday night Ashleah and I headed over to the Santa Fe Brewing Co. for some live music and beer. We were first timers to the SF Brewing Co. but I had heard from others that it was great SF hangout. I was impressed. Oh and the Viszolay Belgian was quite tasty. Only wish I could have had more than one! Ruby Dee and the SnakeHandlers were playing and if you are into old school country/rock then you would like them. Reminded me of the days in small town NM and the county fairs. Think Johnny Cash! Who else was on the card: Hoot and Hellmouth and Jim Bianco. Hoots was a bluegrass band out of Pennsylvania and Jim Bianco. Hmm. Can't remember where he was from but he was pretty talented. Oh did I mention that the beer was quite tasty.

Thursday was a for riding in NM. Lots of sunshine and very little wind. Zoe was in town to visit Chris so the 3 of us headed to White Mesa for a spin around the 8 mile loop. Being that it was Zoe's first time at WM we took it easy and snapped a few pics. (Insert your own images here as I don't have a digital camera at the moment and haven't gotten any pics from Zoe, yet). Did I say it was a perfect day in NM. Hmm. Well about half way into the ride, the winds did pick up and would gust to about 35+ mph. Made the technical edge sections quite interesting. There were times I wish I had my old 30 lb Diamondback. The La Pierre was no match for the gusts!

Weekend was here and the familia came to town to celebrate Ashleah's entry into the Catholic Church. Lots of food, a mass, Easter egg hunts and more food. Good times were had and even Sasha got into the easter egg hunt. We were all pretty tired by the end of the weekend.

Now I am at Conchas Reservoir for Walleye Spawn and lets just say that the fishing is slow. Hoping for better days coming up. I stole (borrowed) my mom's camera so I have a picture for today.

One last thing . . . . Did anyone notice that at midnight tonight George W's 8 years of errors will be down to under 300 days! Hope all you fools that voted for him the 1st and 2nd time are realizing how much of a mess he made.

Look out For Cyclists!

2008-03-18T20:18:00.000-07:00

Do the test!

SYDC + 1

2008-03-16T20:54:00.002-07:00

First off let's give kudo's to those involved with the NMES. About 5 years back Matt started this thing. Rumor has it that there were 12 riders that day. Yesterday 62 started!! Though Matt is now discovering new trails in Durango, his successor, Lenny, is doing a hell of a job. High Desert Bicycles deserves an acknowledgment. Vince, John and the boys opened up the shop early Saturday morning and had coffee, muffins and restrooms available to us. ABQ metro area has some great bike shops, but if you are in the Rio Rancho area, be sure to stop by High Desert Bicycles. Finally, Hammer Nutrition gets a thanks as well for supplying HEED, and Hammer Gel. Haven't tried the stuff, check it out. Be sure to read their nutrition info and you see why their stuff is the way to go.

Ok now for the ride. I went into this knowing it was going to be rough. I hadn't spent much time in the gym since the SYDC pre-ride and absolutely no time on the bike, thus I pretty much knew that it was going to hurt. 1 mile in and I seriously contemplated turning around, driving out to White Mesa and riding with Dan once he got there. Decided against that plan and just kept peddling. Finally made it out the gas compressor station and sure enough the wind was starting to pick up.
Some of my friends think I am crazy for doing these endurance rides (they are partially right), but I still have enough savy to know that NM winds are not fun. That being the case, I turned the bike back onto Encino Rd. and headed back to RR. Total Ride: 52 miles 6 hrs 50 min.

As for Dan, the toughest part of his ride was actually getting to Rio Rancho. After leaving Colo. Springs he was stopped near Pueblo for over an hour due to an accident. No worries right. Wrong again. Just outside of Las Vegas, NM he went through a DWI checkpoint. After seeing a 6 pack of microbrew (un-opened) on the floorboard (gift for Ashleah and I) and a piece of foil on his passenger seat (uses it for baked potatoes during his rides), the NM State Police took him off to the side and searched the VW. Too funny!!!!

Want to see how everyone else fared, check out the results.
Word for Sunday: SORE

NMES 2008 Is On!

2008-03-14T21:18:00.002-07:00

In just a few hours the 2008 San Ysidro Dirty Century will commence! What the hell is the SYDC? It is a grassroots mountain bike endurance race. This first race has epic single track, dirts roads and lots of miles. 120+ if you do both loops! Not sure how many are going to show, but I imagine there will be around 60 people. I will be there and my buddy Dan, from Colo Springs, will be there as well. Wind gusts today were over 45 mph, hopefully the wind will be minimal tomorrow. Guess we shall see what happens.

I am hoping for 60+ miles!

Let the Field Work Begin

2008-03-12T17:31:00.003-07:00

It has been a long winter! Since December I have been making the trek back and forth from Rio Rancho to Santa Fe to do the 8 till 5er. Ok Ok, I really don't do 8 till 5 but it sounds good. With the warm weather finally appearing, it is time to head out and do some field work. Here's a few pics from a trip to the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic area. Pretty cool huh.

Last week I was at E. Butte Reservoir. Still waiting for some pics. You will be impressed with the size of fish that we caught!

