I have surfaced....

I am still trying to put the last few weeks of my life in to order, first there was a job change, a house sale, a race to find a house in which to live in, a move, working new hours and the list goes on. We found a house in the nick of time, moved in a hurry, packed our bags and went separate directions for a few days of R and R. Keep in mind that I am calling my rest and relaxation a drive from Seattle to Napa to race the SSWC and then drive home....at least it was time away from the day to day ordinary rat race type shit that has seemed to pervade my life all too much lately. It sure is amazing how quickly it can all just take over, you miss a wedding of a good friend, and your girlfriends family reunion, I had already committed to the SSWC and come hell or high water I was going to go, Sorry folks I have been wanting to attend for more than a couple of years and been to broke, busy or full of excuses to make it, I got the golden ticket and was going no matter what. Sorry for the rant, getting off track a bit there.......

Leaving in a haze on Thursday I was unsure of exactly where I would be that evening, I planned to head out of town, stop in Portland to visit some friends and then head on down the 5 until Ashland area....Well I ended up heading towards Waldo Lake with said friends for Portland, it seemed like a good idea. We had a great evening a bit of Tequila was drank a small night ride and then I was off to bed, in the back of my car. Early to bed or not so early, but we sure where up early, coffee, bacon, and cereal. Quickly in to the chamois and off for a quick lap around the lake. If you ever get a chance to ride the Waldo Lake area, do it, it is amazing. The lake is crystal clear, its at elevation and the riding is out of this world, and endless I am told.

Back from my ride I refueled jumped in the car and down the road I went....close to 500 miles later I arrived in the Napa area, took a detour towards a couple of breweries that I have been wanting to check out, then navigating my way towards Skyline Park......somewhere off Imola road in Napa. A few wrong turns and a bit of driving later I arrived...my friends from the Bacon Strip where supposed to be up, but they had turned off their phones, and the gate was not open....I quickly hopped it cruised around the area and found some people nice enough to share the code and I was in...and to sleep again in the back of the car. I awoke the next morning and took inventory of who was around.....and started making new friends....My friend Greg Stone was there and I tagged on to his preride of the course with some of the talented riders at the race...Yuri, who knew the course took us out for the short and the long loops, it was hot....for a boy from the north, the sun was strong, bright and at times it felt like a blast furnace, luckily at night it cooled off. Then some hanging out, then it was off to the bowling alley for the decider as to who gets to host the race next year...lets just say the Durango crew, including the one and only Dr Doom put there stamp on that competition, out bowling and Mrs Pacmaning all comers. Then we ended at a brewery where we as a group took over, the bike pile was made and we snuck away before the night got too blurry.....Andy drop me a line......

Race Day arrived....I woke up a bit tired and suited up to have fun...we raced, drank and survived, I got chicked twice, but who is counting anyways....I suffered got a slow leak and lost some places, but had a great time...the course was steep dusty and had some really nice technical sections to it.....I rode most of the race with the second place woman Anica from New Zealand and Greg Martin from Idaho...we had a great time....

The plan was to hang out for a bit and then start the long trek home...well that didn't happen I decided to hang with the Sun Valley boys, drink some whiskey, some scotch and a bunch of beer instead...we sure did have fun. Shot the bb gun until we were told not to, and then went to the dance party at the tree house, it was a bit of a blur, but all in all I had an experience that will live on in my mind for many, many years...Here are some of the pictures I managed to take...






They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I won't confuse it, I'll leave it at that.....use your imagination, I really didn't take too many pics, however I did realize that a new camera one with less lag time from the time you push the take a picture button and when it actually takes a picture would be very nice, i have a bunch of opps I just missed the moment pics...