Bikin' n' Campin'

Brrrr...never thought I'd end up camping in January...but it's possible in California. While WA is burried in 2 feet of snow, we're campin'. Mind you it's cold...but still it's camping :) God has brought some great outdoorsy (is that a word) people into our lives...and as an added bonus they only live a block away! Tristan and Jessica Stone are alway's up for an outdoor adventure and this one was a 9 mile mountain biking trail close to Mt. San Jacinto. Tristan is in Kyle's dental class and Jessica teaches PE at Loma Linda Elementary their only child is their dog Oreo who's 11 months old...him and Chaco are wrestling, playing, and mt biking buddies! This weekend found us setting up camp Friday night, trying to keep the dogs happy tied to trees, cuddling up close to the fire, and trying to figure out how to serve the potatoe soup with only teaspoons! Why do you always forget something camping...I've got to make a list!

Saturday morning dawned sunny and cold, we took off on our bike with snacks for the morning ride. The single track trail starts out with a lot of uphill and some technical rocky pathes. Then you hit one flat field area, a couple more killer uphills and then it's down hill bolder dodgin' fun from there on out! Riding with two dogs can set up for some interesting times...such as if you get to close to Chaco you'll get a mouth full of sand from his little claws. Oreo will just plain cut you off and send you flying...but they both are learning and run most of the 9 miles with the boys! At the end of the trip, Kyle was carrying Chaco in one arm and steering his bike with the other after we hit the pavement...his little paws just wouldn't go anymore. But he recovers quickly and is soon chewing on either your biking shoes, Oreo, or any available stick!