Have I been riding! That's a big fat NO! Last time I blogged I had just ridden a portion of the SYDC. Things went well and I was prepping for the actual race day, March 15th. Since then I spent 3 weeks with the flu/cold. Definitely didn't ride as I felt like crap. Since then I have lazy and about the only exercise I have gotten is walking to and from the refrigerator. Those hard apple ciders are damn good!

SYDC is still a go this weekend. My buddy Dan from Colorado Springs is showing up, so I am going to attempt a few miles. Odds of me puking on the course: 5 to 1! Any takers!

SYDC PreRide

2008-02-04T07:41:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning was the official SYDC Pre Ride! 24 degrees when I rolled out of the garage and headed to Turtle Mountain Brewery for the 8 am start. 10 folks started the preride and almost immediately 9 of the 10 rocket up Southern Blvd! 6.5 miles of climbing, at race pace, I don't think so. Thus, I settled in and spun up Southern Blvd. Take a right on Encino Rd and now it is 19 miles of rolling dirt roads with enough climbs to do some interval work. What is that in the distance--that is the PNM Gas Compressor Station! Nice. That means I am 25 miles in. A quick break at the PNM station then I am off to White Mesa.

Did I mention that I saw something flash before my eyes while at the PNM Staion. At first I thought it was the chupacabra, but then I caught a better glimpse--It was one of the NMES guys on his ORBEA! Freaking flying!
8 miles to White Mesa and as I pull into the parking lot, here's come Ashleah and Sira to drag my tired ass back to Rio Rancho! What a site to see!

Ride totals:
37.8 miles
4 hrs 4 min.

It was great day!

White Mesa

2008-01-22T22:31:00.001-07:00

The Land of Enchantment has many great things going for it. One of my favorites is that you can get out and ride on dirt almost year round. Sure there are days when there is too much snow or mud for even the hardcore, but honestly if you want to ride, it is just a matter of waiting a few days so as the weather changes. Case and point--just last week NM was in a deep freeze, much like the rest of the country. ABQ had highs in the 20's and the lows were single digits. But yesterday that all changed. High of 50 degrees and no wind. That being the case, Sira and I hit up White Mesa for a spin. Everytime I head out there, I am amazed at how cool these trails are. As one of my CO buddies stated after riding White Mesa, "That definitely is one of the top 5 rides I have ever ridden!"

Want more info on White Mesa, check out the New Mexico Endurance Series. Their site has detailed info for the area!

Thanks to fellow trail user, Jim, for passing along a picture of myself, as well as to NMES and panchowonton for their pics.

I will finish with this:

"Man is man because he is free to operate within the framework of his destiny. He is free to deliberate, to make decisions, and to choose between alternatives. He is distinguished from animals by his freedom to do evil or to do good and to walk the high road of beauty or tread the low road of ugly degeneracy.

Martin Luther King, Jr., The Measures of Man, 1959.

1 Year!!!!!!

2008-01-21T07:49:00.000-07:00

Notice the counter on the right! That is correct, less than 1 year until George W. is out of office. It's been a long 7 years but finally the finish line is in sight. Am I being critical--damn right I am. Too bad if I am offending hard right wingers but the truth of the matter is that he has done NOTHING to advance the United States. Everything he has done has made us take steps backwards--national debt, environment, economy, worldwide respect. Some might argue that he cut taxes, thus we have more money in our pockets! Do we really? Don't fool yourself, you might have gotten a tax break, but it all went back in the forms of higher prices for gas, food, and health care.

Ok I will give him one kudos. His initial response to 9-11 was strong and what I thought was the way to do it. He had the world's balls in his hands. If done right, he could have had a large majority of the nations on his side in reducing terrorism. Nope he screwed that up too! Now we are hated througout the world and looked at as a bully.

So as we head into this years elections, take the time and listen to all the candidates- black,white or hispanic, female or male, democrat, republican or independent and choose the person(s) that best represents all that you believe in. Most importantly, don't just listen to the TV ads, what the media reports or FWD emails, most of that is negative or false. Instead do some research and find out what they believe in, what their plans are and what their voting record is like.

Most importantly, if you are not registerd to vote, get out and REGISTER! Otherwise you have no right to BITCH!

Ok I am off my soap box . . . . .

The Fruits of our Labor

2008-01-13T22:43:00.000-07:00

Back in September, I blogged that Ashleah and I spent an afternoon picking apples. Now why in the world would we do such a thing. Well, well .... the time has finally come to reap the rewards. Shortly after the picking, I spent some time juicing those same apples and came up with 5 gallons of juice just waiting to be fermented! It takes a while, but 3 1/2 months later I have 58 bottles of hard cider! Considering it is our first time, it tastes pretty good!

I figure it is going to go down smooth after a bike ride!!

Damn does it have a kick . . . . .

Merry Christmas

2007-12-24T12:31:00.000-07:00

Happy Holidays everyone! For all those with kiddos, get online and check out Santa's progress with NORADS SANTA TRACKER!

Peak Nutrients

2007-12-16T09:20:00.000-07:00

Peak Nutrients is now online!! Never heard of it! Check out the Peak Nutrients website and see what they are all about. Their product line includes and the Viva energy drink (Orange Mango is tasty), Digest Plus, Multi Vitamin, Luna Sleep, and Ultra immune. Read up on the amounts of Vitamins they put in, the types of sugar they use, etc. Very interesting.
Super friendly company.

