Spouse dicing the course at the 2017 Santa Claus Grand Prix Mountain Bike Race in Tehachapi, CA!

Just Dropping a Photo or Two 

onto 

The Blog...

It's been 3 Years and 

I Forgot Even How to

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"More Creature Features...!"

(Random Snaps)

"...Backyard Critter Sightings #2..."

 

Maybe it's the warm weather, or just me being in

the right place at the right time...whatever it was,

it brought the critters to my yard for documentation!!

~

~

...Mr. Roadrunner appeared on the back wall after

several years of absence...he stopped to preen

long enough for me to catch a glamour pose!

~ 

 ~

...a beautiful blue tailed Western Skink stayed

in one spot long enough for me to grab my camera

and catch his picture! For so long I've seen a

tiny 3-4" illusive flash of blue spaghetti noodle 

slip between the cracks of the wall...always leaving

me to wonder what it was that I saw...????

This beauty, measuring around 8" from nose to tail,

answered all those questions for me!

~

~

...this is why I now wear close toed shoes while

tending to the BBQ in the evening hours!...I decided

to bring the flash light out for a closer

look at things...and I thought crickets

were the only evening inhabitants on our

back patio...!!!! He measured only around

2" in length...but a scorpion will always

be a scorpion!!!

 

"Happy Critter Sightings!"

 



"Creature Features......"

...Critter Footage #1...

 (...backyard

and random outing

encounters...)

...sweet "Bun Bun"...where did you

come from?! It's been 2 years now, and

you're still up on the hill, waiting

so patiently for your apple snacks...

~

Sometimes running down the steep

embankment, out of nowhere when

I call you, like a scene pulled

from "The Sound Of Music"...



"Spooky Creature Found In The Mountains.....!!!"

Massive Larva Monster...

Crosses Mountain Biker's Path...!!

 

...while enjoying a pleasant Sunday afternoon

mountain bike ride under a single tiny cloud dotted

 brilliant blue sky...

~

 ~

...a selfie snap was taken in front of the lone

surviving cedar and oak tree at the Mill Creek 

Fire Road saddle crest...this once being a beautifully

shaded ride with massive fur and cedar trees,

the entire area was sadly burned to a crisp a little

over 5 years ago...the little cedar, the oak and

a small handful of trees are all that remain at

the saddle.

~

 ~

...continuing on in the direction

of the trail marker another mile

or so,...

~ 

 ~

...then enjoying a quick break...

~

 ~

...and a couple of quick vanity snaps

at the turn-around point, little did

we know we would soon be encountering...

~

 

 ~

...a massive 3" long Larva Grub Monster

Creature...!!

~

 

...laying upside down in the sun and exposed to the elements,

it first appeared to be an albino rattlesnake's rattles...

but with a little turning and gentle prodding, it moved

with life and an insect like head appeared at one end...

...what was this creature we had stumbled onto?!!

~

...we moved it to the shade and placed it safely

under a large chip of bark to metamorphose...

hopefully we assisted a healthy and robust forest

insect to survive and not some alien creature that   

crash landed in the woods on the back of a meteorite

to spawn and take over the earth...!!

...Time will only tell...!!

~

"Happy Out-door Adventuring!"

 

  

 

 

 



"...Don't Ignore That Inner Voice...."

...It Might Have Something Important To Say...

...LISTEN...

~

 

A bit of time has been taken to get over

running a marathon almost 6 months ago...

...almost too much time...

~

...so much time that registration for

that very marathon has begun once again.

~

Where did all that time go? I promised

myself this time that I would remain focused...

  my attention would not turn to digging in the

garden or working on art projects...I would

continue my training through winter and

work on a faster finish time...

~

...but those last 18 miles of the 2014 St. George

Marathon changed my enthusiasm...the sour

stomach and digestive cramps that came on

after mile 8, were something I had

never experienced in all the

months of training...I never thought I would be

facing something like that during the actual race...

I had to shut it all out and try to ignore it...run

through it and just focus on the finish line...my stomach

took me away from taking in all the beautiful

scenery and ambiance of this beautiful race...

It was not fun.

~

...crossing the finish line, my race experience

woes cast everything in a different light.

