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Straight Outta PROvo...

Blogging is so '06. Blog-quitting is this years' blogging.
Thanksgiving Vay-kay

Yeah, so I didn't want to waste my precious time in Sedona blogging.  I am not quitting, but yeah, lots of more important stuff.  Anyway, I'm gonna give you the update on how it all went, but I don't want to take the time (over the 4 minute limit) to do it all at once, so I'll respond to myself as needed.  I always do this anyway, so I'm not clear on why I explained it, but anyway done's done, let's move on.

As this is a bike site, we will cover that stuff first.  Did some dirt biking.  Not too much as that wasn't really the point of the trip.  Anyway, it was the sweetness.  Mom lives like a 5 minute ride from trailhead.  Dirt biking is where it's at.  I think I will do some races next year.  There is the issue of a bike, but I borrowed this guy's for this trip, so I can probably find one to race on.  Don't make the mistake of thinking I am a hater because you only see me at road races.  If I was loaded, I'd rock road, 'cross, mtn. and BMX.

Anyway, I was rippin' trail in a foxxy manner, at least relative to my sucky technical level.  Never ridden a full suspension bike, and it's pretty much a big difference.  I just stopped avoiding anything in the trail and went over everything.  Then, I went over the bars and had to pick some cactus out of myself.  Slowed down after that.  Got to ride with the Kelly one day for the first time in a year, which was nice.  She is pretty funny because when she has to walk any section she's always like "if I rode everyday, you know I'd be killing this".  Sounds like me.  Only higher pitched.

Sedona is the bees knees for dirt biking.  There are trails everywhere.  The roads suck and I didn't take my road bike as it is a big tourist weekend and I didn't want to die.

Posted: Monday, November 27, 2006 2:54 PM by Ryan Barrett

Comments

Ryan Barrett said:

Forgot to mention, I was making fun of the "vortex" (google Sedona and vortex if you care and don't already know) before I crashed.

Vortex 1, Turbo 0.

# November 27, 2006 8:33 AM

Ryan Barrett said:

Some notes on the family end of things:

Good times and love all around.

My sister requested that I mention her more often.  Ok, here you go.  My sister is crazy.  I have never met someone who is so schedule oriented.  All (both) of my friends are OCD, but she takes the cake.

Big sis has a son who is a week younger than Haley (that was fun for grandma, considering we're on opposite side of the country).  It was the sweetness to watch them interact.  Kids rule.  

There was a lot of eating, drinking (not me), and merrihood.  A stereotypical Thanksgiving.  But in a good way.

Grandma and Grandpa's pad is a three bedroom (one of which was converted to an office).  We had Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Beth, Uncle Chad, Cousing Brandon, Cousin Parker, Kelly, Haley, Morgan and The Turbo (I am trying to enhance my own nickname, Diddy-style) under one roof.  Thanks for putting up with everyone in your house.  

# November 27, 2006 9:21 AM

Ryan Barrett said:

The drive home was relatively uneventful, until we reached the rest stop at Cove Fort.  Haley had an "accident", despite managing to successfully use the potty the whole trip.  This led to a tiff betwixt Kelly and I.  Just as we were making up, the car broke down.  Got to hang out for 40 minutes on the side of the freeway waiting for AAA.  Then, got to pay $140 for a tow to PROvo as I forgot to "upgrade" our membership.

On a good note, made it home safe and sound and both kids handled the situation better than I could possibly imagine.  I think for Haley it was pretty exciting to get to ride in the big truck.  I was slightly less enthused.

# November 27, 2006 10:43 AM

Ryan Barrett said:

Things I am thankful for this year: (off the top of my head and I'm sure I'll leave out something huge).

- Healthy baby girl Morgan.

- Big sis' healthy baby boy Parker

- General good health of friends and family

- New job

- Baptism, or even more so the show of support from friends and family during all this.

- Maintaining state RR title... totally egocentric, but it was important to me.

- lots more, but I'll keep those to myself for right now.

# November 27, 2006 11:25 AM

markn182 said:

Mountain biking is fun, that's for sure.  When I head to Phoenix in Feb. I think I'll take both bikes so I can play on both pavement and dirt.

Do you have a temperature threshold for the Saturday ride?

# November 28, 2006 8:41 AM

Ryan Barrett said:

We have gone as low as 22.  I think we only made it about 2.5 hours that day.  It sucked.

# November 28, 2006 11:31 AM

Ryan Barrett said:

As long as it's dry, I'll ride.

There is still some debate as to time and I think I have someone on my side now.

# November 28, 2006 11:32 AM

Ryan Barrett said:

An update- took the car to one place who after 2.5 days took a look at it and determined it was the fuel pump, which may be a recall issue.  Called dealer, it is a recall issue, and they can start on it NEXT WEDNESDAY.  This is a long time to go without a car.  Luckily, I am a baller and I have 3 cars.  Yes, two of them are over 12 years old, and the net value is maybe 1/3 of next year's bike.  The one in the shop is pretty nice though... outside of the fact that it doesn't run at the moment.

# November 29, 2006 3:24 PM

markn182 said:

What time Saturday are you guys planning to start the deep freeze?

# December 1, 2006 12:09 PM

Ryan Barrett said:

Some bro dudes hit out at 10 and there was still snow on the road.  Because I am old and soft, I waited 'til noon.

# December 4, 2006 7:18 AM
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