Memorial Day Weekend '08

What a drastic difference a year can make. Last year we had an impromptu river party on the rock island. 8 friends, 9 dogs, 2 kayaks, couple cases of beer, burgers, chips, dip, a firsbee, bon fire, and lots of laughter and fun. 2 of our canine friends are no longer with us, 2 friends have moved to other states, the kayaks are back in their original owners hands, and the rock island will soon be lost.

That's not to say the weekend was a bust. Saturday I got a great gravel grinder in with friends. Just shy of 70 miles. Beautiful weather, though the first hot humid day we've had with full sun exposure. It was a perfect pre-DK ramp up. Sunday started off really early with a surprise birthday breakfast for Sexpot Jeanie. Fixie 8-ball said we breached the front door security with the deftness of a S.W.A.T. team. The dogs didn't even bark. Then off to Clarksville for H.'s family tradition. Uncle Chris has added to my dreams, last year was the 1 room cabin in the woods, this year it's a metal building on a concrete slab. An exhaust fan and a loft is all I'd need to turn it into a dream home. The pups had a ball and we only had about 30 ticks total after our hiking excursion. Back to Nashville for a "surprise" birthday dinner for Jeanie, then off to the Mannonranch and the Mannondale's Memorial Eve party. Monday was a nice late breakfast at J.Christophers then a fun late lunch with my barn family. Weekends like these makes you really appreciate the friends and family in your life.

This weekend is Dirty Kanza. 203 gravely miles of unknown. 4 of us are heading out Thursday, Friday we get T.roy in K.C. and rendezvous with the Rev, Saturday we see if we have what it takes to finish. No support plans, full on GDR self support style and similar to our initial Trans Iowa running. That adds to the adventure, the worry, the anxiety. It's going to be a good time. Hard, hot, cold, wet, hilly, windy, hell most likely, but fun. Nothing beats conquering the unknown with your friends.

Yes Caitlin, the packing has started (and repacking the packing, I must have repacked my Epic Designs Frame bag 30 times already).

ps. If you haven't gotten too, check out the latest Dirt Rag, Epic Eric has a write up about riding across salt flats in Bolivia. When I'm sweaty, out of water, and dying of thirst for a few miles this weekend, I'm going to think of Eric and smile, knowing at least I'm not out there on a salt flat baking :-)