Creative Living

Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Spring Break Friday Night

Fun Friday night with April Jane.

Roasting marshmallows around the campfire.

Painting little toenails red.

Eating yummy melted marshmallows.

Telling stories & jokes around the fire.

Thanks, April for coming over to hang with your Iowa cousins...

... and your Arizona aunt & uncle!

:-)

IA Spring Break in AZ

Nephew Jerome, wife Ashley & their 2 little girls; Kennley & Baylor visit Arizona!

1st Stop: Hiking Sunrise Peak with them and my sisters Carol & Joan.

Kennley picking some pretty poppies.

Jerome & family were all smiles on this blue sky day. Coming from Iowa's cold & grey days this felt fantastic.

Plus SNOW was piled high when they left the midwest this morning.

Jerome's Arizona 1st cousin Nate & girlfriend Lana came to visit.

_________________________________

Day 2....

Fun with paints! The girls went on a walk with Harley & found some special rocks to paint. They also loved wearing these smocks that were Bob's and his sister's when they were little. HOW CUTE are these painting smocks made my Bob's grandmother!

When you escape a few days of winter... high on the list of things to do is swim and lay in the sunshine.
CHECK!

Cactus Cup Enduro Race

YES... that's BOB on the podium!

3rd place in the Enduro downhill race @ The Cactus Cup

Division 45 to 49 / March 10, 2019

James also raced the Enduro Day as did I.

The 3 of us had a lot of fun despite some line waiting for the timed segments.

James is a very good downhill & technical rider. Way to go, James!

The poppies were out in full force. #desertwildflowers

Last downhill segment ahead!

I placed 1st in my division today. And I placed 1st for the 3 days of racing.

1st Place 50 + Category. Cactus Cup 2019.

Mike placed 3rd overall for the 3 days of the Mini Cactus Cup!

Mini means that Saturday's race was a 40K instead of a 40 mile race. And the enduro day was 2 timed segments instead of 3. Congrats Mike! Geoff Chalmers was 1st for his age group (Mini Cactus Cup).

Harley was our champion canine. 1st Place in every category!

#wonderfulweekend

Friday, March 29, 2019

Cactus Cup XC Race

1st, 1st & 1st!

Cactus Cup XC Race. March 9, 2019.

The 3 of us placed 1st in our division!

Me in 50 +, Shawna in 20-39 age group, Julie in 40-49 age group.

The women's start of the 40 mile XC race.

Me pushing hard on a long and tough course. It wasn't my strongest day (I was slower than last year's time). :-( But I am happy for giving it all I could today.

Always great to cross the finish line with friends cheering... Thank you!!

Gotta give it to Shawna & Julie... both were tough out there and today I couldn't stay with them past the 20 mile mark. Congratulations to these fast friends!!

Bob with other friends who were out to support today!

Erin, Mike, Scooby, Clint, Bob & James.

Anna raced the 40K distance and placed 2nd in her age group!

Congrats Anna! And thanks for coming out to cheer, Olivia!

Happy Campers.

Team Vitesse Racers:

Bill, Mike, Bob, Me, Anna, Geoff.

Bob didn't race today but he is tomorrow in the Enduro event. Yay!

Back at camp... eating, chatting & laughing.

Good night, Arizona!

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Cactus Cup Short Track

Camping at the Cactus Cup

3 Day Mountain Bike Stage Race

McDowell Mountain Park / March 8-10, 2019

On Friday afternoon Bob, Mike, Geoff & I rode with World Champion mountain biking legend; Ned Overend. That's him in the middle (Left photo). And that's him in the middle (Right photo)!

Us & several others did a pre-ride with Ned (in the red). :-)

Behind Ned is Geoff (green sleeves), then Mike and then Bob (in black). I'm 3 riders behind Bob.

At 4:30pm I raced short track. It's about a 22 minute race on dirt single track (3 loops). I won our group which was 40-49 girls and 50 + category. I was also 2nd fastest time for all amateurs.

PS: There was a 3rd place in my division (LOL)... she just didn't stay for the podium pic.