ENLIGHTENING....

No one would ever say I am a very 'deep' person. As a matter of fact, I think of myself as simple-minded and never much of a historian, philosopher, educator nor reader. But, interestingly enough, I am finishing up my 2nd back-to-back book. Yuppers, I am on pace to read 2 books this year ( watch out, the library shelves will be running low soon). My current passion is looking at the radical Christianity movement, mostly inspired by the church we attend. The first book I finished was Love Jesus, Hate Church-- a critical look by a pastor on how most churches are simply what Jesus did not intend for them to be--a church we have made- our own creation.

The next read Irresistible Revolution in many ways parallels the first book, but looks at a case study of living life as Jesus did, not merely reading about it. They started out as a s small group of followers focusing on the poor in Philadelphia and now are worldly renown for their efforts, all simply as Jesus did-a grass root movement. Quit talking, start doing-- a message we here repeated every Sunday.

There are many great quotes that I will probably just share on this blog that I believe are an inspiration for my slow to change ways, but none the less, point my heart in God's direction. Today's favorite "There is enough for everyone's need but not enough for everyone's greed"--Gandhi.

Until next time....

THE DARLING WIFE....

is enjoying her special day with her parents in town! She is half way to 92! (and will probably make it, in spite of her husband)...luv you!

ADVENTURER

Cam, who just turned 19, is by far our greatest adventurer. His latest aviation skill is mountain flying which required advanced training as flying at this elevation and terrain creates its own challenges. For Labor Day, he treated another pilot friend for a ride and breakfast in the north central Rockies town of Grandby. Of course, that wasnt enough, after that 1/2 day adventure, he went 4-wheeling in the same friend's jeep and then spent the night in the forest near the continental divide. His photos are courtesy of the new camera he bought himself with his birthday money. ENJOY (Click on photo to enlarge).

High above somewhere....

Yes, Eldora Ski Resort in the summer time...here is what it looks like in the Winter time...

"Grandby International :) ", runway in sight....

A scattered shower off the right wingtip...

Cam, taking his dad's advice, to beat up someone else's Jeep.......

A view as they climb the terrain in the 4x4.....

Nearing the top!

OUTBOUND- Rural

One of the blessings of our particular home is its proximity to a rural feel--literally, five minutes west of here you are in pretty much undeveloped areas with a great view of the high country. Hop on and come take a look as the first half of the Labor Day ride heads westward!

The machine--Raleigh Diamondback hybrid (off road/on road) which just celebrated its 1,500th mile, which means my legs just did the same. Two essential pieces of gear that always go with me are the padded shorts and the bugcatchers (sunglasses). Teri always reminds me to take my cell phone (so I can call her if my bike fails me) and my wallet (so the paramedics can identify me when my body fails me). We are off.....

The rear view mirror-- important to see the Mack truck as it impales its bumper into my rear...more importantly, my Power Rangers bell, a gift from Austin several years ago. My bike mechanic even commented when I had it at the shop a couple weeks ago-- "nice bell"...yeah, I puffed my chest out when I heard that...

This is where having the cool, manly Power Rangers bell pays off...pedestrians along our favorite bike trail that I am coming up on are alerted 50 feet before I get to them...it beats me pulling right along side them as there is a tendency for walkers to jump the wrong way---like in my path-- and I am not fond of the headline "Cyclist kills grandma pedestrian"...

God's beauty as I hit the main road...

My own lane! Colorado is such a cycling state, this is a fairly common site...

Danger lurks! Bike lane ends, converts to 'skinny butt' lane where you are authorized only to ride on the right side of the stripe.....

There is always something holding me back :)...foothills in the distant background, my outbound destination....

Pity the fool--jogger headed toward me in, but foothills getting closer....from the house to the turnaround point, 100% gradual climb...

The hazards of cycling in Colorado :) ..billboard "75 tigers are running free on the grasslands of COLORADO"....

"I think I can, I think I can...."

"Hey, I am back here...in the tall grass, legs up in the air...my ID is in my wallet...."

As you can see, the foothills are right there! Arrival..time to turn around and return to the metro area as further west the "skinny butt" lane turns to "single cheek"- I do not qualify.....

INBOUND- Metro

Ahhhh, downhill back to Arvada....if you click on the image, Denver metro skyline should be visible...

Cycling euphoria--steep downhill,
although image probably doesn't
do it justice...

Metro danger---cars! I try to stay on sidewalks as much as possible as distracted Denver drivers give me nightmares....