So how did I hear about them and why do I recommend them? This past fall at an endurace race I met a racer through a mutual friend. He mentioned that his father has a company with health products. He gave me a sample of the Energy drink and I took it on one of my work field trips. During this work trip we worked a lot of hours. At one point, I worked 18 hours straight, took a 2 hour nap and then worked another 14. Aside from eating, I sipped on the energy drink throughout the day. Seriously, I wasn't worn out, tired, or even delirious! I came back and mentioned it to Ashleah, who is usually worn out after a day of working with 24 kids (daycare). She tried it for a few days and she was hooked.

Enjoy!!!

For all those snowboarders!

2007-12-15T00:45:00.000-07:00

Big news from the Taos Ski Valley!

'Tis the Season

2007-12-09T21:00:00.000-07:00

Christmas time already? With all the warm weather we have been having in NM, it has been hard to get into the Christmas spirit. Reminds me of those days when I lived in Los Angeles. Shorts and t-shirts daily you forget that Santa Claus is getting the sled ready. So as to make sure he stops by our pad, Ashleah, Sira and I headed to the mountains to cut our Christmas tree. This years destination was Pecos, NM. Good times were had and we found a tree that takes up a large portion of our living room. Lucky for me, we only hiked about 1/4 mile in. That 1/4 miles seemed like a marathon as I carried the tree out.

Good times had by all, but I think Sira enjoyed it the most. It has been about 2 weeks since she jabbed a stick into her arm so she was itching to get out and burn some energy. Add a little bit of fresh snow and she was just a crazed Vizsla in the forest.

Can you love your bike too much??

2007-11-30T08:11:00.000-07:00

So I know it is a struggle during the winter months, because it is tough to get on the bike regularly. However, this guy has gone way too far!

Enough said!!!

Busy October

2007-10-26T14:30:00.000-06:00

Yes it's been awhile since I last posted! Partially just lazy and partially because we haven't been around. Every weekend this month has had something going on, so at least with this post you will see a lot of pictures and not much babbling!

First off we headed to Vegas for my brother's wedding. We had a really good time and the wedding was awesome. What can you say about Las Vegas except that it is quite unbelievable. Big, bright and it never stops. I would tell you about it, but, well you know the phrase!!!!!!!!!

Next stop on the October tour was the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. Ok, so we didn't have to drive anywhere, but it still required dealing with a ton of people. If you have never been, starting making your hotel reservations for next year. It is really neat to see.

Another weekend means another function. Ashleah and I drove to Amarillo to celebrate my brother-in-laws 40th Birthday. He was quite surprised! The bonus was that my nephew was playing a baseball game so we got to check that out too.

SURPRISE!!!!!!!

SOMEONE CALL THE FIRE DEPT!!!

FUTURE MAJOR LEAGUER???

Now what you ask? On the road again this evening for a drive up to Denver! Hmm! What's going on in Denver. Oh not much, just something they call the WORLD SERIES!! 8 years of season tickets and now the payoff. We have tickets for Game 3 and Game 5. My brother and parents are going to Game 4. I am so pumped! Ok I know they are down 2 games to 0, but Coors Field Magic is going to help them even the series. We will be sitting in right field just above the scoreboard!

GO ROCKIES!!!!!!!!!
Oh yeah I guess since we are there we should probably do some wedding planning.

Keep on truckin . . . . .

Headwaters of Canones Creek

2007-10-03T23:44:00.000-06:00

Wednesday's adventure took me to the upper reaches of Canones Creek. Where is Canones Creek? It is just soutwest of Abiququ Reservoir. US Forest Service, Trout Unlimited and NMDGF took off on this hike and leading the pack was my dog Sira!

It had been awhile since she had been on the trails but she was definitely up for the task. Our hike in was 3.3 miles, but I bet Sira did about 7 as she ran from front to back and sprinted across the valley. Damn I wish I had her energy!
This is such a cool drainage but the hike is rough. 3.3 miles each way and the last mile is straight up (about 1500 ft of climbing). Probably not so bad with a small pack. Unfortunately, we carry about 50 lbs each (gear), just to make it interesting.

Here's a few more pics

We are off to Las Vegas tomorrow for my brother's wedding. Stopping off at Hoover Dam to see the wall of concrete and maybe pick up some Dam Bait!
Hoover Dam Guide: I am your dam guide, Arnie, please don't wander off the dam tour and please take all the dam pictures you want. Now are there any dam questions?
Cousin Eddie: Yeah, where can I get some damn bait?
It has been 11 years since I have been to Sin City. I am expecting to be shocked! Wedding will be awesome--love, family, friends.

You know what else is cool. I get to stop by In-N-Out Burger and Chipotle! I think I burned enough calories this week to warrant a double/double and a big ass burrito! Hmm. Don't forget. Guacamole es exxxtra! Maybe I will stop by a couple of times!

