September 23 , 2005 I Love Fall! Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows... I've finally finished all of my race reports. Check 'em out! Ode to Autumn I've decided that Fall is the best season. I'm sitting on the sundeck right now and the sky is blue, the light is tinted gold and the air is fresh. This morning I went for a walk in the woods behind my house and I've compiled a photo essay in celebration of my favourite season. Click here to view my photo essay >> Mmmmmmmountains! A couple of weekends ago, Melissa, Hector, Jeanine, Jean Ann and I hiked up Golden Ears, mountains that I see almost every day, but have never climbed. I finally decided I needed to make the ascent, since they're practically in my backyard. The hike was very strenuous, but well worth the effort. We completed the 24-kilometres and 1500 vertical metres in eight hours. Man, was I ever tired after that. And I was sore for three days afterwards! I thought I was fit, but apparently hiking and biking require very different muscles. Hector, Me, Jean Ann, Jeanine and Melissa at the summit; Hector posing on the peak; Jean Ann with a view of Pitt Lake; Jeanine all smiles above the Fraser Valley; Melissa not fazed by the dark clouds. Shoes of the Post I have blatantly ripped off Lisa's Shoes of the Post section. These are my shoes of my post. They're the ones I'll be wearing at Melissa and Hector's wedding. I like them. Shoes! Local Ride Local Ride is the bike shop in Maple Ridge where I've been working. It's good times. I've learned a lot already. Steve (the mechanic) has taught me lots of stuff, like rebuilding axels and hubs, trueing wheels, adjusting derailleurs, rebuilding freehubs.... Maybe soon I'll be able to fix EVERYTHING on my bike all by myself. Now THAT would be cool. The shop jersey; Steve -- isn't his bike the coolest? MEXICOMEXICOMEXICO! (Can you tell I've just had a big ol' coffee?!) Si! Things are in the works. I think we're leaving October 1st after I get off work. Then we point due south and drive! We're going to take about 10 days to get down there. We'll mostly drive along the coast and I plan to do some riding every day. I'll get my parents to drop me off somewhere along the way... not sure exactly how it's going to work, but it will. Map!