My usual sunshine I find at the finish line

 was now covered by a little black cloud. 

 ...the magical beauty of

this race I had experienced in the 4 prior

I had run, seemed to fade...I just wanted to

find the car and head home...the 5 hour drive

back across the desert gave me time to think...

...maybe a year off would be a good thing...

~

...I was content with my decision...riding my

mountain bike and focusing on other things, no plan

to run the marathon this fall...

...but maybe I should just check in on the registration

website to see what it looks like this year...the

wonderful candid photos from last year's race flashing

in and out..."Wouldn't that be something to be in one

of those select few photos?"...I've always

wishfully thought how neat that would be to be in

one of those special photos...since 2006.

~

Of the thousands and thousands of runners, and

the thousands of photos snapped during the race,

what is the likelihood of that?!?..

~

"If a picture of me pops

up, I can't opt out...I have to sign up 

for this year's race!" I thought to myself...

~

...and no sooner did I say those exact words...

 

~

...my photo wish was granted!!

 

Happy Running!!

  

 

 

 

"...The Desert Is A Beautiful Place....!"

...and camping for 4 days, right smack in the

middle of it, is a great way to experience that

beauty.

~

...much time was spent enjoying the vast landscape...

 ~

...looking up at the majestic Red Mountain

in all her glory from my pink camp chair...sitting

on the north side of the trailer to shield myself

from the piercing hot sun and 80 degree temperature...

I did a lot of that...with puppy dog in tow...

...my little shadow...

~

...thinking, reflecting, setting goals and even chalking

the almost forgotten New Years resolutions onto the pages

of my trusty camper sketch pad...in mid February!!

~

...but I truly did find enlightenment! Between the

screaming dirt bikes, churning desert dust while

 circling camp like a swarm of killer bees, and the 

free-for-all dog park our camp mysteriously became...

...legs lifting, marking anything and everything

in sight...camp chairs...RV rims...

fancy woven camp rugs...

...at times, a chaotic three ring desert circus show...

~

...yet through the chaos, inspiration prevailed...

for a moment, a brief vision passed through my

subconscious...an image of my new Hooka One One 

running shoes and Nathan hydration vest...both,

back to back birthday gifts, barely used,

put away and sitting lonely in a closet back home.

~

...how I need a "real" goal and challenge for this

impending big "50" countdown that has begun...

~

   ...approximately a year and one half of time to

play around with and prepare for something that

makes life special and exciting to live...

~

...not just another birthday dinner at "The Olive Garden"

or "Black Angus"...how tragic and horribly

lack-luster that would be...

...Let the Journey Begin!!

"Savior Snacks and Other Sustenance...."

"Mmmm...and they're tasty, too!"

Here are some fun food items to enjoy

on your next long trail run, hike or

mountain bike adventure!

*

Who would've ever imagined a delicious

pasta salad could be enjoyed 20 miles

out in the middle of nowhere (??!!)...no refrigeration

required, and as easy to open as 1-2-3!!

*

 

 

 *

St. Dalfour's, Gourmet On The Go,

Ready To Eat Pasta Salad in a can!!

*

This wonderful little gem will be a true delight

to pull out of your pack when you reach the 20 mile 

turn around point on your next outdoor adventure...

* 

*

...included is a tiny fork and salt packet

for seasoning and bringing those depleted sodium

levels up for the trek back to the car!

*

 

*

...delectably delicious!!

*

...several different flavors are available

and can be found

at "Sprouts" and "Whole Foods".

*

...another wonderful find from the "Sprouts"

cookie/granola bar etc. isle,

that is all natural, loaded with flavor and

completely Gluten Free!!

*

*

"Betty Lous Gluten Free Fruit Bars".

Available in a variety of delicious flavors,

this little tasty treat will not disappoint!

*

*

...with 41 grams of carbohydrates, this

2"x 2" cookie square delivers a nice punch to

the taste buds and to the carb reserves

as well!

*

"Farro and Barley" 

...a nice change to eating pasta...

*

*

 

*

...these instant, ready in 10 minutes, varieties

 are from Trader Joes. Look at the carbohydrate

content for a simple 1/2 cup serving...perfect

for sustaining those crucial glycogen levels!!

*

Happy Running!