Finally, look at this treasure

Roadrunner PediCab

2007-09-30T22:15:00.000-06:00

You have probably noticed that since the Leadville 100, my biking blogs have been non-existent. Lots of work, laziness and just not making the time has added up to almost 2 months off the bike.
So . . . once again I had some time to take off at work, but this time I skipped the weed pulling and instead got on a bike. Which trail? Nope, I hit the streets of downtown Albuquerque to try and make some money. Roadrunner PediCab is a new company and I figured I could give it a try. If nothing else, I might stay in better shape through the winter months.

Damn! Pedaling these bikes is a workout. Oh wait, now add 1 or 2 people on it and the legs get a serious burn. At times, I bet I am dragging around 350 lbs. Little hills seem like a 18% climb and it makes one appreciate all the lightweight technology on my bike.

How did it go. Well I got the workout! Not much money to be made yet, but the bikes are getting a lot of positive comments. Picked up a few riders off the RailRunner and took a few people to and from lunch. Probably need to ride the bike at night during the weekend drink fests.
Not all was lost, this treasure was laying on the street!

That's it for now . . . .
More hiking this week at work and then we are off to Vegas from my brother's wedding.

GO ROCKIES!!!!!!!!!

How About Them Apples!

2007-09-23T22:03:00.000-06:00

Our Loot
On Saturday afternoon, Ashleah, Sira and I headed North to Tesuque to pick some apples from a friend's orchard. 1 Hour later we had enough apples to fill 5 boxes. Now you might ask, what are you going to do with all these apples? Pies? Turnovers? Growers Market? Naw! All these apples are for Hard Cider. Asheah and I have been busy making our own wine for our wedding so we thought we would give the grapes a bit of break and try our hand at hard cider. We will let you know how it turns out.

Sira Helping out

Work or Play? at the Butte

2007-09-21T06:58:00.000-06:00

This weeks work trip took me back to Elephant Butte Reservior. It had been a few months since I had been there and to be honest I am glad I didn't go in July or August. It is way too hot there during the middle of summer. Hell, this weeks temps were in the 90's. Nothing too exciting, just set some nets to see what kind fo fish we could catch. Lots of down time during our two hour sets, so we did some snorkeling, swimming and fishing. Hmm. Is this still considered a work trip.

Look what I found floating on shore.

Another Day in the mountains

2007-09-13T22:50:00.000-06:00

Not much to show for todays work trip. We did 4-wheel into our survey site, but the road was too steep to stop and take pictures. Pucker rating of 4! Maybe tomorrow when we tackle it again.

Only picture today is of Field Work Booty

Pretty cool huh.

Just as in biking, it is amazing the stuff you find.

Truchas Area

2007-09-13T07:04:00.001-06:00

More work in the Truchas area brings photos such as Middle Truchas Peak. Took about 2 hours to get to this point on some narly 4 x 4 roads. All worth it though when you do some electrofishing and find one of these.

A Change in Scenery

2007-09-12T06:56:00.001-06:00

After so many weeks in the Valle Vidal, it is nice to see some other parts of the state. Doing some Rio Grande cutthroat work in Northern New Mexico. Many of these places have never been surveyed before so it is cool to get back there and see what fish are present.

More to come. . . .

18 days

2007-09-01T06:31:00.000-06:00

When I last posted, I mentioned that I would be heading to the Valle Vidal for an extended work trip, with a side trip to Leadville for the Leadville 100 bike race. Ok so let me catch you up on my adventures:

First off, the Leadville 100 went off and I again failed to make it to the finish line. 1000 competitors, including returning champs and Tour de France winner and Leadville newcomer Floyd Landis. My race started fine with the peleton being lead out for about 5 miles. I feel great, the air is crisp and I am riding alongside Kara Durland, giving her SS a push every now and then to keep her from spinning madly. Ok it's time to Climb St. Kevins. Hmm. My legs feel a little weird but at least the crowds aren't bad and I can climb without having to trackstand too much. I climb slow but that is normal for me. I hit the first aid station at 10 miles and the legs are still weak. Ok time to downhill the pavement. Oh no. I am hurting on the downhill. That is when I pretty much knew I was in for a long day. To keep the story short I pretty much suffered from mile 10 until mile 60. I had the lungs and the desire but the legs just weren't there. I could recover on the flats and downhills (Powerline is always fun), but the climbs were just slow (even slower than normal). Cramping throughout my legs (even is areas I didn't know would cramp) made it worse. Thus when I came down from Columbine, I was removed from the race (due to missing the last cutoff). Very bummed and disappointed because I felt I was ready. Only thing I can think of is that all the field work I had been doing for the previous 3 weeks had zapped me. However, on another note, my buddies Scott Daub and Dax Massey rode strong and kicked ass. Scott finished in 8 hrs 28 min and Dax cruised through the finish line in 7 hrs 57 min. Incredible.

Did I see Floyd on the course? Yup. Both him and Dave Weins flew by my at the Twin Lakes checkpoint (their mile 60, my mile 40). Both were cruising. Dave ended up beating Floyd by about two minutes and finished the 100 miles in 6 hrs 58 minutes.
Want to see more pictures from Leadville. Check out UltraRob's blog!

