Sprinkler Fun

Happy Father's Day!

We enjoyed some serious family time this weekend. Saturday we headed to the lakefront for the annual Festival of the Arts. I think Claire will have a blast next year, there are so many fun art projects for kids. She is still a little young and was not feeling the greatest on Sat. The weather was amazing, we ate on the grass and watched some dancers. We shopped for some art and bought a few things while Claire napped.

I think Claire's favorite part was the fountains.

Saturday morning Spencer discovered there were 3 toads and a snapping turtle in his window well. He rescued them knowing they would never make it up the 5' well wall. Claire found it all very interesting.

Watching her big brother pick up the toads

Rescued and about to be freed

Lucian received a father's day massage from the kids. We also gave him a gift certificate for a professional version, figuring he might need it after the ride.

Just a fun shot of Claire from last week, multitasking

Spencer has been busy digging out the concrete from the fence posts that broke earlier this season. It's great to have a teenage boy around. We've been paying Spen and his friend Joe to take on the repairs.

Finished!

Lucian finished the ride and headed home Friday night. I am so proud of his amazing accomplishment and happy to have him home for most of the weekend. The shot above let me know he was on his way, with the Denver airport in the distance.

Crossing Berthoud Pass on the last day. We've traveled it many ties by car on ski trips.

Finished!

Victory pose

Home Stretch

Day 4: Steamboat Loop Ride | 52 miles | 20 Mile Rd.
Wednesday's ride was the shortest so far, however it did not disappoint with challenging climbs. Lucian appreciated the shorter day revealing to me that he severely pulled his hip flexor and diaphragm back on day 2. It has been getting progressively worse. He had a PT work on it Wed. evening and that brought him some relief, but he was dreading Thursday's route with the way he was feeling.

The sun was out and the scenery around Steamboat did not disappoint.

An old mine scoop

Helmet tan lines

Looks red in the photos, but he said it was tan.

He traveled the long windy road you can see behind him.

Cresting a big climb on Wed. and feeling great.

A unique fence near camp

Day 5: Steamboat to Granby | 78 miles | Rabbit Ears Pass – 9,426 ft. & Muddy Pass – 8,772 ft.
Judgement day. Lucian was really worried he wouldn't be able to finish today. I got a few text updates, the first of which were these beautiful sky images. He said it stormed overnight with high winds, but it sure made for a beautiful morning sky.

The ride today had some 15% grade inclines. He powered though, meditating as he rode and finished the climb only 13 minutes behind a local rider's best time on the Olympic team. Amazing if you ask me. I know he really dug deep for that one. What a trooper. He took this shot right after. It's atop Rabbit Ears Pass.

He did finish the route and has one more day ahead. I think this Wisconsin boy is ready to come home. We are ready to have him here too! I'm so proud of all he's done and seriously amazed.

Ride the Rockies Day 3

Day 3: Edwards to Steamboat | 80 miles | Yellow Jacket Pass – 7,428 ft.
Lucian's tent is the middle yellow/grey tent in the center above. He said he slept well last night as he headed out for an 80 mile day.

This shot is at the first rest stop on his way to Steamboat. He is all smiles.

Scenery

He saw lots of ranchers as he headed into Steamboat. He also mentioned you can still see snow on the ski runs. He'll stay at tonight's camp again tomorrow, which will make the morning's departure easier as they don't have to pack everything up.

The route today included a rather large climb, 10 miles long. This shot was taken right before that.

During

During

Cresting the mountain climb today. Lucian described it as an hour plus of excruciating pain. He is looking forward to tomorrow's 50 mile route, although there is a good bit of climbing with that too.

Flying Solo

I've been concentrating my recent posts around Lucian's ride, but here is what we have been up to. On Saturday night, Aunt Mimi hosted a BBQ that we attended with Nana Barb and Papa Joe. They came up to help me a little over the weekend.

Sitting by the fire

And what are summer fires good for? S'mores of course! Claire was a fan.

And so was I

She also sampled an Oreo while playing with a nerf gun

My goal on Sunday was to get our garden weeded and planted for the year. Nana and Papa watched Claire while I went to the nursery in the morning. They then helped me watch her and plant and it all got done! We have tomatoes, basil, thyme, rosemary and sage. And I planted annuals in all our decorative planters around the house. It felt really good to get that accomplished. Thanks mom and dad!

Claire had fun helping out with the planting. She liked wearing gloves and digging in the flower pots.

So far things are going pretty smooth this week. Tonight we met Sydney (and Amanda) out for dinner. The girls shared some mac and cheese.

We also got some frozen yogurt.

Claire was brushing her own hair tonight after her bath. She hates it when I do it lately.

Rockies Update 2

Day 2: Buena Vista to Edwards | 76 miles | Tennessee Pass – 10,424 ft. & Battle Mountain

Lucian said he slept much better last night and was happy with his decision to stay away from camp. Here is a photo of the cabin where he stayed. Looks pretty peaceful to me.

I spoke with Lucian briefly tonight. This will mostly be a picture post, I don't know that much about the route. They battled some high winds while riding today and long inclines that were pretty brutal. He made it through and was heading to an Italian place to get a pasta dinner this evening. He is counting on it getting easier around day 4, so everyone cross your fingers for that. So far, this ride has been quite a test of endurance.

An opera house in Leadville, where Lucian stopped for a latte and sandwich (the town, not the opera house;).

Group photo at one of the stops

A bridge

The view from the bridge

The guys at Tennessee Pass