Monday, November 30, 2015

Delicious.

 A bucket list of rides come about every jaunt down to SB.  Once Gibralter Road got repaved last summer, it was on the top of my list.  It is going to be a summit finish on the Tour of California next year, the highest level professional World Tour event.  So, I wanted to see for myself what it was all about.  It did not disappoint, so much so I decided to do it twice!  And the second lap Chels and Dash drove to the top to meet me for a picnic!  

Nice view of the Los Padres National forest off in the distance.  

 Starting on the coast with palm trees and getting all the way up to an elevation of 4k feet with pine trees is cool.  Above the marine layer.  

 Yep, thats right.  A mini van!  Hah...., before the warranted joking commences, it s a rental!  Off season deals in Jackson on rental vans make driving long distances in a brand new car and not putting miles on older, less fuel effecient cars a must!  

 The mountains just behind SB are about as rugged as they come.  I did a backpack up along that crest many years ago and it is still remembered as one of the gnarier backpacks I have ever done.  

 Gibraltar road climb from above.  It goes on and on and on.  Epic.  

Freight train rumbling through Carpinteria.  

 My dad and Dash, raising the flag on another soon to be awesome day at the beach.  

 My mom and Dash, chillin in the morning, watching the high tide come in.  About a half hour later it looked like a lake.  We were lucky enough to catch the highest high tide and the lowest low tide of the year while we were down there.  

 My Uncle Pete is one with a board, always.  

 Hanging at the beach with this dude makes me happy.  

 Chels, Dash, evening solitude.  

 Uncle Pete, evening SUP session.  

 The chariot made many a voyages on the beach during the super low tides.  

And Dash got treated to a fine SB tradition, backyard bowl. 

Sunday, November 29, 2015

SB done well again, to be repeated.

 Some things in life truly never get old.  Being able to be in Santa Barbara a couple of times a year at least certainly is one of them!  If we could find a way to split the year between SB and JH, we would do it!  It is paradise!  Everytime we are lucky enough to spend time down there I am always amazed at just how rad of a place it is.  

After two days of driving, we caught this beauty the first night!  And...., we had the beach house essentially to ourselves the first weekend before over 50 family members showed up.  

 I feel lucky to be a morning person with a young kid!  Early morns dont bother me a bit.  And, well, when you get to make coffee, hang with Dash, and watch this scene unfold every morning, its no big deal that its 5 something in the morning!  

 Easily one of my favorite parts of being in SB these days is the road riding.  I am sure there are other places that would rival SB in the states, but I think pound for pound, it has some of the best, if not the best road riding available.  I can see why a lot of the pro teams do elongated training blocks there.  Hills, coast, windy roads, perfect weather, etc.  

I rode just about everyday we were there knowing it would be the last blast of outdoor riding for close to 5 months for me.  The group ride scene in SB is outstanding and makes me wish we had a bigger scene here in JH.  Last Saturday there were at least 60 people who showed up for a group ride!  Felt like a Tour de France peleton all 80 plus miles!  

Getting to a top of a climb en route from Carpinteria up to Ojai.  

 Refueling and taking a nature break.  

Already can't wait for May to be back down in SB and riding with this crew again. 

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Bring it on...



"Going Going, back to Cali"

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

I have one year in my crosshairs

The Dash dude turned 9 months yesterday.  Just gets more and more awesome by the day, clearly!!!!!

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Coming up to 9 months

 Time certainly does fly even when not taking a minute for granted with the Dashman!  He is almost 9 months old and kicking butt!  Easily one of my favorite times of the week is when I give him a bath!  He gets them twice a week and is at the stage now where I really dont even have to empty his lil bathtub at the end of it as he has pretty much splashed all the water out in excitement.  

And the sidewalk chalk bandit was back at it again wanting to leave his mark before the snow sticks on the valley floor.  

Waterlogged, "pruned" and happy as always. 

Monday, November 16, 2015

Earning his keep

It's not a free ride around here Dash.  Back to work folding clothes!  Lack of a washer and dryer with a little one means you only seem to do laundry about once a month.  Someday Dash a washer and dryer will be in the cards. 

Sunday, November 15, 2015

That is purty

Saturday cruising, trying to get Dash to take a long siesta! 

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Big day in the life of Dash

 November 11th.  First and foremost, a day to remember and appreciate all those that have served.  I never take our lives and freedoms here in the good ol USA for granted.  Knowing and having so many close buds who have served in the past 15 years, I always try to honor them by getting out and doing something on Vet's day that embodies freedom.  Well, there isn't much of anything more free than getting on a new 800cc fire breathing dragon up at 10,000 feet with your family!  

Dash and the new whip got out for a lil rip today.  Yea, it was as cold as it looks.  And no, the snow wasn't all that deep!  

Not entirely sure if the headphones were better for noise reduction and or warmth?  
 
 Today was a really happy today.  Trying to soak it up as I know in no time flat Dash will be sidehilling in the trees better than me!  

 Perhaps one of my favorite all time pics of these two.  

 Getting ready on the leeward side of the wind in the truck.  

 Per usual, Dashman was all smiles.  

Yea, the sled that I ordered in April finally hit the snow in November.  Luckily, I easily sold my old sled a few weeks back.  
 
 Dash's first pair of winter boots.  

Pure awesome. 

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

My lil helper

 Dash, last night at the store, helping me get some goodies for dinner.  We have gotten into a solid routine of me coming home from work, grabbing Dash, giving Chels  a few minutes to herself, and me the the lil dude head off on adventures together.  The store with all the socializing and colors certainly is one of his favorites.  

Another shot from skiing on Sunday. 

Sunday, November 8, 2015

First for the winter.....!

 The best of this past weeks storm for skiing probably would have been on Friday, but, alas......life was busy up until this morn.  Got out with my buds Kevin and Ben for some turns this morn.  Always always a treat sinking into those first turns of the winter, putting your skins on, and being out in the mountains.  

 Decent coverage from essentially the parking lot and up.  

Kevin, first day back since blowing out his acl at the town downhill in March, charging. 

Saturday, November 7, 2015

Strollin...

November is awesome.  Enough snow in the mountains to play around in and almost summer feeling in the valley. 

Friday, November 6, 2015

Hello!

I sure am glad it's Friday today. 

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Hanging

 Sometimes Dash gets so worn out he will fall asleep sitting up.  Being so awesome will take it out of ya apparently.  

Evening ready session with the dudes. 

Monday, November 2, 2015

Go Uncle Marco.

Someone is getting very, very excited to go watch his uncle ski some World Cup in one month from now! 

Sunday, November 1, 2015

1st Halloween

 Dash rocked his first Halloween this weekend.  Lets be honest, it was more for us than him, but soon that will change!  He partied two nights in a row at buds Halloween parties and had a blast.  Hmmm, dressing up like mom?  

 Walt, Virg, Noah, and Cora.  Always awesome to see these guys, its never enough.  We promise to spend a couple of weekends down in Boundurant this winter hanging with you good peeps!  

 Different night, different costume, same cuteness.  He was a non stinging "B".

 Dash made it to three houses down in the J, which, as we learned, is nirvana for candy getting in Jackson.  

 Mads, making a mad dash for it after securing something with lots of sugar.  

Cash and Heather......Well done Heather, taking that lil dude around as if he was yours.  Solid babysitter I tell ya.