Ok so now back to the Valle Vidal. Restoration work started when I returned from Leadville and we put in some serious hours. I was responsible for neutralizing the chemical we put in the water, which required hourly samples and adjustments to our dispersal tanks. Working overnight and sometimes during the days, I was routinely putting in 12-20 hour days. Check out Peak Nutrients! My buddies dad makes this stuff. The Energy formula gives you a lift like you wouldn't believe, and it actually doesn't taste bad!

Late night work is rough, but the sunrise scenery is spectacular!

However that is not the exciting part of the work trip. Most exciting was the bear situation. Shuree campgrounds are very popular with fishermen and campers, however their carelessness has gotten the bears into trouble. Knowing that their is food, trash and other goodies left out, the bears routinely wonder through camp and check things out. Normally it isn't a big deal, however we did have one bear chew on a co-workers tent (2 nights in a row) and take a swipe at mine. Unfortunately, this bear had to be put down as a result of his aggressiveness. Another bear would make it to camp as well, but he would just sniff. Usually a couple of yells or shrieks (in my case), would scare him back into the trees.

Tough to see but look at the mud/claw marks on my tent

Mr. Bear hanging out in the creek doing some fishing

So the Valle work is done (for now). Next, we will return to see if our removal was successful. If all goes well, we will re-stock Native Rio Grande Cutthroat trout into Comanche Creek. If non-natives still remain, we will start over and do the removals again.

Ok! So now that I back in Rio Rancho, I find out that I have way too many hours. I am told to take some time off. Hmm. Not a bad deal right. Well . . . . I have a ton of house chores to do. Mainly getting rid of weeds, placing flagstone, and cutting back shrubs.

Weed pile. It's now tripled in size!!!!

Help . . . . . this is much harder than work!!!!!!!!!

Prep time is over!

2007-08-08T06:17:00.000-06:00

It seems like forever since I started preparing for the month of August. Not just the Leadville 100 but also the restoration work we are doing on Comanche Creek. Lots of time in the office ordering gear, double checking numbers and getting everything lined out. Well it's finally time to head to the Valle Vidal for the actual work. Yes, I know I have posted that I been going that way for the last couple of weeks, but this is the real treatment plan.

Preparing for the Leadville 100 has been great. Nothing like a big challenge to get you out of bed early in the morning, ride the extra hill, or sprint that last flat. Now it is time to hit the course and see what happens.

Being that I will head back to the mountains right after the race, you will have to wait till the end of August for my race report, or you can check the results on the Leadville 100 site

This is an early morning pic yesterday on my last training ride. Nothing serious, just about 10 miles to break in the new components. The boys at High Desert Bicycles came through!

Countdown is on!

2007-08-04T06:28:00.000-06:00

Another week in the Valle Vidal and this one brought rain, more hiking, another bear, and more white suckers. This was our last trip before the actual treatment starts, so we wanted to walk alot of the drainages before leaving. Next trip will take me into the mountains for 18 straight days with a little detour to Leadville, Colorado. Wow! Only 6 more days.

Guess I should get on the bike this weekend for a few more miles.

The guys at High Desert Bicycles are giving the La Pierre a tune-up so I guess will head to the gym and play on the spin bike.

Gut Check

2007-07-30T00:08:00.000-06:00

There are some days that the legs and lungs have it and some days they don't. Today was one of those days when they didn't. Headed up to the Cedro Peak area again today to put some miles in, and right away I knew the legs were fatigued. I imagine it was from all the hiking I did while working in the Valle Vidal.
Nevertheless, I kept the pedals turning and ended up riding for about 4 hours. Not as much single track this time, as the monsoon rains made some of the singletrack muddy.

Ride Stats:
43.60 miles
3 hr 52 min
3027 ft of climbing
FOUND 1 Selena cassette

Today's Trail/Road Booty

Selena-Entre a Mi Mundo
It's amazing the things you find on the road!!!

Thanks to Jeremy for the new CDPHE jersey

Back to the Valle Vidal . . . . .

A face only a mother would love

2007-07-29T13:32:00.000-06:00

If you pick up a copy of today's Albuquerque Journal you will see some pictures from this weeks work trip to the Valle Vidal. The front page and the main article has a picture my hands holding a Rio Grande Cutthroat trout. Guess my face isn't pretty enough for all to see. :-). Could a future in hand modeling be around the corner? Already tried telling Ashleah that I can no longer do chores around the house, but that didn't fly.
I will wait by the phone for the modeling agents to call. . . . . .

http://www.abqjournal.com/news/state/582098nm07-29-07.htm

Here's a few of my own pictures of the Valle Vidal

"It's serious business out there!"

Tired Crew

The Valle is big!! The rocks they are pointing to, are about 50 ft. tall

This guy showed up near camp one evening!

Bath, Baseball and Biking

2007-07-22T22:57:00.000-06:00

This was the weekend of B's! On Saturday, Ashleah and I got up and headed to the Jemez Mtns. to look for a natural hot spring. Being it was the first time that Ashleah had driven through this area, we stopped along the way and checked out Soda Dam. It's a natural dam made of calcium carbonate. Here's a couple of pics!

Finally found RD 376 and bounced around on the 4 wheel drive road for about 5 miles until we came to the parking lot. If you go, I would suggest an all wheel or 4 wheel drive vehicle. Cross the creek and make the short hike and you are at the natural hot spring. Sorry no pics of the actual spring. It was raining so we left the camera in the truck. This place was cool and we will go back.

