Escape Route Report - Updates

Please refer to the following to get updates on what's going on with the "Escape Route Report":

Motorcycle/Bicycle related

http://www.themag5.com

Music related:

http://thegoodfathersmusic.blogspot.com/

Family related:

http://buildingourbaby.blogspot.com/

Thanks!!!!

Mammoth Mountain Biking - Part 1

Well, of course there had to be some mountain biking this week!

Doug, Jeff, Tati, and I did the Mammoth Rock Trail.

And then I took John and Ivan on the same trail.  Check out the difference in the sky.  Smoke from all the wildfires in California had blown in.
With Mammoth Rock in the background we head out through the meadow to Hidden Lake.

Wedding Week

Starting on Monday, family and friends began showing up for the wedding.  First was Ivan, Eliza, Neveah, & Eden, then the Heilmans, and then Tati's brother Ervin & wife Allie from Canada made a surprise arrival.
Then later in the week, my sisters Leslie and Laura (and her family of course) showed up.






We had a wonderful week with our  families.  It was so nice to have everyone up in Mammoth with us.

Twin Lakes Chapel Check

On Monday Tatiana and I went to check out the Forest Chapel just to make sure all of the snow had melted.  Over the weekend the weather was "better than  perfect", however wild fires had started all over California and smoke was beginning to waft in from the west.
The Forest Chapel was founded by Lloyd B. Austin, August 3, 1947.
Pre-run of our wedding kiss.  (Self portrait via timer on our digital camera & "joby" our little tripod).

Mammoth MX 2008 - Race Day 2

This year happened to be a year that a bunch of my friends also raced.  For sure the biggest turnout of my buddies at Mammoth ever.  I gotta say though, we missed B-Rad, Keating, and Big Al.

I think I got a picture of just about everyone, see below in alphabetical order (first name).

Boris Mahlich.

Don Pastell

Doug Perry

Ed Paulsen

Fudge (Robert Fudge)

Happa (Jason McCune)

Hodges

Jason Ingersoll

James Jongkind

Kevin Aschenbach

Mag 5

Matt Mantz

Mick Sakakeeney

Rich Schauwecker

Rod Hendrickson

Slicer (Rick Simily)

Jeff Tigert

Todd

Travis Marks

Wayne Lambert

John Dowd and Jeremy McGrath were this close all weekend.  Dowdy got the best of MC this year.  Amazing considering he also won the 40+ Expert class.

I love the picture below.  It really captures the essence of Mammoth MX.  Perfectly watered track, big evergreens, snow capped peaks, blue skies.

By the way, I got second in my qualifier, but in the main event I tangled with another rider on the first lap and went down.  I remounted, counted my blessings, and finished off the weekend safely... I do have a wedding to go to!

Mammoth MX 2008 - Race Day 1

So yes, I did race the weekend before my wedding. Yes motorcycles are dangerous and there's always a risk of injury, but as Dave Potter says, "it's what I do." Tati was nothing but supportive. Her mom was too, in fact she told me , "don't think about anything. No negative thoughts, just concentrate on what you have to do, and go out and win!!!
In my first qualifier I got my typically bad start. Said to myself, "here we go again" and just put my head down and passed as many guys as possible. On the last lap alone I passed 5 guys. When I came around the last corner I saw the checkered flag, but no one in front of me. I figured that the lead pack got away and I probably didn't even qualify. (Top 8 go to the main). When I pulled off the track my buddy Rich told me, "impressive ride." When I got back to the truck and pulled my helmet off, Rich told me again, "impressive ride ... you went from around 20th to 1st." 1st!?!?!? I won? I didn't even know I actually won my qualifier!
In the main event I got another mid pack start, but rode aggressively and made it all the way to 4th. My buddy Jeff Tigert finished 3rd, we joked "Shake-n-bake".

4th place trophy. "Trophy The Bear".

Mammoth MX Practice

Thursday and Friday are practice days at Mammoth MX. Track is fully prepped and watered all day.For the Double D Death Ride (Doug & my bachelor party) Dax had his mom sew up these "flight suits" for the Mag 5. (The Mag 5 is a revolving crew of riding buddies). Doug, Ed, and I represented the Mag 5 by rockin' the suits.
3 of the Magnificent 5 head out in formation for moto-battle.

Double D fly in formation.