Our new(ish) boat!

Just picked 'er up last weekend and took a spin around Sausalito Harbor.

She's an Old Town 160T, a little heavy but very sturdy and easy to paddle. Out in the harbor I was solo in the rear seat, and had no trouble keeping a straight line in spite of some decent wind. Plenty of room for Scout in the middle and cargo aft.

We still need to find paddles and PFDs, but we're very excited about exploring the mountain lakes, tidal rivers, and maybe even doing some touring this summer.

Sun-haters want you to be pasty.

Just saw this article suggesting that there are very few sunscreens that are effective. According to the Environmental Working Group, a hat and long sleeve shirt are the only things that will protect you from the evil sun.

These must be the same people who will tell you that drinking ice water is bad for you.

Life is short. Would you rather sit indoors wondering whether your sunscreen is going to kill you, or go out and spend the few precious days you have on this Earth enjoying the warm rays?

Remember that these research institutions need to make a name for themselves so people will give them money. Once in a while, an important warning comes along, and we should listen. Certainly overexposure to the sun and resulting Melanoma fall into that category. But really, when was the last time you wore SPF 30 (correctly applied) and got a sunburn?

Don't sweat the small stuff, and make sure you do some living before you die.

no more dot net

My hosting for escapegoat.net is expiring, and I don't feel like putting up any money to renew it or pay for the domain parking. However, it will still be available on blogger.com at http://escapegoatdotnet.blogspot.com/

In case anybody actually cared.

Desert Island Music

Every Friday morning on KCSM radio, they have a musician into the studio and they ask him/her what 5 albums they would want to have if stranded on a deserted island. I got to thinking about mine, it's tough to decide but I had to settle on music that stays interesting no matter how many times I hear it. Add yours in the comments.

In no particular order:

1. Abdullah Ibrahim - Cape Town Revisited
A live recording, made when Abdullah returned to his home of Cape Town following the end of Apartheid.

2. Dave Brubeck Quartet- Time In
Brubeck's most famous album, "Time Out" was groundbreaking with its clever play with time signatures, but "Time In" is where he really lets you in on his secrets.

3. Thelonious Monk Quartet - Misterioso
I never get tired of listening to Monk, because every song leaves you with new questions.

4. Mr. Bungle - California
Perfect, orchestrated insanity.

5. Tortoise -TNT
Rock that needs no lyrics.

If I could bring 10:

Tony Rice - The Bluegrass Guitar Collection
Jamie Lidell - Multiply
Latyrx - The Album
Soul Coughing - Ruby Vroom
Primus - Sailing the Seas of Cheese

First day boarding

Okay, so that's not a snowboard picture, but how great is it anyway?

We hit Bear Valley on New Year's Eve, and had a great time. Yes, it was crowded, we got into the parking lot at about 9:30 and it was already filled within sight of the sand shed. But the snow was decent, and in fact it can be pretty fun when there isn't a huge base. All of the stumps and rocks make nice drops and kickers and there was enough snow to cover most everything. The lower mountain (Grizzly Bowl) was open, but I don't go down there unless there is a ton of powder. It's very exposed, so the snow tends to blow off the slope, and what does stick tends to get very heavy in the sun and warmer altitude.

You have the snow..Now turn the dang lifts on!

So Cabrito called Tuesday afternoon, and asked if I wanted to blow off work on Thursday to go snowboarding. I've been watching heaps of snow falling on the Sierras for a couple of weeks now, and I was pretty stoked on the idea.

By Wednesday afternoon I had Kiwi Bob on board, my bag packed, and plans were made to roll out at 7pm to stay in Arnold. About 5:30 I happened to check the Bear Valley website, and learned the awful news: Bear Valley wasn't opening until Friday! Not that it's saying much, but Boreal has been open since early October!

Needless to say, our hopes of a weekday romp in the fresh white fluffy snow were shattered. Now, granted we should have diverted to another resort, but all my gear is in Arnold. Bob was determined and he bolted for Jackson to ride Kirkwood the next day. Kirkwood, which boasts the deepest snowpack in the Sierras, doesn't even open the backside lifts until Friday! Argh!

Needless to say, the anticipation is killing me, but there are lessons to be learned:

1. Keep your board and gear with you at all times. This rule has bitten me before, and I had to make a special trip to get my big bike before our Whistler trip.

2. Just because it is dumping snow, doesn't mean the resorts are opening.

Snow Ride....Take it easy..

Last weekend we hit up Downieville for a last minute run on the Downieville Downhill Trail. As you can see, the snow had already made the ride from Packer's Saddle a little more interesting.
The Yuba Expeditions shuttle couldn't make it up the last mile to Packer's, so it dropped us off before the steep road became covered in snow and ice. We made the long push up the road, slipping and sliding all the way, and got to Packer's to find 3-4" of snow and a beautiful clear sky.

Riding the snow was tricky..the trail varied from fluffy stuff that required constant attention and steering adjustment, to well tracked snow that was grippier than it looked. We wobbled and swerved through the soft snow and many times the snow just steered us off the trail altogether.

Once we got below the snow line, we found a lot of sloppy wet trail and I got ejected several times by slippery rocks. Fortunately that didn't last too long and the trail soon became fast and tacky. 3rd Divide was as ripping fast as ever.

Downieville is a guaranteed good time, this particular trip we had an extra added challenge. Cheers to everybody for a great trail ride!