Pura Vida and I'm Pumped

Monkey Pic from our trip in 05'

We are off to Coast Rica to live the Pura Vida or Pure life for 8 days. That pure life will first entail some serious sleep and when I mean sleep it is time to catch up. The Frog is kicking up with Grandpa and Grandma and getting to see what summer is like when it is not 150 degrees out side. I will be updating the blog daily so enjoy!

Primal Quest

Pup and Mark are off and currently in 21st place in the super bowl of adventure racing http://www.ecoprimalquest.com/wp-primal/. Support Vegas dirt's best by checking out their blog at http://team44.ecoprimalquest.com/. Big props to Randy for sponsoring the race and Christa and Teressa for doing support. I am super proud of Mark and Pup for all their training and drive to do this, not to mention the amount of spandex they have aquired (David Lee Roth may have a few more pairs). Mark said after Moab two years ago that he was going to do Primal Quest (I of course thought he was high) and here he is on the trail. It's inspiring to see people go after their dreams and really make it happen.

............Battle Born...........

Goldfield, NV
The Jewel of Tonapah (you cant tell me that this picture is not enough to keep you up at night)

I spent most of this week in Reno for work enjoying a bit of the northern Nevada dirt (not really I was working) but that is not to say I did not enjoy trip. I flew up there but had to drive home (long story and not the least bit interesting). I will say even though it was an 8 hour drive, I love the drive. There are some many cool things out in the desert to see. I made it to Hawthorn (huge Naval munitions site) around 7 and had a serious craving for a McDonald's snack wrap. Well after diving for 3 hours I decided to go in. While I was waiting for A HALF HOUR for two snack wraps I meet one of the coolest guys I have ever meet in my life. I sat down and talked to this old guy (had to be late 80's and blind) wearing about the coolest cowboy shirt I have ever seen and listing to and old school tape deck (the kind with the speaker built in). He was rocking out to square dance music so we got talking. He told me he did his first square dance in northern Wisconsin in 1937, called his first dance in 1941, and all he wanted to do was call one more dance before he dies. So he just walks around town asking people if they are interested. Needless to say it was worth my snack wraps being a half hour late. It is so cool how everyone has a story.

Back behind the wheel I made my way through the remains of what had once been booming mining towns and now are just reduced a few standing buildings. I pulled over outside of Beaty around midnight and checked out the desert sky. The Stars where killer and temperature could not have been nicer. I dig the Battle Born State (only state granted statehood during the Civil War or War for States Rights)

Global Cooling??? and Claico Basin

The Frog Red Pointing a Toddler 5.11 Climb

Cruising

Where are my gold fish??

The Frog and I

Normally this time of year we a cooking in the 100's but it seems that a new ice age is coming down on us. We opted to stay in town for Memorial Day weekend because the weather was going to be bad everywhere. Saturday we headed up to Calico about 20 mins from the house for a quality, yet cold family hike. The kido was a champ and and was climbing like Boon Speed or Dan Osmond on Crack. She loved the rock and wanted to explore everything (ever a a few Cacti). We bailed and missed a serious rainstorm by about 10 min!!!!!!!!!

Hardcore Landscaping

I know I have not put up anything for a few months, but I have got a great excuse. It seems that I have spent last two months finishing my backyard so my home owners association will not kick us out of our house. I am now 98.6% done and feeling pretty good about it. I know it's not a killer post of a sweet ride or adventure, but for me it is equally as gratifying! Swinging a pic axe in Vegas dirt is just a brutal as a monster climb on my bike. Big thanks to Brian who helped me put in my drip system and BH for all the help with the holes. Note the trampoline in the corner- one of Megan's clients gave it to us. If any of you want to see how strong your marriage is, try putting together a trampoline with no directions at 9 pm on a Friday night. FYI...Thats Fake Grass.....

+Ski Patrol+

The Board
Taking a Break

Killer Day of Spring Corn

Looking down in to the 75 degree valley

Yours truly spent his Saturday at Ski Patrol orientation up at Las Vegas Ski and Snow Board Resort http://www.skilasvegas.com/winter/index.html. I am hoping to join the patrol this coming season. It was an amazing day on the mountain, while it was 75 degrees in the valley it was a nice 65 and blue bird on the mountain. Big thanks to Derek and all of the Ski Patrol crew for an excellent day of training. Ryan, your tour of the mountain was the kind of things you right folk songs about.

German invasion of Reno, Feb. 10, 2008

German pancakes, that is...

INGREDIENTS:

3 large eggs
1/3 cup whole milk
1/3 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon melted butter (salted)

Garnish:

powdered sugar

Serve With:

lemon wedges
butter
maple syrup

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees F.

2. In a medium bowl, beat eggs with an electric mixer. Mix in milk, cream, sugar, salt, and vanilla. Mix until sugar is dissolved. Sift in flour and mix until smooth. Let batter rest for about 10 minutes.

3. Coat the bottom of a 9- or 10-inch oven-safe skillet (cast-iron is best) with melted butter. Pour batter into the pan, and bake for 14 to 16 minutes or until golden brown on top and dark brown around the edges. Pancake will rise substantially while cooking. Remove the pancake from the oven and let it sit for about a minute. Loosen the pancake around the edge with a spatula, then slide it out of the pan onto a plate. Dust with powdered sugar, and serve with lemon wedges, butter and syrup on the side.

Makes 1 large pancake.

Tidbits:

You can substitute 2/3 cup half-and-half for the 1/3 cup heavy cream and 1/3 cup whole milk, but I found that using the cream and milk separately makes for a fluffier texture and better clone.



Quinn; sorry I posted to your blog but I thought you might like the recipe-- not very biking related but oh so delicious....

Dave&Darci