Veggies

I mean, who doesn't love fresh veggies from the garden?

We visited my grandmother yesterday and this was some of the loot we walked away with from her garden.

Hot Summer Days

It's been quite warm outside in the afternoons, weekends, and just about anytime in general. Hot as in mid 90s.

The best way to keep cool is playing in the water. And that's precisely what we've been doing.

Oh, and "E", yea, he hangs out too...

Our Blueberry Trees

Our little girl really enjoys blueberries.

Wait, that's not accurate. She LOVES blueberries. She would eat them by the bucket if we would let her.

Instead of constantly buying blueberries, we decided to buy and plant our own.

I had a little helper too. She made sure the fertilizer (it was still sealed in the shrink wrap) was well shaken up and the box was thoroughly destroyed.

She even helped with bringing me the tools. She did not, however, help clean the hole out. She doesn't like getting her hands dirty.

The downside, is that she saw the swing. The swing apparently was more fun than playing with a blueberry tree, or playing in the dirt. 

When it was all said and done, we had two blueberry trees planted (one Elliott & one Bluecrop breed). Now, here's to hoping we get quite a few blueberries.

(It's not evident here, but I did come back and add a 3ft x 3ft planter box around each one.)

The Cheaha Challenge

This post was due quite a while ago (4/22/2012 to be exact), so bear with me... The following is a recap of my first "century" (100 mile bike ride) in a race called The Cheaha Challenge. It's billed as the "South's Toughest Century" and honestly, I can see why.

Registering was a spur of the moment deal. I signed up about two weeks prior because it looked fun. Now, this race was in preparation for my 150 mile "Ride of Love" which was one month later. I figured a good strong hilly 100 mile bike ride would help prepare me. 

I took the drive from home toward the small town of Piedmont, Al where the race was to start. Roughly an hour drive. Seeing as how the race started at 7:30am, and I like to be early, I left the house just short of 5am. 

                                      

I'm racer #157 for this one. 

It was cold at the start. I was unprepared and showed up in shorts and a short sleeve jersey. AS you can see, most everyone else had on sleeves. As we waited around in the corrals to start, it was hovering right about 50 degrees (F). I was shivering while sitting on the bike waiting to go. The sun was still hiding behind some of the buildings and all we could do was wait. The interesting part was the buzz going around saying "don't worry, you'll warm up soon enough" and yes, they were right.

When the gun went off, it was quick. The pace was fast and there were quite a few "breakaways". People jumped in lines and started hammering to get out of town and out of the crowd. I was no different. I was being passed left and right, yet I continued to notice that I was still doing 18+mph. I wasn't sure if I should go or sit comfortably, so I sat where I was. Knowing I still had 100 miles to go, I didn't want to blow up at the end.

(Clockwise from top left: Speed, Distance, Heart Rate, Pedal RPM)

The first of many hills. They look harmless. For the most part they are; until you realize that it's a gradual climb that goes on for a few miles before letting up. This was one of the first ones out of Piedmont working our way toward Mt. Cheaha (AL high point).

The typical arm-extended-trying-to-take-a-self-portrait.

The first twenty miles or so were on fairly nice asphalt. After that, it turns to what the locals refer to as "Cheaha Roubaix". Basically it's rough, bouncy, noisy, and hard to ride on. To make matters worse, this is where we really started the climbing.

Like I said, we started climbing. This is where it was not unusual to start seeing some low numbers regarding my speed...

 (A whopping 10.4mph)

Here we are. Almost to the top of Mt. Cheaha. This is one of the overlooks sitting at mile 33 of 100. Consider it an intermediate stop, just before the pain of the final climb sets in. But, it was a GREAT VIEW!

After a quick refuel of liquids, it was time to press on toward the top. From the previous checkpoint, it was only 10mi to go to the top. But the problem was that 6 of those last 10 miles were some serious climbing. As in, I looked down a few times and saw that my speedometer was reading between 4-5mph. The goal is forward progress though...

At the top. For the math junkies, if you notice it's only 43mi to the top, but it's a 100 mile ride. Yea. Minor problem. Turn around now, and you get credit for 86 miles. So, what did the race directors do? They sent you back down the other side of the mountain. DOWN. Into a parking lot 7miles away.

Let me explain just a little bit. We just rode 43mi to the top. Then they send you down the other side of the mountain, turn you around in a parking lot, and send you back. So, yea, we climbed Mt. Cheaha twice.

Taking a little breather in that parking lot. I just completed 50miles. Time to turn around, re-climb Mt. Cheaha and head back.

