Hey everybody -

Quick notes to those of you who wonder if we’re still alive. We’ve been dealing with camera/photograph transfer issues, I’ve been stuck with writers block in trying to catch up with all that has happened and we’ve both been seduced by the comforts of home as we spend a week here in Jackson Hole with Tristan(Brendan’s Cousin).

After a couple days feeding my politics and baseball needs all at the same time with Sox Yanks coverage AND a national convention…I went mountain biking with Tristan. Now, I’ve enjoyed cycling as long as I can remember, but mountain biking has always been this enigma in the biking world for me. It always seemed like something I could do, would love to do, and would do quite well. Oh boy….I was looking through rose colored lenses! Tristan took me on a local intermediate trail that soon had my heart pounding out of my chest in a way I don’t think I’ve experienced for years. Breathing became a very conscious and seemingly voluntary endeavor as we made our way up the second big hill. Meeting Tristan about halfway up, he declared “This is where I always walk”. Now in my diminished mental state, this made total sense to me. I mean, who in the hell could ever pedal a bike up this hill. The section we were about to walk was very rocky and incredibly steep. Bottom line is that I was very pleased to have been saved by this “we walk it” section. At the top, I announced that I needed a breather. Not intending to gross any of you out, but I think a representative illustration of the shape I was in can be the face that I wasn’t able to properly spit out a mouthful of dirt and dust, nor was I able to properly drink water from my camelbak.

Moments later I hear heavy breathing and mechanical sounds coming from the trail…. Out of nowhere, these two guys come huffing and puffing over this hill…pedaling! It was at that moment I knew that he had meant, “this is where I walk it when I have city folk like yourself with me!”

The rest of the trip was a lot less hilly and I found myself more and more able to anticipate the uphills and thus let myself go a bit more on the downhill slopes. Save a bruised ego and one trip over the handlebars, I would have to label it as a success. The views from the ridge overlooking Jackson at sunset and the incredible fun that the downhills provided were outstanding.

Off for a weekend of hiking, camping, and clamboring in the Grand Tetons. Can’t wait