Back from Disney!!!

We made it back from our Disney Family Vacation. Here is Logan and Hannah and Neighbor Hannah on our way into Magic Kingdom. We spent 10 hours in Magic Kingdom and still did not do all of it. Definately need 2 days in this park.

This is the Family at Epcot on Day 2. We spent 14 hours at this park and still missed half of the world. You know, they have a lot of Countries out there. We did make it to Germany for dinner though. Here is the family on day 4 at Hollywood Studios. We only spent 8 hours at this park and got in most of the attractions. They have two really good rides and the rest are stunt shows, 3D movies, and interactive stuff.

We finally made it to Lego Land where Logan thought he was in heaven.

$500 for the Millenium Falcon!

Waiting on the boat for a ride back to the Port Orleans Resort.

Eli just Chillin.

Always happy. Well almost always.

Logan found this critter at the resort. I have never seen one soooo big.

My favorite park at Disney had to be the Animal Kingdom. Here are some pictures from the safari ride.

Waiting in Line at Mount Everest. One thing that separates Disney from other amusement parks is their attention to detail and showmanship. I was very impressed with all the artifacts, fossils, history, or useless knowledge, that they packed into the lines while you waited. The great thing about going at this time of the year is that the lines were only about 10-20 minutes long.

Check out this tree. We were actually on our way into it for a Bug's Life 3D show.

Here is Eli with our rent-a-grandmom. Both Heather's and my mom were unable to make it, so we had to use the Disney Rent a Grandmom plan. Not really, it is the neighbor's mom. She helped a lot so that the family could ride stuff together. Thanks,

After 4 straight days of parks, vacation was not feeling much like vacation. We decided to go to the water parks on the last 2 days and maybe get some R&R. I think we had more fun at the water parks than the theme parks, but it was all good.

At the first water park, Glacier Bay, we rode a 120' drop water slide. OH MY GOD! Afterwards Logan played in the sand the rest of the day. I think it scared him a little. The next day he rode a similar ride but only 50' drop. Hannah and I rocked every ride out there multiple times.

Good stuff, but I am glad to be back home.

Playing in the Sand

Lately all the riding I have been doing is either on the road or at Sesqui which is only because of convenience. I have taken advantage of Sesqui because my daughter has soccer practice for 1.5 hours two times a week. So to keep things interesting, back in August completed the 5 mile loop in 20 minutes. This was my bar and since then I have completed a warm up lap and then a TT lap. This week I was able to complete the lap in 18:55. At least it is something to keep things fun.
I have also stumbled across the greatest MTB find ever. This product is the best chain lube I have ever used. I have used everything, or at least it seems like it, but nothing seems to perform just right. You know, no build up, last for a few rides, keeps dirt away, won’t wash off in the wet. Well this product is it. And at only $5 a can, it can not be beat. I applied it very liberally the first time to clean the chain. Then wiped off the excess and repeated the next day. Now I have 3 rides on it with no re-apply and the chain is still running smooth. And as you can see there is no build up or dirt on the chain.

This is even after a long ride in the sand after a rain at Sesqui. Now the product has not been tested in peanut butter mud yet, but as soon as it has, I will let you know. I am even using the product to wipe down my bike because it states that it will not harm paint, repels dirt, and has rust inhibitors. This product is GREAT. It also is made by DuPont. That name alone brings me happiness.

Check out that new Bontrager RLX wheel. White spokes, red nipples, on my red and white 69SS is pimpin!

It gets political

I am in shock that so many people were concerned about Obama’s speech to the students on Tuesday. If the President wants to address any American we should listen. After all he is our President, and after all maybe he could reach some kids that need motivation and encourage them to do the right thing, get an education. It is not like the schools were going to show speeches by Hitler, oh wait; they do that later in History Class. Bottom line, whether you agree with him or not, he is still our President.
So, after school on Tuesday I asked my daughter if she watched the speech. She said, yes. So I responded, ‘What did you think?’ Her response was, ‘I don’t know, I did not even listen. He just did a lot of talking.’ I had to chuckle because all of that hype about kids watching it or not, and in fact probably the majority of the students were just like my child.
That brings me to my next point. When is the White House going to start using Power Point presentations? It is effective in the work place and provides people with more information than just the words coming out of their mouths. Maybe if they started using visual aids to get the message across more Americans would not glaze over during a speech.

Off the box now…

I got to ride up in DuPont on Monday. I can not tell you where we rode, only that I think we circled the entire thing counter clockwise and hit almost every parking lot. The trails were in great shape and the weather was better than expected. I am still loving the 69ss. It was railing on Ridgeline. Unfortunately, I was at max speed and I still could hear Jonathan rubbing my back tire.

New favorite beer:
http://www.flyingdogales.com/Beer-Specialty-Doublepale.aspx
It is about 10 bones for a pack of 4, but it is good and strong!!!

