Backpacking at Providence Canyon

Went for a 2-nighter down near Columbus with Renee for our anniversary. Backpacked at Providence Canyon park. This was a neat place with some beautiful canyons, which were formed as a result of poor agricultural practices in the 1800s. The hike out was just under 3 miles but there were considerable hills. We had to hike back to the visitor's center to refill our water supply once. Total miles hiking was approximately 15.

Thoughts from the trail:

No matter how in-shape one is, backpacking is still a fitness tester
Showers are overrated
Always bring extra water (absolutely no water sources at all in the park)
A crystal clear, starry night away from light pollution where one can see the Milky Way is worth the price of admission
There is nothing quite like daybreak at camp
There is nothing quite like dusk at camp
A campfire is the perfect way to end the day
Re-hydrated food is convenient and relatively tasty but we also to brought along "junk," such as beanie weenies and vienna sausage, candy bars, etc for a needed break from reconstituted foods.
Coffee makes it alright
Barred owls calling to each other in the middle of the night is worth being awake
It is interesting to note how priorities and concerns change and simplify in the wilderness ; gathering wood, making sure to have enough food and water, staying warm.
There are simple pleasures such as a bird sharing it's morning with you at the campsite
The adrenaline rush of coming upon an active yellow jacket nest right on the trail and having to strategically scurry past
Always check your pack before picking it up (large hunting spider)

Full-size photos from the trip: https://goo.gl/photos/QuyUGNsoiVifsjcC6

Allatoona Creek trail run race report

First year doing the Allatoona Creek race. Missed it last year because I had a duathlon on the same day. This course is sneakily difficult with the most challenging being the Mason's Bridge section. On a bike, it's easier and more fun because you can roll through all the dips but running through those is really tough. There aren't very many climbs and no big hills but that course is a grinder. There was a torrential rainfall a few days before the race so the first 3 miles was a mud run through open cross-country. I really liked this part though felt I got off to a slow start. Pacing is so difficult because I don't know how much energy I need to spare. Feet were wet out of the gate but it was no big deal. There's a twisted part of me that prefers adverse conditions. Went in to the singletrack section at Rusty Bucket and shuffled through twisty sections, not very fast through there. In fact, I felt leaden the entire race. I had ran the da...

Solar Eclipse 2017

The solar eclipse just happened and it has me feeling cosmic and appreciative of our wondrous universe. It makes me feel pretty small and realize that most of my concerns are really trivial. I was amazed at how the quality of light changed and how the crickets began to chirp. Not to mention the crescent-shaped lights on the ground beneath the trees. We had a colander out viewing crescents on the patio because we had no solar glasses. Briefly, a cloud covered the sun and we looked up for a few seconds at the eclipse. Then some neighbors let us borrow their glasses. They are neighbors who for some reason we have never even spoken to, but people realize this is a rare event, so it makes us more human, more kind. This is an amazing time to be alive, with my daughter just turning 1 year old and now this truly inspiring event of nature. One can't help but feel gratitude and a sense of contentment. One of my favorite Carl Sagan quotes: “The surface of the Ea...

Pinhoti times 2

Saturday went out on a rainy ride by myself for about 4.5 hours. Put in about 32 miles. The rain let up on the 2nd half of the ride but it was still puddly. I ate a ton out on the trail. Rode well despite the conditions. Biked up fire road 4 miles to top of Bear Creek in steady rain. Funzies! Bear Creek was really wet so couldn't bomb down. Pinhoti 1 was easier and shorter than I remember probably because I was on the singlespeed last time. I also felt good on Pinhoti 2. It wasn't until Pinhoti 3 that I started to feel tired. Legs were getting really sore and Pinhoti 3 had non-stop climbing for what seemed like hours. It just doesn't end. I wish I had kept my composure together but I began to curse loudly in the woods for no one to hear. I would hit the smallest of sticks on the trail and would topple over. It was pretty slick out there. The switchbacks on Pinhoti 3 are tough on a good day but I did manage to clear a few but fell horribly on one gaining much red cla...

Mountain Bikes, Bass Guitar, and other stuff I like

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