Wheelathon

On Wednesday it was time for the annual Wheelathon, a fundraiser for the local schools. The kids in grades K-2 ride from their school to the next town, about eight miles one way. The kids in grades 3-6 ride from their school to the K-2 school and back, sixteen miles one way. 

Desert Boy and I rode the entire way last year and decided we wanted to ride again this year. We got a bit of a late start so we had to ride a few miles by ourselves before we caught up with the kids. Then we saw the little kids passing us going the other direction.

The little kids were darling, and how can you not smile when you see the cute little bikes with training wheels?! These plucky kids think it's great fun to ride the eight miles, even though it was a really cold day and they were riding against the wind.

Here are a couple more riding along.

What makes the miles go by faster is that at every mile marker there is a rest stop with snacks. Everyone stops and waits for everyone to catch up. In the photo above you can see an interesting bike, a recumbent that has a solar panel. The bicyclist is going cross-country and happened to be in town during the Wheelathon and though it would be fun to participate. He ended up taking kids who needed a rest on the back of his bike.

The school bus also followed, picking up anyone who needed a break.

After biking eight miles, Desert Boy and I (okay it was just my decision) decided we needed a break and loaded the bike and trailer on the bus and went for a bus ride. I didn't think I was quite up to riding with a trailer against the gusty wind, especially since my training for the Wheelathon consisted of riding two miles in the last two weeks.

Most of the kids were able to make it the entire distance, though. I was really impressed with their fortitude. The last few miles took a bit longer, but they kept after it.

The route is fairly barren, so it's not like they have cheering crowds along the way to distract them. Or much of anything along the way to distract them, unless you count some pretty flowering rabbitbrush.

Or Desert Boy getting off at some of the stops so he could get a snack.

At the end it was time for lunch. Everyone seemed to eat heartily. They had worked up good appetites!

Following lunch there was a little program, but it was time for Desert Boy's nap, so we couldn't stay for that. 

We'll have to keep teaching Desert Boy to pedal his own bike. In a year or two maybe he'll be able to ride some of the Wheelathon by himself.

Sabotage!

Last night my sweet, mechanically-apt husband worked on my trusty 13-year old Ford Ranger. It's been out of commission for the last three weeks. He diagnosed it as a problem in the fuel line, but he had to get a special fuel tool to mess with the particular fuel doohickey. Finally the special fuel tool arrived.

Meanwhile I've been driving our 24-year old Lincoln Town Car. It's super comfortable (true) and oh, so stylish (well, at one point it was). I feel pretty safe with that much metal traveling around with me. Saying it's a boat is a pretty good description.

Back to my truck, my husband drained some of the fuel and found water. Water is heavier than fuel, so after he drained enough of the fuel tank, he was back to fuel.

So how did water get into the fuel tank? About the same amount of water that's found in one water bottle?

My bet's on a certain three-foot tall, tow-headed little boy I see wandering around. A little boy who's favorite activity involves pouring water from one container into another. I won't mention any names, but I bet his initials are DB. What do you think?

National Public Lands Day

Yesterday Desert Boy and I went to participate in National Public Lands Day, a nationwide effort to help improve public lands. There was a site not far from our house. When we got there, volunteers were already working on building a new fence and trailhead area for a relatively new hiking/mountain bike trail at the Sacramento Pass Recreation Area. 

Here's a view of those volunteers from a different angle. 

We hurried to catch up with one of the groups of kids that was hiking on the trail. Part of the day was dedicated to getting kids more involved with nature and appreciating the public lands around them. 

BLM and National Park Service rangers led this group of energetic kids. There were also three other groups. Desert Boy thought it was great to go hiking and wear his backpack again.

We stopped to listen to a BLM biologist talk about the components of a healthy human ecosystem. The kids liked the presentation, especially her analogies to chocolate chip cookies and receiving one at the end. Desert Boy went right to the front of the line to get a cookie. I guess he's got a bit of a sweet tooth. 

Wonder where he got that from?

We had to take a break along the trail a little while later so that some of the kids could go "water the trees." I'm sure that was part of the fun of the hike for them. They also really liked squirting each other with their water bottles.

Next we found a BLM wildlife biologist who talked about healthy natural ecosystems, using pinyon jays and pinyon pines as an example. He had some pine nuts for everyone to snack on. The hike had whetted everyone's appetite, so they were consumed rapidly! 

We hiked a bit further on and met up with a Forest Service ranger who talked about Leave No Trace principles. The kids seemed to understand what that meant--hopefully they'll actually practice it, too!

Then it was time to finish the mile and a half long hike. Desert Boy walked it all, even though he asked to be picked up a couple of times. He got very excited at the end because he saw a school bus that would take us back down to the trailhead, and he loves school buses. He couldn't wait to get on it.

But first we met Smokey Bear, who was celebrating his 65th birthday. Desert Boy approached cautiously...

...and then gave him a tentative hug.

Back at the trailhead, grills were going with hamburgers, hot dogs, and chorizos for a yummy lunch.

The kids crowded the picnic tables to eat. 

Afterwards, Desert Boy found some friendly labs who didn't mind being petted and laid on. I knew that Desert Boy was getting a little tired, so it was time for us to leave. (He fell asleep in the car before we even left the parking lot.) 

I had never known the trail existed, and in fact there are even more new trails in that area, so we'll have to go back and check them out. It obviously took a lot of work and coordination to pull off a successful National Public Lands Day, and thank you to everyone who contributed. We appreciate your efforts! 

And as a reminder about public lands, tonight begins the weeklong documentary series about the National Parks. Can't wait to watch!

A Walk in the Woods

About ten days ago Desert Boy and I went for a little hike (and I didn't get the photos downloaded until today--that's how far behind I am!)

It was a cool morning, and Desert Boy was very excited to go for a hike. He got to carry his very own backpack.

Desert Boy can walk fast now, so it can sometimes be a little challenging to keep up with him.

Nevertheless, when he starts going towards some obstacle, he can have some funny moves.

He rolled back to the trail, got up, and was marching ahead in no time. He doesn't mind a few scrapes and bruises as long as he's on an adventure.

The aspen trees were just starting to turn color, and the air had a crisp autumn feel to it. 

Desert Boy eventually found another obstacle and was happy to climb all over the log.

But he was even happier when I declared it was snack time. That's what makes hiking worth it all.

And when we got back to the trailhead it was time for another snack. He likes his backpack because all he carries is a diaper, a little bottle of water, and snacks! 

Wildlife Photos

Here are a few wildlife photos. Hopefully soon I'll get around to downloading more photos!

I think this is a crab spider. It was about two inches long.

I saw this Great Blue Heron flying around the meadows, and then it landed on the road. It won't be around too much longer as the temperatures keep getting cooler.