Pikes Peak 2009

Living in Colorado Springs for the past 11 years, I have climbed many mountains, some as far as South America and an attempt at one in Indonesia. But never the big one in my back yard. The mountain that greets me every morning when I leave my house to start my day.
Pikes Peak has provided me with many fun adventures, The Incline is my favorite workouts. I have taken endless tourist fiends and family up the peak by car and The Cog Railway. I have hiked the Crags to Devils Playground to spectate The Pikes Peak Hill Climb (and avoid paying the $40 entrance fee)
I have never walked all the way up Barr trail from parking lot to the summit. Until last weekend.

13 miles

one way.

Even though I have friends that run this on a regular basis--I call them insane, but I like crazy people.
This is not an easy hike.
Much less a much more difficult run. There were many people on the trail with me training for the upcoming Pikes Peak Accent race.

I started my journey at 4:22am

Once the sun started to rise I could see the city below...


A few miles up my goal came into view...

7 miles up I came up to Barr camp where a lovely doggy greeted me and the caretaker Teresa had some wholegrain pancakes to share. Those were DELICIOUS!


6 miles after Barr camp, and 7 hours, 37 minutes and 4 seconds after leaving my car at the trailhead, I was here


On the train down I sat next to Yvonne Carpenter, Matt Carpenters wife. She is training for The Accent and her time up was something like 3.5 hours. Honestly I could be wrong on that, it was too short for me to comprehend.
She is a super nice lady. Matt is also a nice man, I have had the pleasure of meeting him on a few occassins and running into him quite often on Barr trail.

That just isn't right.

I got home to celebrate with a gifted Cheyenne Canon Pinon Ale and a Pizza from Domino's. (My first pizza and Cheyenne Canyon Ale in months...)

I swear I heard angels sing

Then I went to sleep

Oh RHETT!!!

On Tuesday night the Old 97's played in Colorado Springs, even better, at Colorado College, a short hop from my house.

As always they put on an awesome show.

Afterwards, as we were heading to our bikes, we ran into Rhett Miller (If I had a rockstar crush, wait, I should say I DO have a rockstar crush. It is on Rhett Miller)

Dreamy!

Big Girl Shoes

I am afraid (for my brother and sister-in-law) my niece is a fashionista in the making.

Every time Aunt Tanya comes over there is a game of "Shoes and Jewelry inspection"

Now if I wear cheap shoes, lets say Chuck Taylor converse, my oldest niece could care less. However, the Coach tennis shoes get much more attention.

How does an almost 5 year old know the difference? She does.

Here is pictures from my most recent visit.



(Notice the leaning against the wall for stability.)

Manolo Blahnik. Oh, these sent off sirens when I walked in the door.

Girl has great taste!


And small feet

Her sister isn't so interested in the shoes, but more so if she can play with my camera.


This picture was her direction:

"now YOU put your shoes on and I take picture"

Ms to Mrs

Here is the evidence that Ms. Bick is officially Mrs. Schatzle
(Did I spell that right?)



The setting was June 27, 2009.
Batchtown, Illinois

Apparently it is tradition in Batchtown for the bride and bridesmaids get up on the bar (Owned by Amy's cousin) immediately after the ceremony and pre reception.


(Don't let the brides white dress, innocence, and beauty fool you, this is not her first time on a bar. I am thankful there were no poles nearby--that is a whole other story)

oh, and also I have to note:

This is what happens when an Iron-wo-man throws a bouquet. It completely got obliterated and exploded when it hit the ground 20 feet behind the crowd. I even had an eager 12 year old placed in front of me ready to catch it.





Great arm Ms. B...err I mean MRS. SCHATZLE
(That still sounds weird!)
Congratulations!!!

A Sign

In Denver last week I saw this in a shop window...

I like it

Only in Colorado pt. 2

Only in Colorado does the temp fluxuate 48 degrees in a hour and 11 minutes...



Forgive the bluryness in the second picture(I think you get the idea)

Traffic Jam

Downtown Steamboat Springs Sunday Morning

Only in Colorado

Do you need to pack a winter jacket and a bikini to spend the Fourth of July weekend in the mountains.

True Confessions

Okay, here we go:
True confession.
I love watching the Tour De France. When E and I were dating he got me addicted. I used to joke I was excited to met a guy that didn’t care about football, but come July he was glued to my TV since I had cable and he didn’t. I joked he was obsessed. In all honesty, I was getting hooked and looked forward to each stage. Last year while riding on RAGBRAI there was one evening I remember, riding into a small town we rode into that only had one bar and one public television. I caught myself looking through the window while standing on my tiptoes on the sidewalk to see a glimpse of what I missed while I was riding my bike. There was no chance of getting inside. So instead of finding food that night, I sat on the sidewalk and called home for Tour updates. Sad, I knew then I was hooked.

I personally have never cared much for football, the Superbowl, World Series, world cup etc (with the exception of The Stanley cup--don’t mess with Hockey)…But the Tour…Well, ya. I am finding myself glued to Versus and wondering who will win the next stage? Who will get busted for doping this year? I am to a huge Lance Armstrong fan, I know, sue me. However; I am amazed that he is riding the tour now and still plans to ride (and according to him, win) The Leadville 100 mountain bike race next month.. I go to sea level for a week and get my ass handed to me while riding with JJS in Steamboat the next weekend. I can not even imagine. Then again that is why I am paid for my brain and not my brawn.

But I still love watching the tour and second confession, I think Bob Roll is cute. I watch the commentary because of him. He cracks me up in a silly kinda way.
Enough confessions for one evening.