Palmetto Solo,
No matter how red my past may be, I will not buy MGD or the High Life. I would rather drink Old Milwaukee Beer or PBR. But if you are buying, I'm in.

Spanning the State from Mt. Plastic to G-Vegas

What a weekend!!!
We woke up Saturday at 6:30am and Hannah and I were out the door by 7:30 heading to Mt. Pleasant for her first Academy Soccer Tournament. Games started at 11:30, but we had to pick up Grandmamma and make it to the fields in time to warm up. The first game went well. The girls started slow, but ended up picking up momentum and winning 5-1. The second game started at 4pm and we had been in the sun for a long time. The girls started really slow this time and were down 2-0 in less than 5 minutes. Finally they started playing and ended up winning the game 5-4.
Hannah and I then jumped in the car, and cruised to Columbia for Logan’s BMX race. It started at 8pm and we got there just in time. Logan raced well and got 2nd place in all three motos. I am going to mess with his gears some and see if we can get some a better top speed. He is crushing the competition out of the gate, but is still getting spun out on the last two straights. We ended up shooting the poo with other riders and parents until 9:30 and got home around 10:30pm. It was a long day, but I still had to get everything ready for tomorrow.
Sunday morning rolled around quickly and we were out the door heading to Greenville at 7am. Some friends of ours had requested that Heather take some family photos at Falls Park. There also happened to be a little race happening at this location. We spent a few hours doing the shoot and then the party started. Logan was eating up the atmosphere. He said he felt like he was at the Tour de France. It was very cool! We watched the start, the got some lunch. The riders then came by about every 50-55 minutes. So we would make our way back to the start finish to see them come by. After the 4th lap the race ended in a 3 lap circuit and Big George was in the lead pack of 8 or so. As they started picking up speed they were doing the 4 mile circuit in about 10 minutes. So at the final sprint George takes the win. It was good stuff and Logan watched the whole thing from my shoulders.
Well Logan had brought his Harrell’s winter jacket, made by Hincapie Sports and he really wanted an autograph. I knew this would be tough, but your kids can motivate you like no one else. We chased George through the streets of Greenville until we had him cornered. As soon as they called his name to go on stage, I snagged him and Logan got this.
Now I would normally be ashamed of such a signature that is not even recognizable, but since Logan watched him sign it, it is priceless. He wore the jacket until he went to bed.
We got back to Cola around 10:30 and in the bed around 12. It was a long weekend, but it was great.

(Here is the video of George's win. It was a lot better in real life.)

His first solid food, kind of solid. I love me some sweet potato!

1 Million Dollars!!!!

So much going on…

We took a week before school started and went to Folly Beach, “Key West of the Carolinas”. It was a good time. Very relaxing and the kids learned a lot.
Logan learned what jelly fish look like and what it feels like to be stung. Hannah learned how to body board. Logan learned how to play all day at the beach drink plenty of salt water and get dehydrated. He called it “home sick”. Hannah learned how to pose for Heather’s photography and get paid. Logan learned how to catch crabs with dead fish. Hannah learned that with 7 adults in the house, if you ask enough people, you will eventually get the answer you want.

New Beers consumed during the vacation:
Terrapin Indian Style Brown Ale
http://www.terrapinbeer.com/beers/7-India-Style-Brown-Ale-
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2372/36195
Good beer, not too hoppy, decent price.

Smutty Nose Old Brown Dog Ale
http://www.smuttynose.com/beers/full_time_beers/old_brown_dog.html
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/141/35653
Another good beer, but over priced. If you like brown ale, I suggest the terrapin over the smutty nose.

But lately I have been cheap and I find the best beer for my money is a $6.45 six pack of Budweiser American Ale. Good taste, good amount of hops, and not as boring as Bud Select (my other regular beer).
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/29/43118

Hannah is playing on the Academy Soccer team this year. She practices 2 days a week for 1.5 hours. Now that I do not coach her team, I have taken the opportunity to exercise during her practice. So lately I have been riding Sesqui on the 69SS or running the 5 mile loop. I have to keep mixing it up or boredom will set in, but it is much better than sitting at the house.
I really need to find some time to get up to to the mountains of NC.

The next few months are about to get crazy.
We are looking forward to a weekend at Great Wolf Lodge in NC. The family of one of Logan’s friends from school wants to go. Then we have a week of Disney at the end of September. Then we have a Wedding in NC the following weekend. Then my project is scheduled to be complete in the beginning of November. Then the Holiday madness begins. Then we have a cruise scheduled to the Bahamas the first week in January. All of this while Hannah is has a soccer game almost every weekend. YE-HAW.