Yes, refreshment time in preparation
for Bad Boy 1 ...

Bad Boy 1....at the 22 mile mark,
the hill to the airport... moments that
make you wonder why you are doing
what you are doing....

Arriving, looking for Cameron
to give me a ride home...........

A nice surprise--a B-17 bomber open to the
public for Labor Day weekend....

"Clear to land, 29-er Right"...

Versus ?????....the 200 ft drop...this is the back side dam to Standley Lake..
Bad Boy 2 begins as the trek out is an elevation change of about 300 feet...
..not fun at the 26 mile mark...

If only one had a saddle, my struggle
would be over.......

At the crest, Standley Lake! Home stretch........

At the 31 mile mark, one simple question---

will my padded shorts float????????

Home sweet home...........

Steak, it's what's for dinner!!!

BIKE-O-METER

Distance: 33.3 miles
Pedal time: 2:40 mins
Away from home time:3:10 mins
Min speed: 6mph (48 yrs old/212 lbs/uphill)
Max speed:30 mph (same, downhill :)

FAT-O-METER

Start temp: 75
Finish temp: 87
Start weight:212 lbs
Finish weight:207.8 lbs
Calories burned: 2055

Thanks for joining me on this Labor Day journey....next time, I will put you in my side cart........

1st Meet

The road to Boulder, CO, for what will be Austin's 1st meet as a Junior...

and he is off amidst a pack of over 250 JV runners from schools across the Metro area...

Oh what every runner despises--steep inclines! (Strategically placed cute girls are a pleasant race course distraction :)This one took him UP about 30yds, but the best is yet to come.....

Ahhhhh.....a long, 100 yard steep decline to the finish line.......

Our gazelle in his full sprint in his red and black Nike flats to the finish line...he eclipsed his PR (personal record) by 4 seconds on a difficult course and a very warm afternoon coming in at 21:46...the best is yet to come as he challenges himself to break 20:00...finished in the top 25% today of all racers and 3rd amongst his JV team--great job Ace!

A glorious race day comes to an end in Boulder.....

NOT MY JOB!

Stampede...

The 3rd annual Ralston Valley Mustang Stampede was this morning. This is the time trial for the Boy's Cross Country team to separate the JV and the Varsity, as well as open invitation to the public. Ninety-one entrants, Austin finished 14th! Teri and I decided to photograph, rather than run.

With the crack of a whip (Stampede-get it-no starter gun here), they are off!

Seagulls, yes in Colorado, with
the best view of the course......

Just passing the 2mi mark with
those long strides of his...........

Austin at the finish line! ONE SECOND better
than his best time last year, 21mins, 49 secs!

NOW ARRIVING....

One of the more interesting aspects of Cameron's job as a jet refueler is never knowing who is on board the corporate jets arriving on the tarmac...just in the last 10 days or so, these folks have pulled up to say Hi .....

Mr. Bissell of the vacuum cleaner fame

Tom Brokaw

BACK TO SCHOOL

Well, Cameron does indeed ride the bus, all be it the metro transportation type. He starts on Monday returning for his Sophomore year taking 16 hrs, although 13 hrs should be 'breeze' classes for him as they are aviation-related. He is quitting his flight dispatch job and working full time as a refueler where he started early Summer-- simply better hours and benefits. Additionally, when it is slow (he works 1-11pm), he is allowed to do his homework and they don't send him home when the weather turns bad as many aviation jobs do. He experienced his first "OJI" last night banging up his wrist when some equipment malfunctioned, but X-rays were negative--sent home with a splint and some Advil. He also turns 19 on Thursday!

Austin is not ready to return to school, pretty common I would presume for most High School juniors. He has been trying to get his Summer reading requirements in for AP his English classes in the last couple of weeks. His cross country team is in full training mode meeting Mon-Fri for a couple hours and running mostly in the dead heat of the day, but fortunately afternoon clouds have moved in just in time these last few days. To appreciate what he is going through, I myself opted to get off the bike for a day and took a couple mile jog Friday afternoon-- I don't envy what he is going through at all. I so much prefer two tires over two tennis shoes!

Til next time...

DIVINE PROTECTION...

Well, you know God's protection has shined on you if this happens to you the next time you meander in the cross walk! Believe it or not the man in the intersection lived! He was saved by the imprint that the PT Cruiser left in the driver's side of the Subaru. When the Subaru went over him it came down on him right where the dent in the car was made and did not crush him AMAZING !!! Watch it over and over and you can pick up the dent in the car.