Climbing Wall

Our weather this week has been amazing.

Time to spend it on the climbing wall.

Kuri enjoyed it too.

Mailbox Peak

Kuri decides that she would like to hike to the top of mailbox peak. Being the accomodating human Iam, I agree to drive her, take dog cookies as a summit treat, and carry her water for her. Kuri makes it with energy to spare. I however, I was pretty damned tired when we got back to the truck.

Boots, Boots, Boots.

OK, I've had it with my Sportivas. Those italian boots have killed my feet for the last damned time. I shipped them off to my friend Tom and hopefully on his next trip to Nepal and climb he can give them to someone. They are too worn out and trashed to sell. Goodbye.
These are Asolo Titan GTXs, I got these on sale @ REI....Now I'm not a HUGE fan of REI but they will do in a pinch. However, since REI will allow any item to be returned (including BOOTS you have used) I figured it was insane to keep buying boots that are not working for my feet. If these don't work, that's it. I will climb the Cascades in these.... These are another option, however less viable for any real serious technical climbing....

J and Y in town

Our friends J and Y are in town this weekend. I've known J since 1990.....Good God, we've been friends for 17 years. Amazing. Anyhoooo...This is J and I at Discovery Park! We did much more than this, but I didn't take any photos. We did all sorts of random things.

1. The Tap House in Bellevue. I had not been there before. 160 beers on tap? Amazing. I loved it. We called Blood Clot Brian and he joined us.
2. We also went wine touring of some of the local boutique wines. Nice. J has a collection of 700+ wines. I have one bottle and Mrs Dirtbagger drinks that, so I guess it's not really mine is it?
3. Had dinner @ Il Fornia. Hadn't been there, and it was pretty damned decent, even for a chain restaurant. Awesome. Possum.

New RIDE

So I couldn't hold out. One of the local bike shops had one of the Bianchi's that I wanted for 100 bucks less than retail. Considering it was a new 2007, the right size, and our tax rate is almost 9% I thought it was OK to go ahead.
I've already removed a bunch of tacky stickers (wheels mostly) changed the seat, seat post, tires, cranks, pedals, and stem. Next is a shorter bottom bracket, fenders for crappy weather riding, and bottle cage for holding the battery for NiteRider lights. I'm seeing blue sky today. Time to ride!

New Bicycle?

Every couple of years I get a "hankerin'" for a new bike. Here is what I'm grooving on now. I've ditched the motorcycle idea. I think I will buy a Paul Smart model a year from now, when I can buy MUCH cheaper. This is the new Bianchi Lewis, single speed Mountain Bike with matching RockShox REBA fork. it retails for about 1400 bucks. Totally hip in the new celeste green color, huh?It is very cool. I wish my good friend Fabien was a Bianchi dealer, then I could get a smoking hot deal on one.This is the OTHER bike I'm diggin on. The 2007 Bianchi Roger, going for about 1100 bucks. It is a single speed cross bike with mechanical disc brakes. Is that cool or what. Just wait until you see what I do to it. I've got some big plans to make it ultra cool. Cool has been missing for a while. I decided to bring it back.

Mtn Ride @ Black DIamond

Fabien, Michelle and I decided we were hard enough to go and ride in Black Diamond. When I got up, it was POURING....I thought oh, shit....this is gonna be bad.

A couple of hours Michelle and Fabien show up @ my house to head out....and the weather is looking better.

After 2+ hours riding we decide it was time to head home. Fortunately, I looked @ the direction we were headed, so I knew I could get us out of there. That place can be a little confusing. Gotta love Casio watches! For the record, I had a $400+ Sunnto watch. Damn compass quit working @ 18 months, and it basically died right after the 2 year warranty ended....No more. I'm sticking with Japanese Watches!

BTW, this ride made me think of a single speed mountain bike....Hmmmm...Never really thought about getting one of 'em. Little to "trendy" for me. However, in tight, techincal, sloppy terrain, might be a good option.....

Winter Attempt @ Something

Brian and I decide we're gonna do a winter tooth climb. SNOW SNOW SNOW

Man, there is a lot of snow up here.

Brian just thinks we're stupid. I think I agree.

I can't even walk in this stuff. It's past my waist, in snowshoes. Time to get skis, or go home and drink beer. I think we did the latter.