Well if the riding sucks,

then the drinking must compensate.
It never fails that after a good mountain ride, I find it hard to find motivation to ride the same ole, same ole. Logan has also been requesting 2 – 3 rides per week which only leaves 1 – 2 selfish ride times available if any weekly chores are actually going to get done. So to compensate for the lack of spectacular riding, I have started some spectacular drinking. It really is not spectacular, but it sounds good.
This past week I have sampled 4 new craft beers and this is my opinion of them.
1. Hop Wallop by Victory. http://www.victorybeer.com/hop_wallop.aspx
Just as the name implies, a lot of hops. Very bitter, but refreshing. This was my least favorite of the bunch, but worth trying. The price for a 6 pack was something like $11.
2. Hop Devil by Victory. http://www.victorybeer.com/hopdevil.aspx
Not nearly as hoppy as the Wallop, but just enough for a good summer beer. It ranks 3rd of the 4 beers, but also worth trying. Pricing is similar to Hop Wallop.
3. Loose Cannon by Heavy Seas. http://www.ccbeer.com/beerlist/Heavy+Seas
This beer is now one of my favorites. It has a great taste with a lot of hoppiness, but not overwhelming. The % of alcohol is high enough to justify the $9.99 price tag for a six pack and it can easily be found at the local Publix supermarket. This one I highly recommend.
4. Arrogant Bastard Ale by Stone Brewing Company. http://www.stonebrew.com/arrogantbastard/index.php
This beer ranks in my top 10. The taste is excellent, alcohol content is good, and the marketing is super. The cap says something to the effect of, Hated by many, loved by some”. Put a few of these back and I could easily become an arrogant bastard. The only down side to the beer is price. At $16 a six pack and $4 a 22oz, they are proud of this brew. But Damn it is good!

Disclaimer: I know nothing about beer brewing, tasting, or rating. I am only proficient at consuming. Therefore the comments above only reflect my opinion, which is worth less than the time you spent reading this.

Life is GOOD!

Here I sit Monday morning at the desk, working for the man, reminiscing about another great weekend.
We went back up to the mountain house Friday afternoon after work and arrived around 4pm. This time we had three families total, which came out to 9 children ranging from 5 months to 12 years old and 6 adults. CRAZY does not even begin to explain it! So the guys got the grocery list and headed for the store. The ladies actually put beer on the list as if we were going to forget it. $300 dollars later we were set for the weekend and all that was left was relaxing and enjoying some cold beverages.
I knew I was getting up early in the morning for NORAMM so I hit the sack around 1am. It was all good until Mr. Beam showed up.
Saturday morning came fast. The house was actually quite for a change. I made some coffee, and egg sandwich, and headed out the door. The drive was excellent. It was three miles to the Parkway, 25 miles South on the Parkway, and then 5 miles to the shuttle location. I got there early, adjusted all the air shock thingies and tire pressure and waited on the group to show. Broussard was the first to show and the only one who decided to ride up 181 at 7am in the morning. He was looking kind of rough from the previous night’s festivities at the camp. About 20 minutes later the rest of the group arrived ready to rip up some new trail. Eric has some good pics and video over here. Of the group of 8, I think only 2 have been out here before. We started down with a pecking order of fast to not as fast. Even with 5” of travel and a big ole 2.5” front tire, I knew to hang at the back. The only guy behind me was Broussard who favors trails that go up and was riding a custom soft-tail SS with a 80-100mm fork. The unmarked, unmapped trails are just amazing! It does not get much better than what we rode. We would descend for miles before going up, there was very little hike a bike, and the trails are SOOOO fast. They have a, you could die around the next corner feeling to them the whole time.
We made it to the bottom in around 3 hours with only two flats, one wrong turn, and no injuries. That is really impressive for a group of that size. Jonathan had a beer drop about 1.5 hours in, and then we fueled up again at camp before heading out for Sinkhole. The climb up to Sinkhole was great. While others might be watching the Tour or prepping for ORAMM, I was grinding my way up a LOOONG climb anticipating another fantastic descent. 1.5 hours later we started down and it was fast. We then went back to the camp and Jut opened a cooler with a keg of Pisgah Organic. It really does not get any better than this. Unfortunately, the riding was over, but all I had left to do was drive back to the mountain house and relax. I was in the bed by 9:30 dreaming of screaming down the mountain.
Sunday came and it was family time. I made a breakfast for 15, really 14 because Eli is still on the teet, but I am sure there is a trickle down affect in there somewhere. We loaded up the group and headed to Upper falls off of 181. It was probably only 5 miles from our shuttle location from the previous day. I loaded myself like a pack mule and we took the family down a 1 mile strenuous hike. I get to carry Eli in the front with one of these and a backpack on the back for towels, bottles, food, and drink. But it is all worth it to get the family into some of the prettiest wilderness around. Up from Upper Falls is a swimming hole with a natural rock slide and a rope swing. We got to the top of the slide and the water did not feel too bad. Then after sliding down and going deep into the hole, you realized that the water could not be warmer than 45 degrees. It would just take your breath away. We all played for a while, ate some lunch, and then started the hike back. From there we headed to Linville Caverns. The kids have never been “in” a mountain before and they were excited to see what it was like. After that we headed back to the house, loaded the car and headed back to cola.
What a good weekend… I am already looking forward to my next trip.