After climbing back up, the ride back wasn't so bad. We all know the saying, what goes up, must come down. The first 43mi were up, the last 43mi were relatively down. But a FAST down. There were some instances where I was going so fast on the downhill, that I really didn't drink or eat anything between stops. I just pedaled and enjoyed the descent.

It sounds scary, and it was, but I did manage to hit a new speed on my bike. One of the descents put me at 47mph. On a bike. WHOA. I quit pedaling. I was sitting up. I was scrubbing my brakes. That's more than fast enough for me!

The only downfall to the return was the last 10 miles. I had just ridden 90 miles. The finish line was just a few short miles away and the climbing was over. Home free right? Yea, not so much. We turned out of the park and started the return when we were met with some serious headwinds. These winds were blowing at 15-20mph in our faces. My speeds were equivalent to the climbing portions.

As Dory from "Finding Nemo" says: "Just keep swimming"... It was like that. Just keep pedaling.

Total time: 6:56:35 on the bike computer. The official time was 7:59:34 which accounted for all of my stops refueling and stretching. That was good for 165/222 who completed the 102mi course.

Oh, and yes, this is how I roll....

Walden pond

We went to Boston. This was from Walden Pond - home of Henry D Thorough.

Pretty cool picnic location.

Water play

How we play in the sprinkler...

(delivered by a samsung galaxy powered by droid)

Just playing

You know, just being stylish while chilling by the pool...

from android

Ride of Love Update

I haven't updated the progress of the Ride of Love lately, for those interested.

Week 3 - (week of April 2) - Mileage wise: 93 miles

Mon - 6.3mi over lunch on the stationary bike at the office.
Tues - 3.45mi over lunch at the office
Wed - 19.9mi at home on the trainer
Sat - 39.1mi outside on the hills around home.
Sun - 21.3mi at home on the trainer.
Overall, it was an alright week. I got some quality rides in, even with the lower mileage. Good thing it was a minor recovery week.

Week 4 - (week of April 9) - Mileage wise: 130.28 miles
Mon - 13.8mi at home on the trainer
Tues - 20.2mi at home on the trainer
Fri - 16.3mi at home on the trainer
Sat - 61.25mi outside on the hills around home
Sun - 20.02mi at the local "Fanny Freeze & Frolic" Triathlon Practice

Pretty strong week

Week 5 - (week of April 16) - Mileage wise: 161.12 miles
Tues - 19.28mi at home on the trainer
Wed - 13.92mi at home on the trainer
Fri - 19.12mi at home on the trainer
Sat - 8.25mi at home on the trainer
Sun - 100.5mi at the "South's Toughest Century" the Cheaha Challenge Century
Fantastic week. I took it easy throughout the week, and competed in my first 100mi ride (also known as a "Century" within the cycling community). The ride started in the small town of Piedmont, AL and traveled south for 50mi to the Alabama High Point (Mt. Cheaha) and then back.

To see the ride data, check out the Garmin file.
Here's the elevation map showing the hills that we contended with:

Basically, LOTS and LOTS of climbing.

So, here we are, 4 weeks from the big 150mi Ride of Love. It's bearing down fast!

For more on the Ride of Love: Camp Smile A Mile Ride of Love
For more on how to donate to the cause: Camp Smile A Mile Donations
(If you donate through the website, please be sure and select "Ride of Love" and add my name to the message box so I can get credit.)

Ribs

The goodness that is also known as "pig".

Yumm.

from android

Naptime

Everyone loves naps...

from android

A little Easter

Just a few quick photos from our Easter celebration...

After taking the minimum 200 pictures, Annalise had enough and refused to participate anymore. So, sadly, we merely have a photo of the three of us.

Hope everyone had a Happy Easter celebration.

Baby Elliott

While in the hospital, we had a small photo shoot with Mr. Elliott. Nothing like dressing up the provided couch with a blanket and shooting away.

Welcome to the world, Mr. Elliott.

Recap on "E"

Quick little recap on the new arrival, Elliott.

March 21 we walked right into the hospital just like we did with Annalise. That's one of the beautiful things about the scheduled c-sections.

After our visit with the doctors, the surgery, the recovery, and the relaxing in the hospital room, we were holding Elliott and letting him meet Annalise for the first time.

Stats: 8lbs 5.9oz and 19.5inches long.

It's been a while since, but Annalise is certain, he's her little baby doll. She has to hug him, kiss him, and she even attempts at carrying him around the house.

Poor truck

Not something you enjoy seeing. Good thing it's only a tire patch... silly nail.

from android

Tired

Someone could wait to get out of the parking lot before falling asleep...

from android

Storms a coming

From the driveway...

Guess we ought to turn on the weather channel.

Evening stroll

Our post dinner evening stroll...

from android