F-F-F-Falling

American Focus
Originally uploaded by d_j_critchley

It is getting a bit colder and the leaves have started falling in earnest; saying that it was warm enough for shorts and t-shirts on 21 November. There have been a few snow showers in the mountains and it has been cold enough for them to make snow as well.

We took advantage of the warm weather to put my new mountain bike through it's paces. We went a short way round the beltway to Wakefield park and took a trip around Accotink lake which was relatively easy but good fun, especially the short steep slope by the dam. On the way back to the park we spotted a buck whitetail deer following a doe and although the female was slightly spooked the buck wasn't concerned about us and we were able to get very close. Helen then took a break and I burnt up some fast wooded singletrack before disappearing into the deep dark forest for some nervy, gnarly, rooty singletrack.


For Thanksgiving we started the day quite early as we were running in a 10k which started at 0800; way too early! It was cool but not cold for the race, but the route was along the Mount Vernon Trail which was a bit windy with lots of changes in gradient. The worst part was that the half way point was nearer to our house than the finish and I was tempted to let Helen bring the car back. After relaxing at home we went over to Vick and Dave's in Arlington to meet up with other's from the Rugby club for a proper Thanksgiving dinner.

The temperature dropped dramatically over night and after a quiet morning for me (Helen went to yoga) we popped out on the mountain bikes to search out places to ride off road. We covered quite a few miles and found a quiet small park with a windy woody circuit.

Mellow

Mellow
Originally uploaded by d_j_critchley

First day of the season, first day boarding for Helen and Me. The base was deep but hard and there was a dusting of powder on top. There were two runs and two lifts open to the public which meant we could board down most of the mountain. We were very tired after both days and even more tired when we got home to Alexandria at 0130 on Monday morning. The residue of my cold is gradually clearing and the cycling to work is getting easier even if I spend the next half hour coughing like mad. The temperatures are much lower now and there may even be some wet snow on Friday. They are making snow up in the Appalachians, about 5 hours from here, and they expect to be open on the day before Thanksgiving. The nearer slopes are hoping to be open on 8 December; we're hoping for more cold weather and precipitation!

GSA 2007

Bruin the big blue bear
Originally uploaded by d_j_critchley

After getting back from the UK I had a few hours at home before setting off with Helen to Denver for the Geological Society of America's annual meeting. Things didn't start too well as it took us about two hours to do a one hour journey from home to Baltimore airport. It was only by diving off to a back road and relying on the GPS that we made it just in time.
It was 'plane' sailing from then on even though we did arrive very late in Denver. Helen has been working hard with meetings and presentations and I wandered about taking photos, driving a minibus and trying very hard not to learn anything.
On the Sunday we went on a field trip looking at the local geology including dinosaur footprints (pictures on flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/11463478@N00/). I went to a very interesting presentation on the health benefits of dark chocolate which included free samples; mmmmm free samples.
On Wednesday evening we drove to Frisco which is in the Rockies and it's lovely and cold here with lots of snow on the mountains.
Helen made me go running and the lack of oxygen and my cold I struggled badly. Oh well, snowboarding tomorrow!!!!