I'm Sleepdriving Away

Blueberry picking checklist: Blueberry patch? check. Two empty containers? check.






Not all berries were ripe for the picking. You had to search out the bush that was ripe but not picked over yet.




Now to enjoy the fruits of our labor. Blueberry waffles.


Blueberry muffins.


I had to test out the Slip N' Slide left over from the bachelor party at the Dow household. Notice the shark jaws waiting to chomp down on you.


I got to smack Phil with my wet noodle.

The next few photos come by request of my buddy Kevin. While I was in SD last month we went to a Burlesque show to benefit the San Diego Roller Derby Team. Four members of the team provided the entertainment. It was really cute because it was obvious that none of the girls had done anything like this before.



Kiki almost fell a few times while dancing with her skates on.


Not afraid to show a little skin.


The gal on the right had a pin in her hand and was popping the balloons that the other gal was wearing.

Wouldn't You Love To Be On The Cover Of A Magazine

I took a 3 day trip to the New River Gorge in WV with Michelle Gross. The New is one of the best spots on the eastern part of the country for sport climbing. But before we climb we had to scope out the waterfalls.



Summersville Lake. Good swimming and good climbing.


This is me at the top of a climb. It is hard to take pictures when you are climbing or belaying, so that is why this is the only "climbing" picture.


Then it was time to swim!






Pies and Pints for dinner where they have root beer on tap!


A friendly game of football as we wait for our food.


Mushroom, garlic, and onion pizza.


Michelle rapping down a climb.

No One Would Have Believed Us

I went back to Southern California after a 2 year absence.


This is Kevin, owner of the legendary Straight-Edgemont House. He was nice enough to put us up for a couple of days.




Kevin knows how to throw a 4th of July party. We had horseshoes, badminton, air hockey, the ramp to skate, food and a pinata!


I merely gave it a flesh wound. Rebecca was the ruthless killer in the end.


Watermelon eating contest. Hands up for a fair start.


Kevin loves his watermelon. He is already done his first piece and I haven't even made a dent in mine.




The aftermath. Kevin was victorious.


Steve thought this was a costume party so he dressed up like Forrest Gump. "You did what with my blue bar, Steve?"


Downtown SD had four sets of fireworks going off. This photo only shows two but when they were all in full view it was a sight to see.


You only see this kind of stuff in Southern Cali.


These are the Santee Boulders where I first learned to climb.




You must eat at Harar's when you are in San Diego. Best ethiopian food i've had since Ibex (RIP).
http://www.ethiopianrestaurant.com/california/harar.html


HK doing his thing at The Ken Club.
http://www.myspace.com/hk_rock


I used to play in a band with Shane (far right). This is the first time I have seen him with his new outfit, Cabron. They brought the rock.
www.myspace.com/cabronsd


The run happens every Sunday. A bunch of skaters meet at 5th and Quince and then we bomb hills to downtown SD where we meet up at Pokez for food. This week was a big turnout.
www.myspace.com/thesdrun


The one and only Wesley DeWinter meet us at Pokez after the run.


Rebecca getting her first taste of a tofu, mushroom, potato burrito.

Sleeping Is The Only Love

Brennan and I hiked 68 miles on the Appalachian Trail last week. We started at this place, Uncle Johny's and traveled south to the town of Hot Springs, NC. All along the A.T. there are little towns like this that pretty much survive off of people who hike the 2,176 miles of the A.T. between Georgia and Maine. Most thru-hikers (people that hike the whole trail at one time) start in Georgia in early April and finish in Maine around August or early September. This time of year you find mostly section hikers on the trail, or people who are doing any where from a weekend to a few months on the trail.


First few hours on the trail. Notice how clean and energetic we look.


We ended day 1 and No Business Knob Shelter. Every 5 to 15 miles on the trail you will have a shelter that can hold 5-16 people. These are great if you don't want to pitch you tent or if it is raining.


This is what we looked like at the end of day 2 after hiking 16 mile; a bit sweaty and dirty.


Brennan is getting pumped up to climb this big hill in front of us.


We did a lot of climbing but the views at the top of the balds were worth it.




Watching the sunset at the end of day 2 after a respectable 11 miles of hiking.




Brennan was pretty excited about our campsite that night.








Graves of two Civil War soldiers. We hiked 21 miles that day.


Nice off width crack. I'd give that climb a 5.10c rating.




Someone wanted to hitch a ride to Hot Springs with us.


After 11 miles on our last day we had planned to stay in Hot Springs for a night but we discovered that there was a Harley Biker Party going on all weekend in town. They had the entire campsite reserved for their party. We just drove to Asheville for some food and then drove the 4 hours back to Chapel Hill.