Getaway

Jenny and I needed some R&R so I surprised her with a trip to Chico Hot Springs. We took off early Friday morning and headed to the Paradise Valley and drove directly to Mill Creek. This is a beautiful east/west valley that sees a lot of logging so there is a great network of roads criss crossing the mountains. We skiied uphill for almost two hours before we took a break. We packed cookies and hot chocolate and enjoyed the views (with Mario of course). We had the entire drainage to ourselves and didn't see anyone until the last ten minutes of the trip, near the trailhead.

After the ski tour we checked into our cabin at Chico, donned our swim trunks and hit the hot spring pools. The air was very, very cold so the pool was very, very steamy. There were not many people around yet so it felt like we had the pools to ourselves. Very quiet and relaxed.

We ate dinner at the Chico Lodge. Jenny had a 4 oz fillet and a 4oz Mahi Mahi. I had the rack of Lamb. Both were amazing. I topped it off with a fresh baked apple crisp. Jenny had a flaming tower of maringue, set on an orange filled with chocolate and vanilla ice cream infused with orange stoli. We found it interesting that they serving a flaming tower of desert inside of a 120 year old lodge with ancient drapes and woodwork...

Jenny discovered that our cabin had a magic tub that shot water jets and bubbles out of its sides. I didn't see her the rest of the evening...

Saturday morning was another big ski tour day. We spent the late morning / early afternoon touring in Emmigrant Gulch. We again had the drainage completely to ourselves. This erea sees no logging and the mountains are much more rugged, despite being only 5 miles south of Mill Creek. We skied on a mine road that was cut in more than 100 years ago. There are three abandoned mines about 11 miles back, near the tops of three different peaks. We skied about 4 miles back to where the roads head straight up the mountain sides. We feasted on more cookies and hot chocolate and watched Mario fall asleep sitting up. It was his third day in a row of major ski trips and he was worn out.

After skiing was again dipped into the hot springs and at some bar food. We finished the trip off with dinner at the Rib and Chop House in Livingston. Great trip!!!!

Today I got out with Ryan for some faster paced training on the skis. We were out for 3.5 hours in the Bozeman Creek Drainage. I burned 2300 calories which meant a guilt free enchilada eating contest this evening.

6 months later...

Bozeman, we have a problem....

Not really. How can I complain about going on a 40 mile road ride on January 4th with a great friend and training partner? Ryan and I put in some time on the tarmac on Sunday. Quiet roads, blue sky and no mechanicals.

The last six months have been good. Design 5 has been gaining clients and we beat our first year goals and we still have two months to go! We are opening up our marketing campaign to MN so we can spend more time at home. Anyone in MN need landscape design, planning, graphic arts, presentation materials, or anything creative from two talented folks in Bozeman? Check on us at www.design5landscapes.blogspot.com or on Facebook at Design 5 Landscapes!!!! We have a website coming soon as well...

Bike racing in 2009 was almost non-existant. I did three cross races and absolutely sucked wind in all of them. Oh well. What's unfortunate is that the only weakness I can point to is my bike handling. I need to practice, practice, practice! I did make a breakthrough discovery with tire selection. I rode tubular clinchers this season which made a huge diference with handling and grip. "Discovery" isn't right. My brother has been beating me over the head, trying to get me to ride some good cross gear. He has been on tubulars for two seasons and can't believe I was rolling on clinchers. I am slow to change. So, I now have two sets of tubular wheels for 2010. One set of Ultegra tubulars and one set of Zipp 303s. Even so, these nice wheels won't do anything but lose fabulously if I don't seriously improve my handling skills. Timid McGee on the race course.

On the upside, this year was one of the most fun on the mountain bike! The Trek made it through the season without any mechanicals and I flatted only once. I felt like superman in August and was firing on all cylinders on the dirt. Ryan and John were great riding partners and I hope this coming season is as fun. I registered for Leadville 100 and have a couple of connections for getting in... Let's hope they work. I am very excited for it and have set the goal of sub 9 hours. Ryan and Drew are registered as well and everyone is in full training mode.

Christmas was fun and busy, despite having "no plans". Ben and I hit Theo Wirth on the Pugs. That was a real blast and wish we had more time to spend churning snow.

Jenny and I ate a ton of food, enjoyed some time in St. Cloud, went to museums, saw the Bodies exhibit at the MOA, had a sushi blowout at Origami, gorged at Cafe 128, ate Blucys at the Blue Door, swallowed House of Pizza with recklous abandon, sipped on some great Belgian White ales, at approx. 40 peanutbutter / hershey kiss cookies, ate one pan of my moms nut roll bars, hung out with Tomas and my sis, helped Jim and Nancy with a landscape plan, signed wills, visited Granny Franny, saw Mike "The Godfather", watched South Park, went to Avatar, visited the MN Zoo, got my sisters car sideways doing only 20mph, hung with the Hawkins, drove my dads tractor, set up my parents new TV and hardly slept at all.

Hope this finds you all well!