Birthday Girl
Monday was Kelly’s birthday and the gift she most wanted is to be carefree and happy.
Tonight she is off to a good start and I could not be happier for her.
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Me, my wife, and a dog … living and traveling full-time in our 188 sq ft Airstream trailer. Living mobile since April 2015. Flirting with early retirement since March 2018.
Photo credit @gm3sm
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The birthday gift Kelly most wanted is to be carefree and happy. I’m thrilled she is off to a good start.. With our time in Sun Valley (Idaho) winding down, I’m scrambling to find (new-to-me) high alpine riding areas that are open for the season; many locations remain buried in snow/mud or are temporarily off-limits due to seasonal closures aimed at protecting mothering elks and their newly born calves. . Hmm ... now what? . Enter the #galenatrails, or more specifically the #galenagrinder mountain bike course, to the rescue. . One of Idaho’s longest running races, the racecourse is steeped in history and hits most of the trail network over a 25 mile effortz. . Checking off multiple boxes (mixed terrain, hills, beautiful scenery, etc.), it was a no-brainer to download the course to my GPS, drive 30 minutes to the trailhead. Under deep blue skies I got lost in the backcountry for a few a hours. . While places like Moab and Sedona routinely get all the MTB love (and deservingly so) these big mountain trails will always be my preferred scene. . . . #pivotswtichblade #galenagrinder #galenatrails. Increasingly, enjoying scenes like these are becoming my preferred version of Casual Friday. . I had the trails all to myself, which was a good thing because I could not help but sing a certain song aloud. . Despite my singing most certainly being woefully out of tune, I still think the Von Trapp family would approve. . . . #pivotswitchblade #haileyidaho #thehillsarealivewiththesoundofmusic. You know the feeling - how slipping into your favorite pair of jeans feels so right, natural. . We rolled into Ketchum (Idaho) this afternoon and let me tell you, doing so was easy. . Arriving felt good. Familiar and comfortable. . Another mountain town Spring season is underway around these parts and it’s simply a glorious time to be here. . A full slate of hiking and trail riding, followed by visits to our favorite breweries and restaurants lies ahead. . Definitely one of our happy places, we are thrilled to be back, even if only for a few days. . . . #homeiswhereyouparkit #airstreamlife #ketchum. Naïveté: (noun) lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment. . I generally do not think of myself as being naive, but today proved differently. . Having spent the past few days riding here in Flagstaff (Arizona), I was keen to complete the “Round the Peaks” loop - an approximately 50 mile loop (+/- depending upon where one starts) circumnavigating the base of Humphrey’s Peak (12,633 ft). Locals refer to this loop as being “quintessential Flag” ... capturing a variety of terrain, stunning views, and offering challenging climbs and technical downhills. . I was giddy. . Along a route beginning at 7,174ft elevation and peaking at 9,329ft, originally my thinking was to bike camp the ride, overnighting on the mountain, and in the process, splitting the distance into two reasonable day efforts. However, because I continue to change my ‘perfect’ bike camp set-up and haven’t actually yet bought any gear, I find myself in a situation pretty much devoid of most necessary bike camping essentials. . No worries, I’ll do long day ride. On the trail early, home by mid-afternoon. . In hindsight, I can now see that my actions this morning were pretty much naive from the start: 1) allotting only 6 hours for the ride, 2) assuming 2.5 liters of water would suffice, and 3) underestimating the toll 5,100ft of climbing would have on my legs. . I missed the 6 hours by 90 minutes, ran out of water 45 minutes from finishing, and suffered from legs that turned into jelly. . And I broke a spoke. . Nevertheless, the ride was awesome. . . . #roundthepeaks #pivotswitchblade #thatwhichdoesnotkillyou #beatsarealjobThank you @matlock_furniture for the pleasantly easy buying process. . And, it was super cool of you to deliver our new mattress to us at our boondocking spot in the national forest. . . #matlockfurniture #homeiswhereyouparkit #airstreamlife. It was a good run. . Slowly visiting each of Utah’s “Big Five” national parks over the past four weeks has been awesome. . But, with Moab temperatures beginning to flirt with mid 80’s, it was time to find higher ground and the accompanying cooler temperatures. . Scanning options, it quickly became apparent that Durango (Colorado) would serve as the perfect location to sit tight for the next two weeks. . As an added bonus, the local network of mountain bike trails will keep me occupied for days.The local meet-up language described the ride as “advanced”. . As we left the parking lot, I asked for details about the trail, upon which I was told that a few “flowy” single black diamond downhills would be mixed in. It’ll be fun I was told. . I’m not going to lie - I strongly considered turning around then, trusting my instincts that when locals specifically call out a ride as being advanced, they mean it. . Four hours and just over 20 slow miles later, this was without a doubt the most sustained technical ride I’ve ever completed. A day of double diamond trails has a way of tempering speed. . I held my own on the flats and uphills, but had my ass thoroughly handed to me on the downhills. . More humbling ... I had a hard time WALKING certain sections these guys were bombing down with grace and style an English noble would appreciate. . I only crashed once. . Nevertheless, I had a great day on the trails. And, while the accompanying 3,000 feet of climbing may have me limping for days, there certainly were no shortage amazing views.We rolled into Moab 48 hours ago, only to have our enthusiasm sequestered by winds blowing so hard, I’m still spewing fine sand from my mouth. . Finally, the weather broke overnight and this morning and I began hunting for my initial ride. Overwhelmed with options, I ultimately selected and rode the #navajorockschacoloop. . A few hours on this trail was pure bliss. I think I am going to like these Moab trails.. No, this is not a luxurious hotel shower, rather this gem is one of the recently remodeled campground facilities the ranger said we will find welcoming following a long hike or mountain bike ride. . Utah’s #kodachromebasinstatepark for the win.. This week Kelly and I celebrate the completion of our third year of nomadic living. Our little, but very comfortable home on wheels continues to deliver as a great space for us to live. . #brycecanyonnationalpark has been the perfect location since arriving Tuesday afternoon. Unlike our recent stay at Zion Nation Park, we are digging Bryce’s much more laidback vibe. . The park has been surprisingly lacking of crowds, especially hiking the stunningly beautiful #fairylandlooptrail earlier today.. Perhaps wisely, perhaps recklessly, Kelly and I both quit our jobs Friday. . For years we've aggressively saved our pennies in hopes of taking an extended break, but could not agree on the right timing. . Last fall - as we continually found ourselves too often working late into evenings and too often flying on business trips to and from, it was clear something had to give. We decided then - that very evening the timing was right and shortly thereafter we both communicated to our employers our intent to resign, effective March 30. . The next day, Kelly affixed this picture to our refrigerator and since, it has served as a constant reminder that together, Kelly and I embark on this next chapter in our lives together. . With a myriad of emotions, and nearly six months after deciding to walk away from Corporate America, we will awake tomorrow not sure what the next few years will bring us, but I know that we will be slowing down the pace of our lives and traveling to places both familiar and new, domestic and abroad. . As in this picture, we will not know for certain where we will land. Hand in hand, Kelly and I take this scary, but also exhilarating leap together. . Let the journey begin.Today’s ride was all about the white dots and they took me on an unbelievable journey.The sky was angry last night my friends ... like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli.I have a telecommuting job and work from home. Without getting into the technicalities, I’m considering tonight’s ride my evening “commute”.Archives
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What a great way to spend a birthday! Happy Birthday, Kelly!
Looks like a corporate executive——RETIRED! Enjoy “boomer”.