Later that evening we met up with my brother and some friends and headed into Albuquerque to check out the Albuquerque Isotopes game. Great game as the 'topes came up with 8 runs in the 8th to take the win.

Ugh! 6 am Sunday morning and I am packing the truck so as I can do my long ride for the week. I really didn't want to, since we stayed out until about 1 am but then I remembered that the Leadville 100 is only a few weeks away. Back out to the Cedro Peak area and I looped some ashphalt roads with Cedro Peak trails and the Tunnel Canyon/Otero Trails to get in 52 miles. Pretty uneventful, until came through an arroyo crossing and about nipped a rattlesnake's tail. As I came around the corner, I noticed the snake and it sensed me coming!. The snake coiled, I shriek, and then preceeded to bail off the bike! Hmmm. How am I going to get my bike with an angry rattlesnake right next to it. It took about 5 minutes, but I finally got it to move off the trail. Damn that was close. The snake won this enounter though. As I bailed off the bike, I smacked my knee on the frame!

Ride Stats:
52.7 miles
5 hrs and 37 min
4123 ft of climbing
1 coyote
1 Rattlesnake

Oh yeah Sira got a bath too.

Off to the Valle Vidal this week. . . . .

Fantasy Camp-Hatchery Style

2007-07-19T21:49:00.000-06:00

I guess to some this isn't such a fun day, but on Wednesday Kirk and I headed out to the Seven Springs hatchery in order to clip some fish for genetic testing. After 3 weeks in the office, I was itching to get out, so even though the field work didn't involve hiking, electrofishing or camping, it was fun.

The Jemez Springs area is just awesome!

The best part of the whole day was being able to work in the hatchery and try to figure out the best way to catch fish, using the available nets, etc. Normally, the hatchery guys are alongside of us, helping us out, and making our lives easier. This time though, they were busy, so we were left to figure it out ourselves. It was quite humorous at times and in the end we clipped 90 Rio Grande cutthroat trout.

Anyway, next week the fun starts up again. I finally get to go back into the field. By the end I might be wishing for the office-I will be camping until the end of August. Can you say Pepe le Pew!

Fined!!!!

2007-07-18T07:05:00.001-06:00

Well. . . I finally had my day in court to fight my red light ticket issued by the City of Albuquerque's intersection camera. I make it sound like I actually had a chance to get this one dismissed. NOT!! After seeing the video, I knew I was stuck with the $100 fine, but I figured fightiing it was better than just mailing in the dough!
Their set up for the hearing is similar to "American Idol." You enter a room with 3 people, they show you their video of you speeding, running a light, etc. and then give you their evidence. Blah Blah Blah! "The light had already been red 0.24 seconds when the violating vehicle entered the intersection!" Come on! 0.24 seconds!! Do they honestly believe that drivers actually can stop regularly at that point. I knew when I entered that I was close, but I figured it was better than slamming on the brakes and then getting rear ended. Afterwards, you walk out the door and you feel like the contestants on "American Idol." Everyone there hopes you get off, but only a few actually do! Oh well, I will pay the ticket to the powers that be, and hope that I don't get another one within two years! Yup, two years. If that happens the fine jumps to $250. Luckily, I don't drive into ABQ regularly, unlike most who have to pass 2 or 3 of these cameras everyday on their way to work. Can you say money maker!!!!!!!

Cedro Peak

2007-07-15T09:00:00.000-06:00

As I mentioned, my plan was to get up early Saturday morning and get some miles in before the heat showed up. Alarm goes off at 5 am and my first thought is no way! It's saturday. But after a bit of a fight, I got up and got the out the door. As you can see at this time of the morning, there isn't too much activity on the roads.

What a great ride. Some asphalt, lots of dirt, hills, descents, rocks, etc.
Unfortunately I didn't get to ride 5+ hours that I wanted. Two mechanicals (repaired disc brake pad and a broken chain), and I decided I wouldn't push my luck and have to hike out.
Here are the stats:
4 hrs 5 min
40.1 miles
3220 ft of climbing

Meanwhile the boys and girls of Rocky Mountain Racing are in Snowmass. Check out the RMR and Mountain States Cup websites to see how they did.

Saturday in the Sandias

2007-07-13T21:58:00.000-06:00

Ahhh! The weekend. Time to relax, forget about work and rest. YEAH RIGHT, not going to happen. The countdown is on. Only 28 days until the Leadville 100, thus I am getting up early to ride somewhere in the Sandia and Manzano Mtns. With Hammer Nutrition products in my pockets, my plan is to hit the trails around 6:30 am and put in about 5 or 6 hours and 50+ miles. I will let you know how it turns out. Perhaps, I will take a picture or 2.