Xmas is Over

Hmmm....Why is it, I seem to enjoy Christmas less and less? Is it because it now starts in October and with post Christmas sales runs until January 15th? We stuck to a budget this year, and frankly didn't spend hardly anything on each other? Does that make me a bad Santa?

Happy New Year

That is all I got. Happy New Year.

Motorcycles Again?

New 2007 Monster.

So I've been vibin' on motorcycles lately. Yes, I know they are dangerous. Yes, I know they are dangerous. Yes Yes Yes. They are also fun.

DUCATI

Have you seen this?

This has got to be one of the coolest motorcycles I've ever seen. It's a limited production, new Ducati, but made to look like a famous cafe racer bike of the early 70's. Holy Moly, I just pooped my pants this bike is so cool.

This is what I would call old skool cool.

Tex-Ass

On to Texas to chill with the family clan. We head down to south check out a train museum. Here, it would appear that I am trying to take a dump. However that is not the case. Nate and Hailey in a pose.Dirtbagger Girl!
Hailey
The crew on the caboose. Queen Dirtbagger, Allissa, Eilie, Nate and Hailey

Me and Chel.

Me and Ms. Dirtbagger

Veg-Ass

We travel to Vegas to meet friends Matt, Stephanie, Tim and Kirsten for a weekend of fun. Since none of us really gamble, we'd planned to just see what interesting things we could find. We find a giant beer We find an awesome Apple Strudel
We find a giant guitarWe find Chihuly

Matt and Tim find Pink Taco, and I take a picture of them @ the discovery of pink tacos. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, including pink tacos.

Trip Summary

So I spent 58 days away from home.

Of those 58, about 30 were at an elevation above 10,000 feet.

Of the 30 days above 10,000 feet, 20+ were in a tent.

35 days in Nepal

23 in Tibet

I was in Bangkok 4 days.

Spent a day in Pokara.

Of 35 days in Nepal, Kathmandu was probably 14.

I took over 2400 photos.

I had over 100 movie segments.

Made several new friends.

Had one helluva time.

Early Flight to Sea-Tac

So I catch an 8am flight from LAX to Sea Tac. Ms Dirtbagger comes to meet me @ the airport.

It's good to be home.

LAX....Getting close to home.

So, I leave Kathmandu on November 1st. I fly from Kathmandu to Bangkok, spend about 3 hours in the airport in Bangkok. I then board the flight from Bangkok to LA. 17 hours. I watched EVERY movie they had on board. Some from my sleep deprived memory include:

Cars (Animation Flick)

School of Rock (staring Jack Black)

I REFUSED to watch The Devil wears Prada.

Bascially I stay up the entire flight, all night since I know I will be in LA @ about 10 pm and need to go to bed. It was a challenge and I found myself dozing off everonce in a while. When that happened, I trotted back to the galley and had the attendants fetch me up a Coca Cola. During this flight, I drank no beer or wine, but I think I drank 6 Cokes.

Pashupatinath

This is nepals oldest and largest Hindu site. It is regarded as the most sacred temple of Shiva (Pashupati) in the world. Thousands of pilgrims from all over the world, particularly from Nepal and India pay homage to this temple everyday. "Shivaratri" or night of lord Shiva is an especially important day in this temple when tens of thousands of people throng here for the annual celebration. Said another way, this is where the burn folks up and pour their ashes into the river. This goes on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! You got NO right to complain about YOUR neighbors! A shot of the area.
A macque
A cow and some pigeons.

Bhaktapur

So I take a day trip to the local area of Bhaktapur. Bhaktapur means "the city of devotess" in the Sanskrit language. It is also known as Bhadgaon and was founded by in 889 AD by King Anand Dev. Funny, I thought it meant place where tourists go to get hassled to buy bobbles and fobs you don't need. Pashmina, Pashmina....Jesus H. I DO NOT need a pashmina. Well, maybe one. Here I find a huge iron bell.
One girl didn't wanna pose for a photo. The other, well clearly she didn't mind.
Lots of people, lots of photos.

Hanging in Kathmandu AGAIN

Since we get back to Kathmandu early, we have a problem. We were not expected back until the 1st of November. It's the 23rd. Hmmmm...Flights are booked. Looks like I hang out in Kathmandu for a few days.

Later I go to pashupatinath, the largest Hindu shrine in the entire region.

I also spent a day in Pokara and a day in Bhaktipur

(Photos later)