Aventuras

As we transition into the year of the ox, one can't help but to sit back and reminisce. Hummmmmmmm. 2008 was great to me on many levels, and despite the difficult times that many are facing around the world right now, I can only hope that people will learn to simplify and enjoy their lives and all of the wonderful things that life brings.

2008 was full of travel for me. As the waning months of the year approached, I was able to return home and spend time with some really great friends.
We had some beautiful weather for Thanksgiving at home. Lots to be thankful for.

The late season riding was phenomenal around Bend into December!

Back in Wisco for a week in December, and the snow was piled high!

The old 236

Bogiefest!!!!

Backyard buddy

Night out in Delafield

Back in Fort Collins kickin it with Jen & Jason

and Ernie

and 6 month old 90 lb. Baloooooo

Nice being back in the Rockies...

Re-visit to the Peter Rabbit hut on the full moon.

Powder day at Copper mtn. YAHOOOOO RUTH!!

Summer is officially over, and it's starting to feel like fall around Bend. Yeaaaahhh! It was a fantastic summer full of new places, good people, and good times. Here are a few of them....

NORTH UMPQUA

We kicked off the summer on a cold weekend with some friends from Eugene on the North Umpqua River.

Team Sotar

Our California contingent showed up game ready.

Brought the bikes as well. The N. Umpqua trail has singletrack that follows the river for 70 or 80 miles. The "Dread and Terror" section lived up to its name, as we were pushing through snow on the top couple miles, and the lower section was still in rough shape from the winter. Still had some amazing views.

Aubrey tearing it up on "Dear Leap."

DESCHUTES BACHELOR PARTY

We rallied a crowd for my buddy Pete's bachelor float on the Deschutes River. The run was trout creek to Maupin, a two day float through the desert canyon.

We didn't pack light.

Gotta have the limes

Keep those Calderas flowin

There's the bachelor... well not anymore. :)

We decided it would be a good idea to hike up out to the canyon rim to catch the sunset.

Here was the result.

OHHH MEXICO

Contrary to popular belief, I did do some work this summer. Took a trip to Banamichi, Sonora to work on a project there for 3 weeks.

Begining of the rainy season... the desert was nearing full bloom!

In an old mine

Friends from work.

Made it to a couple quinceaneras, which are 15-year old girls' birthday parties... almost as big a deal as a wedding in Mexico.

Hot spring near Banamichi

My friend Lindsey and I headed to the coast near Guaymas for a few days at the tail end of my trip.

Ahhhhh, me gusta Mexico.

AROUND BEND

Ballons over Bend

Mustache Bash

Sailing on Tony's Hobee Cat, Subtle Lake and Elk Lake

Played several rounds of disc golf up at Mt. Bachelor... fun course.

Alex and the SS Noani

Staying cool on the rivers

Of course, lots of fun biking.

ABALONE DIVING

So, if you've never tried abalone diving, I'd highly recommend it! Abalone are very large sea snails that hang out on the bottom in kelp forests. They can be tough to find and catch, but their shells and meat are a rare treat. We cruised down to Mendocino, CA to give it a try. Abalone are highly regulated, as you can only take 3 per person per day. You have to "skin dive" for them, so no SCUBA, which makes it really sporty.

We paddled out to the kelp forests in whatever boats we could find. The sit-on-top river kayak proved to be the best vessle for breaking through the surf on the way out... although did dump it once coming back in.

Big Dan was the abalone slayer

That water was coooooold!

Mmmmmmmmmmm

A delicacy

The harvest celebration begins

Carl... "under the boaaardwalk."

Beeeeee the abalone

MOM AND LISA VISIT

DiannO and sister Lisa came out to visit from Cheeseland.

Showed 'em around Bend for a few days...

Then we hit the road to see some other parts of OR.

Crater Lake NP

Lake level

It was raining on the coast

but the sea lions were still out in Newport

Thanks for visiting guys!!!

WEISHAAR WEDDING - SAN DIEGO

Old Rolla buddy Jeff and Monica got married down in SanDiego.

It was a reunion of sorts, with Timmay and Bruno making it down as well.

The night before the wedding was a bit of a blur

The hookah bar

There's the groom enjoying his last night.

Yeah Timmaaaaaaay

It was a beautiful wedding at La Jolla beach.

While Bruno provided the entertainment

Got out for some kayaking around in La Jolla cove...

The Brunos

MT HOOD MTN BIKING TRIP

Dan M. and the PMS crew threw together this sweet hut-to-hut mtn biking trip circumnavigating around Mt. Hood. It was 4 days of hard riding, starting and ending in Hood River... 150 some miles in total. The 3 huts were fully stocked with food and bedding, so we didn't have to carry much weight!

Getting ready to take off

Eric and Mo

Dan and Sully... STOKED

The first 5 miles or so was along the Columbia River Gorge

Then we started climbing... 6000 feet vert over 30 miles the first day!

But alas, we arrived at the first hut only to find out that they were also stocked with cold beer!!!!

Eatin Goooood

We caught a pretty fantastic sunset stumbling distance from the hut on day 1.

Day two was out longest mileage day... 45 miles or something... about half of which was on singletrack, and half climbing dirt fire roads.

As we began passing by Mt. Hood on the west side, we started getting some great views.

An old lightning strike fire kicked up with the windy conditions that day.

"As the crow flies, we're only...."

After a full day riding, we made it to hut 2 on the south west side of the mtn just before sunset.

Thong tha thong thong thong.

On day 3, we passed the south side of Mt Hood, part of the way on the old Oregon Trail.

We climbed up the pass to Government Camp, our first sign of civilization in 3 days.

The singletrack down from Govt. Camp was voted best of the trip.

Hut 3 had by far the best view.

Wildflower headlamp centerpiece

We woke up on day 4 to a little stretch, frisbee game, and pancake flip-off!

This one in name of Tim Suiter

Award winning pancake... this is your brain on....

The dishes are done dude

What? I'm almost ready....

Refreshing shower

All down hill as we headed back into Hood River through orchard drive

free pears... yeaaaaaah

Great trip guys!!

NORTHEASTERN OREGON FLYFISHIN

Old buddy Jeff came back to town, so we hit the road to check out one of his favorite fishin spots.

North of the Wallowa range, we backpacked a couple miles in this complete wilderness area. Bear and elk crap all over the place, although we weren't lucky enough to see any of 'em.