Cochiti Round 2

2007-07-10T22:48:00.000-06:00

A few weeks back when I showed up for the Cochiti 100, I took a mountain bike beating. The first 13.5 miles was a climb that kicked my ass, and pretty much made me suffer for the rest of the 30 miles. Well, today I decided to go back and ride FR 289 to train. This road climb reminds me of the Leadville 100 climb up to Columbine. I am hoping that if I do this one several more times before the race that I will be ready. Also, it was punishment for not joining the NM endurance guys at the Santa Fe Big Friggin Loop. It's been so hot in NM that I was a little worried that the heat would be unbearable, but luckily the clouds rolled in and took care of the sun.
1 hr 12 minutes of climbing later, I made it up to the Dome Wilderness sign. It was much better this time! No, the climbs didn't flatten out (I wish), but this time I somewhat knew the course, thus I could push it in some areas and relax in others. It was a lot of fun, and I took some pictures so as everyone can see the beauty of the Cochiti area. Enjoy!

A climb!

Big cheesy smile!!! I guarantee the first time through I didn't smile once!

THAT'S ALL FOLKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Firecracker

2007-07-05T21:39:00.000-06:00

So the plan was to leave ABQ/Santa Fe and meet friends in Conifer Tuesday night, before getting up Wednesday morning to compete in the Firecracker 50. Well . . . . things didn't work out and Ashleah and I had to bail on the trip. Maybe another time.
So instead I got up early July 4th and headed to the Sandia Mtns for a ride. Well . . . this time I forgot a cleat for my shoes but luckily fellow mtn bikers are there to help out. Met a new person and ended up riding 3 hrs on the South Crest trail. Talk about a fun, rocky, challenging ride. This is as good as any trail out there.

Ok the ride is out of the way, now it time to celebrate the 4th of July. Year 3 of the Petronas Ave block party (street where my brother lives). Here's a summary:
2 grills
burgers, chicken, shrimp, pasta, beer, and more food
40 people
2.5 hours of fireworks (oh and just the little ones-this show might compete with the Isotopes show)
and of course a warning from the ABQ fire dept about illegal fireworks!!!!
All and all it was a great day!

Oh are you wondering about the picture . . . I was getting gas this morning and when I look up I see a balloon coming in for a landing. Just another day in Albuquerque
If you get a chance you have to come for the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.

Luau

2007-06-25T07:23:00.000-06:00

This weekend was a time to party! Jason and Linda were hosting their engagement party on Saturday night, with a Hawaiian Luau theme. Mom and dad, and Jolene, Gabby and the kids all made it to ABQ to enjoy the festivities. We were just wishing the Casa Clan could have made it. :(

Before heading over to Jason's, once must prepare for a Luau. Here's Brianna getting the dogs ready. :)
Anyway, the crown and coke was flowing and great time was had by all. Call it a conditioning party for the actual event later this year in Las Vegas! For all those that made it to KC for Janel's wedding will know what the Dominguez clan can do at a bar! ie. $550 bar tab!!!

Here's Jay enjoying the first of many of his Crown & Cokes! Linda's mom made sure he was always well hydrated. If the umbrella was down, it was time for a refill.

As the night progressed and the alcohol continued to flow, it was a little easier to get everyone involved in the engagement party games.
Here's Ashleah and I giving it our best shot!

Gabby & Jolene working at moving the oranges

and the hosts! Pretty sure Jay and Linda were pretty toasty at this point!

Even mom and dad gave it a try.

A good time was had by all.

It was a bad weekend for bike conditioning, but I am well prepared for the Vegas Wedding!

NM Beauty

2007-06-21T22:58:00.000-06:00

This week I was fortunate enough to see 2 of the more spectacular spots in NM--Valle Vidal and Valles Caldera. I was in Valle Vidal in order to collect Rio Grande cutthroat trout, and I passed by the Valles Caldera on my way to one of our state hatcheries. Talk about each having a valley that is so large that you can't even comprehend its size. You have to see these places.

that's it for now, I am one tired messican . . . . . .

More time near Cochiti

2007-06-16T06:30:00.001-06:00

So it seems like all my time has been in the Cochiti area lately--pre-ride 2 weeks ago, NMES last weekend and again yesterday. However this last time was work related. Several co-workers and I headed up to the Dome Wilderness to do some sampling in Capulin Creek. Capulin Creek incorporates the historic range for Rio Grande Cutthroat trout, and last year we hiked in, in order to stock New Mexico's native cutthroat You can read the press release on the NM Game and Fish website. Anyway this time we were in there to see if any of the fish survived.

The tough part of this sampling event is the hike. While not long (only 1 1/2 miles), the trail is tricky in spots because of the 1996 Dome Fire. Lots of blown down trees, sketchy loose trail along edges and the heat. 90% of the trail has absolutely no cover from the sun! Oh yeah we were each carrying about 45 pounds of gear as well. It was a tough day for sure, but well worth it. We saw 1 year old RGCT! What does that mean? It's means that the trout we stocked last year, not only survived, but they also spawned. Yeah!

Ok time to leave (it's Friday and we are still working at 6 o'clock) and I lead the crew down Rd 289. Yes the same 13.5 mile road I climbed last weekend as part of the New Mexico Endurance Series. Damn, I knew it was steep while riding it, but the drive down reiterated the inclines. My co-workers thought I, as well as the others who took part in the climb were nuts! I might have to agree with them.

Hike data:
6 miles,
1100 ft in climbing each trip (we made two trips)
9 hours
Sore feet and hip flexors
5 nalgenes of water.

It's Saturday and time to recover.......

WOW!!!

