Windrock

this morning photos

fun things to do with babies:

The first months of Macies life, I looked forward to her being big enough to do some fun things. Winter was cold and wet, and spring was around the corner. So her first trip to the farmers market by cycle was a much anticipated event, and on the way home-> stop by the story-telling-festival was the icing on the cake.
Erin does her long run on a weekend morning, so me and Macie were on our own today. We pedaled to the pool and splashed around. This is really a fun age. She turns one year old in July; stay tuned for details on the Macie's Day Parade.

trip to farmers market, turned epic

We stopped by the World's Fair Park, where a children's story telling festival was going on. This photo is of the Llama Llama Red Pajama parade.

Porch

elevation

Blue-skies and I had business in Gatlinburg last-week. I got out after 5:00 a few nights for some mini-adventures. My company rented cabin, and we wrapped up the day with a cook-out party in the evenings.


Andrews Bald




view of Fontana Lake




Foothills Parkway, view of Mt. LeConte

"I'm down like two flat tires"

I made it back to Haw Ridge for the first time in like 6-months.

the road to nowhere

Foothills Parkway in the rain

Pea Pod

A new toy for both of us: the Pea Pod

Hard Knox

Mom and Macie in her Pink Cadilac

Roller Derby; Hard Knox Roller Girls Saturday night

Photofinish

These evening rides; keep'n it real. Just sayin.

Back to Fontana

Erin, Macie, Hank and I left town to meet my brother David and Steph-funny and their pup Gordon at Fontana last weekend. We were gloriously out of cell range in the mountains, holed-up in a cabin. Rain daunted us on the way there, but sun shone through at perfect moments.
I woke up early Sunday, aka Mothers day and rode from the cabin to the top of Yellow Creek Mountain with Hank the dog.
Afterwords, I cooked breakfast then we headed back to Big Fat Gap for another try on Hangover Lead. We left the gap following the dogs, which proved faulty, as we realized we were following a creeek. So we back-tracked to the trail head and found the trail we had missed. Once we were on the correct trail, it followed a mountain ridge straight-up and rugged. (There are no trail signs here, its true backcountry.)
We forged on for nearly a couple hours, moving slow, and realizing that we were not going to make it to the Hangover before our precious cargo, Macie, would loose interest... we turned around. Unsuccessful in reeaching the promisland of unparralled views on yet another crystal clear day was frustrating, but we had a great day in the woods. I will return agian one day.
Here's some pics:

Lookout Rock, singlespeed assault. It's all downhill from here, nearly 2000' drop from Yellow Creek Mountain to the bottom of Turkey Chute. Me and the dog.


My bro, David, and his girl Steph-Funny.


Macie on the hike, lunch break.


Macie.


Hank.


Here's a funny story from the hike. Macie has started immitating sounds that we make. So while hiking up a ridge, I was breathing hard and making some noises while hiking. She's riding on my back making the same noises as I climb the ridge, it was addorable. She's so much fun.

Diablo

12 hour drive.
6 guys.
6 DH bikes.
tore it up at Diablo Freeride Park at Mountain Creek, New Jersey. Photos don't do it justice. These trails are fast and flowing. High speed lifts let you crank out runs.
Probably over 30 descents in 2 days = 30,000+ ft. of descending.
Tempest was my favorite trail. The rock drop-> to berm-> to fast flowing sinlgetrack was unimaginable amounts of fun.









Eric Nelson on Progression drop







After getting into to town after 3am, staying up till 4am, then waking up early to go ride in the sunshine all day, Saturday night ended early. Murray wasted no time.