Lotoja 2011

Biking season has almost come to an end. Well, not really but this is the last big bike race Jeff will do this year.  The day started out with this text: 2011 LOTOJA classic update #3310 J. Jones has crossed the Montpelier at 10:12AM with a time of 10:12:20.241 in 1st place.  

What a great text!

This is at the first pit stop where we rushed to fill water bottles, get snack bags out, and admire the legs.

Every time I saw this board I asked Elise, "now, what # are they?" I'm glad he wasn't 3317.

Now, I'm being a little mean here...I whipped out the camera while Jeff is putting DZ Nuts on his...well, his boys. Can you imagine sitting on one of those little bike seats for 12 hours? Oy Vey.

This is right after he crossed the finish line. They were able to shave 2 hours off their last years time.

And here we are with our dearest friends Darin and Elise Jensen. Jeff and Darin have been besties since they were 8. Instead of turning around and driving back home on Sunday after the race we decided to stay an extra day (couldn't have done this without my wonderful in-laws and mom). The boys wanted to eat and eat...they burned lots of calories. Elise and I wanted to eat and eat too. Driving that route didn't shave any calories for us but we solved every problem in the world and I think that deserves a little indulgence.

Zions+Camping=Oh my gosh I actually liked it.

I live in a great neighborhood. Its the kind of place where you don't get judged if you don't drive the right car or like to throw outrageous parties that last until 8:30 (bedtime). I love my neighbors so much that we decided to go camping with them. Some people reading this will think that the last statement is a no biggie but I don't usually camp and I most definitely DON'T hike. In fact the last hike I went on was in 1995 when Jeff took me on a stage 4 hike where I almost killed my brother (on accident) and Jeff (on purpose)...

That's me hiking in the bottom left corner

 These kids were awesome. I like the smiles they showed us after getting to the Emerald pools in 100 degree weather.

As a lad Jeff would spend entire vacations at his family cabin making small streams and rivers...Guess what Gilly started doing right away? 

One of my favorite pictures. I can see his dad in his face and actions so much. I hope that he turns out just like him (in other words I hope I haven't ruined him a little).

Here we all are after a great hike.....

And here we are at the Weeping Wall (which is different from the Wailing Wall. I wondered why I didn't see any Jews which was the only reason I walked up that hill. I love Jews). 

What you people are missing here is the picture of me hiking the narrows. If you don't know what the narrows are you either just came out of a coma that started in the late 1980's or your just not hiker savvy like myself. It is a semi-narrow canyon/river that you walk up. In the map guide it is marked "strenuous". That didn't scare me off suckas! I did it! I hiked in ice cold water that went up to my boobie line! I was feeling like an extreme sportsman and was fantasizing about my next adventure of skydiving or paragliding. Then I looked over at my hiking buddy who was by my side the entire time. He is 3.