2007-06-10T22:28:00.000-06:00

That about sums up Loop 1 for the Cochiti 100! Where do I begin. 13.5 mile road climb before the singletrack starts! Singletrack was incredible--rocky, loose, fast downhill, tough climbs and 9 stream crossings. 42.4 miles and 6 hrs 56 min later I was done. Literally! I had planned on doing another loop but the tank was empty. I thought I could do this lap in about 4 hours!! Ha! Little did I know. I have ridden a lot of trails in Colorado and now in NM, and this is by far the toughest.

Just for the record--THIS IS AN EPIC RIDE!!!!!!!!!

There were a few that did 2 laps and only 2 individuals that did all 3 laps for a total of 110 miles. Congrats to Matt and John!!

69 Days

2007-06-03T11:54:00.000-06:00

I was just reminded that there are only 69 days until the shotgun goes off for the Leadville 100 mountain bike race. It seems like only yesterday that I was submitting a check in hopes of getting selected. I had to re-apply for this race (though some think I am crazy), because I was cut-off at the last check point. Missed it by 15 minutes. I flatted early in the race and I spent about an hour trying to get a tubless tire back on the rim. Ugh! By the time I got the tire on, rode to the next check point (with a partial flat), and then struggled up Columbine, I was far behind. Therefore I am determined to not only finish but make it under 10 hours!!! We shall see.

Thus, I was out on the trails yesterday with the intent of putting in around 40 miles. This was my first time riding near Cochiti Reservoir, so I printed the map of Loop 1 of the Cochiti 100. Started with a climb and look for the trail 424. Hmm. Where the hell is it? Oh well, so I climb and climb and climb. 8 miles later and about 20 stream crossings later, I am at an intersection that I know is the return trip of loop 1. Somehow I missed it. I guess it wasn’t all that bad, I got some good climbing in. I ended up finding trail 424 and climbed that for a bit, before heading back. In all, I rode about 30 miles. I am hoping to get out next weekend for the actual Cochiti 100 and ride 1 or 2 loops.

Ok so this is the first time that I will promote Hammer Nutrition, but definitely won’t be the last. A mixture of Perpetuem and Sustained Energy in a water bottle, with an occasional shot of Hammer gel is all you need on endurance rides. THIS STUFF WORKS!!!!

until next time . . . .

Back in ABQ

2007-05-30T20:50:00.001-06:00

It seems like forever since I was around the house! One week in West Virginia, then off to Angel Fire for the MSC Chili Challege. Great weekend hanging with the RMR boys/girls. Two houses, 20 people, bikes, beer, and a long weekend. Very nice.

First off! West Virginia is beautiful. So green with large tracks of green grass and a ton of trees. I saw the Potamac River as well as the Shenandoah River (you know the one Good Old John Denver sings about!).

Just an hour away is DC and how life changes! Fast paced, tons of traffic and crazy Dulles International Airport! People watching is so cool.

Just down the street from our training center is a historic Civil War battle site. Once I get the pics developed I will show them off. Talk about some powerful sites.

Ok now back to Angel Fire. I did a lap on the course on Saturday. Wow! I had forgotten how challenging the course is. Thus the name! Lots of climbing, rock gardens, and a great downhill. That was it for me. I decided not to race this weekend (lack of sleep while in WV, as well as all the food I ate while there). Instead I hung out at a feed zone and handed water bottles to my RMR teammates.
Team did well this week, though we had a couple of guys end up at the ER for stitches and x-rays.

until next time . . . .

Ahhh......finally

2007-05-19T23:09:00.000-06:00

After a long week of work and a few chores around the house, I was finally able to get the bike out and get a ride in. I got up early today and hit the White Mesa trail system at about 6:30 am. Nothing like getting the HR up early in the morning. Once again, no one out on the trails so I had it all to myself. Recent rains made the singletrack super tacky so the ride on the ridge was fast. The backside was a bit muddy and might have doubled the weight of the La Pierre. Clay mud just does not fall off. 1 hr and 6 min later I am done and only then do I see a car pulling into the lot. That's it for riding for a few days. I am off to West Virginia for a training course. Guess I will have to find a stationary bike and spin the pedals that way.

A week at the Butte

2007-05-17T23:23:00.001-06:00

This weeks work adventure took me to Elephant Butte. First time at the reservoir. It is quite the site, though I hear next weekend is the time to be out on the lake. It's the start of a Prey base study so we spent our days setting and picking fish out of gills nets. What did we catch? Catfish, carp (too many to count), small mouth buffalo (those things are freaking huge!), white bass and few other species.
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The biggest smallmouth buffalo we caught was about 33 inches! I bet he weighed 20 lbs!
Pretty uneventful week except for the evening downpours! Isn't this NM? I think we got a whole years worth of moisture in 2 days. The Marmot tent held up though. My only concern was not getting BBQ'd by the lightning. Talk about intense.
Unfortunately, there wasn't any time to ride the bike so my fitness is getting worse by the day! Ugh!! Leadville 100 is not to far away.
Back home now. Time to unpack, and get ready for the next trip. W. Virginia here I come! Heard there is great riding in WV, but I have a feeling the course I am enrolled in isn't going to allow time for exploring the trails.